Projects / Programmes
Religion as a factor of morality and intercultural dialogue
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.11.00 |
Humanities |
Theology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H002 |
Humanities |
Theology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.03 |
Humanities |
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion |
religion, morality, spirituality, intercultural dialogue, dialogic universalism, empathy, intersubjectivity
Researchers (8)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The central problem of our research is the role of religion as a factor of morality and intercultural dialogue. The project begins with a thesis that ethics of (i) solidary personalism and (ii) dialogic universalism is the ethics, which can be an appropriate basis of inter-culturality. The former claims that every person is (epistemically and ethically) transcendent; while the latter defends respect for uniqueness and individuality and at the same time harbors a belief that all people have something in common and that dialogue and solidarity are sensible choices. Solidary personalism and dialogical universalism form an intellectual horizon which grounds this. The relationship between religion, morality, and intercul. dialogue must thus be investigated within aspects of human relationships, including answers to ultimate questions, concerning the meaning, interpersonal empathy, dialogue and respect for human transcendence (otherness). Christianity and other religions stress the importance of dialogical openness, which reveals human vulnerability, dependence on others and on deeper foundations. A common basis of spirituality is a good starting point both for dialogue of religion and secular society as well as interrel. dialogue and comprehensive societal cohabitation.
The goal of the project is to apply theological concepts, categories and models to the subject of intercul. dialogue (narrowly) and to the question of a dialogical and inclusive society (broadly). The key research question is thus what spirituality can be a basis of peaceful, dialogical and intercul. attitude. A key goal is thus to investigate elements of culture, which is dialogic and intercul. and their relation to religion(s), while addressing some key new aspects of the debate (e.g. responsibility of relig. communities for the common good; rationality and ethical aspects of relig. commitment; relation between religion and spirituality; the role of religion in public sphere; a common ethical denominator of religions and traditions; intersubjectivity as a foundation for intercul. dialogue; intercul. theology and philosophy of sensuality, empathy, and peace; gender and forms of spirituality; the relation between culture, ethics, and dialogue). We will use methodology of theology and (intercul.) philosophy and concepts (e.g. mimetic desire and scapegoat, anxiety and existential stadia, man as a being of symbols, religious commitment, etc.) both for forming new theoretical insights and for explanation of some concrete events and processes in Slovene and European history and present times.
The project thus represents an original investigation of ideas, concepts, models and theories of (Christian) theological, philosoph., anthropolog. and cultural traditions and contemporary thought (personalism, Stein, Kiekegaard, Girard, Bellinger, Irigaray) in order to present a current understanding of the moral significance of religion (especially interculturalism) and to design a suitable (theological and philosophical) foundation of dialogical, intercultural and inclusive culture. Results of the project will represent an important contribution to theology and philosophy of intercul. dialogue and will create new perspectives on topics of dialogicality, intersubjectivity, tolerance, global ethos, interfaith and inter-relig. dialogue. At the same time they will significantly contribute to the social development through presenting the necessity of understanding religion as a factor of morality, intercul. dialogue, and establishing a basis for resolving social tensions and overcoming the social crisis. The project will bring together leading Slovenian researchers, which will by internat. cooperation with institutions and individuals, by attendance at international conferences and publications further assert themselves, enable further joint projects and scient. cooperation, which will have important impact for the discipline, development of staff and raising funding.
Significance for science
Our research is relevant, important and specific because it promotes the approach of theological humanities, which is made up of theological psychology, anthropology, and ethics. It regards an application of theological concepts to questions that, in addition to theological humanities, are also dealt with other sciences and approaches with their particular perspectives. However, the issues of religion and its effects are specific and can be explored comprehensively only by incorporating theological humanities. In religious phenomena, there are forces and factors that are not present in those other approaches, and their understandings and explanations are incomplete without theological perspective. We reached important original insights regarding the subject of our project, reflected in the publication of numerous original scientific articles in journals, domestic and foreign, with high impact factors. At the time of strengthening awareness of the importance of religions for society and for intercultural dialogue, research and publications that show the positive potentials of religion and, in particular, the re-actualization of religious issues in contemporary philosophy, constitute an important contribution to real pluralism both in humanistic sciences and in wider society. We have comprehensively investigated the relationship between religion and ethics and the basis of intercultural dialogue and therefore contributed new insights into theology and philosophy from the perspective of the notions of dialogue, intersubjectivity, tolerance, etc. Among other things, we focused on the issues of understanding the factors of ethics and intercultural dialogue, the forms of the latter, the question of the role of dialogue and the truth in reconciliation processes and the role of intellectual virtues in the context of intercultural and interreligious dialogue. The project represents the original application and combining of concepts, models and theories from (religious) philosophical, theological, anthropological and cultural tradition and modern thoughts (personalism, Stein, Kierkegaard, Girard, Bellinger), clarification of the understanding of the moral significance of religion (especially from the point of view of interculturality), and the creation of a philosophical and theological basis of a suitable (contemporary) dialogue and inclusive interculturalism. The research is also an original contribution to the modern theory of theological feminism and the contribution to the formation of wider religious and social policies of gender equality and interreligious dialogue. Through the project, we have been involved in international exchanges (bilateral projects, research visits and visits by renowned foreign researchers), establishing scientific cooperation and gaining new funding/financial support to disseminate the results of the project (EU Erasmus+ Jean Monnet module "Challenges of Europe and the European Union: Identity, Values and Dialogue").
Significance for the country
Our research on the path of theological humanities is very important in the Slovenian context, where this research approach is often marginalized, which weakness in the impact of humanities, scientific pluralism, interdisciplinary approach, inter-scientific dialogue and research of research problems from various perspectives and their integration. All these are the characteristics of the research, which is increasingly becoming more and more necessary and represents a trend in contemporary humanities and science in general. Public opinion in Slovenia often understands secularity as a social norm and as a way of separating or even excluding religion from social discourse. This research attempted to pave the way for a new, post-secular social paradigm that is already established in highly-developed countries and which is capable of recognizing religion as a positive factor within the plural and democratic system. The results of the research project have significantly contributed to social coexistence and development by demonstrating the necessity of understanding religion as a factor of ethics and intercultural dialogue and establishing the foundations for resolving social tensions as a way to overcome the social crisis: dialogue, social inclusion and inclusive societies, coexistence, and to the application of results to educational and educational projects, etc. One of the main contributions was the recognition of how certain religious values, principles, virtues, practices and retentions common to most religions at the local and global levels can make a significant contribution to the cultivation of a culture that is tolerant, dialogic and peaceful, coexistence of diversity. With the analysis of theology of religions (W.C. Smith) and the new cosmology (L. Irigaray) we have reached new scientific insights important for Slovenia and in the wider scientific context. In Slovenia, this knowledge will further strengthen the field of religiology and the dialogue of religions. Janez Juhant as a member of the project group organized several reconciliation ceremonies in which we remembered the victims of post-war killings, thus demonstrating a respect for the victims and encouraging national reconciliation. The results are a contribution to the breaking up of the rooted prejudice of male normativity in the (Slovene) socio-religious field. This, in turn, leads to the attempt to establish new platforms of coexistence in (interreligious) dialogue. The results will go into the field of improving social-religious policies in the broadest field of cultivating tolerance and accepting the (different) other. The results of this project contributed to the establishment of new platforms of public estimation of religion, multiculturality and nonviolence, with many possible indirect effects on education and larger societal life (politics and political dialogue, political culture, culture(s) and social habitats of intersubjectivity.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
final report
