CFP--Emerging Normativities: Examining the Formation of Proto-Orthodox Christianities and Rabbinic Judaisms 200-800 CE

Call For Papers

Emerging Normativities: Examining the Formation of Proto-Orthodox Christianities and Rabbinic Judaisms 200-800 CE

September 21-22, 2011

St. Thomas More College

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Within the past thirty years scholarly understandings of the relationship between formative Judaism and formative Christianity have gone through several important shifts. Most recently Daniel Boyarin has posited that in their earliest phases Judaism and early Christianity were almost identical, differing only in the terminology used in their worship rather than in the epistemic structure of their theologies. Nevertheless, according to Boyarin, the leaders of both communities began inscribing boundaries around Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism, using the practices of the other group as examples of how not to believe and/or practice.

In this conference we wish to examine this hypothesis by focusing on the period wherein Boyarin believes the boundaries between the two groups became especially solidified, at least at the official level. Specifically this is the period post-Nicea (325-800 CE) on the Christian side and the Stammaitic period (500-800 CE) on the Jewish side. As a result, we ask contributors to consider how both the emerging Proto-Orthodox Christianities (Catholic, Orthodox, and Celtic) as well as the emerging Rabbinic Judaisms established both discursive and theological norms for their respective communities, or not as the case may be. We are also interested in drawing lines of continuity or discontinuity from the Ante-Nicene period as well as from the Tannaitic and Amoraic periods. In particular, we are interested in how Jewish and Christian norms may or may not have been established in counterpoint to the norms of different religious groups. Of specific concern is the manner in which these norms might have addressed the issue of the religious other, whether these others might have been Jewish, Christian, or pagan.

Our confirmed plenary speakers are Daniel Boyarin (UC Berkeley) and Anders Runesson (McMaster University). We also invite proposals for 20 minute paper presentations addressing both Jewish and Christian aspects of this problem for three panels defined by three historical periods: 0-200 CE; 200-500 CE; and 500-800 CE.

Proposals should be 250-300 words in length and submitted to Dr. Simon Lasair (slasair@stmcollege.ca) by March 31, 2011. Responses will be given by the end of April 2011. Students are encouraged to apply, with a cover letter from their supervisor. Also, submissions concerning the material cultures of the historical periods covered are especially encouraged.