Diversity and Equal Opportunity

As a part of a faculty-wide process of reflection on the question of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, the Research Unit of Biblical Studies organized a meeting on Friday, April 8, 2011. The Research Unit followed its own approach to this process.

The meeting commenced with a short presentation of the status quaestionis of 2 Samuel 11 – the story of David and Bathsheba. Alexander Abasili presented a wide range of approaches to the first sexual encounter between David and Bathsheba. This event has been interpreted in exegetical literature on the one hand as an abuse of power, power rape, rape with the pen, sexual assault or sexual rape. On the other hand, there is the theory that blames Bathsheba for what happened seeing her as tempting David in an effort to improve her status. For discussion of these various positions see: Alexander I. Abasili, “Was it Rape? The David and Bathsheba Pericope Re-examined,” VT 61 [2011] 1-15: 15.

The reflection on 2 Samuel 11 was a departure point for the debate about equal status of faculty members with regard to their power(position in the faculty), gender, religion, culture, status etc.

The discussion continued in small groups. The results of the meeting will be collated and presented, when the faculty meets as a whole to discuss the topic at a symposium on April 27, 2011.