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Dear friends and colleagues,

We are pleased to welcome two new Fellows in October. Besides that, we would like to draw your attention to a few publications, conferences and symposia. We also have a short update for you on the changed terms of use of the Leipzig University Libraries. To round things off, we have linked you to some information about the famous Leipzig Festival of Lights.

There will be no colloquium next week.

Enjoy and have a great week!

Lucy & Anja

New Publications

We would like to draw your attention to the recently published edited volume "Religion in Culture – Culture in Religion: Burkhard Gladigow's Contribution to Shifting Paradigms in the Study of Religion" by Christoph Auffarth, Alexandra Grieser and Anne Koch. This collection of essays introduces a key thinker of the cultural studies‘ approach to the academic study of religion in the Germanic tradition. The authors explore the pioneering work of Burkhard Gladigow and a group of scholars in and around the University of Tübingen as a hub for these new developments. By explaining core concepts and their reception and by thinking them further in the light of current debates they demonstrate how the new constellation of questions and epistemological standards Gladigow has offered are relevant for the future of the study of religion across different academic cultures. 

You will find the following contributions from our Fellows and colleagues:

• Hermann, Adrian. “European History of Religion, Global History of Religion: On the Expansion of a Gladigowian Concept for the Study of Religion.” In Religion in Culture — Culture in Religion: Burkhard Gladigow's Contribution to Shifting Paradigms in the Study of Religion. Edited by Christoph Auffarth, Alexandra Grieser and Anne Koch, 237–68. Universität Tübingen.
• Junginger, Horst. “Etsi deus non daretur: die Säkularität von Religionswissenschaft.” In Religion in Culture — Culture in Religion: Burkhard Gladigow's Contribution to Shifting Paradigms in the Study of Religion. Edited by Christoph Auffarth, Alexandra Grieser and Anne Koch, 119–40. Universität Tübingen.
• Seiwert, Hubert. “Professionalisierung der Religionswissenschaft: Burkhard Gladigow in der Deutschen Vereinigung für Religionsgeschichte.” In Religion in Culture — Culture in Religion: Burkhard Gladigow's Contribution to Shifting Paradigms in the Study of Religion. Edited by Christoph Auffarth, Alexandra Grieser and Anne Koch, 53–68. Universität Tübingen.

You can find the abstracts and the links to the PDFs on our homepage.

Interdisciplinary Conference on "Anthropological Dimensions of Demon Belief"

We would like to draw your attention to the interdisciplinary conference "Anthropological Dimensions of Demon Belief" (""Anthropologische Dimensionen des Dämonenglaubens"), which will take place on 8 and 9 October 2021 at the Institut für Evangelische Theologie und Religionspädagogik at the Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg. Our Senior Researcher Magnus Echtler will be speaking at the conference.

The conference is being organised by Ulrike Link-Wieczorek, Wolfgang Weiß and Christian Wetz. Speakers will include representatives of almost all theological disciplines as well as religious studies and ethnology.

It is possible to participate online – in the entire conference or in individual lectures. You do not have to register for this, simply click on this link at the specified time: LINK

Magnus will give a talk on "Socialist Demons? Zanzibari Spirits between Islam, Magic and Identity Politics" ("Sozialistische Dämonen? Sansibarische Geister zwischen Islam, Magie und Identitätspolitik") on Saturday, 9 October at 9:45 a.m.

Date: 8–9 October

Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg and online

Conference: “30 Years after: 1991, the New International Order and Religion”

Katharina Kunter, Professor Contemporary Church History, University of Helsinki and Petra Kuivala, Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow, University of Helsinki and Research Associate, Department of History at Harvard University are organising a one-day conference tomorrow entitled “30 Years after: 1991, the New International Order and Religion”:

Traditionally, the year 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union has been interpreted as the end of the Cold War era, especially from a European perspective. However, the longer the distance to 1991 becomes, there are also reasons for interpreting 1991 as the starting point of a new epoch and the beginning of a new international order. Can the year 1991, thus, be considered a similar kind of a turning point for religion?

Date: 7 October | 3 p.m.–7:45 p.m.

Online via Zoom

Please register beforehand with Marie Snedker: marie.snedker@helsinki.fi.

PhD Workshop and Symposium on “Music and Poetry in Alevism”

Our Associate Member Markus Dressler has brought to our attention a PhD workshop and interdisciplinary symposium on “Music and Poetry in Alevism”, which will take place from 15-16 October. He himself will lead the workshop and together with Prof. Dr. Erdal Toprakyaran (University of Tübingen) will give the opening speech and chair a panel. You can find an overview of the programme here and here.

Please register via hasan.oeguetcue@gmail.com.

Date: 15–16 October

Venue: University of Education Weingarten

Update on Covid-19 health protection measures: German “3G” rules introduced at Leipzig University Library

From 1 October 2021, Leipzig University Library has introduced German “3G” rules in line with the hygiene concept of Leipzig University:

When entering the libraries, please show your 3G proof (proof of full vaccination, recovery from coronavirus, or a valid negative test (max. 48h). The CoronaWarnApp recommended by the Free State of Saxony will be used for digital contact registration from 1 October 2021. The QR codes are provided on site. Please carry the 3G proof with you at all times for possible checks. What will change?

• No seat booking required anymore
• More desks will be available in the libraries
• Masks must generally be worn in the library buildings You can take off the mask when seated on a desk if the distance of 1.50 m is maintained.

"Festival of Lights" in remembrance of the Peaceful Revolution on 9 October

On 9 October, Leipzig will celebrate the anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution with the "Festival of Lights". Light installations have been developed by international artists especially for Leipzig and in remembrance of Peaceful Revolution. This year‘s conception is new and not focussed on one site, but presenting several places within the city set in scene by special light projects.

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.