Call for Papers Conference: The Challenge of Poverty, May 29-31, 2024
3 juli, 2023
Call for Papers Conference:
The Challenge of Poverty. Theological Responses in Early Christian Literature and Global Christian History
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The Challenge of Poverty. Theological Responses in Early Christian Literature and Global Christian History
May 29-31, 2024
Åbo Akademi University, Turku (Åbo), Finland
Call for Papers
One of the most prominent challenges in New Testament literature is the call for anyone with a surplus of economic resources to share with those of lesser means, so that no significant economic differences persist within the Christian community. This ideal of voluntary poverty is very visible in extracanonical apostle stories, patristic biographies, and medieval monastic orders, and gains a whole new significance in the encounter between Western missionaries and non-European peoples that formed the global Christian community of today. How has this challenge been met at various points in global church history, and is it possible to form a theology of poverty that is neither simplified nor naïve?
To study this problem, we are inviting scholars to an interdisciplinary colloquium to be held in Turku (Åbo), Finland, May 29–31, 2024. In addition to the keynote speakers, senior scholars, postdocs, and PhD students are invited to send in their abstracts (100–200 words) for a short paper to contribute to the discussion, approaching the challenge of poverty from the perspective of any historical text or situation in early Christian literature, ecclesiastical history, and world Christianity. Short papers will be 20 minutes long, and followed by 8–10 minutes of discussion. The organizers will seek to have select papers published in a conference volume or special journal issue.
Keynote Speakers
John Barclay, Durham University
Helen Rhee, Westmont College
Susan Holman, Valparaiso University
Elina Vuola, University of Helsinki
Chammah Kaunda, Yonsei University
Mika Vähäkangas, Åbo Akademi University
Important Dates
Call for paper opens: September 15, 2023
Call for paper closes: November 15, 2023
Selection process finalized: December 1, 2023
Deadline for registration: April 15, 2024. The registration is open and you can register here.