Faculty of Theology | Research | Ph.D.- programme
Call for Papers
Sacrifice
17th European Conference on Philosophy of Religion
Oslo August, 28-31 2008
Senior Scholars and PhD students are encouraged to submit a paper and/or abstract connected to one of the four subtopics below.
ESPR Conference Themes
1) Why Sacrifice? -Sacrifice Past and Present
The concept of sacrifice demands a systematic and historical clarification: How do we recognize a sacrifice as such and how does it interfere with our understanding of human beings and their relation to the divine? Does sacrifice always demand a victim and what is the difference between sacrifice (Opfer) and victim (Opfer)? Sacrifice has a long history in different religious contexts: To what extent has sacrifice been a cultural and religious praxis and to what extent has it been spiritualized? And finally: Where do we see sacrifice today, in differing religious (Hindu, Muslim, Christian, tribal, etc.) praxis, in liturgy, in political action, in art and literature?
2) Sacrifice, Love, and Gender
Love is affected by sacrifice, in particular the Christian understanding of self-sacrificial love. In a more general sense, even erotic and compassionate love reveals a hidden sacrifice. This economy of love and sacrifice undergoes several transitions, though. Thus one may ask: Is sacrifice still essential to a modern concept of love and to a Christian understanding of sin and reconciliation? In what sense does it affect the gender issue? Does it support some oppressive structures that ought to be studied critically? May sacrifice still be encouraged or should it rather be opposed and rejected all together?
3) Self-Sacrifice and Sacrifice of Others
Since the Akedah, Abraham’s intended sacrifice of Isaac/Ishmael, three religious traditions see sacrifice as essential to justice. Thus sacrifice remains at the heart of conflicts including political as well as ethical and religious dimensions. Is sacrifice essential to absolute responsibility surpassing ethics (Kierkegaard), or is rather the sacrifice of oneself for the other an ethical demand (Levinas)? Is sacrifice a gift of death (Derrida) or a Eucharistic gift of life (Radical Orthodoxy) to the others?
4) Sacrifice, Conflict, and the Foundation of Culture
In the relation between cultures, religions, and civilizations, sacrifice seems to sharpen conflicts and make them irresolvable (e.g. suicide bombers, hi-jacks, crusades). On the other hand, some theories suggest that a (spiritualized) sacrifice may be essential to the founding of civilizations ancient and modern and even strengthen democratic tendencies. Thus the problem of sacrifice opens up (1) an inter-religious dialogue and (2) a discussion of civilizations as such and their (shattered) foundations: Is sacrifice opening a gap between civilizations (Huntington) or is it a part of their foundation (Girard)? Does it radicalize evil or prevent evil to prevail?
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Papers should have a reading length of 15-20 minutes, or max. 2 200 words. Abstracts should be max. 300 words and will be made public to all conference participants.
Deadline for submission is March, 15th 2008. All submitters will receive an answer by April, 15th.
Please email your paper in pdf, doc or rtf format to: Atle Søvik
For other questions, please contact Atle Søvik: Atle.O.Sovik@mf.no or Marius Timmann Mjaaland: m.g.mjaaland@teologi.uio.noTel: +47 22 59 05 36 (A. Søvik)
Tel: +47 22 85 03 94 (M. Mjaaland)
Fax:+47 22 85 03 01
The Faculty of Theology
University of Oslo
PO Box 1023 Blindern
NO-0315 Oslo, Norway
Editors: Webredaksjonen på Det teologiske fakultet, webredaksjon@teologi.uio.no
Document created: 05.06.2007, certified: 05.06.2007