Monthly Archives: April 2014

Gerda Henkel Stiftung - Special Programme Islam, the Modern Nation State and Transnational Movements

Gerda Henkel Stiftung

Grants

Special Programme Islam, the Modern Nation State and Transnational Movements

https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/special-programme_islam

Call for proposals

The special programme “Islam, the Modern Nation State and Transnational Movements” is aimed at researchers who, with an eye to current developments, are examining the emergence of political movements in the Islamic world at the national and/or transnational level. Historical studies are encouraged and supported, together with projects in the areas of religious, cultural or political science: What emancipatory, what modern elements does political Islam promise and integrate? What developments, what connections, what similarities in the key categories, interpretations and claims are to be drawn between pan-Arabism and pan-Islamism at the close of the 19th century and the movements of today? What historical self-descriptions are recognizable in the concepts? Via what specific ideas of communalisation can social radicalisation and mobilisation for violence be legitimised?

The special programme takes a look at the dynamics between Islamic teachings, Islamism, nationalism and transnational orientations and environments. Scientific discussion of the countries and regions of the Islamic world should bring together expertise possessing regional and thematic focus in order to allow the problems associated with areas of conflict to be expounded upon, particularly with regard to global influences and processes of cultural exchange.

Proposals will be supported that address the particularities and contexts of cultural and historical environments and relationships. The projects’ deliverables should be able to make a contribution to diverse and expert discussions in public and political circles.

Applications are invited for funding research scholarships and research projects. PhD scholarships are only granted in connection with a research project.

Academic coordination is provided by the Institut für Diaspora- und Genozidforschung in Bochum, led by Prof. Dr. Mihran Dabag (tel. +49 234
32 29702, email: idg@ruhr-uni-bochum.de). The Foundation’s Board of Trustees decides on the applications on the basis of recommendation by expert referees and members of the Academic Advisory Committee. The individual research areas

  1. Historical and present day Islamic systems of society and state

Central to this funding area are historical and political science studies examining the perceptions of society and the state in Islamic civilisations. Within the framework of these projects, research into specific regions and developed ideas of the state and society should be linked with questions relating to the respective designs for organization and constitution. Central to the investigation should be questions around the relationship between secular and religious ideas and institutions, the conceptions of particular political representation relationships, and the constitutions of legal or social systems, together with the ordering of gender and social relationships. Attention should also be paid in this context to the question of encounters with and responses to historical processes in Christian Europe between the Middle Ages and the present; for instance responses to the European Enlightenment and the formation of European nations. We are expressly looking for the bringing together of trans-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary perspectives, and in particular the linking of historical perspectives with research interests in the fields of religious, cultural and political sciences.

  1. The concept of nation, national movements and nationalism in Islamic civilisation

Central to this funding area are projects that use case studies to examine the emergence of national movements in Islamic civilisation.
In this context, the research could equally well centre on questions relating to the emergence of proto-national movements in the Middle Ages and the early modern period, on the advocates of the idea of the nation in various Islamic countries, on the texts deemed to be of central importance, or the forums and institutions of intellectual reflection or political implementation, or be led by an examination of the processes, rituals and mechanisms by which members of a group determine their commonality and differentiate themselves from others thus defining
(national) membership and non-membership, and the analysis of the resulting territorial claims and the integration/disintegration of Islamic values and ideas of society in the particular national model. In this context there should also inter alia be an examination of the changes/shifts in the definition of what is meant by the terms people, territory, political representation and law in the various concepts of nation as well as the concept of the relationship between religion and laicism.

  1. Islamic fundamentalism or Islamic emancipation?

Central to this funding area are projects that extend knowledge of structures and development dynamics of societies in the modern and the global present in order to furnish deepened knowledge for an analysis of Islamic fundamentalism. The projects should look at historical, social and political developments with the aim of achieving case-study-related, differentiated results. The projects should focus on questions around emancipatory potentials, the frames of reference for selected political texts, conceptions of history or discourses on historical and political identification. Support is also available for wider ranging perspectives that significantly extend, or contrast with, previous research approaches such as critical discussions of the category of fundamentalism.

  1. Transnational civil society movements in the Islamic world

Central to this funding area are projects dealing with civil society movements operating on a broad transnational basis in modern Islamic societies. Principal questions are how these movements internally resolve tensions between secular and religious members, aims and objectives, and how they conduct themselves to be able to operate in both the Islamic and western or secular-nationalist or socialist oriented states in the Islamic world; in other words, how do they overcome religious and ideological barriers. Projects supported within this funding area should also examine movements that expressly seek dialogue with non-Islamic partners.

  1. Islamic states in the international world system

Central to this funding area are projects that examine the attitudes and positions of Islamic states in present-day structures and discourses within international politics. The central question addressed in the projects should be that of how the Islamic states are defined in a global system of international politics, what prognoses currently exists as to the development of the Islamic states and what dangers are diagnosed. Not least within this focal area projects should also examine the political-analytical categories and concepts that are used in the West to describe developments in the Islamic world and which thus determine on the one hand the discussions on possible areas of conflict and potential sources of violence and, on the other, the strategies for a dialogue with Islam. This discussion could be expanded by drawing upon the current state of play in individual Islamic states or groupings of states.

Contact Person

Thomas Podranski, M.A.

Project Manager Special Programmes Islam, the Modern Nation State and Transnational Movements / Security, Society and the State podranski@gerda-henkel-stiftung.de

Please take a look at the information provided in this section and under General References. We would of course be happy to assist you should you have any further questions.

Between Islam and the American Dream: An Immigrant Muslim Community in Post-9/11 America

Between Islam and the American Dream:
An Immigrant Muslim Community in Post-9/11 America

Yuting Wang
Routledge, 2014

https://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415711937/

Based on a three-year ethnographic study of a steadily growing suburban Muslim immigrant congregation in Midwest America, this book examines the micro-processes through which a group of Muslim immigrants from diverse backgrounds negotiate multiple identities while seeking to become part of American society in the years following 9/11. The author looks into frictions, conflicts, and schisms within the community to debunk myths and provide a close-up look at the experiences of ordinary immigrant Muslims in the United States. Instead of treating Muslim immigrants as fundamentally different from others, this book views Muslims as multidimensional individuals whose identities are defined by a number of basic social attributes, including gender, race, social class, and religiosity. Each person portrayed in this ethnography is a complex individual, whose hierarchy of identities is shaped by particular events and the larger social environment. By focusing on a single congregation, this study controls variables related to the particularity of place and presents a “thick” description of interactions within small groups. This book argues that the frictions, conflicts and schisms are necessary as much as inevitable in cultivating a “composite culture” within the American Muslim community marked by diversity, leading it onto the path of Americanization.

Yuting Wang is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE.

Religion, Identity and Human Security

Giorgio Shani (2014) Religion, Identity and Human Security. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN: 978-0-415-50906-0

Religion, Identity and Human Security seeks to demonstrate that a major source of human insecurity comes from the failure of states around the world to recognize the increasing cultural diversity of their populations which has resulted from globalization. Shani begins by setting out the theoretical foundations, dealing with the transformative effects of globalization on identity, violence and security. The second part of the volume then draws on different cases of sites of human insecurity around the globe to develop these ideas, examining themes such as:

  • securitization of religious symbols
  • retreat from multiculturalism
  • rise of exclusivist ethno-religious identities post- 9/11
  • state religion, colonization and the ‘racialization’ of migration

Highlighting that religion can be a source of both human security and insecurity in a globalizing world, Shani offers a ‘critical’ human security paradigm that seeks to de-secularize the individual by recognizing the culturally contested and embedded nature of human identities. The work argues that religion serves an important role in re-embedding individuals deracinated from their communities by neo-liberal globalization and will be of interest to students of International Relations, Security Studies and Religion and Politics.

MORE INFORMATION:
https://ipsa.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=017c8aa4e04aa243d246410bd&id=970820413e&e=bb5072f543

Funded PhD studentship: Islam and Secularism in Contemporary Europe (University of Aberdeen, UK)

Applications are invited for a funded PhD studentship at the University of Aberdeen, starting in October 2014, to work on :

Islam and Secularism in Contemporary Europe (Elphinstone PhD scholarships)

For further details regarding this studentship, please visit: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/cass/graduate/french-336.php

For informal enquiries regarding the above PhD project, please contact Dr Nadia Kiwan (n.kiwan)

Call for papers - SISP conference - Section ‘Politics and Religion’

Call for papers:

XVIII SISP ANNUAL CONFERENCE

UNIVERSITY OF PERUGIA – Department of Political Science - UNIVERSITY FOR FOREIGNERS OF PERUGIA - Department of Human and Social Studies

11 – 13 September 2014

https://www.sisp.it/conference

Deadline for paper proposals: 15 May 2014

To propose a paper, please send a 100-200 words abstract to the panel convenors

Panels on Religion and Politics:

https://www.religione-politica.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=228:conferenza-sisp-sezione-politica-e-religione&catid=4:conferences&Itemid=4

1) Religion and Political Parties - [English and Italian]

2) Religione e relazioni internazionali (Religion and International Relations) [English and Italian]

