Religion & Teologi

Religion in Praxis Conversations Series | Oliver Scharbrodt

In the twenty-fourth episode of the Conversations Series, our host Tornike Metreveli is joined by Professor Oliver Scharbrodt to unpack the ethical, legal, and societal ramifications of Quran burnings in Sweden. As a nation celebrated for its commitment to free speech and multiculturalism, Sweden finds itself at the intersection of a daunting dilemma. The provocative act of Quran burning by far-right activists challenges the country's stance between upholding free speech and maintaining religious tolerance. The episode explores three central themes: the historical antecedents of religious text desecration, the motivations behind such polarizing acts within the larger European context, and the tensions between freedom of expression, religious tolerance, and societal cohesion. The episode seeks to explore how a liberal democracy reconciles its founding principles with the imperative of societal harmony. The conversation aims to illuminate the broader implications for ongoing debates about secularism, multiculturalism, and religious freedom not only in Sweden, but across Europe.
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Music for the Conversation Series is generously provided by the Shavnabada Choir. The project author and the host of the Conversation Series is Dr. Tornike Metreveli. 
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Religion and Theology is produced by Joel Kuhlin for the Center for Theology and Religious Studies. If you have comments or critique of this episode, or any other episodes of R&T, please contact us via the podcast's twitteraccount: @reloteol.

Anita Goldman | Religion & Existens

Dagens avsnitt av R&T spelades in inför publik på CTR, kvällen den 21:e september 2023, och är höstterminens första delen av samtalsserien "Religion och Existens." Tillsammans med samtalsledarna forskarna Frida Mannerfelt och Svante Lundgren stod Anita Goldman i centrum som kvällens hedersgäst. Goldman är sedan flera decennier verksam som författare, journalist, debattör och kolumnist, och har genom åren varit en viktig samhällsröst i Sverige. Hennes texter handlar ofta om kvinnors roll i historien och i religionen. Böcker som "Våra bibliska mödrar" (1988) och "Guds älskarinnor". "Om hängivna kvinnor i en livrädd värld" (2005) är exempel på hur Goldman engagerat och sakligt bearbetar kvinnors ställning i religionen. Goldman profilerar i sitt författarskap ett välgrundat engagemang för fred i Mellanöstern och deltar i den offentliga debatten om vikten av historisk kunskap och religiös litteralitet när antisemitiska tendenser smyger sig in, och hon kombinerar sitt engagemang med sitt tydliga ställningstagande för kvinnor, framför allt mödrar, i historien. Med tiden har Goldmans författarskap tagit en allt tydligare inriktning mot andlighet, inte minst i boken "Om stenarna kunde tala i Palma de Mallorca" (2019).  Dagens avsnitt kretsade särskilt kring böckerna "Guds älskarinnor" (2006) samt "Ljusbärarna" (2012).
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"Religion och Teologi" produceras av Joel Kuhlin,  för Centrum för Teologi & Religionsvetenskap. För kritik eller kommentarer till avsnittet, skriv gärna en rad till religionochteologi@outlook.com, eller på Twitter till @reloteol.
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Religion in Praxis Conversations Series | Liah Greenfeld pt 3

In this episode of the Conversations Series, a final discussion takes place with the renowned award-winning sociologist Professor Liah Greenfeld. With a host Tornike Metreveli, Liah Greenfeld discusses key arguments from Greenfeld's  book, "The Spirit of Capitalism." Greenfeld delves into a central question once explored by Max Weber: What truly drives sustained economic growth? Tracing the economic consciousness across nations such as England, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Japan, and the United States, Greenfeld presents a compelling case that the force behind growth-centric economies is not mere rational economic action, but the profound influence of nationalism. This insatiable quest for national prestige becomes the catalyst for economic competitiveness. Taking the U.S. as a case in point, Greenfeld illustrates how economic advancement has become almost indistinguishable from national pride. This conflation, while spurring relentless economic achievement, also creates a society of workaholics questioning their relentless pursuits and, at times, misguiding foreign policy objectives.
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Music for the Conversation Series is generously provided by the Shavnabada Choir . The project author and the host of the Conversation Series is Dr. Tornike Metreveli.
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Religion and Theology is produced by Joel Kuhlin for the Center for Theology and Religious Studies. If you have comments or critique of this episode, or any other episodes of R&T, please contact us via the podcast's twitteraccount: @reloteol.

Hege Markussen | Studiet av islam vid CTR

Dagens avsnitt är ett föredrag och ämnespresentation från konferensen "Att vägleda till studier inom humaniora, teologi och samhällsvetenskap," som hölls på LUX, år 2018.
Föredraget finns att se här:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6KUFe2hoFM&ab_channel=HT-fakulteternavidLundsuniversitet
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"Religion och Teologi" produceras av Joel Kuhlin,  för Centrum för Teologi & Religionsvetenskap. För kritik eller kommentarer till avsnittet, skriv gärna en rad till religionochteologi@outlook.com, eller på Twitter till @reloteol.
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Stephan Borgehammar | Framtiden förr

Detta avsnitt av R&T är en återpublicering av Stephan Borgehammars, professor i praktisk teologi vid Centrum för teologi och religionsvetenskap, föredraget "Framtiden förr: medeltida tidshantering och tanken på världens ände." Föredraget, som ursprungligen hölls på de så kallade "Ht-dagarna" vid Lunds universitet 2017, undersöker medeltida tidshantering och tanken på världens ände Föredraget använder bilder och texter förknippade med adventstiden för att ge inblickar i hur medeltidens människor såg på tiden och på sin egen plats i historien. Det visar sig att advent i sin funktion som förberedelsetid för julen gav utrymme åt en vision av hela världshistoriens skepnad och innebörd. I senmedeltida predikningar från adventstiden tas också världens ände upp, med målande skildringar av den yttersta domen jämte ingående analyser av bibeltexter. Kan till exempel Matteusevangeliets tal om att stjärnorna ska falla ner från himlen förenas med astronomisk vetenskap?
Se föredraget här: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWr92ixXUg8&ab_channel=HT-fakulteternavidLundsuniversitet
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"Religion och Teologi" produceras av Joel Kuhlin,  för Centrum för Teologi & Religionsvetenskap. För kritik eller kommentarer till avsnittet, skriv gärna en rad till religionochteologi@outlook.com, eller på Twitter till @reloteol.
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Särskilt tack till gruppen Nous för musiken.

Religion in Praxis Conversations Series | Liah Greenfeld pt 2

This is the twenty-second episode of the Conversations Series, and in this second episode in the ongoing triology of conversations with the renowned award-winning sociologist Professor Liah Greenfeld, Greenfeld unravels the dark side of the American dream. We dare to question if the very essence of the ambition-driven culture, built on limitless self-fulfillment, could actually be causing a wave of mental distress. Tornike Metreveli’s second episode with the esteemed scholar in modernity and nationalism, Liah Greenfeld, provokes a compelling hypothesis. Professor Greenfeld suggests a link between the egalitarian society we cherish and the escalating rates of mental illness. By interweaving philosophy, psychology, and history, Greenfeld's audacious insights shatter conventional notions of what it means to live in the land of the free.
In the conversation, we delve into the principles that modern nationalism is built upon - popular sovereignty, equality, and secularism. This paradigm celebrates the power of individuals to steer their own destinies. But with this empowerment comes the stress of constant self-evaluation, desire management, and social comparison. Taking us further into the abyss, Greenfeld traces a connection between these societal pressures and mental illnesses such as manic depression and schizophrenia. She proposes these are not just medical conditions, but dysfunctions of selfhood inflicted by the overbearing societal demands for self-realization. In this episode, prepare to be taken aback, challenged, and ultimately, enlightened. Greenfeld reveals a nuanced perspective of humanity, enriching our understanding of who we are and what we aspire to be.
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Music for the Conversation Series is generously provided by the Shavnabada Choir . The project author and the host of the Conversation Series is Dr. Tornike Metreveli.
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Religion and Theology is produced by Joel Kuhlin for the Center for Theology and Religious Studies. If you have comments or critique of this episode, or any other episodes of R&T, please contact us via the podcast's twitteraccount: @reloteol.

