BIAJS is pleased to announce that the University of Bristol will be hosting the annual BIAJS conference in July 2024 under the presidency of Bristol colleague Dr Karen Skinazi (Liberal Arts). A double success for Bristol and Jewish studies in the UK!

Don't forget to come say hello at our open day this Saturday! You can find us in the Arts Complex, 7 Woodland Road, from 9.30am until 4pm🤩🤓

We are delighted to announce our new research seminar series for 2023-24. we have some wonderful talks and all are open to anyone who is interested. As per our tradition, each talk will also be followed by a Q&A and a small reception with drinks and nibbles, so do join us!

Please join us for the second departmental research seminar of this academic year titled: "Shamanic Buddhism: The Visionary Nature of Meditative Experience in the Buddhist Tradition" by Mr Chris Williams (PhD Candidate, University of Bristol); Tuesday, 10 October, 4-6pm

Join us tomorrow! "Shamanic Buddhism: The Visionary Nature of Meditative Experience in the Buddhist Tradition", talk by Mr Chris Williams (PhD Candidate, University of Bristol) All are welcome! 4-6pm, GH01 of the ARTS Complex (via 7 Woodland road)

Congratulations @tobymatthiesen for being elected as a member of Royal Historical Society in recognition of your contribution to historical scholarship, in light of the recent publication of your global history of Sunni-Shii relations: "The Caliph and the Imam" (OUP, 2023).

We are hiring for a new lecturer in Christianity and Ethics! The position is full-time fixed funding for 24 months from August 2024 (closing date for applications: 12 January 2024). See the News section of our departmental website for further details and how to apply

Student prize news: Samantha Kelly Memorial Prize 2022-23 for 1st year and final year was awarded. Congratulations to Charlie Rogers (first year 2022-23) and Charlie Clark (final year 2022-23). Read more in the News section of our departmental website

On Tuesday 23 January our own Dr Sig Sønnesyn gave a talk in our research seminar series on "If you know, you know': Mystical experience as a form of knowing in medieval Christian thought'

Our next departmental research seminar, on Tues 30 Jan, 4pm-6pm - the student choice seminar for 2023-24! - will be by Professor Tim Cole, 'When digital humanities meets the Holocaust: the practice and ethics of applying digital methods to Holocaust studies'

See our full research seminar events programme here:

Our next departmental research seminar, on Tues 4 March, 4pm-6pm will be by Dr Floris Solleveld (University of Bristol), ‘Tapu and the Helpiman: Colonial Language Dynamics and Religious Syncretism in the Making of the ‘Global Bible’'

Our next departmental research seminar, on Tues 19 March, 4pm-6pm will be by Professor Hiroko Kawanami (Lancaster University), ‘From a fragrant arahant to a national security threat: a story of a blue-robe wearing unorthodox monk’

Our next departmental research seminar, on Tues 16 April 4pm-6pm will be by Professor Halle O'Neal (Edinburgh University), ‘Dead Letters: Women as Inventors in the Buddhist Epistolary Rituals of Medieval Japan’

A massive congratulations to Blair Thomson, Religion and Theology MPhil, who has won the Community Champion category of the Outstanding Plus Award for their dedication and commitment to supporting the wellbeing and resilience of youth and adults in communities across Glasgow.

We are very happy to announce that the new Samantha Kelly Memorial Prize for Study Abroad (MArts) Students for 2023-24 has been awarded to Anastasia O'Reilly and Zinnie Wright!

Dr Adam Willows joins the department! Adam is a theologian and philosopher specialising in ethics, philosophical theology and interdisciplinary engagement with the sciences. More about Adam and his work is visible at adamwillows.com.