Conference to Discuss Religious Communities in the Age of Migration
On 24-25 October VMU will host a conference entitled Religious Communities in the Age of Migration: Challenges, Experiences and Opportunities. The conference is organised by VMU research cluster Church Relations with State and Society in Lithuania.
Migration is an inherent part of global history, as well as a component of the modern world which influences politics, economics, social life, and religious communities. Lithuania’s geopolitical location between the East and the West, the periods of its independent development and experiences of many occupations have resulted in a rich migration-related heritage of the Lithuanian society and its religious communities.
Over the years since 1990, during which Lithuania regained its independence and later became a member of the European Union and the Schengen area, the challenges posed by migration have become an integral part of the public debate and decision-making by policy makers.
In these times of value pluralism, the position of religious communities towards the challenges caused by migration and their historical experience become particularly relevant to the general and academic communities of Lithuania and other countries.
The conference will be an interdisciplinary forum for religious researchers, theologians, historians, political scientists, sociologists, cultural scientists, public communication researchers, art historians, exploring the history and contemporary processes of the Church, religious communities, migration, and diasporas.
Conference languages: English and Lithuanian. Presentation duration: 20 minutes.
Topics may include but are not limited to the following:
- Theology and ecclesiology of migration and diaspora.
- Migration and development of religious communities’ structures (history and modern experience)
- Religion / religious practices in the migration process.
- Diaspora pastoralism: history and the possibilities of modern technology.
- Religion of migrants and change of ethnic identity in the process of integration.
- Religious art and migration experiences.
Paper proposals have to be sent to inga.puidokiene@vdu.lt before 15 June 2019.
