14 November, 2022

We are honoured to welcome Professor Meghan R. Henning, Associate Professor of Christian Origins and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Dayton and Chair of the Healthcare and Disability in the Ancient World Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, to lead a session of the International Interfaith Reading Group on Eschatology in Interfaith Contexts.

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Here are the details of this fascinating event.

Topic: From Passive to Active: Gender and Atonement in Mary’s Tours of Hell

Abstract: Mary’s tours of hell were some of the most popular depictions of hell in late antiquity and the medieval period, particularly in the East. This forum will look at several different depictions of Mary’s descent to hell that span different time periods and geographic regions. The conversation will open with contextual background of each text, the tour of hell traditions in Judaism and Christanity, and a few “spoilers” regarding distinctive features of each text, we will read excerpts from two of the primary texts (the Ethiopic Liber Requiei and the Greek Apocalypse of Mary), and then discuss together what it meant for Mary to descend to hell as an “apocalyptic seer,” in her unique composite role as Mother, Apostle, Spiritual Mother, Intercessor, Redeemer, or Co-sufferer.

Speaker: Professor Meghan R. Henning, Associate Professor of Christian Origins and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Dayton, and Chair of the Healthcare and Disability in the Ancient World Section of the Society of Biblical Literature. She holds a Masters degree in Biblical Studies from Yale Divinity School, and a Doctorate in New Testament from Emory University. Meghan’s first book (Mohr Siebeck) on the pedagogical function of Hell in antiquity is entitled “Educating Early Christians through the Rhetoric of Hell.” Her second book, “Hell Hath No Fury: Gender, Disability and the Invention of Damned Bodies in Early Christianity” (Yale University Press) examines hell through the lenses of gender and disability studies. She is the recipient of grants and awards from the Jacob K. Javits foundation, the Society of Biblical Literature, Yale Divinity School, and Emory University and has appeared in a documentary for the National Geographic Channel and on CNN.

Chair: Professor Emmanouela Grypeou, Department of History of Religions, Stockholm University, Sweden.

Date: 14 November, 2022

Time: 18:00-19:00 GMT | 19:00-20:00 CEST | 10:00-11:00 PT | 12:00-13:00 CT | 13:00-14:00 ET

Venue: Online

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

After registering, you will receive a Zoom email containing information about joining the meeting.

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If you would like to join the Eschatology in Interfaith Contexts Reading Group, please sign up here.