Theorizing Scriptures: New Critical Orientations to a Cultural Phenomenon

Preface

xi Preface This book contains revised essays that were originally read as papers for the inaugural conference of the Institute for Signifying Scriptures. Convened February 27–28, 2004, at the Claremont Graduate University, the conference was international, in terms of the mix of participants and attendees, and comparative and multidisciplinary , in terms of intellectual focus and orientation. The conference papers were responses to the conference-opening paper that I had written and distributed ahead of time to participants. My paper was intended to serve as springboard for thinking and discussion. Participants were asked to use my paper “to think with”—about “scriptures” in particular, about the aim of the ISS to model a different research and academic-intellectual programmatic orientation to scriptures. They were not charged to respond necessarily and directly to my paper, but to find a place or opening to join and extend the thinking and the conversation. Conference participants were divided into one of several conceptual-organizing categories that had been identified on the program with basic or fundamental questions and issues to be raised. These categories as questions or issues and the placement of participants as book contributors have been for the most part retained. But for the sake of greater clarity and in response to some suggestions, some categories have been collapsed or slightly renamed. And because of some changes in the focus of their revised papers, a few participants have been shifted from one category to another. My original conference paper has been revised, corrected , and elaborated upon. But the basic orientation—including the challenge to enter into conversation about “scriptures” on the terms suggested by the organizing questions and issues—remains. This book represents a complex project that has required the assistance and commitment of a number of persons. I express my gratitude to: The conference participants and essay writers, many of whom continue to be conversation partners who teach me much. ISS research assistants—John Adams, Melody Cruz, Kenzie Grubitz, Jacqueline Hidalgo, Simon Joseph, Lalruatkima, Velma Love, Wendell Miller, Quynh-hoa Nguyen, Sana Tayyen, Katrina Van Heest, and Fontella White. They have assisted me in every aspect of the project, often suggesting creative and constructive ideas and proposals. Anonymous readers for Rutgers University Press, for their careful and sensitive reading of the manuscript. I accepted many of their suggestions and proposals. That I did not take up all their suggestions and proposals will be clear to them, but I hope they will know that I took their readings very seriously. Preface xii Friends and colleagues who have challenged, encouraged, even emboldened me regarding this book project and the larger project that is the ISS. Former editor Kristi Long and her successor editor, Adi Hovav, and the staff at Rutgers University Press for commitment to this book (and book series) and the different type of scholarly work that it inaugurates. A special expression of gratitude to Jacqueline M. Hidalgo, Lalruatkima, and Katrina Van Heest for the disciplined attention and care they gave the project at every stage, especially the final ones. Lastly, although clearly not all the arguments in this collection of essays are mine, the overall conceptualization and structure of the book and its meaning is my responsibility. For the inspiration for such work I should like to thank my teachers—Eloise Penn, Anibal Bueno, Ida Rousseau Mukenge, Melvin Watson (deceased), Nils Dahl (deceased), George MacRae (deceased), and Dieter Georgi (deceased)—who challenged me to take that second and odd look at everything. Vincent L. Wimbush Institute for Signifying Scriptures Claremont, California THEORIZING SCRIPTURES ...