But they also come from natural sciences, physical sciences, political science, art and media studies, creative writing, engineering, medicine, sociology, public policy, economics, and so much more. And isn’t that what we emphasize so clearly at Duke-the interdisciplinary, interpersonal, interfaith, international, interwoven identities of people, places, and things? Is that not what research is all about in the end? Perhaps the purpose of biblical research is not as foreign to us as we may think at first.ĭegree-seekers may come from expertise in literature, classical studies, practical faith, or other backgrounds that may easily come to mind. “I tend to focus on ideas of embodiment, beauty, and inter- and intra- personal relationships.”īoth students-along with countless other Blue Devils and other mascot identities-use their studies as a lens through which to examine themselves and their passions. “As a theologian and dancer, I use my background in dance to assist my understanding of the Bible.” Kallson explains. She is pursuing a Master’s of Theological Studies with a Certificate in Theology and the Arts. Or take Divinity School student Nicole Kallson. By “zooming in,” delving into the details and contexts, biblical research enables us to simultaneously “zoom out” – to see what things we are taking for granted, where our readings have led us, and how we take our readings into other spheres of life.” Image courtesy of Nicole Kallson (as part of her course Introduction to Theology and the Arts) He notes: “Biblical research sheds light on how everyday activities effectively shape history and are also shaped by history. student at Duke, Whelan runs a website for film aficionados focusing on analyzing movie scenes and was recently published in Quarterly Review of Film and Video for an article on theology and film.

To the uninitiated, “biblical research” might not conjure up images of dancing, or analyzing films, or studying engineering. This is part one of a two-part series next week we will dive into the nitty-gritty of biblical research, but for now, we’re focusing on what biblical research is and why it matters.

Biblical research videos