How many words for one God? Martin Prudký on the Colloquium Biblicum symposium.












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            9. 5. 2011; By: Marie Kohoutová; Translation: Pavla Horáková

            On April 27th – 30th 2011, the Charles University Protestant Theological Faculty hosted th
            of the Colloquium Biblicum international symposium. Two dozen members of this exclusive so
            experts from different European countries studied important aspects of Biblical texts that

            the religious systems of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and have been instrumental for th
            traditions of European civilisation. In the following interview, the main organizer of the
            Biblicum, doc. ThDr. Martin Prudký, Charles University Prorector for Student Affairs and h

            Department of Old Testament Studies at the Protestant Theological Faculty, talks about thi
            symposium whose theme focused on the linguistic and rhetorical aspects of the “monotheisti

            in Biblical and related traditions.                                                       
            doc. ThDr. Martin Prudký, Charles UniWhy is it important to study the linguistic and rheto
            Prorector for Student Affairs and heaBecause even in the 21st century the Bible remains a 
            Department of Old Testament Studies acivilisation. The theme of this year’s colloquium, de
                                                                                                      
            University Protestant Theological Facexclusiveness but also intolerance towards “the other
                                                 have been the pillars of our culture is very importan
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
            So can we say that until there is peace among the religions there will be no peace among u
            goes?

            Yes, that is Hans Küng’s thesis from his world ethos project – until there is peace among 
            there will not be peace on earth, political peace, peace among people. It is very true. Ev
            we can see that religions and religious motivation are often used as an ideological weapon

            potential is being used as an instrument by those in power who wish to use it for their ow
            And it is our task as theologians, who deal with these things critically, to study them an
            instance to analyze the potentials of certain canonical texts and explain for example how 

            “sharp rhetoric” can be if we direct it towards ends the texts themselves do not reckon wi
            The historical and ideological context of Biblical texts was another topic on the agenda. 
            of the matter there?

            It may come as a surprise to many people that as regards the Bible and ancient Israel, mon
            some given, indisputable thing, a dogmatic axiom with general validity. Biblical themes, J
            later Christian tradition are often regarded as “naturally” monotheistic. As if it were gi

            that there is only one God. But monotheism, even in ancient Israel, emerged under specific
            conditions and its features gradually formed in a process that had its stages and reformin
            we are trying to study the concrete aspects of this very complex process – where and how i

            process can be traced, which Biblical texts contributed to the emergence of monotheism and
            is a fairly detailed and difficult research.
            The Charles University Protestant Theological Faculty is the single organizer of the collo

            its history and who is it meant for? Is it only for researchers or is it open to students 
            students?
            The Protestant Theological Faculty organizes the colloquium every year and the core of the

            to the seminars from the time before the fall of communism. Since 1989 the Department of O
            Studies has organized these colloquia on a regular, annual basis. Some of our colleagues f
            and abroad have taken part in all of the 19 years. But every year new people join in. The 

            mainly meant for researchers, it strives to be a platform for dialogue, a sort of internal
            mutual presentation of the results of our work. Of course, it is open to students, too, ma
            students from our department. They contribute actively to the programme with their own pap

            always a number of master’s students who are interested in these issues.
            Thank you for talking to iForum.