Half-day symposium in connection with Erik Sidenvall's inaugural lecture.

The public resurgence of religion is a defining feature of the twenty-first century. At a time when faith traditions cannot be ignored when it comes to matters of politics, social justice and the function of civil society, there is a need to examine the impact of these changes on the religious organisations themselves. 

This half-day symposium will attempt a broader reflection on the interplay between church and public space. The latter term is understood here both in its metaphorical sense (social/cultural space) and in its digital and geographical senses. How are churches transformed by their public presence and visibility? How are churches shaped by their public engagement? In what ways are beliefs/theologies negotiated in public spaces? 

Katharina Kunter (Helsinki), War and the limits of public communication: Churches and the Russian war in Ukraine

Frida Mannerfelt (Lund), "In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now": Practical-theological explorations in the public spaces of a digital culture

Sally Promey (Yale), Encountering religious display in the USA

Ulrich Schmiedel (Lund), “We will drill baby, drill!” Doing Public Theology in Declining Democracies 

Tone Stangeland Kaufman (MF, Oslo), A New-Old Spirituality: A Resurgence and Revitalization of Religious Practice  

Moderator: Katarina Westerlund (Uppsala).

The symposium is followed by coffee in Lynneum.