3) Religion and Local Politics [English only]

4) L’impronta della religione sulla teoria e sulla prassi democratica [Italian only]

Panel off section: Religion, Secularism and Politics in 21st Century Turkey [English only]

PANEL ABSTRACTS:

Religion and Political Parties

Chairs: Luca Ozzano ( luca.ozzano), Massimiliano Livi ( maxlivi)

Abstract: The role of religion in politics is still understudied as a consequence of the so-called “secularization paradigm”, which has been hegemonic in twentieth-century social sciences. Particularly, the role of religiosity within political parties has often been neglected for two reasons. First, there is a widespread normative prejudice about the role of religions in democratic
and democratizing systems, where they are perceived to be illiberal and potentially anti-democratic actors. Second, there is the methodological difficulty of defining them with precision, since the concept of ‘religious parties’ is often adopted to define intransigent, fundamentalist political parties.
However, there is growing interest in the political science community about the role of religion in party politics. On the one hand, explicitly religiously inspired political parties have been playing a crucial role in contemporary democracies, at least since the rise of Christian democracy in Europe after World War II. Moreover, many parties which do not explicitly define their identity in religious terms – particularly conservative parties – focus however more broadly their platform on religious values or exploit religious issues in specific historical moments; on the contrary, other political forces take secularism as the milestone of their political action. Finally, Churches and other religious institutions and organizations, although not directly engaged in party politics, are often able to influence the activity of political parties through their lobbying activities.
This panel aims at exploring such dynamics, by including both single-case studies devoted to national cases or single political parties, as well as broader theoretical and comparative works.

Religione e relazioni internazionali

Chairs: Valter Coralluzzo ( valter.coralluzzo)

Abstract: È noto che per lungo tempo gli studiosi di Relazioni internazionali (RI) d’ogni scuola e indirizzo non hanno prestato alcuna attenzione alla religione, o l’hanno relegata a un ruolo affatto marginale, al punto da far parlare di un vero e proprio “esilio” del fenomeno religioso dal campo d’indagine della disciplina scientifica delle RI. Il fatto è che nel codice genetico di tale disciplina è iscritto quello che Scott Thomas ha definito “il postulato westfaliano”, ossia la convinzione che la privatizzazione della religione e la secolarizzazione della politica rappresentino un passaggio obbligato ai fini del consolidamento di un ordine internazionale. Negli ultimi decenni, tuttavia, a fronte del crescente rilievo del fattore religioso nelle dinamiche della politica mondiale, gli studiosi di RI si sono mostrati maggiormente propensi a prendere sul serio la questione religiosa. Da una parte, v’è chi ha cercato di integrare la religione nella teoria delle RI, sia interrogandosi su come (a prezzo di quali compromessi epistemologici) il fattore religioso possa essere incluso in tradizioni di ricerca (come il realismo e il liberalismo) nate e sviluppatesi sotto l’egida del paradigma della secolarizzazione, sia proponendo paradigmi innovativi o spingendosi addirittura (come Vendulka Kubálková) a proporre la creazione di una sub-disciplina che metta la religione al centro della propria analisi degli affari internazionali. Dall’altra, v’è chi ha indagato le forme e la misura dell’influenza del fattore religioso sulle politiche estere degli Stati e il ruolo effettivo che la religione e gli attori religiosi transnazionali giocano nella politica mondiale e all’interno di vari scenari regionali, come fonte di conflitto e/o fattore di pacificazione. Il panel intende affrontare l’insieme di questi problemi, accogliendo contributi che analizzino il ruolo della religione nella teoria e nella pratica delle RI.

Religion and local politics

Chairs: Xabier Itçaina ( x.itcaina),Alberta Giorgi ( albertagiorgi)

