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The ambiguous topic “Theology of the Future” – what theology has to say about the future and what its future might look like – will be explored at the 18th European Congress on Theology from 8 to 11 September 2024 in Heidelberg. The event will focus on political, social and cultural factors that play a role in the shaping of future theologies, as well as on the future shape of different religions and denominations. The Faculty of Theology of Heidelberg University is hosting the conference jointly with the Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft für Theologie.
Press Release
Heidelberg, 30 August 2024
Congress: Theology of the Future
Conference at Heidelberg University on societal challenges and future perspectives for theology
The ambiguous topic “Theology of the Future” – what theology has to say about the future and what its future might look like – will be explored at the 18th European Congress on Theology from 8 to 11 September 2024 in Heidelberg. The event will focus on political, social and cultural factors that play a role in the shaping of future theologies, as well as on the future shape of different religions and denominations. The Faculty of Theology of Heidelberg University is hosting the conference jointly with the Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft für Theologie. The program will include speakers from Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States.
Theology faces conceptual challenges from major issues like climate change, war and pandemics, along with societal and religious upheavals, according to the congress organizers, Prof. Dr Jan Christian Gertz (Heidelberg) and Prof. Dr Konrad Schmid (Zurich). And, they underline, these challenges are compelling theology to rephrase its eschatology both sustainably and critically. Theology can draw on a comprehensive traditional repertoire of approaches to faith and also on theological concepts such as apocalypticism or eschatological expressions of ecotheology. At the same time, however, the two theologians say that theology faces the task of examining these traditions, of coming up with different approaches or of rethinking them. “Institutionally, too, theology is challenged to grapple with the future under the impact of changing religious landscapes,” Prof. Gertz underlines.
The congress “Theology of the Future” will take up these topics in an extensive program of presentations. These include keynote lectures on the planetary dimension of the future, the history of the future, theologies in the university of the future, and future challenges like digitalization, artificial intelligence and the philosophical school of transhumanism. In addition, there will be events in the areas of Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, as well as Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology. Other offerings will view various theological dimensions from an interdisciplinary angle and also deal with Jewish and Islamic theologies. Around 400 participants are expected to attend the congress.
The New University is the venue for the 18th European Congress on Theology on the topic of “Theology of the Future”. Interested members of the public are welcome to attend. Registration is required, and there is a registration fee. Full information and the registration form have been posted on the conference website. Day tickets will be available in the entrance hall of the New University building.
Note for newsrooms:
Media representatives are warmly invited to attend and report. They are kindly required to register by 5 September 2024 via email to the congress office (kongress2024@ts.uni-heidelberg.de).
Contact:
Heidelberg University
Communications and Marketing
Press Office, phone +49 6221 54-2311
presse@rektorat.uni-heidelberg.de
http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/theology-of-the-future – Congress “Theology of the Future”
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists, all interested persons
Religion
transregional, national
Scientific conferences, Transfer of Science or Research
English
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