L. Gregory Bloomquist
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Sociorhetorical interpretation

Over the past half-century, rhetorical analysis of Biblical texts has been drawing increasing attention. Since the late 1980s, one of the most exciting initiatives has been sociorhetorical interpretation as envisioned by Vernon K. Robbins (Emory).  (For a brief discussion of my recent work, see the 2007 issue of Expansion (Saint Paul University Research Services).)

Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity

Sociorhetorical interpretation is being used to produce commentary on the Biblical text in the form of the Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity series (RRA). The series, edited by Vernon K. Robbins and Duane F. Watson, will consist of sociorhetorical commentaries on the Bible and other ancient religious literature. Volumes in this series will include an introductory volume by Vernon Robbins, and volumes on the biblical books by an array of well-known scholars in rhetoric and biblical studies. The series will be published by Deo Publishing. 

 

 


 
 

 

Regular Meetings

Authors of RRA commentaries, members of the collegia that collectively edit these volumes, and other RRA members meet at least four times over the course of the year:

  1. Collegia meetings (annually in conjunction with the meetings of the Eastern Great Lakes Biblical Society)
  2. Collegia & working sessions on sociorhetorical interpretation (annually during the summer at different places: past working sessions have met in Ashland, OH, Atlanta, GA, Ottawa, ON,  and Barbourville, KY.)
  3. Collegia, working sessions, & annual meeting of the RRA - SBL steering committee (annually, on the Friday morning and afternoon prior to the start of the annual meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature: held annual since the SBL annual meeting in Toronto 2002)
  4. Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity Group of the Society of Biblical Literature (annually during the Society of Biblical Literature annual meetings: from 2004-2010 the RRA meetings were an SBL Seminar, as chaired by Prof. David de Silva. Beginning in 2011, the RRA Seminar becomes the RRA Group, as chaired by Prof. L. G. Bloomquist)
    • The RRA - SBL meetings will follow three tracks from 2011-2013:
      •  New Horizons for sociorhetorical interpretation
        • These sessions will highlight interdisciplinary interfaces with sociorhetorical interpretation.
      • An analytical seminar 
        • In these sessions we will showcase in a public forum what we do in sociorhetorical interpretation and how we do it, by examining in a seminar format a short text.
      • Refining sociorhetorical interpretation
        • In these sessions we will build on the foundation laid by Vernon Robbins in Exploring the Texture of Texts, The Tapestry of Early Christian Discourse, Invention of Christian Discourse, and his various articles in order to refine particular aspects of sociorhetorical interpretation that call for further attention.

2012 Meetings

 

MARCH 23-24, 2012

Collegia meetings (in conjunction with the meetings of the Eastern Great Lakes Biblical Society, Richfield, OH)

  • March 23: 9 AM - 12 Noon: RRA Presentation sessions (to propose a paper, contact Scott Eliott, Adrian College)
  • March 23: 1.30 PM - 5.00 PM: RRA Working Group:
  • March 23: 7.00 PM - 9.30 PM: RRA Working Group:
  • March 24: 8.30 AM - 12 Noon: RRA Working Group:
  • March 24: 2.00 PM - 6.00 PM: RRA Working Group:
  • March 24: Supper: Informal Supper for RRA Working Group members
 For further information and documentation, contact Vernon K. Robbins
 

JUNE 2012

Collegia and Summer Working sessions

For further information, contact Prof. L. G. Bloomquist
 
 
 

 NOVEMBER 16-20, 2012

RRA Working Sessions / Collegia (in conjunction  with the annual meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature annual meetings, Chicago)

RRA Sessions (Nov. 16, 2012)
  • Collegia and Working Group Sessions (8.30-12.30)
  • Collegia and Working Group Sessions (2.00-5.30)
RRA / SBL Sessions (Nov. 17-20, 2012)
  • New Horizons for sociorhetorical interpretation: Recent advances in cognitive science and their significance for sociorhetorical interpretation
  • Analytical seminar: Philemon - led by Roy Jeal
  • Refining sociorhetorical interpretation:  social and cultural texture
For further information, contact Prof. L. Gregory Bloomquist

2013
Advanced planning for RRA Meetings at the SBL Annual Meeting (Baltimore, MD, November 22-26, 2013):
  • New Horizons for sociorhetorical interpretation: The significance of material culture for sociorhetorical interpretation
  • Analytical Seminar: Jude (led by Bob Webb)
  • Refining sociorhetorical interpretation: Refining narrational texture

 

   

 

RRA-L
 
In order to keep in touch regarding activities and contribute to the discussion, please join the mailing list (RRA-L) by contacting me HERE and indicating your desire to join RRA-L.
 
Please provide your name and email address in the text of your message to me in the following form: firstname lastname <emailaddress@provider.domain> Please also indicate the relevance of your present work to the RRA project.




 
 
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