Information about the topic

Comparative History of Religion

Diachronic perspectives on remarkable individuals

Historiography shows that historians have studied religion primarily as a part of the social and cultural realm. The task of independent investigation of religion was mostly taken on by theologians and anthropologists. Fortunately the rediscovery of cultural history in the 1970s meant a revival of interest for human spirituality and the historical role of people’s approaches to the supernatural. Contemporary history, fuelled by events such as 9/11 – in a complex interaction between the practical, such as terrorism, and the theoretical, such as the thesis of clashing civilizations - once again stresses religion and its influence in the public and private sphere. During the ISHA Summer Seminar 2009 the role of religion in history and on historical writing will be addressed and offered to you through five seminars under the theme ‘Comparative History of Religion.’

Religious History and Utrecht

From the 8th century onward, Utrecht has been known as The Netherlands’ religious center. Numerous buildings in its inner city remind us of this fact to this day. The most important religious organizations operate from Utrecht, and it houses the largest collection of religious art found anywhere in The Netherlands. This unique concentration of symbolism, tradition and religious experience has had a profound impact on the academic climate in the city, where over half of all Dutch theologians graduate and where the countries only University for Humanistics is held. The Faculty of Humanities of Utrecht University is known as one of the best in the country – the history department perhaps known as the finest. Medieval History specifically has high international standing. Attention for new and exciting methods is distinctive for the Department of History, including but not limited to an emphasis on biography and possibilities for comparative history.

Methods and Seminars

Choosing ‘Comparative History of Religion’ as its theme, ISHA Utrecht wishes to engage an international student body into a fascinating subject, using Utrecht’s unique characteristics and possibilities. Participants are welcomed and asked to deliver a contribution to fundamental and theoretical debates held in seminars and plenary sessions. The five seminars are all primarily concerned with a single historical figure which will, in some way, ‘represent’ a certain time, geographical space, and theme. Students will eventually submit an oral and written comparative interpretation.

In the first workshop attention is focused on Augustine of Hippo. St. Augustine (354-430) fulfilled a key role in the development of Western Christianity, influencing classical and modern philosophy with timeless works including De civitate dei and De trinitate. A truly extraordinary Muslim thinker from the Middle Ages, Al-Biruni (973-1048) is our second protagonist. In this workshop the tension between science and religion will be discussed. The work of Desiderius Erasmus (1467-1536) is key in workshop no. three. His influence on The Reformation will be analyzed, as will the relations between religion and satire. As an exemplary figure for the American Black Church Movement, Richard Allen (1760-1831) will be central in the fourth workshop. He will represent ‘The Great Awakening’. Religion and fanaticism will be debated. Iconoclastic thinker Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) brought forth devastating critique on religion in general and Christianity in particular. Main topic of this final workshop will be secularization.