Call for Applications | Summer School "Eurasian Religions in Contact" 2014

Religion and its potential for creating or reducing conflicts have recently become the subject of increased medial, political and legal attention. Academic interest too has grown, especially in contacts between different religions. Recent collaborative research at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Dynamics in the History of Religions” (University of Bochum) combines material and systematic as well as historical and contemporary aspects. It links the perspective of religious semantics with that on social structures and focuses especially on relational aspects as constituents of religious formation. In such a framework, networks of cultural and religious traditions are interpreted as protracted processes of orientation and religious exchange.

In July 2013, a first summer school on “Eurasian Religions in Contact” (ERiC) was held in Bochum with the aim of translating the research conducted by senior scholars into knowledge which benefits junior researchers. The ERiC Summer Schools offer advanced students of graduate standing working on related topics the opportunity to explore important theoretical and methodological questions for studying these contacts. The aims of ERiC are 1. Provide and assess exemplary case studies of intra- and interreligious encounters in Eurasia without limitations as to specific disciplines, timelines, and geographical frame; 2. Discuss current theoretical frameworks and critical approaches to the study of religious encounters from comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives. Young researchers will have the opportunity to present their own research and receive feedback from their peers and internationally renowned scholars.

The University of Bochum offers a limited number of full scholarships to attend the summer school scheduled to take place in Bochum in July 2014. As part of this scholarship, we will cover your travel expenses and accommodation and provide a small stipend in Bochum. Interested applicants are encouraged to seek financial support from their home institutions. Applicants are requested to submit their applications online as well as the following documents: a description of current research project, cv and a statement explaining the motivation for applying and your expectation how you might benefit from the summer school, and the names and contact details of two referees. Referees must send their references directly to the summer school conveners, Anna Akasoy and Georgios Halkias at eric2014@rub.de. Applicants are responsible for a timely submission of the references.

Deadline for applications: 15 December 2013