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Wednesday Weekly 10 November 2021

 

Dear friends and colleagues,

Next Wednesday is a public holiday in Saxony and therefore there will be no Wednesday Weekly. For this reason, we are already today announcing the next colloquium with Thomas Schmidt-Lux on 24 November. On the same day, the programme of Screening Religion for the new semester will start with the film "Dealing with Death".

We also have new publications for you, a recommendation for a conference, a hybrid presentation and a call for papers, and lastly we give you an update on the current Corona regulations in Leipzig and at Leipzig University.

Enjoy and have a great week!

Anja & Lucy

 
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Next colloquium on 24 November: Thomas Schmidt-Lux on “Secularity and secularization in the medium of architecture. Studies on Turkey, India and the Soviet Union”

In two weeks we will be back with the KFG colloquium: Our Senior Research Fellow Thomas Schmidt-Lux will give a presentation on his research project “Secularity and secularization in the medium of architecture. Studies on Turkey, India and the Soviet Union”. The project aims to research the role of architecture in the process of differentiation and constitution of secular spheres and societies. The research-guiding assumption is that social relations between the secular and the religious find their expression also in a material way and are established and stabilized through architecture. The project uses three case studies as examples (Soviet Union, Turkey, India).

In the member area, you find the relevant readings: an outline of the research proposal as well as an article (in German) on the Paulinum – Assembly Hall and University Church of St. Paul.

The colloquium is planned to take place as a hybrid event. If you would like to attend in person, please register via e-mail. The number of physically present participants again is limited to 10 people.

In the member area, you will also find the zoom connection data in case you plan to join the colloquium online.

24 November | 9.15–11.45 a.m. (CET)

Hybrid format | Strohsack, 4.55 and via zoom

 
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Screening Religion: “Dealing with Death”, 24 November at naTo

We are happy that our Screening Religion film series starts again after a two months break: The film “Dealing with Death”, directed by Paul Sin Nam Rigter, tells the story of the funeral organization Yarden that seeks to establish a new multicultural funeral home. The many cultures in Bijlmer, a suburb in the southeast of Amsterdam, all have their own rituals around bidding farewell to the dead. Funeral director Anita is tasked with finding out what the community would want in this new funeral home. But the more the initially confident Anita sees and learns, the more she begins to have her doubts. Do these diverse communities actually need Yarden? This largely observational account follows Anita’s uncertain mission over a period of more than five years. It combines her own experience with a larger picture full of cultural contrasts.

The film will be shown in Dutch, English, Sranantongo, Twi with English subs.

After the film there will be a discussion.

24 November | 7.00 p.m. (CET)

Cinémathèque Leipzig at naTo, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 46, 04275 Leipzig

Free entry, donations welcome

 
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New Publications: Five Responses to Hubert Seiwert’s “Theory of Religion and Historical Research. A Critical Realist Perspective on the Study of Religion as an Empirical Discipline”

In November last year, our Permanent Senior Research Fellow Hubert Seiwert published an article on “Theory of Religion and Historical Research. A Critical Realist Perspective on the Study of Religion as an Empirical Discipline” in the Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft (Journal for Religious Studies). His article evoked various reactions, both affirmative and critical. In the current issue of the journal, five responses address some important aspects of that engagement with the article, and Hubert finally discusses these points in the concluding response to his critics.

You find the articles in our member area and here:

  • Seiwert, Hubert. “Theory of Religion and Historical Research. A Critical Realist Perspective on the Study of Religion as an Empirical Discipline.” Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 28, no. 2 (2020): 207–36.
  • Mark Q. Gardiner and Steven Engler. “Allies in the Fullness of Theory.” Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 29, no. 2 (2021): 259–67.
  • Stausberg, Michael: „The Abyss of Intransitivity: On Critical Realism and Theories of Religion.” Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 29, no. 2 (2021): 268–74.
  • Becker, Carmen: “Returning to the Empirical after the Discursive Turn? A Response to Hubert Seiwert.” Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 29, no. 2 (2021): 275–80.
  • Schmidt-Leukel, Perry: “Religion: Historical Fact or Interpretive Theory? A Response to Hubert Seiwert.” Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 29, no. 2 (2021): 281–84.
  • Taves, Ann: „Religion, Religious: Can Anti-Definitionalists Stay Tethered to the Study of Religion?” Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 29, no. 2 (2021): 285–89.
  • Seiwert, Hubert. “Reply to the Responses.” Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 29, no. 2 (2021): 290–98.

