How is the Bible use d, interpreted, and experienced in contemporary Dutch prison contexts ? This interdisciplinary symposium brings together chaplains, biblica l scholars, and stakeholders from across society to explore the role of biblical texts in prison chaplaincy and their intersections with a cademic research.
Opening and Co
ntext (13:00-13:30)
Chair: Silvia Castelli
13:00-13 :10 Silvia Castelli (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Welcome and introd uction: Key questions from the project Biblical Studies and Spiritual Care: Intersections of Pastoral Praxis and Biblical Hermeneutics
13:10-13:30 Ryan van Eijk & Anne van Voorst (Tilburg Universit y and Dienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) Insights from the volume Ge estelijke verzorging bij justitie: Context, uitgangspunten en praktij k van het justitiepastoraat (Utrecht: Eburon, 2026).
Cu rrent Use of the Bible in Dutch Contexts of Incarceration: Christian and Jewish Perspectives (13:30-16:00) Chair: Peter-Ben Smit< /p>
13:30-13:45 Ryan van Eijk & Fons Flierman (Tilburg Universi ty and Dienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) The Bible and the Position ing of Prison Chaplaincy
13:45-14:00 Ranfar Kouwijzer (Dienst G eestelijke Verzorging, DJI) In de stilte van mijn cel. Gevangenen wer ken met psalmen.
14:00-14:15 Ben Van Veen (Dienst Geestelijke V erzorging, DJI) Detextification: The Biblical Text as Performance in a Prison Context
14:15-14:30 Michael Bakker (Radboud University ) The Psalter and ‘arrow prayers’ derived from it in Orthodox (pr ison) chaplaincy
14:30-14:50 Coffee Break
14:50-15:05 Cor rie Zeidler (Dienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) Inspiration, spiritu al growth and guidance from the Bible - how to use texts from the Ten ach in prison chaplaincy
15:05-15:20 Paul Doth (Bijbelgenootsch ap) The Dutch Bible Society and the Bajesagenda (title tba)
15: 20-15:50 Open Discussion
15:50-16:00 Break
Biblic al Scholarship and the Context of Incarceration: Contributions, Refle ctions, and Prospects (16:00-17:00) Chair: Silvia Castelli
16:00-16:10 Eveline van Staalduine-Sulman & Johan Roeland (V rije Universiteit Amsterdam) Lying Awake in the Night: Old Testament Poets on Their Experiences in the Dark
16:10-16:20 Vincent Wenn o & Peter-Ben Smit (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Paul’s Impris onment and Relational Agency in the Letter to Philemon in the Context of Spiritual Care
16:20-16:30 Silvia Castelli (Vrije Universit eit Amsterdam) Biblical Studies and Spiritual Care in a Context of In carceration: Concluding Remarks and Next Steps.
16:30-17:00 Ope n Discussion
Chaplains, biblical scholars, stu dents of religion and theology, students of spiritual care, anyone wi th an interest in the topic.
Participation is free of charge. To register, please email s.castelli2@vu.nl.
DESCRIPTION: How is the Bible used, interpreted, and experienced in co ntemporary Dutch prison contexts? This interdisciplinary symposium br ings together chaplains, biblical scholars, and stakeholders from acr oss society to explore the role of biblical texts in prison chaplainc y and their intersections with academic research.