Abstract: The relationships between religion and politics are a topic usually dealt with from a national or international perspective. Nevertheless, the changes in the contemporary political systems, in Europe and abroad, reshaped the hierarchies between the local and the national spheres on a number of policies. Specifically, the processes of devolution and subsidiarization of policies, as well as the cooperation between private (for- and non- profit) and public organizations (especially in the field of social services) under the horizontal governance perspective, increased the importance of local politics. The local scale is particularly relevant as constituting the arena where public authorities, private actors, religious and secular “third sector” organizations manage – or not - to constitute efficient networks of governance in the welfare field. These local arrangements constitute an implicit form of regulation of public life by religious actors that, in some cases, might not coincide exactly with the sociopolitical preferences of the religious central authorities. They also raise, particularly in the field of welfare, the issue of the externalization of social services from public welfare institutions to third sector organizations. In addition, politicized controversies on symbolic issues often take place at the local level – the debates over the localization of mosques in Italy, for example, and, more broadly, the issues dealing with religion in public life. At the same time however, grassroots religious organizations, movements and associations are playing an increasing role in Southern European territorial politics, thus developing new and sometimes unexpected articulations with social movements : examples are movements for public water and against discrimination, the renewed engagement of religious associations in politics and in anti-austerity mobilizations in many European countries.
This panel is a continuation of previous venues dealing with similar topics at the SISP Conference 2013 in Florence and the ECPR General conference in 2012. By doing so, we hope to foster collaboration between researchers involved in this topic. The panel aims at exploring the political involvement of religious associations and organizations at the local level, their social and political role, their networks and relationships. Papers’ topics include (but are not limited to): religious associations and social and political movements, third-sector religious organizations and local policies, interactions between religious and political identities. Papers dealing with empirical cases from South-Western and/or South-Eastern European territories and implying different denominations are more than welcome.

L’impronta della religione sulla teoria e sulla prassi democratica

Chairs: Antonio Campati ( antonio.campati)

Abstract: Nella riflessione contemporanea emerge una concomitanza che merita di essere approfondita: da un lato, il ‘ritorno del sacro’ (soprattutto nelle relazioni internazionali) e, dall’altro, il consolidarsi di un processo teorico che mira a svelare i ‘limiti’ del sistema democratico, non per proporne semplicistici superamenti, ma per favorirne lo studio sotto una lente genuinamente realista. In questa prospettiva, la relazione di problematica (co)esistenza fra il regime democratico e la religione solleva diversi interrogativi, la maggior parte dei quali rimasti ancora inevasi. Ciò si verifica, a maggior ragione, se la democrazia viene osservata come un ‘prodotto’ culturale dei tempi storici. Seguendo tale impostazione, il rapporto fra democrazia e religione può essere esaminato attraverso un adeguamento di prospettive: mentre la prima non coincide con lo stadio conclusivo della storia politica e istituzionale dell’umanità , la seconda, nel ribadire la propria posizione di attore principale del sistema politico, ricorda come spesso la sua azione debba essere proiettata in altri ‘spazi’, non necessariamente coincidenti con quelli attraverso i quali è organizzato e si concretizza l’ideale democratico.
Con simili premesse, il panel si propone di ospitare paper che, anzitutto, tentino di inserire coerentemente la riflessione su democrazia e religione nel più ampio dibattito sulle trasformazioni dei regimi e dei sistemi politici. Particolare attenzione verrà posta sulle connessioni che la teoria democratica ha instaurato con le dottrine religiose, per avanzare qualche chiave di lettura che sappia interpretare, per esempio, la tensione permanente fra gli «spazi di potere» e i «tempi dei processi». Tale polarità suggerisce ‘categorie’ per studiare in maniera sistematica il rapporto politica-religione e si riferisce, in ultima istanza, a una delle più pressanti critiche al funzionamento del sistema democratico (e alle sue élites dirigenti): l’incapacità di saper coniugare l’adozione di politiche con effetti immediati (perché necessarie a risolvere problemi impellenti) a una visione complessiva e di lungo periodo.
In un tale quadro d’analisi, non sono pochi gli interrogativi che potrebbero essere sollevati: in quali ‘spazi’ è più evidente il rapporto fra religione e democrazia? All’interno delle culture politiche? Nell’organizzazione del sistema partitico? Nell’azione quotidiana dei governi? Quale ruolo può giocare la religione nel processo di superamento della sfiducia che le opinioni pubbliche nutrono nei confronti della democrazia?

Il panel intende ospitare interventi che abbiano come obiettivo quello di svelare, criticamente, le connessioni fra la teoria democratica e il pensiero politico religioso (contemporaneo, ma non solo), così da evidenziarne le reciproche influenze e le persistenti incompatibilità .

Religion, Secularism and Politics in 21st century Turkey

Chairs: Luca Ozzano ( luca.ozzano)

Abstract: The relation between religion and politics in contemporary Turkey is very peculiar, as a consequence of the last two centuries of the country’s history. Until the early 20th century, the Ottoman empire was also, at least nominally, the seat of the Caliphate, and therefore the centre of the Muslim world, with a strong influence of the ulemas on the administration of the Empire. On the other hand, the Republic of Turkey created in the 1920s was marked by reforms inspired by French Positivism, which created the strongly secular institutional arrangement today still in place. Only since the 1970s, with the rise of the Islamist movement, political Islam could start to play again a role in Turkish public affairs, and to start its conquest of power, culminated in 2002 with the rise to power of the Justice and Development Party of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Today the country is thus deeply divided between secularist and pro-Islamic forces, supporting very different sets of policies, and it is marked by a lively debate about ethical-religious issues, as well as about the public and political role of powerful brotherhoods such as the Hizmet movement of Fethullah Gülen.
This panel will include contributions about the relation between religion and politics in contemporary Turkey under different points of view and methodological perspectives, such as in terms of political parties, political participation, social movements, interest groups and public policies. Both single-case studies and comparative works are welcome.