    More KFG Publications    
 
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Conference “Beyond Secularization – (De)Sacralization in Modern European History”

Our director Monika Wohlrab-Sahr draws our attention to this conference which is Part III of the Conference Series "A Europe of Differences" (2020–2022), hosted by The Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) in Mainz. These meetings aim to bring the institute’s researchers in contact with international experts to discuss perspectives on negotiating differences in early and late modern Europe. The third part of the series deals with the tension between sacralization and desacralization in modern Europe. On 24 November, Monika will give a presentation on “Europe in the Logic of Multiple Secularities”.

If you are interested in participating, please send an e-mail.  

Conference Dates: 24–26 November

Monika’s Presentation: 24 November, 4.15–5.00 p.m. (CET)

Online format

    Full Programme    
 
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CfP/Workshop on “Aesthetics and Affects of Power in the Context of Religion”

The Institute for the Study of Religions at University of Erfurt invites to contribute to a Workshop on “Aesthetics and affects of power in the context of religion” taking place in May 2022: To disable and enable in colonial and other contexts did and does not only mean “control of the economy, the political, and knowledge, but also control over the senses and perception” (Mignolo and Velazqez 2013). Religious practices and discourses took and take an especially important role in creating sensory mechanisms that structure power relations by shaping perception via aesthetics and affects. The sensory power mechanisms outlive religious practices and expand beyond the religious sphere; they become alive in the body of the aesthetically affected. This workshop aims to understand—by case studies and theoretical reflection—how these sensory mechanisms function in different (religious) contexts, such as (post)colonial contact zones and global religious and spiritual practices and movements; how they relate and intertwine with intersectional discourses and practices, such as racism, whiteness, (s)exoticization, secularization; and how they affect the scholarly practice of the study of religion.

Abstracts of 300 words can be submitted via e-mail. 

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 1 December  

Workshop Dates: 11–13 May 2022, University of Erfurt



    Further Information    
 
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Public presentation: Rashad Ibadov on “Modelling the State – Religion Relations in the former Soviet Muslim-majority States: constitutional secularity and increasing societal religiosity in the context of democratic state building in Azerbaijan”

We would like to draw your attention to a presentation on “Modelling the State – Religion Relations in the former Soviet Muslim-majority States: constitutional secularity and increasing societal religiosity in the context of democratic state building in Azerbaijan” by Rashad Ibadov, Founding Director of the Law Program and Assistant Professor of Law at ADA University, Baku Azerbaijan.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the new Muslim-majority, though formally secular states have arguably been lacking adequate experiences in establishing appropriate relations vis-à-vis religion(s), particularly in the context of significant religious revivalism. This situation, which has been affecting to the political identities of citizens, has deeply segmented some of the post-Soviet societies, which may potentially bring constitutional calamities in the near future. In this regard, this presentation aims at discussing a constitutional strategy which may become useful for developing a better relationship between the state and religion, and eventually, managing ‘conscious compartmentalization’ in these societies. 

24 November | 5.00–6.30 p.m. (CET)

Dozentenbibliothek für Öffentliches Recht im Juridicum, Universitätsplatz 5, 06108, Halle/Saale AND online via Webex

 
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Update on COVID-19 health protection measures in Leipzig

In response to the current intensified infection situation and the continuing dynamic infection incidence in Saxony, the Saxon government has passed a new Corona Protection Ordinance for the Free State of Saxony. It has been in force since 8 November and will be valid until 25 November. We would like to inform you about the most important points:

  • The so-called 2G regulation is mandatory (proof of vaccination or recovery must be presented, an official day-current test certificate is not sufficient) in order to access certain places and events such as indoor catering, indoor event and festivals, indoor cultural and leisure facilities, clubs, bars and all major events. Here, masks are compulsory if you move away from your own seat, contact registration as well as distance requirement and resulting capacity restrictions apply.
  • For local and long-distance public transport, FFP-2 masks are compulsory.

The management of Leipzig University will inform staff and students later this week about any effects of the new regulation on everyday working life at the university. However, no changes in university teaching are expected and every effort will be made to continue attendance on-site. We at the KFG also continue to plan our upcoming colloquia and workshops as hybrid events. If there should be any changes and adjustments, we will let you know in good time.

 

If you have any content that you think suits the purpose of the weekly, please feel free to send it to us at multiple-secularities@uni-leipzig.de.
 
Kolleg-Forschungsgruppe "Multiple Secularities - Beyond the West, Beyond Modernities"
Nikolaistraße 8-10, 04109 Leipzig
Mail: multiple-secularities@uni-leipzig.de

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