European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR)
Multiple Religious Identities
Individuals, Communities, Traditions
Description and organization
As empirical realities, religions are never homogenous. From the multitude of beliefs, objects, feelings, discourses and practices of everyday lived religion, to major historical disputes that have led to the formation of different schools or movements, to conflict-laden divisions at the intersection of religion and politics, an extraordinary variety of contexts and content constitute the ubiquitous constant of religions across centuries and cultures from early civilisations to the immigrant societies of the 21st century, across Europe and beyond. The multiplicity of ways in which individuals form relationships with religious traditions and the plural modes of how religious codes are appropriated add further complexity to this picture.
It comes, therefore, as no surprise that plurality and its more normative pendant, pluralism, have always constituted key issues in religious identity debates: for instance, when religious diversity is set against claims of authenticity and orthodoxy with the discourse on conversion as an example. Plurality and pluralism are also at the core of political controversies, e.g., in discussions on social norms and alleged deviance on religious grounds.
Even though historical and contemporary research has drawn attention to the religious diversity within societies, the conceptualisation and theorisation of these issues remain difficult, given the inner plurality of religions and the multiple constructions of religious identities.
Key concepts such as world religions or syncretism have been the subject of severe criticism. This stemmed from more fundamental questions concerning the homogenising effect of conceptual frameworks that are based, for instance, on a distinction between dominating and minority traditions. Thus, an uncomfortable choice seems necessary: Do we let go our theoretical endeavour in favour of the multitude of individual cases or do we blur the manifold individual and social realities of religions through our generalising concepts? Building on this constructive tension, this conference aims to provide a forum for historical and contemporary research as well as conceptual, methodological and theoretical reflections on the plurality and multiplicity of both religions and religious identities. Topics may include the following:
- self-conceptions and identity discourses within religious communities and traditions
- multiple religious belongings in the past and the present
- conversion and the handling of converts
- debates on orthodoxy and heterodoxy, conformity and non-conformity
- missionary activities and religious exclusiveness
- normative concepts of plurality
- historical regulation of religious diversity
- the plurality of ritual practices
- secularity, secularities and forms of non-belief
- conceptual and theoretical reflections on terms and models
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For all information and questions regarding the EASR 2018 Conference, please contact the coordinator of the conference using the contact form below or mail or call directly:
Programme
Saturday, 16 June 14:30–18:00 IAHR Executive Committee Meeting F0071
Sunday, 17 June
9:00–14:00 EASR Executive Committee Meeting F005
13:00–15:00 IAHR Executive Committee Meeting F007
15:00–16:00 Registration / Welcome Coffee vonRoll, 001
16:00–17:00 Opening Event vonRoll, 001
17:00–18:00 Keynote 1: Reinhard Schulze The ambiguity of the religious self in pre- and postnational social worlds. Examples from 17th-century Morocco and 20th-century Germany vonRoll, 001 18:00–19:00 Welcome Reception vonRoll, 001
Monday, 18 June
9:00–10:30 Slot 1 Room S104-A: Conceptual and theoretical reflections on terms and models I F007
S15-A: Ernesto De Martinoʹs Multiple Identities: Between Coherence and Contradiction
I F023 S16-A: Multi-faith places and urban religious diversity
I F-122 S18-A: Divided or Disjointed Belonging in a Polytheistic Environment
I F-106 S20: Religion as political opposition
F-121 S27-A: Multiple Religious Identities in Late Antiquity – with a focus on the individual
I F006 S38-A: Multiple religious identities in Japan
I F013 S42-A: Self-conceptions and identity discourses within religious communities and traditions
I F-113 S43-A: Contrasting religious multiple identities: efforts to mark orthodoxies and differences in complex societies
I F005 S50-A: Who Are the ‘Nones’ in Europe?
