New Expressions of Spirituality

SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP

Szeged, Hungary, 7-8 November 2008

The symposium is focusing on new approaches to the study of the variety of religions in contemporary society and personal experiences of spirituality. We particularly welcome case studies and field research on recent phenomena. Presentations at the conference will be considered by the editors for publication in a special issue of the Journal of ASANAS.

The symposium is organised by the Re-Dial Association for the Study of Religions in association with the Department for the Study of Religions, University of Szeged.

Topics

The symposium explores themes related, but not limited to, the following:

• Personalised religion, bricolage beliefs
• New Age/Alternative Spirituality, Esotericism, mysticism
• Paganism and Neo-Paganism
• Alternative expressions of major religions
• Popular culture, indigenous religions
• Civil Religion - hidden structures of faith in societies
• Devotion and Media – icons in politics, pop culture and sports
• Virtual Communities
  

Workshops

There are two options to participate on the event. First, on the symposium a limited number of keynote lectures will be presented.

Another special opportunity of the event are the workshops. We invited some of the most renowned scholars of these fields to hold workshops focusing on the methodology of doing research, and on the interpretation of findings. Attendance at the workshops is limited and active participation is encouraged (by short presentation of research topics and issues).

Workshop leaders:

• Marion Bowman (The Open University, UK): Contemporary Integrative Spirituality, Vernacular Religion and Context: The Glastonbury Effect
• Graham Harvey (The Open University, UK): Fieldwork among Pagans
• Daren Kemp (ASANAS): New Age in global contexts
• Steven Sutcliffe (University of Edinburgh): Seekership as habitus in new age religion / Theoretical aspects related to studying new age

Programme

Please see this page for the full symposium programme, also look for abstracts.

For advertising, please download and print A4 b&w flyer (pdf, 31 kb) or A3 color poster (pdf, 6,5 Mb). Please note, just like the website, the flyer and poster will be also updated, so before printing, always download a fresh version. The artwork is made by our fellow researcher from Brno, also an excellent designer, Jan Krátký; many thanks for this.

Information for participants

Please check this page for travel, accomodation and other information.

Contact

For further information please contact Csongor Sárközy: csongor@re-dial.org, +36 62 546384

Symposium official website: www.reuropa.org/spirit2008

	Supported by the International Visegrad Fund
	Workshop of the REVACERN Religions And Values - Central And Eastern European Research Network