Rethinking Eve: New Insights into the Genesis Story
“Eve is the protagonist. She’s the one who reasons; she weighs options; she acts, and she moves history forward. It’s a deliberate, reasoned choice.” An interview with Shawna Dolansky.
The Complicated Lives of Enslaved Women of the Bible
One of the things that I hope that comes out of my research is a centering of women's experience and a centering of these most marginalized of women in our readings of the text. An interview with Dr. Christy Cobb
The Easter Women
We do not hear about these women, as if neither we nor early Christians believed they were important. Yet some early Christians apparently believed that these women were of extraordinary importance to the faith. An interview with Dr. Ally Kateusz
What Was Jesus’s Religious Life Like?
You should expect the unexpected. Be ready for a lot of diversity. Sometimes as scholars, we try to smooth away things that seem unusual to try to make them fit with the greater body of evidence. An interview with Dr. Meredith J. C. Warren
Demonic Origins and Magdalene
This discussion explores the origins of demons in Christian traditions, focusing on their role in shaping spiritual beliefs, the concept of demons as malevolent forces, and Mary Magdalene’s association with demons. Presenter: Dr. Tupá Guerra with host Dr. Shirley Paulson
Apostles, Power, and Women’s Bodies
We will consider how early Christian narratives emphasized standards of sexual abstinence as a means of spiritual flourishing for others, particularly for the apostles of Jesus, and how women’s bodies drive these narratives. Presenter: Mallory Challis with host Dr. Shirley Paulson
Macrina: A Remarkable 4th-Century Christian Woman
If Gregory didn't write about her, we wouldn't necessarily know about her. I think those virtues are tied into how she relates to the body, how she thinks about death and the community that she builds around herself. An interview with Dr. Erin Galgay Walsh.
Marriage and Singleness in Early Christianity: Attitudes and Practices
Along the way, Paul also makes quite a telling statement about his and probably these early communities’ views of conjugal rights – that they are mutual! Marriage partners have authority over one another’s bodies. An Interview with Dr. Susan (Elli) Elliott.
Wisdom for Today from Extracanonical Texts
Learn about eight of the modern discoveries of ancient, second-century Jesus-oriented texts. They demonstrate both their diversity and their shockingly relevant meaning for today. Presenters: Dr. Hal Taussig, Natalie Perkins, and Dr. Shirley Paulson
Jewish and Christian Women of Antiquity
It is difficult to learn about the lives of Jewish and Christian women in antiquity because most of the written history was written by men who embodied the prevalent male-dominating attitudes of the era. Presenters: Dr. Sara Parks and Dr. Shirley Paulson
Gospel of Thomas and Gender Constructions
Gender is an important construct in a wide range of writings from the early Jesus peoples and groups. One of the most interesting of these writings to consider when it comes to gender is the Gospel of Thomas.
Jesus, Gender, and the Importance of Christian Art
This discussion focuses on the role of art in our understanding of Jesus. Chad Venters will explore the ancient concepts of gender and how these concepts may surprise us, especially our mental images of Jesus. Presenters: Dr. Chad Venters and Dr. Shirley Paulson