Ever increasing religious diversity has become one of the most significant changes in the contemporary world. This bewildering variety of beliefs, practices, and organizations challenge our assumptions about how religion is or should be lived, believed, and practiced. Moreover, it has range of consequences – both intended and unintended – for the individual, society, and globally in terms of daily interactions, social cohesion, and a potential for local and international conflicts. However, some argue that these changes can also contribute to individual spiritual enrichment and social development. This seminar provides an opportunity to get an insight into how social scientists approach the challenging issues through empirical research and theoretical analysis. It also invites participants to contribute their own observations, thoughts and questions about the role and place of religion in the contemporary world.
1. Introduction: Religious Diversity in the Contemporary World
2. Religion, Secularisation, and De-secularisation. Is religion losing its social significance?
3. Religion and Globalisation. Global socio-economic and cultural forces and local religious expressions.
4. Religion, Conflict and Violence in the Contemporary World.
5. Religious Diversity, Pluralism, and Human Rights in contemporary Western societies.
6. Religion, Values and Civil Society. How can religion contribute to development and social harmony?
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James W. JONES
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Professor, Department of Religion, Rutgers University; Senior Research Fellow, Center on Terrorism, Jolm Jay College, New York | |
Chair | |
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Marat SHTERIN
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Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) of Sociology of Religion, School of Arts and Humanities, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King's College London | |
Chair | |
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Professor, Department of Religion, Rutgers University; Senior Research Fellow, Center on Terrorism, Jolm Jay College, New York
| 1968-1969 | Instructor, Department of Religious Studies, Brown University, Providence |
| 1970-1971 | Instructor, Department of Religion, Macalester College, St. Paul |
| 1971-1975 | Assistant Professor, Department of Religion, Rutgers University |
| 1975-1990 | Associate Professor, Department of Religion, Rutgers University |
| since 1985 | Associate member, Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University |
| since 1990 | Professor, Department of Religion, Rutgers University |
| since 1999 | Lecturer in Psychiatry and Religion, Union Theological Seminary, New York |
| Adjunct Professor of Medical Humanities, Drew University, Madison |
| 2000-2001 | Visiting Professor of Psychology and Religion, Drew University, Madison |
| since 2001 | Visiting Professor, University of Uppsala |
| since 2008 | Appointed Senior Research Fellow, Center on Terrorism, John Jay College |
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) of Sociology of Religion, School of Arts and Humanities, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King's College London
| 1990-1994 | Executive Director, Interncentre, Moscow School of Social Science |
| 1994-1996 | Head, Department of Religion, State Library for Foreign Literature, Moscow |
| 1996-2000 | Doctoral Dissertation, LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science |
| 2001-2005 | Research Fellow, LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science |
| since 2005 | Lecturer/Associate Professor, Sociology of Religion, School of Arts and Humanities, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King's College London |
