Public Lectures 2024 – Migration

Academia & Activism: Opportunities and Tensions of a Strange Relationship

In the academic world, research is undertaken, theories are developed, topics are being discussed. In the Humanities as well as in the field of Religion and Theology, this is very often linked to analyzing existing conflicts – personal, political, public – developing alternative models.  

​At the same time, we see large movements of activists, who are addressing existing conflicts in society by active and direct engagement – see for example the challenges of climate change, migration, racism, or war. They, too, analyze and develop alternatives, yet aiming at direct change and transformation.  

​Given the relevance, the urgency, and the massiveness of today´s crises, we invite a conversation here, between academics and activists. Are their worlds as separated as it sometimes seems?

Time: 16.30 – 18.00

Location: Filmzaal (1E24), Vrije Universiteit

Speakers: 

Rikko Voorberg

Rikko Voorberg is a public theologian, working with creativity to bring religion into the public space. He is actively involved with migration issues, and is involved with the setting up of different projects that take responsibility for the suffering that us caused by our political systems. As a theologian, he advocates for more outrage for unjustice.

Dorottya Nagy

Dorottya is professor of Theology and Migration at the PThU. She has an interest in migration studies, mission studies, ecclesiology, Christiainity in post-communist Europe, and innovative ways of theologising. With her research, she seeks to create more awareness about the complexity involved in migration dynamics and to contribute to a theological praxis within and beyond ecclesial settings. Relationality and connectivity are at the center of her theological approaches.

Moderator:

Peter-Ben Smit

prof. Peter-Ben Smit co-director of the Center for Contextual Biblical Interpretation.