Paul Spilsbury in Calgary: Flavius Josephus, the Zealots, and Jewish Theocracy
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Dr. Paul Spilsbury, Academic Dean of Regent College, will deliver the 2016 Peter Craigie Memorial Lecture at the University of Calgary. This annual public lecture series, inaugurated in 1988, invites a distinguished speaker to deliver a public address on a topic related to the field of Religious Studies.
This year's lecture Peter Craigie Memorial Lecture is entitled "Flavius Josephus, the Zealots, and Jewish Theocracy." It is perhaps a little known fact that the first extant use of the term “theocracy” occurs in the writings of the first century Jewish writer Flavius Josephus. In this lecture, Dr Spilsbury will explore how this came about, and what Josephus meant by the term. He will also explore how the concept of “theocracy” relates to the radical group known as “the Zealots.” While it is common to assume some kind of equivalence between zealotry and a belief in theocracy, Josephus tried to distinguish between the two. Exploring these matters will take us to the heart the fateful Jewish war of 66–70 CE, and will provide context for understanding the early decades of the Christian era.
Location
Husky Oil Great Hall, Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary
