While in past decades much of academic and public discourse has been influenced by Max Weber’s postulation of a “disenchantment of the world”, we recently witness a return to the question of religion and a renewed interest in the role of religion in the making of modern societies. Empirical studies support this trend and predict that the 21st century will be a religious one. This edition of “Im Gespräch mit… | In Conversation with…” focuses on the role of religion in conflict and reconciliation. Christine Schliesser, Senior Lecturer at Zurich University and Research Fellow in Historical Trauma and Transformation Studies at Stellenbosch University, will discuss not only the conflictive sides of religion, but shed light also on religion’s potent resources for conflict transformation and reconciliation. Her work on the impact of religious actors in post-genocide Rwanda’s quest for reconciliation serves to illustrate her research. In the discussion following Christine Schliesser’s key note, she will be joined by her two co-authors of their recent Routledge publication “On the Significance of Religion in Conflict and Conflict Resolution”, Pauline Kollontai from York St. John University, UK, and Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana from Georgetown University, USA. Both will supplement Christine Schliesser's Christian perspective with insights from a Jewish and Muslim point of view.
The Book On the Significance of Religion in Conflict and Conflict Resolution is Open Access under the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/significance-religion-conflict-conflict-resolution-christine-schliesser-ayse-kadayifci-orellana-pauline-kollontai/e/10.4324/9781003002888
The informal conversation will take place in English on Wednesday 24 March 2021 at 15h30.
To register for the event, please email: fsp-kultur@uibk.ac.at no later than March 22, 2021