The Bible and Trauma
The Candler Foundry
Course Information
Course Dates: October 12- November 16, 2023
Course Time: Thursdays, 7:00 PM- 8:15 PM EDT (Online)
Meeting ID: 951 6187 0288
Passcode: 803511
Course Description
What does it look like to approach the Bible from the lens of trauma? How can Scripture inform the way we respond to our own experiences of violence, grief, injustice, and dislocation? How can trauma impact faith and spirituality? In what ways did the Bible function as a form of trauma literature for ancient Israel and the early church? Join us as we explore these and other questions related to the intersection of Scripture, trauma, faith, and healing.
For more information, please email our Coordinator of Courses in the Community, Damellys Sacriste, at candlerfoundry@emory.edu.
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Meet the Instructors
Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio
Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio joined the Candler faculty in 2018 as an Assistant Professor in the Practice of Old Testament. He also serves as director of The Candler Foundry, a new initiative that seeks to bridge the gap between the church and the academy by making seminary-level learning accessible and engaging for the broader public. He previously taught at Columbia Theological Seminary and served as the John H. Stembler Scholar in Residence at the First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Atlanta. His work through The Candler Foundry offers opportunities for theological exploration outside of Candler’s formal degree programs, including the TheoEd Talks speaker series, in-depth courses led by Candler faculty for churches or communities, and a new initiative supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. that will develop networks of clergy and lay leaders to explore ministry innovations and challenges.
If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to reach out to Ryan at rbonfig@emory.edu.
Rev. Dr. Andrea Byer-Thomas
Rev. Dr. Byer-Thomas has served as a senior pastor in the United Methodist Florida conference since 2011. In her work, she preaches prophetically and is unafraid to address social ills through contextual Biblical lenses. Her personal mission is to know God and make God known, living fully, the life she has. She is driven by her deep love for her family and God’s justice.
If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to reach out to Andrea at basics2@hotmail.com.
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Courses in the Community: On Demand
Please check this section regularly for your weekly course recordings and important updates. If you are experiencing any delays or issues, please email our Coordinator of Digital Initiatives, Cristha Lea at candlerfoundry@emory.edu.
Week 1
October 12, 2023
Week 1 Activity:Read the story of Cain and Abel (Gen 4:1-16) and reflect on the following questions related to the 3 dimensions of trauma and the Bible discussed in our session:
1) Where do you see trauma in the story?
2) Assuming Genesis 4 was written during the exile, what questions do you think this story would raise for those experiencing exile? Are there any ways it might point to hope and healing for this audience?
3) How do your own experiences of trauma impact your reading of this text? What feelings, questions, or insights do you notice?
Week 2
October 19, 2023
Week 2 ActivityWrite your own psalm of lament. Try to follow the basic pattern of lament that we learned about in class, but make the language and imagery your own. You should feel free to withhold the turn to trust and praise (as in Psalm 88) or end with words of rage (as in Psalm 137). Try praying the prayer your wrote throughout the week, and reflect on the experience.
