Thomas a Kempis’s Imitation of Christ: The history of a Book - November 28th-29th 2022

Dates: November 28th-29th 2022
Location: Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Oude Boteringestraat 38, 9712 GK Groningen

Thomas a Kempis’s Imitation of Christ is a worldwide bestseller, its spread comparable only with Holy Scripture itself. A classic Christian text written near Zwolle, it was translated in almost every written language in the world and is reprinted to the present day. It has a considerable intertextual presence: in the form of sayings, such as in the Netherlands ‘in een hoekske met een boekske (in a little corner with a book)’ as the place where to find peace and quiet, and in literature. In Britain, it inspired the protagonist of Richardson’s Pamela or Virtue Rewarded (1740) and was a constant presence in the lives of Barbara Pym’s spinsters. Quite recently, liberation theologian Leonardo Boff viewed the Imitation as a point of departure for an active and contemplative Christianity focused on solving current problems such as the present ecological crisis on Earth. A team of international experts will meet in person and hybridly, in preparation for a book on this great work and its author.

Programme

Monday 28th, Court Room

• 10.15-10.30: Opening Mathilde van Dijk, University of Groningen

• 10.30-12.00: Session 1
  Charles Caspers, Titus Brandsma Instituut Nijmegen, Thomas’ thought about unityMathilde van Dijk, Thomas a Kempis and his sources

• 12.00-13.00: lunch

• 13.00-15.15: Session 2
  Geordan Hammond, Manchester Wesley Research Centre, on Thomas and WesleyPeter Zimmerling, Universität Leipzig, Thomas en BonhoefferCarlos Diego Arenas Pacheco, South Bend, Indigenous translations in Nahuatl, Chinese and Japanese

• 15.15-15.45: Break

• 15.45-17.45: Session 3
  Benjamin Wright, University of Notre Dame, ManuscriptsJan van de Kamp, A ban on printing in New England in 1668. A unique case within the reception history of the ImitatioChris Bellitto (Kean University and Brill) zooms in.

• 19.00: Dinner at Kleine Kruisstraat 20a, 9712 TW Groningen

Tuesday 29th, Board Room

• 9.30-11.00: Session 4
  Ad Poirters, Titus Brandsma Instituut Nijmegen, reception in Early Modern Catholicism- Helen Wilcox, University of Bangor, on Thomas and English Literature

• 11.00-11.15: Break

• 11.15-11.45: Session 5
  Mathilde van Dijk, Epilogue forecast & practical matters

• 11.45-12.45: Lunch

• 13.18: Departure for Zwolle

• 14.30-16.30: City walk & visit grave Thomas a Kempis

• 16.30: Closure