Spam: Postgraduate Research Funding Opportunities at the University of Leeds 2014/15

The University of Leeds has recently announced a large number of Anniversary Research Scholarships for 2014 and 2015 entry. To celebrate the University’s 110th anniversary, a total of 110 new research scholarships will be available for each of these two years of entry.
This has been made possible by an additional investment of more than £10m, supported by the University.

Outstanding scholars from any discipline are invited to apply for the funding but further information on supervision available in Theology & Religious Studies (including the study of Contemporary Islam and Muslims in Britain) can be found here: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/people/20049/theology_and_religious_studies/ +
https://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/coursefinder/20812/PhD_in_Theology_and_Religious_Studies?from=125149&categoryID=20049 + https://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/profile/20049/416/seán_mcloughlin.

To be considered for one of our scholarships you must meet the eligibility criteria and submit a scholarship application form by the relevant deadline: 30 April 2014 (23:59 UK time). Download the full eligibility criteria and an application form from https://www.leeds.ac.uk/rsa/postgraduate_scholarships/UoLARS-AppForm14.doc.

Successful applicants will receive payment to cover their University fees for a period of three years, along with a maintenance grant matching the Research Council UK rate. The total value of the three year scholarship is estimated at more than £50,000 per scholar.

You are recommended to contact potential supervisors by email before applying, either directly or through the postgraduate research tutor: Dr Johanna Stiebert (j.stiebert@leeds.ac.uk)

For more information about postgraduate study in Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science at Leeds see https://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125022/.

For regularly updated information on upcoming awards and deadlines, including application procedures, see the University of Leeds Postgraduate Scholarships site https://scholarships.leeds.ac.uk/.

Correspondence regarding application procedures may be directed to prhs_pgenquiries@leeds.ac.uk.

Dr Seán McLoughlin
Senior Lecturer
School of Philosophy, Religion and the History of Science University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Email: s.mcloughlin@leeds.ac.uk

SRHE seminar 29th May - Religion and Belief in Higher Education

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Religion and Belief in Higher Education
Date - 29th May 2014, 10.30-15:00
Venue - SRHE, 73 Collier Street, London, N1 9BE
Network - Access and Widening Participation
Whilst Higher Education Institutions in the UK are primarily secular they serve an increasingly diverse student body including religious students from both the UK and overseas. However, despite the establishment of religion or belief as a ‘protected characteristic’, with a requirement on institutions to develop policies and practices to ensure these students are not discriminated against, little is actually known about their experiences on campus. This seminar draws together three papers exploring the experiences of religious students and how their experiences shape their religious and other identities as well as their sense of belonging on campus. It will be of interest to academics and practitioners developing policy and practice in the fields of Access and Widening Participation, Equality and Diversity. and student support

Christianity and the University Experience in Contemporary England: Dr Kristin Aune

What role does Christianity play in university students’ lives? While some contend that faith has become a minority interest in the UK, especially amongst young people, a sizeable group of students (at least half) claim affiliation with a religion. Christianity is the largest student religious tradition. How does Christianity shape students’ experiences, and how does being at university influence Christian students’ faith identities? This paper reports on findings from ‘Christianity and the University Experience in Contemporary England’, a three-year project run collaboratively by Durham University, the University of Derby and the University of Chester. The project, funded by the AHRC & ESRC’s Religion & Society programme, involved a nationwide survey of 14 universities (completed by over 4,500 students) and 100 one-to-one interviews with students and those working with them at five contrasting case study universities. The paper explores what it means to be a Christian student, describing students’ faith practices, beliefs and commitments and addressing how their religious identities change and develop during their time at university.

Ethnicity and Class in the Christian Student Experience: Dr Kristin Aune

For Christian students, religion is a key facet of their identity. Christianity shapes, and is shaped by, students’ university experiences. Yet Christianity is only one part of students’ identities. Other factors including gender, ethnicity, class and sexuality affect, and are affected by, their university experiences and religious identities. The paper presents qualitative and quantitative findings about the significance of class and ethnicity in Christian students’ lives. It argues that these social differences can be sources of identity and community on the one hand, and conflict and exclusion on the other. Drawing on theories of social capital, the paper argues that often both occur simultaneously: Christianity facilitates a ‘bonding’ between similarly positioned insiders that marginalises others who are different, but also enables ‘bridging’ to external and diverse groups.

Religious students stories of not belonging on campus: Professor Jacqueline Stevenson

The paper focuses on the social and academic experiences of Christian, Sikh, Muslim and Jewish students studying in one UK higher education institution. Through their stories the paper highlights the critical events that inform a sense of belonging or ‘otherness’; the places/spaces/people that are of most significance and how religion helps to build, or work against, belonging or ‘otherness’; the strategies the students adopt to develop a sense of belonging on campus or elsewhere, including ‘passing’ as non-religious; the emotions generated during these struggles to belong (amongst both staff and students); and the emotional consequences of a lack of belongingness. The paper concludes by drawing attention to the ways in which the institutional lack of recognition, disregard for, or blocking off of emotion not only delegitimizes the students need for belonging but colludes in privileging reason over emotion.

Dr Kristin Aune is Reader in Sociology at the University of Derby, where she directs the Centre for Society, Religion and Belief. She has published widely on gender, feminism and religion, and her recent books include Christianity and the University Experience in Contemporary England (with M. Guest, S. Sharma & R. Warner, Bloomsbury, 2013) and Reclaiming the F Word: Feminism Today (with C. Redfern, Zed Books, 2013).

Professor Jacqueline Stevenson is Head of the Centre for Social and Educational Research across the Lifecourse at Leeds Metropolitan University. The Centre brings together researchers and research students with common social justice concerns who have an interest in developing participatory methodologies. Her own research focuses on student resilience, students’ sense of belonging and how students think about their future ‘possible selves’.

Note: Unless otherwise stated SRHE events are free to members, there is a charge of £60 for non-members.
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Regulation of Religion? Limits of Law? What law regulates what religion?

Regulation of Religion? Limits of Law? What law regulates what religion?

Workshop Wednesday April 23rd to Thursday April 24th 2014

To be held at Department of Society and Globalisation, Roskilde University, Building 25 - In collaboration between Global Dynamics, Cluster on Secularism, (www.ruc.dk/globaldynamics) and the research network Fremtidens danske religionsmodel, (www.dendanskereligionsmodel.ku.dk)

The Danish (and other Nordic) religion-models have been characterized by a rather narrow understanding of freedom of religion to protect mostly rite and cult and even to some extent to argue that majority churches are not protected by the concept freedom of religion. Religious arguments in other fields, such as labor market regulation and family law have at most been seen as normative arguments in political discourses, but not as limitations to the law. On this background the Nordic countries have been able to offer a quite wide freedom of religion for minority churches with not much legal regulation as well as a system where majority churches have been following common legal standards in the countries.

These established Nordic models are however being challenged by Globalization through both migration and normative changes and by Europeanization impacting national legislation of relevance for law-on-religion. A global dynamics of migrated religion have reiterated that a core of cult and rite in religion is inviolable and pushes the established understandings of family law. Similarly, European understandings of law regarding majority churches are questioning general rights protected under labor market regulations.

This workshop discusses the general theoretical question of how religion and law regulate and limit each other by highlighting three core areas of conflict: 1) a possible forum internum for religious communities? 2) Religious requirements to employees on the religious labor market; and 3) protection of or limits to religious family law.

It is a common understanding within law-on-religion discourses that freedom of religion and belief functions as a limit to legal and political regulation of religion, underlining that law and politics have their limitations. The opposite, however, seems equally true: also religion is regulated by law and politics in situations where regulation is necessary and proportionate in a democratic society due to health, security or the protection of others’ freedoms and rights. But, the question remains how to weigh relations between strength of legal arguments and identification of a possible core of religion – and where to draw the line between the two.

The theoretical question can be further developed by taking constitutional pluralism and multi-level governance within the European Union and its member states into account. What is more, basically, law could be understood as general and encompassing all citizens, being in effect one of the carriers of a possible cosmopolitan project to the extent that we are talking of international law or ‘global law’, however in a possibly problematic discursive contrast to religions, also having a project about the world.

The three struggles this workshop focuses on are chosen in order to aim at an answer to a more principal question of whether and how religions limit law? Do laws establish limitations to religions? Which laws regulate which aspects of religion and on what basis? Where are the boundaries? Which boundaries are set by religious and legal normative systems themselves? And are there boundaries that cannot be set, because they as such empty the normative system for self-identification?

Thus within cult and rite, conflicts regarding both competences and content of norms are seen not only regarding rituals within majority churches, but also in relation to rituals for minority religions: ritual slaughtering is now forbidden in all Nordic countries and the question of circumcision of boys based on religious rite is high on political agendas.