I F022 S7-A: Gendered eco-spirituality: conceptual reflections
I F-112 S71: Religious education in Russia in post-secular context
F-107 S75: Re-configuring core concepts of the Study of Religions? – More than 30 years after the ‘cultural turn’
F021 S96-A: Multiple religious belongings in the past and the present
I F012 S97-A: Conversion and the handling of converts I F-111
10:30–11:00 ¤ Coffee Break ¤
11:00–12:00 Keynote 2: Grace Davie Multiple Religious Identities: Realities and Reflections UniS, A 003
12:00–13:30 ¤ Lunch ¤
13:30–15:00 Slot 2
S1-A: Multiple religious and secular identities in the public school I: The representation of religion in school: developments in different contexts F021 S104-B: Conceptual and theoretical reflections on terms and models II F007 S12-A: Wild and Monstrous Identities – Religious Identity Formation and Natural Spaces in Ancient Religions I F011 S15-B: Ernesto De Martinoʹs Multiple Identities: Between Coherence and Contradiction II F023 S16-B: Multi-faith places and urban religious diversity II F-107 S18-B: Divided or Disjointed Belonging in a Polytheistic Environment II F-106 S27-B: Multiple Religious Identities in Late Antiquity – with a focus on the individual II F006 S28-A: Prayer, pop and politics: researching religious youth in migration society I F-105 S35: Religion, co-imagining and controversial relationships F-121 S38-B: Multiple religious identities in Japan II F013 S40: Late Antique Geographies of Heresiology: Fashioning Local Orthodoxies in early Christianity and Manichaeism F-123 S42-B: Self-conceptions and identity discourses within religious communities and traditions II F-113 S43-B: Contrasting religious multiple identities: efforts to mark orthodoxies and differences in complex societies II F005 S50-B: Who Are the ‘Nones’ in Europe? II F022 S7-B: Gendered eco-spirituality: conceptual reflections II F-112 S80: “Islamic radicalisation” and extremism from a study of religions perspective F-122 S96-B: Multiple religious belongings in the past and the present II F012 S97-B: Conversion and the handling of converts II F-111
15:00–15:30 ¤ Coffee Break ¤
15:30–17:00 Slot 3
S1-B: Multiple religious and secular identities in the public school II: The relationship between RE and religious and secular belonging F021 S104-C: Conceptual and theoretical reflections on terms and models III F007 S12-B: Wild and Monstrous Identities – Religious Identity Formation and Natural Spaces in Ancient Religions II F011 S16-C: Multi-faith places and urban religious diversity III F013 S27-C: Multiple Religious Identities in Late Antiquity – with a focus on the individual III F006 S28-B: Prayer, pop and politics: researching religious youth in migration society II F-105 S36: Alternative Religious Belongings in the Communist Regime Countries up to 1990 F022 S41: Metropolitan Religion Speakers F023 S42-C: Self-conceptions and identity discourses within religious communities and traditions III F-113 S6-A: Norms and Normativity in the Study of Religion I F-123 S63: Convenience or Conversion? An exploration of collaborative method in material religion F-107 S64: Comparison as Method and Topic in the History of Religion F00S76: Indigenous Religion(s). Local Grounds, Global Networks F-111 S8: Multiple Religious Identities in Late Antique Egypt (2nd–6th Centuries) F-122 S82: Researching Popular Culture and Religion. Discourses, Negotiations, and Reception F-121 S96-C: Multiple religious belongings in the past and the present III F012
17:15–18:15 Keynote 3: Milda Ališauskienė Diversification of Religious Identities in Contemporary Central and Eastern Europe: the case of the Baltic States UniS, A003
From 18:30 Women Scholars Network F021
Tuesday, 19 June
9:00–10:30 Slot 4
S1-C: Multiple religious and secular identities in the public school III: Communication about religions and worldviews at school F021 S100: Normative concepts of plurality F-122 S102-A: The plurality of ritual practices I F023 S17: Religion in Sustainability Transitions: Empirical Insights F-105 S22-A: Religion and Revolution: Self-images, identity discourses, and the demarcation of religion and politics in nineteenth century Europe I F-106 S32-A: Identity, religion and resonance I F011 S34: Contested Religious Belongings in Europe. Membership, Practice and Identity in Comparative Perspective F-111 S54: New Age/ New Religiosities in non-Western context: Toward a comparative approach F-121 S6-B: Norms and Normativity in the Study of Religion II F-123 S65-A: Healing Narratives in Asian Religions: Interactions, Circulation, Legitimacy I F005 S69: Labeling religion: Migration and ascriptions of religious identities in contemporary Europe F-113 S72: Muslim Secularities: New Inquiries into Muslim Engagements with Religion, Politics and the Social F022 S73: Negotiations of Religious and Secular Gender Scripts in Womenʹs Conversions in Contemporary Western Europe F013 S74: Sacred Places and Multiple Religious Identities: Past and Present S78: How to foster peaceful coexistence of differing religious and secular perspectives: Results from latest empirical studies F006 S81: Multiple religious and maternal identities: othermothers, self-conceptions, conformity and nonconformity
