Dear reader,
In the war in Ukraine, religion plays an important role. Not only because of the remarks of patriarch Kirill on the Ukrainian forces of evil or on the gay prides that so much corrupted Western society, but because of the visible process of the ideologization of religion that took place in the Orthodox churches. This ideologization comes down to forging a narrative in which nationalistic and religious elements are merged into a new story about the uniqueness of a certain culture. That is the changing narrative, the narrative that once again wakens the old dream of one faith, one reign, one law. Unfortunately, this religious aspect is also one of the elements of surprise the Western countries met in the case of this war.
In this personal content hub, you will find various articles to provide some background on the topic. This hub also contains the agenda, instructions on how to join the round table, and the key questions we would like to discuss.
I am looking forward to meeting you on April 1st, 4:00 pm CET.
Best regards,
Matthias Smalbrugge
Welcome!
Introduction by Matthias Smalbrugge - On the war in Ukraine
In preparation for our round table, Matthias Smalbrugge introduces the topic of 'War & Peace'.
The growing hold of the Moscow Patriarchate over the European Orthodox world
In recent years, the Moscow Patriarchate has been extending its influence over European Orthodoxy, starting in its heartland: France.
Church and politics in Ukraine
How did the granting of independence to the new church in Ukraine contribute to the ongoing crisis in politics and the Orthodox Church?
Ukraine on the EARS dashboard
78% of news items in the EARS dashboard from March relate to tension. What is the role of religion in Russia’s invasion and the war in Ukraine?
Insights from the dashboard: Tensions in Eastern Europe and LGBTQ+ rights
Religious values are diverse and sometimes clash. How do Christian conflicts about LGBTQ+ rights inform the war in Ukraine?
Questions for discussion
Based on the background articles above, we would like to discuss three questions with you during our virtual round table.
Attendees
Who will be attending?
Matthias Smalbrugge
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Professor of Theology
Ryszard Bobrowicz
Lund University
PhD Fellow in Practical Theology, Centre for Theology and Religious Studies and analyst at EARS
Muhammad Faisal Khalil
University of Oxford
DPhil Candidate at the Faculty of Theology and Religion and analyst at EARS
Maike Domsel
University of Bonn
Post-doctoral student in theology / habilitation student with a focus on religious education and fundamental theology and analyst at EARS
Marko Pavlović
KU Leuven
Theology student at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies and analyst at EARS
