22/05/2024 08:30 - 13:15

HALL: FATESI - D'ACQUISTO

Proponent: Macconi I., Phiri F.J.

Chair: Macconi I., Phiri F.J.

According to a prominent scholar, religious changes are the most significant and revolutionary in the world today. In order to understand where we are heading, we cannot overlook them or the continent from which they originate. This is why the Foundation for Religious Studies (FSCIRE) reached out to Africa and together with the Institute for Interreligious Dialogue and Islamic Studies (IRDIS) initiated a collaboration between African and European Institutions. One of the initiatives undertaken is this panel, which aims to broaden the reflection on the contemporary role of Religion, to bring more of the Global South into the picture, and to bridge the gap between academia and the community. Many of the challenges facing our societies, such as pandemics, climate change, food security, gender discrimination, globalization, radicalization and religious violence have profoundly influenced the responses of religious leaders, researchers and practitioners. Focusing on specific projects and case studies, the speakers want to encourage a transnational and interdisciplinary discussion on the significant changes (and paradigm shifts) in the study and teaching of Religion in Africa. This encompasses changes in the African religious landscape as well as in the approaches to emerging cultural and socio-economic issues.