Here are two recent posts from Book of Mormon Central that are connected with the Chiasmus Jubilee that begins tomorrow (Tuesday) morning on the campus of Brigham Young University:
“What Can We Learn from 10 of the Best Chiasms in the Book of Mormon? Part 1”
“What Can We Learn from 10 of the Best Chiasms in the Book of Mormon? Part 2”
I’m chairing the opening session tomorrow morning, which, with a break and an open discussion, will run from 9 AM until noon.
The speakers in the session that I’m chairing include Neal Rappleye (“Chiasmus Criteria in Review”), Boyd F. Edwards (“Statistics, Probability, and Evaluation of Chiasmus”), Stephen Kent Ehat (“Characteristics of Chiasms: Identifying, Evaluating, and Appreciating Chiastic Texts with Care, Concern, and Humility”), and Noel B. Reynolds (“Chiasmus and Hebrew Rhetoric”). Their presentations will each be followed by five minutes of questions and answers and then, altogether, by an hour of open discussion on “When is a Chiasm a Chiasm?”
I’m looking forward to this. I’ve managed to catch a few minutes today — unfortunately, thus far, only a few — to read through some of the materials relevant to the session. And there has already been an interesting email discussion between several of the participants.
The Wednesday afternoon session, chaired by Robert F. Smith, will feature presentations by Bernard Levinson, David Rolph Seely, Donald W. Parry, and Royal Skousen, and will focus on the theme of “Chiasmus and Textual Criticism.”
On Wednesday morning, Jacob A. Rennaker will chair a session on “Chiasmus and Ancient Cultures” that will include remarks by Gary A. Rendsburg, Steven R. Scott, John W. Welch, and Kerry Hull.
Eric D. Huntsman will chair the final academic session, on Wednesday afternoon. Focused on “Chiasmus in the New Testament,” it will feature remarks by George Mlakuzhyil S.J., Steven R. Scott, Wayne Brouwer, and H. Douglas Buckwalter.
Then, in the evening, after the conclusion of the academic sessions of “Chiasmus: An Open Conference on the State of the Art,” there will be a concluding gala event.
This should be great fun. I hope to see you there. Unfortunately, though, registration is closed. However, if you can’t make it, the proceedings of the conference and the “Jubilee” will be recorded.
***
In other news, here’s an interesting entry from the invaluable Jeff Lindsay:
***
Finally, I’d like to call your attention to a still relatively new item, by J. Theodore Brandley, on the blog of the Interpreter Foundation:
“The City of Lehi-Nephi Name Change”
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In