Location:

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Graduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

Millions of people read the Bible every day, in hundreds of languages and versions, and every one of them interprets it in their own way. For some, every verse is to be taken literally; others draw their inspiration more selectively and figuratively. How each of us experiences the Bible may be influenced as much by who and where we are as by our own view of faith and religious observance. In this course you explore the many different ways the Bible is studied and understood, and how they come about. Theories abound as to how Scripture should be read, but what actually happens when people engage with it “for real”? What does biblical reception really entails?

Drawing upon cutting-edge research into contextual and empirical hermeneutics, topics covered include the use of the Bible in theological education, different approaches to its interpretation (contextual, canonical, historical-critical) and the “South-to-North” transfer of contextual hermeneutics. 

Case studies look at how the Bible is read in such contexts as Israel/Palestine and amongst the indigenous peoples of Latin America. On our own doorstep, the multicultural, multi-ethnic, multifaith city of Amsterdam provides unrivalled opportunities to investigate how different communities and congregations, from traditional churches to pioneering urban missions, interact with “the Word”.

Cost:

€1150 (not including housing) Included in the tuition fee are: • Airport pick-up service • Orientation programme • Course excursions • On-site support • 24/7 emergency assistance • Transcript of records after completion of the course

Additional Program Information

Scholarships:

Yes

Scholarships Description:

The VU Amsterdam Summer School offers ten scholarships that cover the full tuition and housing fees of one course. Information about how to apply for the scholarship will be posted on the VU Amsterdam Summer School website.