Freedom and Hermeneutics: Interpreting Texts, Interpreting People  

Freedom of speech is almost always conceived as freedom over external, oftentimes politically motivated constraints. This panel brings a new perspective by focusing on the psychological conditions of creaturely freedom of expression and interpretation for minority language users; in particular, for aphasic, dyslexic, and autistic people (both speaking and minimally-speaking), and for indigenous and migrant linguistic communities. 
In this sense, this panel considers questions of authority in freedom, particularly in relation to freedom of minority language users to interpret Scripture, creeds, and traditions in pluriform and atypical ways. We question how far places of worship and liturgy can be laboratories of freedom, if minority languages/language users are silenced. We also consider the psychological constraints or creative possibilities that linguistic minorities have in expressing their faith, and the impact that this might have upon their beliefs, their political power, and the flourishing of religious communities. 
Each of the panelists represent an interdisciplinary project that is funded by the ‘God, Language, and Diversity’ research grant.  
Panelists: Dr Joanna Leidenhag is Associate Professor in Theology and Philosophy at the University of Leeds. 
Dr Dan Mirman is Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Language at the University of Edinburgh.
Dr John Perry is Senior Lecturer in Theological Ethics at the University of St Andrews. 
Dr James Eglinton is Meldrum Senior Lecturer in Reformed Theology at the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Léon van Ommen is Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology and Co-Director of the Centre for Autism and Theology, University of Aberdeen.
Dr Daniel Weiss, University of Cambridge.