Luca Pellarin | Universität Erfurt (original) (raw)
Books by Luca Pellarin
![Research paper thumbnail of Franz C. Overbeck. Beyond Theology, Within Limits, Verlag Karl Alber [Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft], Baden-Baden, 2024, 340 pp. [Alber Thesen Philosophie, 91]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/120232127/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](This book stems from a few impressions and ensuing considerations triggered by reading the pages ... more This book stems from a few impressions and ensuing considerations triggered by reading the pages of the “œuvre” of the theologian Franz C. Overbeck (1837-1905). The pages are above all those of his “Kirchenlexicon”, an extensive collection of reflections gathered for the purpose of carrying out the never accomplished project of writing a secular, or profane, history of the church; Overbeck is above all “the late Overbeck” (1897-1905), the sick and tired Basel-based professor of New Testament and Early Church History who resolved to enter “early” retirement to take care of his writings and his health. The (albeit on the whole meagre) often extra-theological reception that Overbeck “enjoyed” and the breadth of themes covered by the entries of his “Kirchenlexicon”, whose vast majority date from the very last decade of his life, are only some of the reasons behind the attempt to understand if and to what extent one can speak of an “Overbeck ‘beyond theology’ ”, of an Overbeck who might thus be deemed as a “theorist of culture”.
Papers by Luca Pellarin
«Historia religionum», 2024
Late notes from Franz C. Overbeck’s Kirchenlexicon unveil some astonishing outlines of a “general... more Late notes from Franz C. Overbeck’s Kirchenlexicon unveil some astonishing outlines of a “general ascetology” of culture premised on a natural theory of asceticism. The sketched theory argues for the cultural balance of two universal but contrary in-born impulses, the asketischer Trieb and the Lusttrieb. We pondered: whence does this particular theory, seemingly foreshadowing some of Sigmund Freud’s most renowned dyads, originate? The unforeseeable source turns out to be a prolific writer and pamphleteer whose 1896 liberationist booklet Love’s Coming-of-Age one would have hardly expected to find in Overbeck’s decent and bourgeois library: the English socialist, gay rights advocate, and prison reform activist Edward Carpenter. The paper peers into this curious discovery.
«Il pensiero storico», 2024
It is often said that our society forgets quickly. Western society forgets, perhaps, on purpose. ... more It is often said that our society forgets quickly. Western society forgets, perhaps, on purpose. Recent examples conveniently taken from the Italian context, such as the hot dispute over inclusive language, the controversial new edition of the Roman Missal, and the – nearly ineffective – declaration of the illegitimacy of patronymic automatism, all point to a clear desire to sever ties with a past that no longer seems to concern us. And yet, this is not the whole story. Even when one does remember, one does not do so programmatically. In other words, no practical guidance for the present – or the future – is derived from history. The same authors deeply committed to tradition do not usually draw concrete consequences about its power, be it coercive, compelling, necessitating, or, at the very least, “directional”. Indeed, it is far from easy to enumerate thinkers who come up with tangible suggestions for making the most of the past. If nothing else, the resulting list of names is rather short. The risk is the charge of conservatism; the difficulty lies in the actual identification of such suggestions, and of such consequences.
«Rosmini Studies», 2024
The thought of the German theologian Franz C. Overbeck (1837-1905) has not been well received, an... more The thought of the German theologian Franz C. Overbeck (1837-1905) has not been well received, and yet not so much in terms of quality but of quantity. Despite the theoretical value of his œuvre, Overbeck’s name remains mysterious, if not obscure, to date. Nevertheless, one can come across it in the work of Giorgio Agamben (1942). Such a circumstance cannot surprise those familiar with the Italian philosopher, who often draws on even little-known authors from the most diverse disciplines. After paying the necessary attention to Agamben as a reader in general and as a reader of theology in particular, the following paper will assess his references to Overbeck. It will be concluded that the Italian philosopher’s appeal to the German theologian, however spare, limited, and “unaware”, does not fail to strike a chord, especially as regards the interpretation of Overbeck’s notion of “Urgeschichte”.
«Rivista di storia e letteratura religiosa», 2021
This article provides the Italian reader with the translation of a 1919 short story by the German... more This article provides the Italian reader with the translation of a 1919 short story by the German theologian Erik Peterson (1890-1960), the second and relatively successful publication of a scholar whose work, on the contrary, gained a certain degree of resonance, albeit of good quality, only among the experts of the field. The translation follows a brief introduction to the theologian’s personality which tries to shed light on the biography and character of an author often mistakenly depicted as strict and austere. One is convinced that brightening up some of these often-overcast features requires a fresh look at the events of the young Peterson’s life as a student and "Privatdozent" in Göttingen (1912-1924).
«Atti dell'Accademia "San Marco" di Pordenone», 2021
A portrait of the Italian historian Giulio Cesare Testa (Cuneo, 1937 - Pordenone, 2021). In memor... more A portrait of the Italian historian Giulio Cesare Testa (Cuneo, 1937 - Pordenone, 2021). In memoriam.
