Call for Papers: Another Religion?
At the end of the nineteenth century, military and economic expansion in Africa, the Middle East and Asia brought Europe into contact with Islam. This interaction sparked European political debates on how to deal with different religions and cultures. The study of Islam was encouraged within the contexts of missiology and the science of religion, and missionaries were sent to the Arab world. A range of opinions on Islam within emerged within European Christianity, varying from a comparative view to radical rejection, from the need for conversion to the search for dialogue. The late nineteenth century was also the context for the development of neo-Calvinism: a movement that attempted to articulate an orthodox Reformed faith in the modern world. Which views of Islam were held amongst neo-Calvinist theologians, missiologists, missionaries and politicians? How did these views work out in the encounter with Islam?
The conference will focus on the theological, ecclesial, philosophical, political, historical, social and cultural interactions between the two religions: in what ways did they approach each other? On which aspects did they continue to differ, and why? How could their relationship over a century and a half best be described?
Call for Papers
The conference organisers welcome proposals for short papers. Proposals (approximately 300 words) should be sent to g.harinck@vu.nl by April 30th, 2016. Conference papers will be in English.
Registration
The conference registration fee is €100, which includes two lunches and drinks. Conference places must be reserved by email (g.harinck@vu.nl) by May 30th, 2016.
