#CFP: The Bible, Animal Studies, and the Sciences
Call for Papers: Special Issue
The Bible, Animal Studies, and the Sciences: Past, Present, and Future
Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies (JIBS)
Animal Studies has become an important conversation partner for scholars of biblical literature over the past decade. The diverse nature of Animal Studies and its numerous disciplinary contexts has produced incredibly rich explorations of biblical texts and their conceptions and representations of nonhuman animal life. Much of the scholarship to date has focused on the question of animality itself and drawn heavily on critical theorists (e.g., Haraway, Derrida, Calaraco) as conversation partners. Zooarchaeological fields provide additional perspectives more firmly rooted within the historical-critical tradition of biblical interpretation. While such work is valuable, there are a range of approaches which have yet to be fully utilized in connection with biblical studies.
The Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies invites submissions for a special issue exploring how deep engagement with the Natural and Behavioral Sciences–with a specific focus on the zoological sciences–can serve as an interpretive resource for biblical scholars. We seek to expand the traditional boundaries of the Humanities by inviting biblical scholars to think as broadly as possible about disciplinary conversation partners. This issue seeks to bridge the gap between disciplines.
Proposals can be submitted under one of the three following categories:
The Past (History & Reception)
How have historical advances in natural philosophy, early taxonomy, and evolutionary biology shaped past biblical commentaries and the interpretation of scriptural fauna?
The Present (Scientific Lenses)
How might modern zoology, cognitive ethology, and ecology refine our readings of biblical texts? How might contemporary data on animal agency, intelligence, and behavior challenge outdated assumptions about “biblical animals?”
The Future (Mutual Horizons)
How might intentional dialogue between critical biblical analysis and empirical and behavioral studies contribute to future attitudes towards and engagement with the nonhuman animal world?
Submission Guidelines
Throughout this issue, our key commitment is to highlight how challenging, intellectually exciting, and productive deep interdisciplinary work can be. We welcome submissions from biblical scholars, historians of science, zooarchaeologists, ethologists, and ecologists open to cross-disciplinary dialogue.
- Abstract Deadline: December 15th, 2026 (300-500 words)
- Full Manuscript Deadline: TBD (6,000-8,000 words)
Please direct abstracts and questions to the Guest Editor at [email protected].