«Humanitas. Rivista bimestrale di cultura», 2021
The aim of this paper is to shed new light on "Monotheismus als politisches Problem" (1935), the ... more The aim of this paper is to shed new light on "Monotheismus als politisches Problem" (1935), the famous work of the German theologian Erik Peterson (1890-1960). The focuses of this enquiry are a synoptic overlook on this book alongside the two articles that constitute it and the peculiar positioning of the pagan philosopher Celsus throughout it, as well as the consequent necessity of re-evaluating the idea of στάσις as an idiosyncratic element of Early Christianity. From these starting points, the author tries to better comprehend the Petersonian theology of martyrdom and eschatology and hopes to prove that this work can be interpreted through an unpredictable (provocative) paradigm: Peterson's endorsement, in that decisive historical period, to the Celsian reading of Christianity as a subversive movement – of course, in his case, favourably received. This particular – and partial – perspective would, therefore, allow the text to be vindicated from the misunderstanding and manipulation it has suffered from in time.
«Denʞkollektiv - trans | disziplin Simone Weil», Nov 1, 2020
The French political theorist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865), the German theologian Franz C. ... more The French political theorist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865), the German theologian Franz C. Overbeck (1837-1905), and the French philosopher Simone Weil (1909-1943) share an interest in rethinking socialism against the backdrop of sharp criticism of Christianity. Proudhon lays the foundation of this philosophy, leaving Overbeck and Weil to carry on his heritage, albeit in opposed directions. All three figures mark an often ignored but essential juncture between the 1840s and the 1940s in the history of ideas concerning the relationship between socialism and Christianity. In what follows, we introduce our three thinkers and areas of their overlapping interest, all through catalogical notes to map a very short history of ideas often overlooked in academia.
«Ce fastu? Rivista della Società Filologica Friulana "Graziadio I. Ascoli"», 2017
25 years after the publication of Folker Reichert’s pivotal Begegnungen mit China. Die Entdeckung... more 25 years after the publication of Folker Reichert’s pivotal Begegnungen mit China. Die Entdeckung Ostasiens im Mittelalter (1992) (and 20 years since the appearance of the Italian translation in 1997), this essay provides an account of the state of the art of the research on Odoric of Pordenone, the Franciscan monk who travelled across the Mongolian Empire between 1318 and 1330 (at the time of the Yuan dynasty) and who dictated the story of his peregrination (scil. Relatio) to Wilhelm of Solagna once he returned to Italy. To better define the ‘Odorician affair’, the second part of the article is dedicated to an interview with one of Odoric’s finest scholars, Giulio Cesare Testa. The scholar helps us summarize the results obtained so far by researchers and suggests possible directions for studies yet to be undertaken.
«Humanitas. Rivista bimestrale di cultura», 2017
The aim of this paper is to provide a brief account of Giovanni Filoramo’s thought on contemporan... more The aim of this paper is to provide a brief account of Giovanni Filoramo’s thought on contemporaneity. It will be examined through the canonical historical-genealogical point of view, highlighting, in particular, causes and outcomes of the “transfiguration” which followed the publishing of "Ipotesi Dio. Il divino come idea necessaria" (2016). Drawing from the most recent publications – always more attentive to the historical and theoretical trends of the last decades – the author will try to demonstrate how Filoramo’s epistemology, after the (partial) abandonment of “methodological agnosticism”, has move towards a form of “strong hermeneutics”. “Historical criticism”, “comparativism”, “religious history”, “relative autonomy of religion” are just some of the themes and the key-concepts taken on in order to prove this idea. Most of all, the purpose of the essay is to stimulate a fruitful debate around the ever-changing and manifold identity of the “Scuola di storia delle religioni di Torino”.
Book Reviews by Luca Pellarin
«Annali di storia dell’esegesi», 2023
«Historia Magistra. Rivista di storia critica», 2021
«Adamantius. Annuario di letteratura cristiana antica e di studi giudeoellenistici», 2020
«Historia Magistra. Rivista di storia critica», 2020
«Lo Sguardo. Rivista di filosofia», 2017
Lo Sguardo -rivista di filosofia N. 24, 2017 (II) -Limiti e confini del postumano 355 Recensione ... more Lo Sguardo -rivista di filosofia N. 24, 2017 (II) -Limiti e confini del postumano 355 Recensione P. Sequeri, Il sensibile e l'inatteso. Lezioni di estetica teologica Queriniana 2016 Luca Pellarin Il compianto M. P. Gallagher SJ , cui Il sensibile e l'inatteso [d'ora in poi SI] è dedicato, oltre a ribadire più volte come l'amico P. Sequeri fosse il più grande teologo italiano vivente, parlava di lui come d'un «gigante», d'un «colosso» il cui pensiero rappresenta «un primo passo verso la guarigione» dalla «dimenticanza» e dall'«impoverimento» della bellezza della fede (Mappe della fede. Dieci grandi esploratori cristiani, Vita e Pensiero 2011). È a tale ultima esigenza che risponde questo ponderoso volume.
