Cambridge: conference to explore 'religion in a new world order'
Although religion was thought to have been extinguished, first by Communism and then secularism, it has re-emerged as a powerful force in world politics. The implications of this will be explored at a conference in Cambridge next month. Organised by the Von Hugel Institute, Faith's Public Role: Politics and Theology will be held at St Edmund's College, Cambridge on April 6 - 8. Professor Thomas Halik from Charles University, Prague, will challenge traditional assumptions about Europe and Christianity. A priest who was very active in the underground Church in Czechoslovakia under Communism, he will argue that Christianity is not the religion of present day Europe and European Christianity is no longer religion. Other speakers include the Most Rev Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin; Professor William T Cavanagh, author of Theopolitical Imagination: Discovering the Liturgy as a Political Act in an Age of Global Consumerism; Dr David Lehman, who will examine why religion retains it social force; and Dr Mona Siddiqui will discuss the political role of Islam. The Von Hugel Institute is a research institute of St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge. Founded in 1987, it is dedicated to the study of the relationship of Christianity and society. For further information please contact Dr Severine Deneulin at Von Hugel Institute on 01223-741844; e-mail:smpd2@cam.ac.uk For more details visit: www.st- edmunds.cam.ac.uk