Society for Reformation Studies
26th Annual Conference
Tuesday 9 Apr 2019, 14:00 –Thursday 11 Apr 2019, 15.00.
Westminster College, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0AA United Kingdom
The Reformation and Heresy
Since the early church, heresy has been understood to be theological opinion that diverged from agreed, or orthodox, Christian teaching, especially as laid out in the Catholic creeds agreed by the ecumenical councils of the fourth- and fifth centuries. Historians of the early church, however, observe that heresy and orthodoxy were often defined through the same processes and that the naming of orthodoxy was associated with the rejection of positions deemed heretical. The medieval church developed catalogues of heresies which often had little to do with the actual positions of those deemed heretical. How did this complex history of the definition of heresy shape the Reformation? The theological debates that divided the Western church in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries resulted in multiple confessions, and in a plural doctrinal landscape. What constituted ‘orthodoxy’ became subject to debate as Christians on each side of the emerging confessional divides accused one another of ‘heresy’ and ‘novelty’, and clarified their own doctrinal stances in opposition to those of their opponents.
This conference explores the theme of heresy — and consequently of orthodoxy – in and after the Reformation. Papers might explore how heresy was defined, and by whom; they might consider the relationships between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, and the ways in which the theological and religious ‘other’ was constructed. They might explore connections between heresy and persecution on the one hand, and toleration on the other. Questions of persecution, martyrdom, and identity arise. How did theologians draw on the theological inheritance of the patristic church? What did they accept, what did they interpret and what did they reject? Which creeds did people use, and why? What did it mean in an increasingly plural doctrinal landscape to lay claim to Christian (or possibly ‘catholic’) orthodoxy?
Leading us in our deliberations will be Dr David Bagchi (Hull), Professor Carlos Eire (Yale) and Professor Charlotte Methuen (Glasgow). As always, papers which reflect the current work of participants, regardless of their relevance to the theme, are welcome. The conference is always particularly keen to hear communications from postgraduate and early career scholars.
For further information, contact Dr Stephen Hampton (swph2@cam.ac.uk) or Dr Allan Smith (srs.secretary@cantab.net).
Proposed paper titles together with an abstract (100-150 words) should be submitted by 10 January 2019 to Dr Stephen Hampton (swph2@cam.ac.uk). Registrations must be received by 31 January 2019.
To regiaster, please go to the conference’s Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-reformation-and-heresy-registration-50669520901
A booking form can also be downloaded here: SRS 2019 Booking Form-2f5zvkk