ntensive graduate seminar

“Old religion and new spirituality: Continuity and changes in the background of secularization”
May 26­–29, 2015

University of Tartu

1 ECT

The seminar will be held in conjunction with the conference “Old religion and new spirituality: Continuity and changes in the background of secularization” (May 26–29, 2015).

The seminar invites PhD students from various disciplines to discuss the historical roots and characteristics of the current religious situation in Estonia characterized by de-institutionalization and de-Christianization. Discussion topics may include the historical process of secularization, its specific features in different countries; combinations of religion and nationalism, effects of nationalism on public religion; changes in the traditional religious groups and churches in the 21st century; atheism and nonreligion, their organized and individual manifestations; and new spirituality, “New Age” and individual religiousness, mixed forms of organized and individual religion.

Invited speakers:

Prof Dr Detlef Pollack (University of Münster)

Prof Dr Paul Heelas (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

http://www.paulheelas.co.uk/

Dr Abby Day (University of Kent)

http://www.kent.ac.uk/secl/thrs/staff/day.html

For the initial program of the conference, please see http://orns.ut.ee/program

The seminar consists of participation in the full conference program and a discussion conducted and moderated by the conference keynote lecturers Paul Heelas and Abby Day on May 29.

Requirements for participation

Interested graduate students can apply for the seminar by e-mail by March 25, 2015. Students who are not members of GSCSA are required to add a short CV to specify their education and research interests. E-mail address: ktkdk@ut.ee. Maximum number of participants is 16. You will be notified of your participation by March 30, 2015.

Participation in the course is free of charge; accommodation and travel costs of the students of GSCSA will be reimbursed. Working language of the seminar is English.

Reading material (both obligatory and suggested) is made available with the note of acceptance by the student coordinator.

The event is supported by the European Union Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund (Estonian Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts & Centre of Excellence in Cultural Theory).