The Nonviolent Reading of Scripture

The scripture is often understood to speak of a violent God who uses divine violence for good. Dr Bartlett offers an alternative reading.

8:45 - 5:00 Monday 23 March 2026

8:45 - 3:00 Tuesday 24 March 2026

Two day indepth reframing of how to read scripture through the lens of God's nonviolence.

Anthony Bartlett is a well known international scholar whose life and work experiences have brought him a powerful focus in the thought of Rene Girard. He has published several books developing the gospel of nonviolence with tools of anthropology and semiotics, amounting to a profound vector of renewal in contemporary practice of Christianity.

Summary of the sessions

Monday

8:30 Soft Start & Welcome

9:00-10:30 Session #1

(Introduction with focus on Girard and the scriptural revelation of the scapegoat and the myth that scapegoating works)

How does this anthropology make sense of our contemporary world and/or history?

What does this do to the understanding of who Jesus is and our understanding of atonement – the meaning of Jesus’ death?

How does this anthropology help explain some of my own personal experiences.

10:30-11:00 Break

11-12:30 Session #2

(Oppression to Justice & Violence to Forgiveness with focus on Jacob & Esau/Prodigal Son)

Can we see the possibility of reading Genesis holistically rather than in a narrow legal way? And what difference does this make?

In this case how does Jesus use his scriptures to develop his teaching?

If forgiveness between brothers is the answer to the problem of violence in Genesis, how does this help us understand what the gospel is trying to show us?

12:30-1:30 Lunch

1:30-3:00 Session #3

(Violence to Compassion and Victim to Vindication with focus on Suffering Servant)

Can we see the shift in Biblical revelation from “wrath to compassion”?

How does the context of loss/exile help shape this shift?

Can we see how crucial this is for understanding the gospel?

(The Gospels begin with Jesus quoting 2ns Isaiah).

3:00-3:30 Break

3:30-5:00 Plenary Session/ Q&A/ Responses

——

Tuesday

8:30 Soft Start

9:00-10:30 Session #4

(Shell Stories with focus on Temple)

Can we see the radical break in both Isaiah and the gospel from understanding God as one who blesses and punishes in equal measure?

How does this change how we understand God’s power (love as the only generative force that can transform and break the cycle of violence)

What does it mean to let go of the land as the essential sign of God’s blessing? How would that play out in our contemporary world?

Do we see in the gospel stories, Jesus’ deliberate and radical break with the temple? Is he cleansing or ending the temple?

10:30-11:00 Break

11:00-12:30 Session #5

(History to its end with focus on Daniel)

Do we see Jesus’ use of Daniel as part of the inbreaking of nonviolent revelation?

Can we understand how apocalyptic revelation (including resurrection) comes logically within the breakdown of the Deuteronomic perspective? God has to directly intervene to put things right)

How does God intervene?

Can we see the Son of Man as essentially the same as the Suffering Servant - the key nonviolent agent of this divine revelation?

12:30-1:30 Lunch

1:30-3:00 Plenary Session/Q&A/Responses and Wrap Up.