Associate Professor, Department of Biblical Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Aarhus.

Research project: "The Bible as norm and the use of the Bible in the practical-theological disciplines."

This project aims at analysing the authority and function of the Bible in Practical Theology. According to the plan, the investigation will consist of two major parts. The focus of one part will be to consider the principles for the role of the Bible in various forms of communication. A number of issues will be discussed, e.g.: Bible and formation of religious and moral identity; academic and popular readings; the relationship between experience and theology; the criterion of relevance; the performance of the text; Bible reading as transformative act (the text as a possibility of identification; the text as provocation and potential for changes).

The main focus of the project will be to analyse the use of the Bible in various disciplines: homiletics, pastoral care, pedagogy of religion, liturgy and diakonia. In this connection it should be considered whether there are common patterns of the way in which the Bible is used in the disciplines.

My work with this project will mainly take place in the years 2007 to 2009. During 2006 the major part of my research will be devoted to another project. Yet, some time will also be used to collect ideas and material which might be of relevance to the role of the Bible in Practical Theology.