The Criticism of Heaven and Earth. Two issues have returned with vigour to public debate: the role of religion in secular society and the relation between theology and political theory. This project provides a much needed reference work that sets the current debates within a long and rich tradition. Apart from enabling us to avoid the mistakes of the past, it also brings to the fore forgotten solutions to such issues. Further, given the central role of many of these critics in a range of discipl ....The Criticism of Heaven and Earth. Two issues have returned with vigour to public debate: the role of religion in secular society and the relation between theology and political theory. This project provides a much needed reference work that sets the current debates within a long and rich tradition. Apart from enabling us to avoid the mistakes of the past, it also brings to the fore forgotten solutions to such issues. Further, given the central role of many of these critics in a range of disciplines, the series will have repercussions across a wide range of discussions within Australia and abroad. Finally, is a further step in international leadership emanating from Australia.Read moreRead less
Political Myth and the Bible: Critical Theory, Politics and the Problem of Mythic Narrative in the Bible. Along with cultural studies and postcolonial theory, Australia is emerging as a significant international location for innovative biblical studies (the international conference at Monash in 2001, new e-journal The Bible and Critical Theory, and the Bible and Critical Theory Seminar). The project would establish Australia further in this role. The specific concern with contemporary politics i ....Political Myth and the Bible: Critical Theory, Politics and the Problem of Mythic Narrative in the Bible. Along with cultural studies and postcolonial theory, Australia is emerging as a significant international location for innovative biblical studies (the international conference at Monash in 2001, new e-journal The Bible and Critical Theory, and the Bible and Critical Theory Seminar). The project would establish Australia further in this role. The specific concern with contemporary politics in relation to both Israel and Australia has a direct bearing on current debates and policy concerning religion, culture, politics and education. Issues include the influence of "Israel" as a political fantasy for Australia, the continued role of the Bible, and implications for Australian attitudes in relation to Islam and Islamic countries.Read moreRead less
Elephants in the sacred grove: a transcultural history of Thomas Jones and the Calvinistic Methodist mission to the Khasi Hills. This project will assert the central role of religion in shaping cultural, political and ethnic identity, through an analysis of the Christian evangelical encounter in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, India, and in particular the work of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist missionary Thomas Jones (1810-1849). It will challenge current views of the simplistic relationship between m ....Elephants in the sacred grove: a transcultural history of Thomas Jones and the Calvinistic Methodist mission to the Khasi Hills. This project will assert the central role of religion in shaping cultural, political and ethnic identity, through an analysis of the Christian evangelical encounter in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, India, and in particular the work of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist missionary Thomas Jones (1810-1849). It will challenge current views of the simplistic relationship between missions and colonial order, exploring missionaries' spiritual, modernising and imperialist ideologies, as well as indigenous negotiations and adaptations of the missionary project. This will provide a significant new base for understanding the historical trajectory of Christianisation and acculturation, and inform contemporary debates about reconciliation and decolonisation.Read moreRead less
Ethics and encyclopaedic culture in 13th-century France: adaptation, diffusion and contexts of innovation in the Speculum morale and its sources. This project will contribute to awareness of the ethical foundations of the Western intellectual tradition, both philosophical and religious, through studying an influential encyclopaedia of ethical instruction from 1300, known as the Speculum morale and its relationship to the evolution of ethical teaching in France during the 13th century. It will de ....Ethics and encyclopaedic culture in 13th-century France: adaptation, diffusion and contexts of innovation in the Speculum morale and its sources. This project will contribute to awareness of the ethical foundations of the Western intellectual tradition, both philosophical and religious, through studying an influential encyclopaedia of ethical instruction from 1300, known as the Speculum morale and its relationship to the evolution of ethical teaching in France during the 13th century. It will develop text similarity detection software for use with Latin texts, and by implication within humanistic studies more generally. Through connecting with an international research project into medieval encyclopaedic culture, it will enable Australian expertise in both medieval studies and information technology to become internationally recognised.Read moreRead less