The workshop explores the question of the responsibility of religions in crises. In times characterised by natural disasters, wars and refugee movements. The workshop will take place on 20 June 2024, which is also known as International Refugee Day in accordance with the Refugee Convention, which was signed in 1951.

What do religions - here Jewish, Christian and Islamic - have to say about natural disasters, wars and flight, both in theoretical and practical terms? What forms of aid and relief can they create? How can mechanisms of solidarity and caring for one another be formed? Topics such as the wars in Russia and Ukraine, in Palestine and Israel, the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, as well as the corresponding crises and refugee movements will be examined in more detail. The resulting refugee movements will be analysed and questions raised about social solidarity and integration. In a concluding and public evening event, religious community representatives will have their say, report on their experiences and present their best practices.

The inputs from the workshop will be summarised in a publication on the responsibility of theologians and religious scholars in crises. As far as possible, the majority of the lectures will be given by female speakers, which will contribute to increasing the number of female voices in theory- and practice-based theology.

The workshop will be held in German!

Organisers

• Prof. Dr. Aysun Yaşar (Islamic Theology, Department of Islamic-Theological Studies, University of Vienna)
• Prof. Dr. Handan Aksünger-Kizil (Head of the Department of Islamic-Theological Studies, Alevi Theology, University of Vienna)
• Prof. Dr. Gerhard Langer (Head of the Department of Jewish Studies, Chairman of the VDTR, University of Vienna)
• In cooperation with Research Centre Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society

All information and the programme can be found on the event website (in German).