Likewise in the religious labor market, implementation of EU-directives on general prohibitions to discriminate on basis of religion with its exemptions for religious communities do not find smooth interpretations in regard to also groups of employees covered by these exemptions as also which problems can establish possible manifested breaks of religious ethos for the communities.

Finally, the workshop addresses questions on parallel, overlapping or monolithic secular norms in regard to family life and seen controversies in all Nordic countries. This relates to a normative understanding of Canon or Rabbinic law and reflects on immigrated as well as century old practices, not least on migratory contexts and impacts.

The workshop presents a number of select papers (power point format) from invited discussants and allocates time and space for common reflections in plenum. Each paper is requested to clearly and concisely establish the possible conflict and then reflect on possible limitations established by self-regulation or by regulation from outside, including possible limits to limitations, seen from both state and religion perspective. The main question to all papers is: when the conflict is there – where do we then find the good arguments for solutions for the future? The workshop therefore invites the disciplines - the legal, political, theological, sociological and philosophical - to exercise the scholarly creativity and imagination of looking for future models of law and religion.

 
Program:

Wednesday 23rd April 2014, 9.00 – 9.15: Welcome and introduction:
Professor Garbi Schmidt (Global Dynamics Cluster 3 on Secularism); Professor Margit Warburg (den danske religionsmodel); Professor Lisbet Christoffersen (main responsible for the workshop).

Wednesday 23rd april 9.30 – 12.30. Auditoriet, building 25.2

What law regulates what religion? Is it possible to think in limitations of (Nordic) law? Is it possible to think in limitations of a forum internum within (majority and minority) religions? Constitutional pluralism - Multi-level governance Chair: Professor Garbi Schmidt

Introduction: Dr of Theology Pamela Slotte, Faculty of Law, Helsinki University

Professor Sten Schaumburg-Müller, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Aarhus Universitet (confirmed): Balancing Freedom of Religion and its limitations. A Human Rights Perspective

Dr. Anne Fornerod, Strasbourg: Soft Law Regulations of Religion

Professor, Trygve Wyller, Faculty of Theology, Oslo University: Nordic Protestantism, Secularity and Religious Laws

Associate professor, dr. Lene Kühle, Faculty of Arts, University of Aarhus: Boundaries of Religious Freedom: One Law for All?

Associate Professor, dr. Flemming Juul Christiansen, Department of Social Sciences and Globalisation, Roskilde University: Reform of the Danish National Church – a path way to an independent political institution?

Wednesday 23rd april 13.45 – 17.45 – auditoriet building 25.2

Conflicts over a possible forum internum for religious communities.

Chair: Professor Hans Raun Iversen, University of Copenhagen

Introduction: Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde & Copenhagen Universities

Professor Tage Kurtén, Åbo Academy: Identification of a possible forum internum in a post-secular age: concepts of religion, concepts of secularity, a Nordic/North-European approach?

Associate Professor Marie Vejrup Nielsen, Aarhus University: Is it all about religion? On regulation of rituals in a Nordic Lutheran folkekirke.

Associate Professor Lise Paulsen Galal, Roskilde University: Between transnational, national and local regulations of ritual practices in Middle Eastern migrant churches in Denmark.

Dr. Victoria Enquist, Uppsala University, Law department: How come that Halal & Kosher Schächtning is prohibited in Sweden? What about circumcision of boys?

Associate Professor Floris Vermeulen, Amsterdam: Reasonable Accomodation as a possible way forward between collective freedom of religion requirements and requirements from (secular) law?

Thursday 24th 9.00 – 12.00 theory room building 25.3

Religious requirements to employees on the religious labour market– . Chair: Professor Jørgen S. Nielsen, Birmingham/University of Copenhagen

Introduction: Emma Svensson, Doctoral Student, Faculty of Law, University of Uppsala

Professor Julian Rivers, Bristol University Law department: organizational freedom for churches.

Professor Hjalti Hugason, Háskoli Islands: An Icelandic school teacher and pastor dismissed for arguing against homosexuality – a concrete case study

Dr. Jakob Egeris Thorsen, Aarhus University: Catholic approaches to labour market problems regarding employees in churches and faith based organisations

Dr. student Johannes Heikkonen, University of Turku: Autonomous under state supervision? Regulation of religious employment in Finland

Thursday 24th 13.00 – 16.00 theory room building 25.3.

Protection of or limits to Family Law as part of Freedom of Religion? Chair: Professor Niels Kærgård, University of Copenhagen

Introduction: Niels Valdemar Vinding, Assistant Professor, Department of Cross Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen

Sanna Mustasaari, Dr. Student, University of Helsinki: Freedom of Religion, Rights and Practices in the Family.

