Syllabus for an experimental course exploring the role of religion in shaping the future of the globe.

The aim of this workshop is to shed some light on relations between theoretical discourses produced by legal scholars (jurisprudence) (1), philosophical conceptions of religion (2), and peace, as a political and global aim (3). Especially, we are interested in legal scholars and/or philosophers (Hans Kelsen, Hermann Cohen, Emmanuel Lévinas, etc.) who might have been influenced by religion or religious way of thinking in the Judeo-Christian European background. The recent Reut Paz's book on “A Gateway between a Distant God and a Cruel World” touches on the intellectual history which has shaped Kelsen's, Lauterpacht's and other German Jewish legal scholars’ take on international law, through Jewish theological conventions. This primary interest – due to a given European cultural background – does not mean that other cultural perspectives are not included in the project. On the contrary, the more ambitious aim would be to compare how this relation between jurisprudence, religion and peace change (or not) across the different legal and religious contexts.

Religion has become a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary global geopolitical landscape and as such demands a reassessment of once predominant understandings of processes of secularisation, as well as the meanings of, and tensions inherent within, secular assumptions and secularist positions. The so-called ‘resurgence’ of religion in the public sphere in recent decades is now a significant area of interdisciplinary scholarship eliciting a complex array of responses, ranging from vehement opposition to the very idea that religious concepts and commitments have a right to expression in political debates, to a reassessment of the origins and implications of divisions between the secular and the religious and their relationship to the nation state. The notion that there is no singular secularism, but rather a plurality of secularisms, and of ‘religion’ as an invention of European modernity and colonial interests are two of many emerging efforts to reconceptualise the meanings of religion and the secular and the entangled relationship between them. The MA Religion in Global Politics offers an opportunity to examine these questions and issues at an advanced level by studying the complex relationships between religion and politics in the histories and contemporary political contexts (both national and international) of the regions of the Asia, Africa and the Middle East. A core objective is to challenge the Eurocentrism of current debates around secularism, secularisation, the nature of the public sphere within modernity, by indicating the plurality and contested nature of conceptions of both religion and the secular when considered in a global framework. The programme is unique: it has a regional focus and disciplinary breadth rarely addressed in similar programmes in the subject area, draws on a wealth of multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives (Law, International Relations and Politics, History, Philosophy, Development, Anthropology, Migration and Diaspora Studies, and Gender Studies, amongst others) and has a rigorous theoretical basis built in, such that students will be familiarised with the current state-of-the-art debates regarding religion in the public sphere, secularisms, postsecularism, and political theology and their relevance to issues of democracy, war, violence, human rights, humanitarianism and development, multiculturalism, nationalism, sectarianism, religious extremism, and free speech amongst others. The range of course options available on the programme is unparalleled, ensuring that students will benefit from a truly interdisciplinary, intellectually rigorous, and regionally focused programme.

The challenges of the globalized world and the increasing number of violent conflicts alert about the urgent need of finding new foundations to guarantee a more peaceful coexistence in society. This paper presents some of the proposals already made, especially those which advocate for a more active role of religion and ethics in the public domain. We live in a secular age, but religions continue to have an important role in society. The last section of the paper will focus on the indications of the Catholic Church about the search for peace through ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, paying a particular attention to the so called "Spirit of Assisi". Sumario en Español: Los desafíos del mundo globalizado y el creciente número de conflictos violentos obligan a buscar bases más sólidas para garantizar la coexistencia pacífica en la sociedad. El artículo presenta algunas propuestas que se han realizado en este sentido, especialmente aquellas que abogan por una revalorización del papel de la religión y de la ética en el ámbito público. Vivimos en la edad secular, pero las religiones siguen ejerciendo una notable influencia en la sociedad y en la formación de las conciencias. En la segunda sección del artículo, se presenta la posición de la Iglesia católica sobre la búsqueda de la paz a través del diálogo ecuménico e interreligioso, prestando una atención especial al "Espíritu de Asís". Sommario in Italiano: Le sfide del mondo globalizzato e il numero crescente di conflitti violenti costringono a cercare basi più solide che possano garantire la coesistenza pacifica nella società. Questo saggio presenta alcune delle proposte già formulate, specie quelle che prospettano una rivalutazione del ruolo delle religioni e dell'etica nell'ambito pubblico. Viviamo nell'età secolare, ma le religioni continuano ad avere una notevole influenza sulla società e sulle coscienze dei cittadini. Nella seconda sezione dell'articolo, si presenta la posizione della Chiesa cattolica sulla ricerca della pace attraverso il dialogo ecumenico e interreligioso, con particolare attenzione allo "Spirito di Assisi". Indice: 1. A secular age 1.1. Immanent humanism: "etsi deus non daretur" 1.2. Scientism 2. Proposals to ensure peace 2.1. Global ethics 2.2. Interreligious dialogue 3. Religions and peace from a catholic perspective 3.1. Religion wars, an expression of immaturity 3.2. Nostra aetate: interreligious and intercultural dialogue 3.3. The seeds of the word (semina verbi) 4. The spirit of assisi 5. The necessary change of mentality in the spirit of assisi Conclusion Key words: Religions, dialogue