10:30–11:00 ¤ Coffee Break ¤
11:00–12:00 Keynote 4: Jörg Rüpke Urbanity and multiple religious identities in antiquity UniS, A003
12:00–13:30 ¤ Lunch ¤
12:30–15:00 IAHR International Committee meeting F021
13:30–15:00 Slot 5S102-B: The plurality of ritual practices II F023 S22-B: Religion and Revolution: Self-images, identity discourses, and the demarcation of religion and politics in nineteenth century Europe II F-106 S31-A: Anchoring in a foreign land: How faith-based organisations accommodate refugees I F022 S32-B: Identity, religion and resonance II F011 S33: Debating, expressing and organizing non-belief among Muslims in Europe and the Middle East F-113 S59: Multiple belongings of German-speaking Muslims: Negotiating religious and secular identity positions F013 S62: The relationship between school education about religion and the academic discipline of the Study of Religions F-122 S65-B: Healing Narratives in Asian Religions: Interactions, Circulation, Legitimacy II F005 S87: Reflecting on Communal Identities – Comparing different Methods and Approaches in the Study of Religious Communities F-105 S99: Missionary activities and religious exclusiveness F-121
15:00–15:30 ¤ Coffee Break
15:30–17:30 EASR General Assembly F021 16:30–17:30 SGR General Assembly F013 17:30–19:30 Bern Tour From 19:30 Barbecue & Network Dance
Wednesday, 20 June
9:00–10:30 Slot 6 S13-A: Islam in European RE: a comparative perspective I F-105 S19-A: Regulating Religious Plurality I F-111 S29-A: The unseen forms of Russian Christian-ities I: Russian Protestantisms F011 S31-B: Anchoring in a foreign land: How faithbased organisations accommodate refugees II F022 S39-A: Where, who, what: The interrelation of religious identities with religious spaces and practices I F006 S51-A: National identities, secularization and sacralization of nature I F005 S60: Mountain Religion F013 S68-A: Indigenising movements in Europe I F023 S79-A: Young adults in a global perspective: a critical discussion of research on religion from the perspective of a mixed-method study of contemporary religiosities F-106 S83: Conversion Narrative F-113 S86: Deregulating European master narratives of diversity: fringes and mainstream in genealogical perspective F-123 S93-A: Self-conceptions and identity discourses: Indian traditions I F-122 S95-A: Self-conceptions and identity discourses within religious communities and traditions I F012 S98-A: Debates on orthodoxy and heterodoxy, conformity and non-conformity I: Gender and Magic F-112
10:30–11:00 ¤ Coffee Break ¤
11:00–12:00 Keynote 5: Dorothea Weltecke Religious demarcation, border violation and deviance discourses in medieval religious groups UniS, A003
13:30–15:00 Slot 7
S13-B: Islam in European RE: a comparative perspective II F-105 S19-B: Regulating Religious Plurality II F-111 S26: Religion, Art and Space F007 S29-B: The unseen forms of Russian Christianities II: Russian Orthodox minorities F011 S37: Plurality and Materiality F013 S51-B: National identities, secularization and sacralization of nature II F005 S57: Dance and religious identities F-107 S58-A: ‘Contemporary Spiritualities’ and ‘New Age’: Ethnographic and Historical-Comparative Approaches to a Transnational Field I: Concepts and terms F022 S68-B: Indigenising movements in Europe II F023 S70-A: From local interaction to globalized scandal: negotiating religious identities in a Swiss secondary school I F-113 S79-B: Young Adults and religion in a global perspective: socialization of religion and beyond F-106 S93-B: Self-conceptions and identity discourses: Indian traditions II F-122 S94: Religion and right-wing thinking – contemporary composites and constellations F006 S95-B: Self-conceptions and identity discourses within religious communities and traditions II F012 S98-B: Debates on orthodoxy and heterodoxy, conformity and non-conformity II: Society and Politics F-112
15:00–15:30 ¤ Coffee Break ¤
15:30–17:00 Slot 8
