Welcome to the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development!
The Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development is an interdisciplinary hub for excellent research and policy advice in the field of religion and development. It is based at the Faculty of Theology and headed by Philipp Öhlmann and Wilhelm Gräb.
Current News
We are hiring! - Reserch assistant wanted
For the realisation of our new research project "Triebkräfte der Transformation - Religiöse Gemeinschaften als Gestalter nachhaltiger Entwicklung" ("Drivers of Transformation - Religious Communities Shaping Sustainable Development") (2020-22) we are looking for an expert on the Middle East (esp. Iraq, Libanon) and its religious communities.
The complete job advertisement is available here (German only).
Call for Papers: The Grammar of the Spirit World in Pentecostalized Africa
The above-named workshop concerned with the significance of the Spirit World and ways of talking about it within the context of research on pentecostalized Africa will be held as part of the Programme Point Sud 2020 from 5 through 9 September 2020 at the University of Ghana, Accra.
The call for papers will be open for the submission of abstracts until 14 March 2020 and can be found here.
On 25 November 2019 the presentation of the Research Programme's conclusive report for its project on "Potentials of Cooperation with African Initiated Churches for Sustainable Development" took place on the premises of the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ).
Following the pesentation, the findings were discussed by researchers and representatives of African Initiated Churches and developmental organisations and institutions.
Lecture Series African Independent and Pentecostal Approaches to Theology and Development
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The Research Programme RCSD of the Humboldt University Berlin held their anual Lecture Series "African Independent and Pentecostal Approaches to Theology and Development". Prominent Churchleaders from South Africa Uganda, Ghana und Kenia held lectures at the theological fakulty at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin:
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Videos der Lecture Series 2019
His Grace the Right Rev. Bishop Dr. Barnabas E. Lekganyane gives a Lecture on "The Zion Christian Church: Praying for Peace in a Changing South African and Global Context".
For further Videos of the Lecture Series 2019 please click here
Please Note: all views and opinions that are voiced reflect the views and opinions of the individuals. They do not reflect the views and opinions of the Research Programme RCSD and Humboldt University Berlin.
International Conference Between Cosmology and Community: Religion and Sustainable Development
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The conference took place at Humboldt University Berlin from 02 to 06 July. We would like to thank all distinguished church leaders, researchers and participants again for their excellent contributions and the open and lively discussions that made this conference an unique experience of exchange. Reports on the opening lectures as well as on the thematic days on Equality and Ecology can be found here:
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Internationale Konferenz Between Cosmology and Community: Religion and Sustainable Development - Panel Discussion
"Development Policy and Religion: What is the way forward?" - Panel Discussion at the Humboldt University Berlin in July 2019.
Chair: Gabriele Meister
Nicta Lubaale:
General Secretary, Organization of African Instituted Churches
Reinhard Palm:
Head of Africa Department, Bread for the World
Michael Plesch:
Head of Division “Churches, Political Foundations, Social Structure Advancement Programmes, Religion & Development”, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development
Claudia Zilla:
Head of Research Division "The Americas", Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik – German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
Please Note: all views and opinions that are voiced reflect the views and opinions of the individuals. They do not reflect the views and opinions of the Research Programme RCSD and Humboldt University zu Berlin.
European Conference on African Studies (ECAS)
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Marie-Luise Frost and Madlen Geidel orginized a Panel at the European Conference on African Studies (ECAS), from 11. until 14. June 2019. The Panel was held at the Centre of African Studies of the University of Edinburgh, on the topic: "Continuities or disruptions? The role(s) of women in African Religions". |
Permanent Panel on Religion and Development // 5th Joint Nordic Conference on Development Research (NorDev) in Kopenhagen, 27.-28. Juni 2019
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The submitted proposal from Philipp Öhlmann, Wilhelm Gräb, Marie-Luise Frost and Ignatius Swart (University of the Western Cape, Südafrika/VID Specialized University, Norwegen) for a Permanent Panel on Religion and Development was accepted by the Norwegian Assocation for Development Research (NFU). This Panel will be dedicatet to the tematics on Religion and Development at the Joint Nordic Development Research Conferences 2019 and 2021 aswell as the Norwegian Development Conference 2020 aus. Philipp Öhlmann, Marie-Luise Frost and Ignatius Swart moderated the first Panel at the 5th Joint Nordic Conference on Development Research (NorDev) in Kopenhagen from the 27. - 28. June. |
International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD)
The Research Programme RCSD became a Member of the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD). PaRD is a international Forum for Exchange and Cooperation on the Topic ov Religion and Development. Philipp Öhlmann participated for the Research Programm at the annual Meeting for Members at the PaRD in Kopenhagen.
http://www.partner-religion-development.org/
GloPent international Conference
The eleventh international and interdisciplinary conference of the European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism (GloPent) will be held on 14–15 February 2020 at the University of Basel, Switzerland.
This call for papers invites contributions to our parallel panels. We are particularly interested in presentations that study concepts, strategies and agendas of how Pentecostals shape public spheres. Papers may present case studies or comparative analyses of Pentecostal strategies of public engagement. What are peculiar issues, themes, and areas of Pentecostal public engagement? How do Pentecostal communication, network and support structures look like in specific contexts? Last but not least: what are the limits of Pentecostal theo-political imaginations, and who are opponents of Pentecostal strategies to direct and redirect of public opinion making?
Proposals of entire panels or individual papers from current research on a different aspect of Pentecostal Christianity are also welcome, but we advise to contact the conference organiser before submitting your abstract.
Submission deadline for abstracts: 30th September 2019 (300 words max/send to Anna Kühleis: anna.kuehleis@unibas.ch)
Colloquium fo the Reschearch Programme RCSD
On the 3. of May 2019 the Research Programm held its colloquium.
Collaboratativ Research with the University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Within the interdisciplinary research seminar (Q-Kolleg) "Religion and sustainable development. Interdisciplinary approaches to the study of an emerging research field" Students, reisten Studierende, Postgraduates ans Researchers from RCSD traveld to South Africa. With our Partner, the University of Pretoria, we discussed current research Topics from the 27. to the 31. of January 2019. Read the Report |