CFP: The Biblical World and Cultural Evolution


AAR-SW Friends,

Unit Managers Dr. Ronit Nikolsky and Dr. Nina Nikki have announced a new program unit at the international SBL meeting titled “The Biblical World and Cultural Evolution.” They invite proposals for the inaugural sessions in Helsinki, Finland from July 30th until August 3rd this year. Below is their full CFP.


Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to present to you a new unit: The Biblical World and Cultural Evolution which is part of the joint conference of the Internations SBL and EABS taking place in Helsinki, Finland from July 30th until August 3rd this year.

The definite deadline is Feb. 14th, so don’t hesitate…

CFP: The Biblical World and Cultural Evolution

The Biblical World and Cultural Evolution unit is open as a platform for diverse ways of looking at the Bible with this innovative approach.

In our session “The Biblical World and Cultural Evolution — Topics and Methodologies”, we welcome young or experienced scholars who are seeking a cultural evolutionary context for their paper to present their new or ongoing projects.

We expect to create an interested community of scholars who will support and encourage each other.

The second session will be a joint one with the project “The Spread of Early Christianity in Cultural Evolutionary Perspective” (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/early-christianity-in-cultural-evolution).

What is the Cultural Evolutionary approach?
Human culture is a non-natural system which is transmitted from generation to generation; it changes as a result of interactions with changing conditions, and produces diversified societies that are adapted to their natural and non-natural conditions.

Studying cultural evolution mean accepting that cultures are transformed by natural and social forces, and the studying these forces explains the data we encounter, be it artefacts, texts, or human actions.

Studying the Bible with a Cultural Evolutionary approach
Cultural evolution as an academic field has gained acceptance and visibility in the humanities throughout the world in recent years. It takes an evolutionary perspective at the development of culture. Applying this approach to the domain of the Bible, its world and its reception means that scholars seek evolutionary explanations for the religious reality in the Near East in the ancient period, Late Antiquity and beyond.

For submission contact one of the unit managers:

Dr. Ronit Nikolsky ([email protected])
Dr. Nina Nikki ([email protected])

Or refer to

SBL site (https://www.sbl-site.org/Meetings)
ABS site (https://www.eabs.net/EABS/Home/EABS)

Contact Info:

For submission contact one of the unit managers:

Dr. Ronit Nikolsky ([email protected])
Dr. Nina Nikki ([email protected])

Or refer to

SBL site (https://www.sbl-site.org/Meetings)
ABS site (https://www.eabs.net/EABS/Home/EABS)

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