Abstract

The Global Epistemological Politics of Religion research group explores concepts and debates informing contemporary social and political theory and practice concerning the dynamics and relations between religion, politics and order. Through the detailed study of various cases we explore the histories and political logics of various attempts to conceptualise and institutionalise social, religious and cultural difference, including the rule of law, the practices of knowledge and non-knowledge, and the recognition and protection of religious minorities.

Questions to be discussed include: How does modern law and political practice regulate the spaces within which individuals and groups live out their cultural and religious lives? What are the histories and politics of modern constructs of religion in relation to the nation, technology and across different networks? The group is explicitly interdisciplinary drawing social and political theory, global politics, anthropology, history, and sociology of religion, and law.

This session will be led by Maria Birnbaum (Bern), and the recommended reading is:

Liana Chua, ‘Anthropological perspectives on ritual and religious ignorance’ in Handbook of Ignorance Studies, London: Routledge, 2020: pp.247-255.

Casey High, ‘Between Knowing and Being: Ignorance in Anthropology and Amazonian Shamanism’ in The Anthropology of Ignorance, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012: pp.119-135.

To join via Zoom, or if you have queries about this event, please don’t hesitate to email.

gloknos is initially funded for 5 years by the European Research Council through a Consolidator Grant awarded to Dr Inanna Hamati-Ataya for her project ARTEFACT (2017-2022) ERC grant no. 724451.