The Religion Factor

In today’s post, Arnout Couperus contributes to recent discussions on the democratisation of Myanmar. He argues that the role of Buddhism should not be underestimated in the analysis of the current situation.

Last Thursday evening, Nederland Een broadcast the live performance of The Passion from The Hague. Erin Wilsonprovides an outsider’s perspective on this emerging ritual in Dutch public life.

In today’s post, Albertina Oegema reflects on the conversion of former Partij voor de Vrijheid member Arnoud van Doorn to Islam, based on her research on the thoughts of Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria on conversion.

Today’s post shows Ella Sebamalai’s reflection on Turkey’s accession to the EU. On the one hand she reflects on religion and  secularism as part of the public debate, on the other hand she also illustrates the consequences of specific perceptions.

In de post van vandaag bespreekt dr. Marjo Buitelaar het sociale probleem van antisemitisime onder Nederlandse Moslimjongeren. Daarin bespreekt zij zogenaamde oorzaken en de misperceptie daarvan door, onder andere, de media.

In today’s post, prof. Manuel A. Vasquezsuggests an alternative view to the ‘Homo Economicus’ in his response to Ella Sebamalai’s post on transnational religious networks and faith-based organizations. Rather then calculated rationality, Vasquez argues in...

Following Pope Francis I’s celebration of his first Palm Sunday mass, commencing the most important week in the Catholic liturgy, we share a recent interview with Dr Mathilde van Dijk from the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, University of...

Last week,  Prof. Manuel A. Vasquez gave a guest lecture on “Conceptualizing domination and resistance in transnational religious networks” at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies in Groningen. Here Ella Sebamalaiengages with the ideas he raised...

Next Tuesday Prof Monika Wohlrab-Sahr will give a seminar in Groningen on her research into the impact of different secularities in various cultural and political contexts. Today she gives Religion Factor readers a sneak preview.

The internet holds great potential for communication and creativity within religious communities, but brings with it new challenges for religious authorities. This was the central theme of a guest lecture given by Dr. Heidi Campbell,  at the Faculty of...