CALL FOR PAPERS

Noli me tangere in Interdisciplinary Perspective

Faculty of Theology
Faculty of Arts
KULeuven, Belgium

December 17 to 19, 2009

Description:

The conference “Noli me tangere in Interdisciplinary Perspective” aims
at an international conference of researchers on one specific verse,
namely John 20:17: “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not touch me (or: do not
touch me, Greek: mê mou haptou), because I have not yet ascended to the
Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my
Father and your Father, to my God and your God’”, the verse that some
have labelled the most difficult verse of the fourth gospel.

The disciplines of exegesis, literature study, philosophy, art history
and practical theology will collaborate in this conference to
investigate the meaning, reception history and present-day relevance of
“mê mou haptou” in John 20:17. The element of continuity in this
multidisciplinary study of John 20:17 is the theme of
touching/holding/letting go.

The conference will mark the completion of an interdisciplinary research
project, sponsored by the Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders
(2005-2009) “Mary Magdalene and the Touching of Jesus. An Intra- and
Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Interpretation of John 20:17 in
Exegesis, Iconography and Pastoral Care”. It is a cooperation of
researchers of the Faculty of Theology and the Faculty of Arts of the
K.U.Leuven and of Saint Paul University Ottawa. For more information
concerning this research project, its activities and publications,
please visit: www.nolimetangere.net.

Guidelines for Proposals:

Scholars, including junior scholars are encouraged to submit paper
proposals that address the main theme of the Conference ‘Noli me tangere
in Interdisciplinary Perspective’. Papers can focus on the meaning, the
relevance and/or the reception of the noli me tangere motif. Proposals
to study this theme from an exegetical, reception-historical, literary,
philosophical, art historical or pastoral theological perspective are
welcome.

Paper presentations should be delivered in English and should be
approximately 20 minutes in length. At the conference they will be given
in the format of parallel sessions. They are scheduled on December 18
and 19, 2009 between noon and 1 pm.

Paper proposals should be accompanied by an abstract of 200-250 words in
English. We are planning to publish the papers of the conference with an
international publisher based on a peer review process.

Please send your paper proposals with the abstract as an attachment to
the Noli me tangere Research Project, at the following e-mail address:
nolimetangeretheo.kuleuven.be. The proposal submission deadline is
April 1, 2009.

Additional Information: nolimetangeretheo.kuleuven.be

--