Building bridges towards a more humane society : explorations in contextual biblical interpretation on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Bridging Gaps exchange program

Abstract

In 1994, the Bridging Gaps programme started with four students at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Now, the programme that is aimed at engaging students in contextual theological reflections and intercultural exchange yearly brings a group of 15 students from all over the world to Amsterdam. This volume is the depiction and elaboration of the eponymous symposium that was held in 2020 to celebrate the Bridging Gaps programme’s 25th anniversary. Contributors are people who have been engaging with the programme as students, staff or representatives of partner organisations. This volume is divided into two: ‘Contextual theology and contextual biblical interpretation as catalysts for academic theology’ and ‘A catalyst for community: contextual theology and churches.’ The first part covers issues as LGBTQI+ acceptance, economy and impoverishment, gender-based violence and the position of women in biblical texts and churches. The second part of the volume concerns how local communities respond to a migration crisis and climate crisis.