Intensive graduate seminar

Religious change
September 26-27, 2013

University of Tartu

2-3 ECTS

The seminar invites PhD students from various disciplines to discuss the changes in religious landscape in contemporary Western world. Religious diversity, losing of religious affiliation and at the same time the growing popularity of new forms of religiosity is in the center of attention. Connections between social and religious changes, issues of sex and gender in relationship with religion are not to be left aside. Historical background and sociological aspects of changes will be tackled by specialists.

Guest lecturers:

Prof Jim Beckford (University of Warwick)

Prof Callum Brown (University of Glasgow)

Prof Linda Woodhead (University of Lancaster)

Seminar consists of lectures, seminars and discussions conducted and moderated by guest lecturers. Seminars require previous preparation. PhD students may propose for a presentation (15 min) to interpret the topic of the seminar in combination with the personal research.

Preliminary programme

Tartu, Ülikooli 18 (main building)

Thursday, September 26

10.00 Introduction (room 228)
10.15 Public lecture (room 228): Jim Beckford, Sociological aspects of religious diversity
Coffee break (room 227)
11.30 Seminar (room 230). Student presentation by Olga Razuvajeva.

13.00 Lunch. University Cafe (Ülikooli 20), 2nd floor (registered participants only)

14.15 Public lecture (room 228): Callum Brown, Losing Religion: how people have lost religion in Canada, UK and USA since 1940
Coffee break (room 227)
15.30-17.00 seminar (room 230). Student presentation by Kristel Kivari.

19.00 Dinner. Cafe Werner (Ülikooli 11), 2nd floor (registered participants only)

Friday, September 27

10.15 Public lecture (room 228): Linda Woodhead, Religious Change in Europe since 1989: De-Reformation and the Return of Magic
Coffee break (room 227)
11.30 seminar (room 230). Student presentation by Marko Uibu.

13.00 Lunch. University Cafe (Ülikooli 20), 2nd floor (registered participants only)

14.00-15.00 discussion, summary

15.30-20.30 Excursion to religious sites in Tartu and neighborhood (Old Believers). We will gather in front of the main building (Ülikooli 18).

Students` abstracts
Reading materials

Requirements for participation

Interested graduate students can apply for the seminar by sending a letter of motivation and/or the abstract of the proposed paper (150–200 words) by e-mail by September 8, 2013. E-mail address: ktkdk@ut.ee. Students who are not members of GSCSA are required to add a short CV to specify their education and research interests.

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.

ECTS points will be awarded on the following conditions:

2 ETCS for participating in the seminar programme + 1 ETCS for making a presentation

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