Two faculty
members at Hartford Seminary have begun a new journal, Conversations
in Religion and Theology, to shape the discourse in the fields
of theology and ethics.
Ian Markham,
dean of the Seminary and professor of theology and ethics, is the
editor of the twice-yearly publication. Kelton Cobb, professor of
theology and ethics, is co-editor.
“The idea for
Conversations,” Markham said, “is that we take the finest
writing in theology and religion; we then invite a review article on
that book and give the book’s author the chance to reply. The net
result is a substantial review with the author’s response.”
Markham and Cobb
see Conversations as in line with the Seminary’s mission to
promote dialogue. “Dialogue is conversation; it is a sharing of
points of view,” Markham said. “We are persuaded that this new
journal will encourage dialogue both among scholars and among those
interested in exploring their ethical beliefs.”
The journal,
published by Blackwell Publishing, is an enhancement to the
long-standing Conversations in Religion and Theology.
As Markham and
Cobb explained in the introduction to the first issue: “Even in
our Internet age, books remain the main vehicle for quality
research. The monograph that develops an argument, which hopefully
will shape the subsequent discourse in a field, is the main medium
of scholarship. These monographs deserve attention. With the sheer
quality of books published, it is easy to lose sight of even good
books.
The editors plan
to give prominence to progressive theology and religious studies.
“In other words, we acknowledge the importance of challenging the
contours of the dominant canon in the west and therefore feel that
feminist theology and other identity theologies need particular
attention.”
The first issue
includes reviews and responses on, among other books and monographs,
“Reading the Bible from the Margins,” “The Christian Theology
of Religion’s Need to Go Global,” “A Comparative Sociology of
World Religions,” and “Saving the Roman Catholic Church?” It
also includes a dialogue on messianic Judaism.
Reviewers will
be sought for their expertise and ability to engage with the text as
scholar with scholar. But the journal also will include a section
where prominent religious leaders are asked to comment on a text.
Two other
features will be a section that reflects on the latest books
published in an area to indicate the likely directions that a
certain subject is taking and Book Notes at the end of each issue.
Occasionally, Conversations will invite position statements
on contemporary controversies from groups and individuals. “The
theme that links these features is a commitment to engage with
contemporary writing and do so committed to conversation,” Markham
and Cobb said.
They added,
“We have high expectations of the journal because we have high
expectations of quality academic conversation. The circle is not
simply reviewer and author, but also you, the reader. We hope to
carry a lively letters page in which you the reader can join the
conversation. We want to encourage a range of perspectives; we want
many voices to be heard; and we want to create a journal where each
of us can learn from the other.” 
