Michael Hahn
mshahn.bsky.social
Michael Hahn
@mshahn.bsky.social
(Mystical-)Theology, Medieval Studies & Franciscan Studies. Lecturer in Christian Spirituality at Sarum College. 🏓and🏸player. From Darlington. he/him 🏳️‍🌈.
In the final session we will consider some of the ways the Song has been depicted in art, music and fiction, and how it might continue to be utilised and represented today. /11 [end]
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
The Ven. Dr Rachel Mann @revrachelmann.bsky.social will introduce us to trans readings of the Song, drawing particularly on her own experiences both within the Church and as a poet. /10
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Rev Lyndon Webb will lead a session on queer eco theology and the Song, asking what spiritualities might emerge if we base our theology of creation on the notion of wildness rather than the binary of order and chaos. /9
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Dr Beth Dodd will focus on poetic interpretations of the Song. In particular, Beth will consider medieval Ethiopia and the Kebra Nagast and then focus on more recent work including Nikki Giovanni and the Black arts movement. /8
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Professor Miri Rubin will lead two sessions based on her current research on the history of Jewish and Christian interpretations of the line ‘I am black and beautiful’ or ‘I am black but beautiful’ (Song 1:5). /7
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
I will lead two sessions on the Song of Song’s reception. I will begin with an overview of some of the major medieval commentators and then focus on medieval and early modern women as interpreters and exegetes of the Song, focusing on Hildegard of Bingen, Teresa of Avila and Madame Guyon. /6
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Dr Danilo Verde will follow this by focusing on the Song as love poetry, considered the role of gender in the text. He will then lead a session on war and martial imagery in the Song, based on his book, Conquered Conquerors: Love and War in the Song of Songs. /5
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Rabbi Professor Deborah Kahn-Harris will lead a session on Jewish approaches to the Song, considering its representation and presentation of sexuality within the context of the Hebrew Bible. /4
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Dr Jayme Reaves will introduce the Song, exploring its content within the context of the Hebrew Bible canon, including drawing on biblical parallels. We will also explore some of its early reception and set up key questions for the week. /3
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
The course explores one of the most remarkable scriptural texts from a range of angles: in Hebrew Bible scholarship, the history of its interpretation, and its continued use today.

The module is taught for the MA in Christian Spirituality but is open to external attendees too. /2
January 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM
"Mystagogy" is a particularly interesting answer.
January 7, 2026 at 7:40 PM
... and editions of texts by figures like Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure and Richard Rolle.

Attendees will also have access to a tour of Salisbury Cathedral and the chance to look at Sarum College’s editions of the Saint John’s Bible. /11 [END]
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Following on from my session on the bible and medieval spirituality, Anne Dutton will introduce us to several medieval manuscripts of @salisburycathedral.bsky.social's library collection. This includes medieval bibles, bible commentaries and psalters, ... /10
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Liz will then teach a session on enclosure and particular anchoritic spirituality, considering figures such as Julian of Norwich and the Winchester anchoress as well as the famous guide for anchoresses, the Ancrene Wisse, and how this lifestyle fostered particular expressions of spirituality. /9
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Liz Herbert McAvoy will lead one session on gender and spirituality, considering the feminisation of spirituality in light of such movements as the Cult of the Virgin and affective devotion. /8
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Becky Field will introduce some of the English mystics before focusing in on the 14th-century classic text, The Cloud of Unknowing. In particular, Rebecca will examine the relationship between spiritual pedagogy and language, considering kataphatic and apophatic linguistic devices. /7
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
@medievalmystics.bsky.social will teach two sessions, examining the Lives (vitae) of saints and medieval rules and customaries. In particular, Amanda will consider how these different sources paint different pictures of key figures and their movements. /6
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Later in the week, I will examine what lay Christianity looked like in the Middle Ages and how we can attempt to access what this looked like. I'll also lead sessions on key spiritual practices, such as pilgrimage, and the multifaceted ways the Bible was used in spiritual practices. /5
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
I will introduce some of the major developments across the Middle Ages and how this impacted how spirituality was written about, lived out, and practised. I'll then outline some of the main scholarly approaches as well as genres of texts and how we access medieval texts. /4
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
This module looks at a range of expressions and themes that are important in our study of how Christian spirituality was lived out, practised, and taught in the period between 500 and 1500. We will also consider how we study Christian spirituality in this period. /3
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Our module on “Themes in Medieval Christian Spirituality” is open to external attendees. You can stay in on site at Sarum College in the beautiful Salisbury Cathedral Close. Booking here: www.sarum.ac.uk/short-course... /2
Themes in Medieval Christian Spirituality (2026) - Sarum College
Intensive course on key themes during the medieval period when the flourishing of Christian Spirituality was at its height.
www.sarum.ac.uk
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM