Academic Conference
On Wednesday March 29, an SRT-symposium on Sacred Nature was organized by the research group “Transformations of Religiosity.” For an audience of about sixty visitors, several speakers investigated to what extent nature can be seen as sacred from a religious point of view.
In the morning, André van der Braak introduced new religious forms that go by the name of ecodelic religiosity: forms of religiosity that aim to bring to light and embody our inherent embeddedness in ecological systems. As examples of such ecodelic religiosity he discussed Bron Taylor’s notion of Dark Green Religion, and Bruno Latour’s proposal for a new Gaian religiosity. Next, intercultural philosopher Angela Roothaan (SGW) discussed shamanic perspectives on our relationship to nature, and the need to decolonize our Western approaches to nature. After Johan Roeland had interviewed both speakers, he received the first copy of Jan Jorrit Hasselaar’s new book: Climate Change, Radical Uncertainty and Hope | Amsterdam University Press (aup.nl)
In the afternoon, Christa Anbeek and Elpine de Boer (Leiden University) presented their empirical research on experiences of oneness that involved nature. Gijsbert van den Brink argued for the controversial thesis that, from a Christian and Biblical perspective, nature can be considered sacred. The last speaker Annette Kemp, presenting on video due to health issues, introduced the religious tradition of paganism and its intimate relationship to nature. A lively discussion with the room concluded this symposium.
The symposium was an inspiring event that offered a podium for a wide range of perspectives on this highly relevant societal topic. It shows that the school of SRT is well equipped to offer a safe meeting place in which various (non)religious traditions and approaches can engage in open-ended dialogue and discussion