Religion in Praxis Conversations Series | Tornike Metreveli

This is the twenty-first episode of the Conversations Series, and the inaugural, associate Professorship lecture (aka "docent-lecture") of the host of the Religion in Praxis Conversations Series himself, Dr. Tornike Metreveli, under the title "Timeless Traditions, Changing Times: A Sociological Voyage through Orthodox Christianity."
The duality of faith as both sanctuary and storm is a paradox, one that resonates powerfully within the context of Orthodox Christianity. This exploration traverses arenas of power, global health crises, and conflict-laden landscapes.
This recording of the inaugural lecture commences by scrutinizing the dynamics between church and state in the post-communist settings of Ukraine, Serbia, and Georgia. The objective is to illuminate the strategies of the Orthodox Church as it shapes and is shaped by the political transitions in these societies.
The lecture then pivots towards an unprecedented universal crisis: the COVID-19 pandemic. Orthodox Christianity's response to this challenge is explored in depth, revealing the adaptation and reformation of traditions and practices that have been followed for centuries.
The final stage of the lecture focuses on Ukraine, a crossroads where faith, warfare, and national identity collide. The lecture here draw attention to the dual role of Orthodox Christianity, showcasing its potential as a source of resilience and its power to catalyse conflict.
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Music for the Conversation Series is generously provided by the Shavnabada Choir . The project author and the host of the Conversation Series is Dr. Tornike Metreveli.
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Religion and Theology is produced by Joel Kuhlin for the Center for Theology and Religious Studies. If you have comments or critique of this episode, or any other episodes of R&T, please contact us via the podcast's twitteraccount: @reloteol.
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Religion in Praxis Conversations Series | Liah Greenfeld

This is the twentieth episode of the Conversations Series, and in this  episode a triology of conversations with the renowned award-winning sociologist Professor Liah Greenfeld is introduced, where we apply theories on nationalism and modernity to the Russion invasion of Ukraine. 
First, we probe Russia's national identity and consciousness, seeking to understand how its historical and cultural roots may shape its ambition to 'reclaim' territories perceived as inherently Russian. This analysis sets the stage for understanding the invasion within the 'Greater Russia' narrative.
Next, we explore the influence of modernity on Russia's geopolitical power dynamics, viewing the Ukrainian invasion as a manifestation of Russia's power assertion in the modern world. We then contrast Russia's and Ukraine's unique paths to nationhood. The distinct trajectories, influenced by historical, cultural, and institutional contexts, illuminate the tensions between the two nations.
Finally, we delve into the role of elites. We discuss how fluid societal norms and elite strategies in Russia shape national goals, such as the narrative of reclaiming Ukraine.
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Music for the Conversation Series is generously provided by the Shavnabada Choir . The project author and the host of the Conversation Series is Dr. Tornike Metreveli.
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Religion and Theology is produced by Joel Kuhlin for the Center for Theology and Religious Studies. If you have comments or critique of this episode, or any other episodes of R&T, please contact us via the podcast's twitteraccount: @reloteol.

Valborg Lindgärde | Om att läsa, lära & närvara i en bibelberättelse

Valborg Lindgärde tilldelades 2023 års Anders Nygrenpris, ett pris som delas vart tredje år ut av teologiska fakulteten vid Lunds universitet. Lindgärde föreläste i samband med överlämnandet på temat "'Ty skyndar iag mig tijt...' – Om att läsa, lära och närvara i en bibelberättelse."
Anders Nygrenpriset är inrättat av Stiftelsen Birgit och Sven Håkan Ohlsson till minne av Anders Nygren, inflytelserik professor i systematiskt teologi vid Teologiska fakulteten i Lund 1924-1949.
 
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"Religion och Teologi" produceras av Joel Kuhlin,  för Centrum för Teologi & Religionsvetenskap. För kritik eller kommentarer till avsnittet, skriv gärna en rad till religionochteologi@outlook.com, eller på Twitter till @reloteol.
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Christine Hayes | Radical Rabbis & Other Serendipities

At the annual doctoral conferment ceremony on 26 May, 2023, Lund University conferred more than 200 doctors. One of them was the Faculty of Theology's honorary doctor, Professor Christine Hayes. This is a recording of her honorary doctoral lecture, held at LUX in Lund on 25 May. The title of the lecture is, "Radical Rabbis and Other Serendipities".
Christine Hayes is an American academic and scholar of Jewish studies, currently serving as the Sterling Professor of Religious Studies in Classical Judaica at Yale University.
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Music for the R&T is generously provided by the Nous 
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Religion and Theology is produced by Joel Kuhlin for the Center for Theology and Religious Studies. If you have comments or critique of this episode, or any other episodes of R&T, please contact us via the podcast's twitteraccount: @reloteol.