Programme for EABS 2019
Virtue in Biblical and Cognate Literature Session 1.1.13
Monday, 12th August, 9:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Chair: Vilja Alanko, University of Helsinki
Introduction to the New Research Unit “Virtue in Biblical and Cognate Literature”
Elisa Uusimaki, University of Helsinki (15 min)
Virtuous Women: Emphasized Femininities of Rachel, Aseneth, and Judith
Susanna Asikainen, University of Helsinki (20 min)
Discussion (10 min)
Saul’s Courage in Josephus’ Paraphrase of the Bible (AJ 6.343-350)
Wojciech Bejda, Pomeranian University (20 min)
Discussion (10 min)
Break (30 min)
Moralising Narrative: Performance Criticism of Mark’s Story and the Search for Virtue
Pieter Botha, University of South Africa (20 min)
Discussion (10 min)
Deuteronomy’s Virtuous Vision: A Proposal for a Biblical Theological Basis of Virtue Ethics
Michael Cox, LCC International University (20 min)
Discussion (10 min)
Emotions and the Biblical World and Virtue in Biblical and Cognate Literature (Joint Session 1) Session 1.2.10
Monday, 12th August, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Chair: Francoise Mirguet, Arizona State University
Jealousy and Envy: Virtue and Vice? The Invidious Emotions in Man and God
Anthony Ellis, University of Bern (25 min)
Discussion (5 min)
“Emotional Framing” in Pursuit of Holiness: Some Observations on Specific Communicational Strategies in the Holiness Code
Matthias Hopf, University of Zurich (25 min)
Discussion (5 min)
Wicked Cravings: The Construction of “Desire” in the Hebrew Bible
David A. Lambert, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (25 min)
Discussion (5 min)
Virtue-ing Emotions, Emotionalizing Virtues: σωφροσύνη “Self-Control/Sensibility” as the Equilibrium of Virtue and Emotions in the New Testament
Dogara Ishaya Manomi, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (25 min)
Discussion (5 min)
Emotions and the Biblical World and Virtue in Biblical and Cognate Literature (Joint Session 2) Session 2.1.5
Tuesday, 13th August, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Chair: Elisa Uusimaki, University of Helsinki
Abraham’s Happiness in Second Temple Literature: Tracing the Addition of Patriarchal Emotions across the Mediterranean
Daniel Christian Maier, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (25 min)
Discussion (5 min)
The Mixed Emotions of Jesus in the Context of his Friendship with Lazarus
Beata Urbanek, University of Silesia in Katowice (25 min)
Discussion (5 min)
General discussion (30 min)
EABS 2019 in Warsaw – Call for Papers
What did virtue/vice mean for Jews and Christians who lived in the ancient Mediterranean region? How did they discuss and practise virtue? What constituted their “moral vocabularies”? This research unit analyses conceptions of virtue (i.e. human activity regarded as good and thus desirable) in ancient Judaism and early Christianity (ca. 500 BCE – 300 CE). While scholars have typically searched for the roots of western virtue ethics in Greek philosophy, ancient Jewish and Christian sources cannot be ignored if the diversity of the Mediterranean virtue discourses is taken seriously. We will organize two sessions in Warsaw 2019. One of them welcomes papers on any topic related to virtue/vice in Jewish and Christian antiquity. The other is a theme session titled “Virtues/Vices and Emotions”, co-organized with the research unit “Emotions in the Biblical World”.This joint session will explore the intersection of emotions and virtues (and vices) in the biblical world and its broad context—including Hellenistic and Roman literature. Potential questions include: Are some terms sometimes treated as emotions, and sometimes as virtues/vices? Are emotions sometimes reshaped into virtues, and vice-versa? How can we explain this fluidity between emotions and virtues/vices? Papers presented in this session may also explore the intermingling of virtue/vice discourses and the discussion on emotions in various literary contexts. Do texts concerned with virtue/vice shape the emotional life of the intended audience, or do they prompt particular emotional responses?We welcome papers that explore these questions or any other topic that focuses on the crossroads of emotion and virtue/vice discourses.