It's a wrap

"New Directions in the Study of Animals and Religion", "Childhood Religious Education across Time and Traditions", "Faith-Based Community Organizing as Ecclesial Practice", "The Spirit in Community, Society, and World", "Black Girl Magic: Considering Contemporary Challenges and Black Women's Resistance", "Israel and the Nations in the Book of the Twelve". These are random examples of the literally hundreds of panel discussions that take place at the AAR/SBL. I can state with certainty that there is no other gathering in the world that provides opportunities to engage with cutting edge research and thinking in the realm of theology, study of sacred texts, and religious studies. When attending and participating in these panels, you are witnessing the advance of knowledge. It is an exciting and energizing experience.

I come away from my second AAR convention full of satisfaction. I was both challenged, inspired, and encouraged. I thank you for following along with me through this blog. I hope you will consider to experience the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature conference at some point in your seminary experience. The Student Enrichment Program (SEP) is available for you to cover the costs. It will be worth the time and effort.

A call to revolutionary love

Last night, Rev. Dr. William Barber spoke to the AAR. I thought perhaps, because this is an academic setting, that Rev. Barber may be more reserved and abstract. Maybe even take a few questions from the audience. Who was I kidding? It was a stirring manifesto, inspiring those of us gathered to rise to the sitz in leben and mobilize for revolutionary love. There were so many things he said. He challenged us to no longer use the left-right dichotomy. After all, why do you have to find yourself having to call those who you deeply disagree with the "right"? Nor should we continue identifying ourselves as either conservative or liberal. After all, don't we all want to conserve justice and desire liberty for all? He challenged us to reclaim moral language in the public square. It's not about conservative or progressive but right and wrong. How does this policy demonstrate love? How does this budget demonstrate love? How does this rhetoric demonstrate love? Are the poor and vulnerable at the center of the nation's concern or not? He appreciated the academy for all it does to train and form students, and to provide the necessary analysis in order to confront racism and classism in our nation. But he also urged the academy to get out of the class room and to reclaim the public square, taking the risk of being accused of "political religiosity." After all, progressive movements have always been fueled by moral language. He suggested that maybe in a few years the AAR convention will need to convene at the White House. He said so much else, so much I'm still trying to absorb. I will say that his address was a stirring, cathartic, and above all hopeful vision of what can happen, a third reconstruction of America.

Then there are the books

In the exhibit hall is located around 150 publishers displaying a selection of their books. Be still, my beating heart. After lunch, I will be spending, oh, three or four hours winding my way from aisle to aisle. Of course, I don't buy the books. They cost too much and I don't have a book expense account. But I do take a picture of the cover of books I'm interested in with the aspiration of taking those pictures to the library, otherwise known as the free book store.

AAR responds to the election cycle

It is a credit to the AAR that the election cycle and the outcome of the Trump election provoked last minute additions to the program. The president of the AAR, Dr. Serene Jones, gave her address with the title "Revolutionary Love." She also presided over a panel discussion on "Love and Hate in American Religion", which included Cornel West, Eddie S. Glaude, Mayra Rivera, and Amir Hussain. Michelle Alexander spoke this morning. Tomorrow morning Julian Castro, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will speak. And tomorrow night, surely to a packed room, will be Rev. William Barber, who will speak on "A Revolution of Love." At the last minute the program committee added a panel discussion around the theme "Critical Thinking, Inclusion, and Moral Responsibility in the Wake of the 2016 Election." And last, AAR and SBL have jointly organized a session for tomorrow morning called "Forum:Post-Trump Election." Needless to say, the guild is responding in a robust way to what I think many here consider to be an acute emergency in our national and perhaps global life. Yes, at AAR there is a lot of technical, insider discussions, speculations and assorted esoterica. But there is also a strong commitment to apply the creativity and scholarship of an amazing assortment of people to face squarely and responsibly the times in which we live. This ivory tower is porous.

Beautiful Sunday morning

I am spending this Sunday morning reading papers in preparation for a seminar I plan to attend tomorrow afternoon. It is a great benefit when presenters submit their papers in advance so that they can be thoughtfully read. The discussion is going to be rich! What I will attend is called the New Materialism, Religion, and Planetary Thinking Seminar. The theme is "Religion and Planetary Thinking: Immanence in the World's Religious Traditions." I am particularly looking forward to hearing from Mary Evelyn Tucker, John Grim, Joerg Rieger, and Catherine Keller.

I needed to get out and stretch my legs, so I decided to take a stroll along the River Walk. Another great thing about the AAR/SBL conference is that we move around from city to city. Great opportunities to explore.

Some pro tips

Here's one pro tip: the first few nights of AAR/SBL there are receptions. For instance, I attended a reception hosted by Wiley Blackwell Publishers, who were celebrating the launch of the 25th anniversary of Alister McGrath's Christian Theology. At these receptions are tasty and healthy snackies and wine. In other words, a light dinner that is free.

The bonus of attending these receptions is the opportunity to meet very interesting people for informal discussion. Neil Gaiser, who was with me, and myself were joined at our table by Dr. John Hart, who teaches Christian Ethics at Boston University. His expertise is around issues of ecology and ethics. Well, this gave me a great opening to talk with him about how ecology and justice is a central thrust of MTSO's vision, which gave him a lot of encouragement. He was not familiar with our institution. Plus, he shared with me some insights and suggestions related to my own interests. Just a fantastic conversation. So, yes, go to the receptions.

Pro tip number two: it is best to go to AAR with at least one other peer. It is great to run in to MTSO professors and say a quick word. But it is even better if you can share this experience with another student. Professors are very busy networking with their colleagues, preparing for presentations and running about. But as students we can soak it in and process all we are experiencing. I attended AAR last year but with no other students to talk to. I admit there were times I felt a bit lonely in the crowd of thousands. So, if you can go to AAR with a fellow student, it makes the experience that much better.

This pic is of Neil having a conversation with one of the scholars responsible for moving him from atheist to Christian: Alister McGrath.

The Gathering

People talking about Whitehead and Process and Reality while walking down the sidewalk. Dr. Cornel West greeting people in front of the convention center. I must be in the right place! I have my bright blue tote bag and my official name badge. This gets me into secured areas. There is a lot of positive energy among these people. If you ever felt alone as a theological geek, make every effort to attend the AAR/SBL convention. You will find yourself among your kind.

Getting Ready for AAR

I've got my rough itinerary laid out for my four days at the American Academy of Religion. There are lots of gaps to make room for visiting the massive book store and for mingling with people. Plus, I'll probably stumble upon some other sessions that look interesting.

For those of you at MTSO (or anyone else) who will be following me along, please feel free to post questions about the AAR experience. I'm going to send regular updates throughout my time there.