LEST III

Conference Website

Following the 1997 LEST I international conference on The Myriad Christ, and the 1999 LEST II international conference on Sacramental Presence in a Postmodern Context, the Research Department of Dogmatic Theology of the Faculty of Theology, KU Leuven, organises a third Leuven Encounters in Systematic Theology, LEST III, focusing on the idea of conversation in theology.

This international conference aims at stimulating thought and research on the role of conversation and the idea of conversation in theology. Relational approaches play an ever more important role as a method in theology and in the elaboration of various systematic subjects. Conversation defines a challenging theological research programme. The following subjects will be studied in more detail.

I. Reflecting on God and Creation : Conversation and Trinity

Recent Christian theology has reflected on the analogies between the relationships in the Trinity and the relations that constitute creation and the church. The idea of conversation provides opportunities to elaborate on the immanent and economic love relationships of the Trinity.

II. Reflecting on the Church and the World : Conversation and Ecclesiology

Catholicity and globalization open a perspective on reality as a web of encounters and conversations. Today these very often take the form of conflicts and tensions : in the churches, between churches and religions, between the local and the universal, in political issues. The idea of conversation provides opportunities to approach the challenges of globalization and conflicts, church communities, and interreligious issues.

III. Reflecting on Theology and Spirituality : Conversation as a Paradigm for Theology

Theology originates in the conversations between faithful and with theologians, as well as in the symbolic enactments of the relationships with God. Therefore, theological reflection, religious experience and spirituality are profoundly interrelated. The idea of conversation provides opportunities to explore fruitful interactions between spirituality and theology, and to elaborate theological reflection from the perspective of the idea of encounter.

Schedule of the Conference

List of Optional Lectures

Accomodation

The conference will take place in the Faculty of Theology, located in the centre of Leuven. Leuven is located 25 km from Brussels and easily accessible. Please note that Leuven (in French: Louvain) is NOT the same town as Louvain-la-Neuve.

A number of rooms have been reserved at some hotels in the centre of Leuven. Unless indicated, the prices include 1 night + breakfeast. When contacting these hotels, make reference to the congress "Leuven Encounters in Systematic Theology". Room options generally run until 01/10.

Registration

Deadline: 31 October 2001.

Correspondence Address

Send your paper proposals or ask for information to:

Prof. Dr. Peter De Mey (coordinator of the conference)
Faculty of Theology
KU Leuven
Sint Michielsstraat 6
B-3000 Leuven (Belgium)
Fax: + 32/0 16.32.38.58
E-mail: peter.demey@theo.kuleuven.be

Useful links

How to reach KU Leuven? http://cwisdb.cc.kuleuven.ac.be/kaarten/help/welkom_en.htm

Homepage Faculty of Theology, KU Leuven http://theo.kuleuven.be/en/

Nederlandstalige studiedag 

Voorafgaand aan het internationale congres LEST III vindt op dinsdag 6 november een Nederlandstalige studiedag plaats, die aansluit bij één van de subthema's van het internationale congres. Het thema van de studiedag luidt: Theologie en spiritualiteit : het gesprek heropend

Deze studiedag richt zich tot pastoraal werkenden, godsdienstleerkrachten, en alle geïnteresseerden in het thema.