Apocalypticism and Millenarian Movements in the Ancient World

Virtual Symposium: 14 August 2020
Deadline for Submissions: 25 July 2020

Predictions of the end of the world? Metaphors for social and political transformation? Language of a scribal elite? Voice of the marginalised? Hope in trouble times? Creation of a persecution complex? Means of control and categorisation? Exclusive access to divine authority? Literary genre? Since the 1970s the study of apocalyptic literature, apocalypticism, and millenarian movements in the ancient world has received a remarkable amount of scholarly attention from experts working on a range of material from different historical, literary and cultural contexts. The aim of this online symposium is to bring together researchers working on these interrelated approaches and to generate discussion across academic fields.

We work with a broad understanding of ‘apocalypticism’ and related terms, and we will also consider papers which interrogate the conventional categories or assess possible precursors to such ideas. We also work with a relatively broad understanding of ‘ancient world’, from the Ancient Near East to the Roman Mediterranean, and so the term is not restricted to (but certainly includes) the areas of Hebrew Bible, Christian origins, and early Judaism. We welcome submissions on case studies, thematic issues, textual analysis, and theoretical approaches. Presentations may take the form of a short academic paper or a summary of a potential or ongoing research project. We encourage presentation of early-stage and speculative discussion points as well as more developed material.

Recognizing the limitations of the current global situation, the symposium will take place virtually/online.

Academics working within these themes are invited to propose short papers (10 minutes) as the basis for discussion within the symposium.

Paper proposals with a 200-word abstract and details of academic affiliation should be submitted to the organizers, Prof. James Crossley (St Mary’s University, Twickenham) and Dr Alastair Lockhart (University of Cambridge), at conference@censamm.org by 25 July 2020. The event is organized by the Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements (CenSAMM) www.censamm.org. There is no charge for participation.

See https://censamm.org/conferences