BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN
NAME:Symposium The Bible in Prison
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20260630T130000
DTEND:20260630T170000
DTSTAMP:20260630T130000
UID:2026/symposium-the-bible-in-pr@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573
CREATED:20260616T111139
LOCATION:VU Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, HG 15A16
SUMMARY:Symposium The Bible in Prison
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html: How is the Bible used,
interpreted, and experienced in contemporary Dutch prison contexts? T
his interdisciplinary symposium brings together chaplains, biblical s
cholars, and stakeholders from across society to explore the role of
biblical texts in prison chaplaincy and their intersections with acad
emic research.
Programme
Opening and Context (
13:00-13:30)
Chair: Silvia Castelli
13:00-13:10 Sil
via Castelli (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Welcome and introduction:
Key questions from the project Biblical Studies and Spiritual Care:
Intersections of Pastoral Praxis and Biblical Hermeneutics
13:1
0-13:30 Ryan van Eijk & Anne van Voorst (Tilburg University and D
ienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) Insights from the volume Geestelij
ke verzorging bij justitie: Context, uitgangspunten en praktijk van h
et justitiepastoraat (Utrecht: Eburon, 2026).
Current U
se of the Bible in Dutch Contexts of Incarceration: Christian and Jew
ish Perspectives (13:30-16:00) Chair: Peter-Ben Smit
1
3:30-13:45 Ryan van Eijk & Fons Flierman (Tilburg University and
Dienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) The Bible and the Positioning of
Prison Chaplaincy
13:45-14:00 Ranfar Kouwijzer (Dienst Geesteli
jke Verzorging, DJI) In de stilte van mijn cel. Gevangenen werken met
psalmen.
14:00-14:15 Ben Van Veen (Dienst Geestelijke Verzorgi
ng, DJI) Detextification: The Biblical Text as Performance in a Priso
n Context
14:15-14:30 Michael Bakker (Radboud University) The P
salter and ‘arrow prayers’ derived from it in Orthodox (prison) c
haplaincy
14:30-14:50 Coffee Break
14:50-15:05 Corrie Zei
dler (Dienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) Inspiration, spiritual grow
th and guidance from the Bible - how to use texts from the Tenach in
prison chaplaincy
15:05-15:20 Paul Doth (Bijbelgenootschap) The
Dutch Bible Society and the Bajesagenda (title tba)
15:20-15:5
0 Open Discussion
15:50-16:00 Break
Biblical Scho
larship and the Context of Incarceration: Contributions, Reflections,
and Prospects (16:00-17:00) Chair: Silvia Castelli
16
:00-16:10 Eveline van Staalduine-Sulman & Johan Roeland (Vrije Un
iversiteit Amsterdam) Lying Awake in the Night: Old Testament Poets o
n Their Experiences in the Dark
16:10-16:20 Vincent Wenno &
Peter-Ben Smit (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Paul’s Imprisonment
and Relational Agency in the Letter to Philemon in the Context of Spi
ritual Care
16:20-16:30 Silvia Castelli (Vrije Universiteit Ams
terdam) Biblical Studies and Spiritual Care in a Context of Incarcera
tion: Concluding Remarks and Next Steps.
16:30-17:00 Open Discu
ssion
For whom
Chaplains, biblical scholars, students o
f religion and theology, students of spiritual care, anyone with an i
nterest in the topic.
Register
Participation is free of
charge. To register, please email s.castelli2@vu.nl.
DESCRIPTION: Programme
Opening and Context (13:00-13:
30)
Chair: Silvia Castelli 13:00-13:10 Silvia Castelli (V
rije Universiteit Amsterdam) Welcome and introduction: Key questions
from the project Biblical Studies and Spiritual Care: Intersections o
f Pastoral Praxis and Biblical Hermeneutics 13:10-13:30 Ryan van Eijk
& Anne van Voorst (Tilburg University and Dienst Geestelijke Ver
zorging, DJI) Insights from the volume Geestelijke verzorging bij jus
titie: Context, uitgangspunten en praktijk van het justitiepastoraat
(Utrecht: Eburon, 2026). Current Use of the Bible in Dutch Co
ntexts of Incarceration: Christian and Jewish Perspectives (13:30-16:
00) Chair: Peter-Ben Smit 13:30-13:45 Ryan van Eijk & Fo
ns Flierman (Tilburg University and Dienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJ
I) The Bible and the Positioning of Prison Chaplaincy 13:45-14:00 Ran
far Kouwijzer (Dienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) In de stilte van m
ijn cel. Gevangenen werken met psalmen. 14:00-14:15 Ben Van Veen (Die
nst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) Detextification: The Biblical Text a
s Performance in a Prison Context 14:15-14:30 Michael Bakker (Radboud
University) The Psalter and ‘arrow prayers’ derived from it in O
rthodox (prison) chaplaincy 14:30-14:50 Coffee Break 14:50-15:05 Corr
ie Zeidler (Dienst Geestelijke Verzorging, DJI) Inspiration, spiritua
l growth and guidance from the Bible - how to use texts from the Tena
ch in prison chaplaincy 15:05-15:20 Paul Doth (Bijbelgenootschap) The
Dutch Bible Society and the Bajesagenda (title tba) 15:20-15:50 Open
Discussion 15:50-16:00 Break Biblical Scholarship and the Co
ntext of Incarceration: Contributions, Reflections, and Prospects (16
:00-17:00) Chair: Silvia Castelli 16:00-16:10 Eveline van St
aalduine-Sulman & Johan Roeland (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Ly
ing Awake in the Night: Old Testament Poets on Their Experiences in t
he Dark 16:10-16:20 Vincent Wenno & Peter-Ben Smit (Vrije Univers
iteit Amsterdam) Paul’s Imprisonment and Relational Agency in the L
etter to Philemon in the Context of Spiritual Care 16:20-16:30 Silvia
Castelli (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Biblical Studies and Spiritu
al Care in a Context of Incarceration: Concluding Remarks and Next St
eps. 16:30-17:00 Open Discussion For whom
Chaplains, biblica
l scholars, students of religion and theology, students of spiritual
care, anyone with an interest in the topic. Register
Partici
pation is free of charge. To register, please email s.castelli2@
vu.nl. How is the Bible used, interpreted, and experienced in con
temporary Dutch prison contexts? This interdisciplinary symposium bri
ngs together chaplains, biblical scholars, and stakeholders from acro
ss society to explore the role of biblical texts in prison chaplaincy
and their intersections with academic research.
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