Abstract
The prophets of the Hebrew Bible used all sorts of unusual actions to get their message across in the public arena. Can they be an inspiration for a public theology institution nudging up against the Parliamentary Triangle in the nation's capital? How can the prophets inspire our engagement in the spheres of politics and society in our day?This paper is informed by 'Biblical Performance Criticism,' a newly emerging discipline amongst Biblical scholars. As a method it analyses the ancient Biblical texts for inherently performative themes and features. It is especially applicable to the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible where the prophets are 'actors' who live out the drama of their message in their own bodies and experiences.This paper will introduce Biblical prophets: faithful followers of Yahweh who are nonetheless required to perform symbolic acts that render them vulnerable to mocking and scorn by those to whom the messages are directed. This paper will ask whether the risky performances of prophets in the public sphere reinforce or detract from their message, and whether such a model is still appropriate today.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | Global Network for Public Theology |
| Subtitle of host publication | 3rd Triennial Consultation |
| Publisher | Biblical Performance Criticism website |
| Pages | 1-9 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
| Event | The Changing Face of Christianity in the 21st Century - Canberra, Australia Duration: 01 Sept 2010 → 05 Sept 2010 |
Conference
| Conference | The Changing Face of Christianity in the 21st Century |
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| Country/Territory | Australia |
| Period | 01/09/10 → 05/09/10 |