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Routledge International Handbook of Religion in Global Society Eds. Jayeel Serrano Cornelio (Ateneo de Manila), François Gauthier (Université de Fribourg), Tuomas Martikainen (Migration Institute of Finland) and Linda Woodhead (Lancaster University) This is a Call for Abstracts to contribute to the Routledge International Handbook of Religion in Global Society (target publication: 2018). We are particularly interested in contributions from early career scholars from around the world. The study of religion is at a turning point, along with religion itself. This book will capitalise on the emergence of a new paradigm, which considers religion in the 21st century as globally interconnected and mediated by new geopolitical and market logics. This volume will showcase new approaches to religion, which work across boundaries of religious tradition, academic discipline, and region. Please consider the following rationale for your proposed papers. You may send your proposed title, abstract (no more than 500 words), name, and affiliation to Jayeel Cornelio (jcornelio@ateneo.edu) by July 15, 2017. RATIONALE The volume understands changes in religion since the 1980s as shaped by wider socio-political-cultural changes of the period. The shift is from one dominated by modernist national-statist formations and alliances to one in which forces, institutions and ideologies of neoliberalism, consumerism, migration, and mediatisation have become major structuring vectors. But at the same time we also see a pushback from anti-globalisation movements of right and left and a return to the nation and/or more locally based identities. Growing environmental concern and the concept of the Anthropocene add an additional element. This is how the handbook characterizes the contemporary state of global society. As a result, ‘soft power’, including religion and competing forms of secularity and ‘no religion’, come to be central in new geopolitical configurations and contestations of power. Recognizing these new configurations, this handbook will interrogate the past, present and futures of religion in global society. The handbook welcomes contributions approaching religion at different levels of society (whether local, regional, national, transnational) -- the macro, meso and micro. For example, chapters can focus on internal transformations that occur within religious institutions; on the changing nature of practices, belief, adherence, piety and devotion among individuals; or the changing role of religious organizations with respect to politics, the economy and other social institutions. Some contributions may discuss how religious movements are taking on global issues. Others will take a theoretical perspective and try to make sense of the current situation, even when this requires rethinking existing theories and concepts. The handbook is multidisciplinary in approach and organized according to the following themes. We invite contributions from scholars around the world, particularly those who are in their early careers. Our aim is to make this handbook the first to go beyond Western-centric appraisals, and present a truly global portrait. Contributions dealing with dynamics around the world are therefore solicited. The following topics are indicative only, and will change in response to submissions. A. CONTEXT 1. Introduction: a new approach 2. Theorising religion in a global context 3. Global demographics of religion 4. Globalization and the national 5. Rethinking religious traditions 6. Authority and individualization B. INDIVIDUALS, IDENTITY, and INTIMACIES 7. Generations 8. Religion, sex, family and gender 9. Intimacy 10. Global classes 11. Religion and identities C. MARKETS, MEDIA, and CULTURES 12. Branding religion 13. Merchandising religion 14. Digital religion 15. Popular culture 16. Religion and fashion D. MOBILITY AND MIGRATION 13. International migration and mobility 14. Missionaries and traveling gurus 15. Transnationalism and diasporas 16. Migrant religious settlements 17. Pilgrimage and religious tourism E. COMMUNITIES and MOVEMENTS 18. Moderates versus fundamentalists 19. The shape of religious organizations 20. Networks and virtual communities 21. Religious spectacle, pilgrimage and festivals 22. Global subcultures 23. Religion and science F. POLITICS, THE STATE and INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 24. Secularism and the post-secular 25. State governance of religion 26. Religion and civil society 27. Radicalization, securitization and terrorism 28. Religion and law 29. Religion and supranational organizations 30. Religion and populism G. GOVERNANCE AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS 31. Governance of religious diversity 32. Religion and education 33. Religious freedom 34. Religion and development 35. Religion, peace and violence 36. Religion in international relations 37. Religion and the environment ________________________________________________ Jayeel Serrano Cornelio, PhD Director, Development Studies Program Ateneo de Manila University (632) 4266001 local 5218/5219 https://ateneo.academia.edu/JayeelCornelio