S21-A: Exploring Religion in Contemporary Urban India I F023 S23-A: Weakened, strengthened, enriched or unaffected? The (trans-)formation of religious identities under the conditions of interreligious contact I F-112 S29-C: The unseen forms of Russian Christianities III: Russian Orthodox practices F011 S3-A: Religious Normativity and multiplicity I F-121 S39-B: Where, who, what: The interrelation of religious identities with religious spaces and practices II F006 S44: Debating Form and Boundaries in Early Modern Catholic Pluralism: The Case of the Jesuits in Asia F005 S53-A: Beyond Nationalism and Religion: Cases of the Religious ‘Other’ I F-106 S58-B: ‘Contemporary Spiritualities’ and ‘New Age’: Ethnographic and Historical-Comparative Approaches to a Transnational Field II: Bodies and practices I F022 S61: Political Theology within the Study of Religion F-105 S67: Empirical studies of multiple religious identities around the world F021 S70-B: From local interaction to globalized scandal: negotiating religious identities in a Swiss secondary school II F-113 S85-A: Vernacular expressivity, tradition and institutional authority: ambiguities of belonging in vernacular religion I F-122 S9: Plurality in Ancient Mediterranean Religions F-111 S95-C: Self-conceptions and identity discourses within religious communities and traditions III F012
17:00–17:30 ¤ Coffee Break ¤
17:30–19:00 Slot 9
S10-A: Secular sensibilities & minority religious subjects I F-105 S21-B: Exploring Religion in Contemporary Urban India II F023 S23-B: Weakened, strengthened, enriched or unaffected? The (trans-)formation of religious identities under the conditions of interreligious contact II F-112 S24: Nomadic Line-of-flights in Religious Translocal Movements F011 S3-B: Religious Normativity and multiplicity II F-121 S30: Self-identity and Otherness: Shia Approaches to Religious Pluralism F012 S46: Religion of the individual / religion of the state F021 S49: Plurality of ritual practices and exegesis of rituals in Antiquity F-107 S53-B: Beyond Nationalism and Religion: Cases of the Religious ‘Other’ II F-106 S56: One, Many, and the City: Making and Unmaking Boundaries in Urban Religion F-113 S58-C: ‘Contemporary Spiritualities’ and ‘New Age’: Ethnographic and Historical-Comparative Approaches to a Transnational Field III: Bodies and practices II F022 S84: Multidisciplinary Understanding of Unbelief F-123 S85-B: Vernacular expressivity, tradition and institutional authority: ambiguities of belonging in vernacular religion II F-122 S90: “Moi, un Afropéen”: film as research – an audiovisual ethnography through sensational forms F005 S92-A: Self-conceptions, identity and Shiʹa tradition F006
Thursday, 21 June
9:00–10:30 Slot 10
S103-A: Secularity, secularities and forms of nonbelief I F021 S11-A: Space, Religion, and the Internet I F-121 S14: The marketization of religion: transnational and global developments F012 S25-A: Christians and the Dynamics of Religious Belonging in India: Looking Beyond Boundaries I F-112 S45: Religions and the sea F013 S47: Identity Discourses in the Religious Landscape of the Last Decades of the Russian Empire F011 S5-A: Esotericism and Eastern Christianities I: Traditionalism and Neo-Hesychasm F007 S52: Religious Identities, Media, and Communication F023 S55: Missionary Projects and Indigenous Responses in the Asia Pacific F-111 S66: Polish religious studies thought in the context of the 19th century culture studies F005 S77-A: The Highgate Cemetery in London: Diversity of Religious Practices in a Single Space I F-107 S88: Life reform networks in transnational context: c. 1900–c. 1970 F022 S92-B: Self-conceptions and identity discourses of Muslim traditions
10:30–11:00 ¤ Coffee Break ¤
11:00–12:00 Keynote 6: Eugen Ciurtin A Comparative History of saṃsāra in Early India: In and Out the Vortex of Transmigration UniS, A 003
12:00–13:30 ¤ Lunch ¤
13:30–15:00 Slot 11
S10-B: Secular sensibilities & minority religious subjects II F-105 S103-B: Secularity, secularities and forms of nonbelief II F021 S11-B: Space, Religion, and the Internet II F-121 S2: Religious identities in the making: Praxeological approaches to the study of religious identities in antiquity F-111 S25-B: Christians and the Dynamics of Religious Belonging in India: Looking Beyond Boundaries II F-112 S4: Death as a Process: Debating the Polyvalence of Chthonic Cults in Graeco-Roman Antiquity F012 S48: Varieties of Multiple Religious Identities – a summing-up conversation F023 S5-B: Esotericism and Eastern Christianities II: Language Games F007 S58-D: ‘Contemporary Spiritualities’ and ‘New Age’: Ethnographic and Historical-Comparative Approaches to a Transnational Field IV: Indigeneities, landscapes and media F022 S77-B: The Highgate Cemetery in London: Diversity of Religious Practices in a Single Space II
15:15–16:00 Closing Event vonRoll,
Contact
Stefan Nadile
e-mail: info@easr2018.org.
phone: +41 31 631 38 50
(Text by the organizers)
Link
http://www.easr2018.org/
