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Meetings of the Research Group 2011-2012

Theology of Religions and Comparative Theology: A Conversation with Professor Francis Clooney

An International Symposium
June 22nd – 23rd
KU Leuven, Romero Room

Organized by: Prof. Terrence Merrigan (KU Leuven) and Ashlee Kirk (KU Leuven)
Research Group Christian Self-Understanding and Interreligious Dialogue – K.U. Leuven
Research Group Comparative Science of Cultures – University of Ghent
Interdisciplinary Research Project: Theological Truth and Tradition in the Tension
between Church History and Systematic Theology – K.U. Leuven

Program of the Symposium
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
16:00 Welcome Coffee
16:15 Opening of Symposium
16:30 Lecture Session 1: An Introduction to Comparative Theology as Developed by Francis Clooney Presenter: Ashlee Kirk (KU Leuven, Belgium)
17:00 Response by Professor Clooney followed by Discussion
17:30 Lecture Session 2: Reflections on Comparative Theology from the Perspective of Theology of Religions Presenter: Terrence Merrigan (KU Leuven, Belgium)
18:00 Response by Professor Clooney followed by Discussion
18:30 Close of Day One
 

Thursday, June 23, 2011
9:00 Welcome Coffee
9:30 Lecture Session 3: The Significance of Comparative Theology for Theology of Religions Presenter: Francis Clooney (Harvard University, USA)
10:00 Discussion
10:30 Lecture Session 4: Reflections on Comparative Theology from the Perspective of Islamic Theology Presenter: Kemal Ataman (University of Bayreuth, Germany and  Uludag University, Turkey)
11:00 Response by Professor Clooney followed by Discussion
11:30 Coffee Break
11:45 Lecture Session 5: Reflections on Comparative Theology from the Perspective of Hindu Theology Presenter: S.N. Balagandadhara (University of Gent, Belgium)
12:15 Response by Professor Clooney followed by Discussion
12:45 Lunch Break
14:00 Lecture Session 6: The Epistemological Practices of Comparative Theologians Presenter: Martin Sebastian Kallungal (KU Leuven, Belgium)
14:30 Response by Professor Clooney followed by Discussion
15:00 Coffee Break
15:15 Lecture Session 7: Dare to Compare: Comparative Theology and the Comparative Science of Culture Presenter: Sarah Claerhout (University of Gent, Belgium)
15:45 Response by Professor Clooney followed by Discussion
16:15 Question Session Prepared by Members of the Research Group Christian Self-Understanding and Interreligious Dialogue

• 16:15 – 16:45: Should the claim that a moratorium ought to be placed on theology of religions remain when theology of religions takes religious experience as its starting point? (John Friday, KU Leuven)
• 16:45 – 17:15: From a comparative theological point of view, is there a place for new approaches to theology of religions which start from a confessional position? (Wouter Biesbrouck, KU Leuven)
• 17:15 – 17:45: From the perspective of comparative theology, does it make sense to speak of the Holy Spirit as present in other religions? If so, what criteria do comparative theologians use in order to identify the activity of the Spirit in non-Christian religions? (Thi Tuong Oanh Nguyen, KU Leuven)
• 17:45 – 18:15: What is the significance of comparative theology for mission, paying particular attention to the nature of truth in other religions and the goal of mission? (Andrew Meszaros, KULeuven)

18:15 Close of Symposium

Seminar with Christopher Asprey

Friday 24 June 2011, 11.00-13.00

Dr. Christopher Asprey

Barth's Critique of Religion in its Historical Context

Romero Room (COVE 02.10)