Associate Professor, dr. teol. Joshua Sabih, Department of Cross Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen: Jewish family law – Jewishness in a Postmodern Perspective

Research Assistant Professor, Dr. Rubya Mehdi, Department of Cross Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen: Muslim Family Law in Scandinavia

Associate Professor Bjørn Thomassen, ISG/RUC: Public Reason, Religion and the Law

Thursday 24th 16.00 – 16.30: Conference closure: Lisbet Christoffersen, Pamela Slotte, Niels Valdemar Vinding & Emma Svensson

Practical information:

The workshop is organized by Lisbet Christoffersen, Pamela Slotte, Emma Svensson, Niels Valdemar Vinding in collaboration with

Den Danske Religionsmodel, University of Copenhagen: Margit Warburg, Hans Raun Iversen og Niels Kærgård samt Astrid Krabbe Trolle. See further on: https://dendanskereligionsmodel.ku.dk/

And

Global Dynamics Secularism Cluster, Roskilde University: Sune Haugbølle, Garbi Schmidt (kun onsdag) og Sune Lægaard (afbud) samt Laura Lindstrøm Nielsen. See further on: https://www.ruc.dk/globaldynamics

The workshop takes place at Roskilde University, Building 25.1. Train from Copenhagen Central station Wednesday and Thursday morning 08.16 to Trekroner station. See further on: https://www.ruc.dk/en/about-the-university/directions-to-ruc/

Workshop venues:

Wednesday 23rd April, 9.00 – 17.30: workshop at Roskilde University, Building 25, room 25.2).
Thursday 24th April, 9.00 – 16.30: workshop at Roskilde University, building 25, Theory room 25.3

The workshop is open to colleagues, students and the public. A mail informing that you will participate in lunches would for practical reasons required. Please inform djr@ruc.dk

 _______________________________________________

37th Denton Conference in Implicit Religion

37th Denton Conference in Implicit Religion: 6 pm Fri 9 May - 2 pm Sun 11 May 2014,

EMERGING PROGRAMME

For a whole motley of reasons, this year we still have room for 2 or 3 more Contributors/Participants: enquiries invited by Edward Bailey (Details below)

The following Papers are currently booked:-

Perceiving through Similitude
Neville Emslie, Diocese of Canterbury

Implicit Religion, Explicit Religion, and Attitudes towards Substances: an empirical enquiry
Leslie Francis, University of Warwick

Tintin as a Catholic hero: the dissemination of Catholicism in popular culture Kees de Groot, Tilburg University.

Explicit and Implicit Responses to Celtic Christianity: an empirical study Gill Hall, Glyndwr University

The Implicit Religions present in the Climate Change debate, and our societal response to ‘Acts of God’ Ted Harrison (formerly) BBC

Winterwandering on Snowshoes: manifestations of transcendence in participants’ mind maps Ivo Jirasek, Palacky University, Czech Republic.

Vocational Faiths: three styles of (social) scientific commitment: Max Weber, Edward Shils, David Martin
William Keenan, Hope University, Liverpool

The Engineer is Professionally a “Man of Faith”
Ton Meijknecht, Technical University of Delft, Netherlands

The Explicit and Implicit Religious Dimensions of Technology (tbc) Guy Menard, Université de Québec à Montréal

Calvinism without God: American environmentalism as implicit Calvinism Robert Nelson, University of Maryland

Spiritualities of Scientists in Words: integrating quanti-qualitative results of a survey with a lexical-textual approach to open-ended questions Stephano Sbalchiero, University of Padua, Italy

Atheist Religion, Atheist Spirituality
Tatjana Schnell, University of Innsbruck, Austria.

The Orange Order: a religious institution, or an expression of implicit religious spinning? Francis Stewart, University of Stirling

The Jews of India: ritual, identity, and the caste system
Tahmina Tariq, Concordia University, Montreal

Leisure Makes the World Go Round
Dermot Tredget OSB, St Mary’s University, Twickenham

PRACTICALITIES

The all-inclusive cost of this residential Conference Weekend, held at Denton Hall, Ilkley, West Yorks, is £145.

For further information, please see www.implicitreligion.org

Edward Bailey.

President BASS (British Association for the Study of Spirituality) www.basspirituality.org.uk Editor Implicit Religion www.equinoxpub.com/IR Founder CSIRCS www.implicitreligion.org

The Old School, 10 Church Lane, Yarnton, Oxford. OX5 1PY, U.K. (44) (0)1865 841772