Saint Martin's summer institute on scriptural manuscripts

IN JULY AT SAINT MARTIN'S UNIVERSITY: Written Word Comes Alive at the 2015 Saint Martin’s Spiritual Life Institute (Thurston Talk).

Founded in 1982 by beloved Saint Martin’s Professor Fr. Kilian Malvey, O.S.B., the series is now facilitated by Associate Prof. Ian Werrett, Ph.D., a member of the university’s religious studies faculty. The Institute is offered as an undergraduate course in religious studies, for continuing education credit and for members of the community. The 2015 Institute will be July 6-10 on the Saint Martin’s University campus.

This year, the speakers showcase ‘Illustrated Manuscripts, Scribal Practices and the Transmission of Scripture.’ Guest speakers Stephen Delamarter, Ph.D., Hanna Tervanotko, Ph.D., and Katie Bugyis, P.D., will spotlight many diverse global and historical traditions of written scripture.

They will delve into the roles people have played in producing Scripture — its writing, editing and copying – and the various ways in which their activity is reflected in scribal practices, as well as the material evidence that remains. “Each of our speakers approach the daily subtopics from a slightly different angle, and the result is often quite dynamic and powerful,” Werrett says of the Institute’s format. “This year, we have speakers who are experts in Ethiopic scribal practices, medieval Catholicism and ancient Judaism. A program like the Spiritual Life Institute provides residents with a rare opportunity to be exposed to a variety of ideas and concepts that they wouldn’t ordinarily encounter; whether a person of faith or not, attendees will find the discussions to be enlightening, challenging and relevant.”

Sounds worthwhile if you are in the area. As I have noted before (most recently here), Professor Werrett was one of my doctorals students.