Progressive Christianity Network Malvern
Welcome to the Progressive Christianity Network (PCN) Malvern
A group for all who value an open, progressive and theologically radical voice within British Christianity, and want to maintain and promote that generous understanding of faith.
PCN Malvern organises various activities including courses and discussion meetings in a variety of formats and different times - see the Programme for details
Radical Biblical Rewriting in the 20th and 21st centuries
Dr Anthony Swindell
7.30pm Thursday 10th April 2025
Friends Meeting House, 1 Orchard Road, Malvern, WR14 3DA
This evening, I will look at some radical literary rewritings of biblical tropes, concentrating on those of Uriah, Job, and Mary Magdalene. Beginning with a run-through of terms useful in the classification of types of rewriting (most people are familiar with "Sequel" and "Prequel"), we will trace the outline reception histories of these three tropes and consider the proposition that meaning is added to texts through time and that the quest for the "original meaning" can be illusory, or at least severely limiting.
Anthony Swindell lives in Mid Wales and is Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Chester and Literature Area Editor, The Encyclopedia of the Bible & Its Reception. He is an active member of the Society for Biblical Literature and the International Society for Religion, Literature and Culture and has been a lifelong member of the Folklore Society. In 2012 Anthony was awarded a Lambeth D.D. in recognition of his scholarship and research in the field of Biblical Reception Studies and his particular contribution to theological reflection and debate. He is author of How Contemporary Novelists Rewrite Stories from the Bible: The Interpretation of Scripture in Literature (2009); Reworking the Bible: The Literary Reception-History of Fourteen Biblical Stories (2010); Extreme Literary Rewritings of the Bible (2019); Going to Extremes in Biblical Rewritings: Radical Literary Retellings of Biblical Tropes (2023).
This meeting will also be broadcast via zoom. Please email for details.
About the Progressive Christianity Network
The Progressive Christianity Network Britain (A Registered Charity No 1102164) works to promote and support open and contemporary Christian understanding. We provide a network of local groups across the country, publish a radical quarterly newsletter, and organise regular conferences and events. Members come from all denominations, and we enjoy links with other progressive Christian movements around the world.
The Network recognises the value and significance of tradition and the scriptures in the shaping of Christian faith. But faith must be of today, not just the past. We value the Eight Points first formulated by the Center for Progressive Christianity in America and adapted for the UK by PCN Britain, not as a creed or a statement of faith, but as an expression of how we live as Christians.
PCN Malvern began in 2015 and continues many PCN-related activites that have taken place in the town for some years.
Links
Here are some links to sites that are worth exploring. If you have suggestions of your own, please email to info@pcnmalvern.org.uk
Progressive Christianity Network Britain - the website of the Progressive Christianity Network in Britain (PCN-Britain)
Marcus J. Borg Foundation - The Marcus J. Borg Foundation is dedicated to the promotion of progressive Christian thought, education & discipleship.
Progressivechristianity.org - the website of the network from which PCN-Britain sprang
A New Christianity for a New World - Bishop John Shelby Spong on the news and Christian faith
Centre for Action and Contemplation - founded by Richard Rohr, the Centre for Action and Contemplation seeks to empower individuals to live out their sacred soul tasks in service to the world through educational programmes and resources
Contact us
For further information please email us at info@pcnmalvern.org.uk.
Alternatively, fill out the form and we shall contact you shortly: