At this week’s Theological Research Seminar, Carolina Holguin will be presenting, “Ḥeseḏ (“Loyal Devotion, Kindness”) that Leads to Adoption: A Study of the Book of Ruth.” Read the abstract and his bio below.
All are welcome to attend in Camelford Hall (room 226) at McMaster Divinity College at 1:00pm or via livestream at the link below:
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Password: z00m (Note that the password has zeros rather than “o”)
Abstract
(This paper will be presented in JaffrayAng Symposium 2023 on “Beyond Culture: Kingdom Values in a Multicultural World”). The book of Ruth offers an excellent narrative to explore what may be behind the adoption of an immigrant by the host culture and the local culture by the immigrant. This study suggests that the human ḥeseḏ (“loyal devotion, kindness”) on Ruth’s part is manifested by welcoming a neighbour who did not represent any progress for her and seeking to provide for their sustenance by humbly and courageously presenting their need and request despite the risks. In Ruth’s book, the human ḥeseḏ is also manifested through the host culture’s integrity, generosity, humility, caring, and proactivity. These expressions of ḥeseḏ lead to mutual adoption. This study ends with a series of invitations, in the form of decalogues, for the immigrant and host culture, which could strengthen “family-like” ties among multicultural communities.
Bio
Carolina Holguin is continuing her Ph.D. in Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College. Her primary interest lies in the prophets, especially the book of Ezekiel. She was the former Dean of the Instituto de Formación Ministerial (Ministry Formation Institute)—a two-and-a-half-year Hispanic ministry training program in Toronto from 2009 to 2021. Before completing her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at Tyndale University, Toronto, she received her bachelor’s in chemistry from Universidad Distrital, Bogota, Colombia—her country of origin.
About TRS
The MDC Theological Research Seminar (TRS) is a bimonthly gathering for all MDC students and faculty. TRS meets over the lunch hour on Wednesdays, and includes about thirty minutes for the paper presentation and twenty minutes for discussion.
All advanced degree students are invited to present a paper and share your research with your colleagues. TRS is an excellent opportunity to “test drive” a paper you will be presenting at an upcoming conference and receive helpful feedback on your current research projects. Thinking about submitting an article to a journal and want some interaction first? TRS will provide it. Just published an article or an essay and want to share it us? TRS is an excellent opportunity to broadcast it.
This year the organizing committee consists of Dr. Francis Pang, Dr. Phil Zylla, and Dr. Gord Heath. To submit a paper, contact a member of the organizing committee.