Unpublished by Luca Pellarin
In autumn 2022, along with my dissertation I had to submit three two-page papers, each dealing wi... more In autumn 2022, along with my dissertation I had to submit three two-page papers, each dealing with a topic unrelated to the dissertation itself and each advancing a bold thesis. One of these papers was later developed into a short article; another was the matrix of a book review; and as I have nothing planned for the third one, I have decided to upload it here and make it available to anyone who might be interested.
Conferences by Luca Pellarin
Nietzsche-Dokumentationszentrum (NDZ) - Naumburg an der Saale (Germany), 12th-15th October 2023
The principal aim of this Unit is to promote cross-disciplinary research characterized by a commo... more The principal aim of this Unit is to promote cross-disciplinary research characterized by a common agenda: a radical de-metaphysicization of the explanatory narratives of the processes of creation, transmission, blending, memorization, and survival of religious representations, experiences, and practices documented by Jesus followers across the ancient Mediterranean world between the 1st and 4th century CE. Since we are persuaded that a strategy of consilience among different perspectives is necessary to account for the complex formative dynamics of any large-scale symbolic system, the Unit programmatically resorts to ‘secular’ approaches which are too often opposed to each other – like cognitive and evolutionary approaches, historical discourse analysis, post-colonial studies and model-based sociological exegesis. More generally, we would like to contribute to the creation of a trans-disciplinary area where a new scientific policy in the research on Christian origins can be successfully pursued.
This year’s panel aims to delve into the too-often overlooked relationship between asceticism and monasticism: the first taken as the cross-culturally applicable descriptor of practices, themes, and issues of world- and self-denial, the second understood as a homologous shorthand for the institutionalization and “traditionalization” of ascetic behaviors. The panel welcomes theoretically-informed case studies from textual analysis and archaeology developing new approaches capable of better elucidating this relationship.
Hotel Villa Artemis - Monte Artemisio - Via dei Laghi, Nemi (Roma, Italia), 8-11 settembre 2022
As a sociology of everyday life, H. Rosa’s theory of resonance is scarcely concerned with what on... more As a sociology of everyday life, H. Rosa’s theory of resonance is scarcely concerned with what one can call “borderline situations”. With this expression, we refer to (threshold) conditions distinguished from everyday experience by their extraordinary capability of shaping and re-shaping our existences, for they confront us with questions constitutive of our self-world relations. This existence-shaping capacity stems from their sheer potentiality. Can we respond to them resonantly? As regards, for instance, the end of the world and life, i.e. the borderline situations the workshop builds on, it is the very awareness of finiteness that intrudes into our Weltbeziehungen. Can we resonate to fellow humans, objects and gods without coming to terms with this sorrowful awareness? With these questions in mind, we would like to analyse two concrete subjects: Christian and Jewish eschatological perspectives of the late 19th and early 20th century, and the contemporary technoscientific endeavour of anti-ageing medicine. Both represent cultural answers to the problem of finiteness and prescribe an ideal form of being in the world.
This book stems from a few impressions and ensuing considerations triggered by reading the pages ... more This book stems from a few impressions and ensuing considerations triggered by reading the pages of the “œuvre” of the theologian Franz C. Overbeck (1837-1905). The pages are above all those of his “Kirchenlexicon”, an extensive collection of reflections gathered for the purpose of carrying out the never accomplished project of writing a secular, or profane, history of the church; Overbeck is above all “the late Overbeck” (1897-1905), the sick and tired Basel-based professor of New Testament and Early Church History who resolved to enter “early” retirement to take care of his writings and his health. The (albeit on the whole meagre) often extra-theological reception that Overbeck “enjoyed” and the breadth of themes covered by the entries of his “Kirchenlexicon”, whose vast majority date from the very last decade of his life, are only some of the reasons behind the attempt to understand if and to what extent one can speak of an “Overbeck ‘beyond theology’ ”, of an Overbeck who might thus be deemed as a “theorist of culture”.
«Historia religionum», 2024
Late notes from Franz C. Overbeck’s Kirchenlexicon unveil some astonishing outlines of a “general... more Late notes from Franz C. Overbeck’s Kirchenlexicon unveil some astonishing outlines of a “general ascetology” of culture premised on a natural theory of asceticism. The sketched theory argues for the cultural balance of two universal but contrary in-born impulses, the asketischer Trieb and the Lusttrieb. We pondered: whence does this particular theory, seemingly foreshadowing some of Sigmund Freud’s most renowned dyads, originate? The unforeseeable source turns out to be a prolific writer and pamphleteer whose 1896 liberationist booklet Love’s Coming-of-Age one would have hardly expected to find in Overbeck’s decent and bourgeois library: the English socialist, gay rights advocate, and prison reform activist Edward Carpenter. The paper peers into this curious discovery.
«Il pensiero storico», 2024
It is often said that our society forgets quickly. Western society forgets, perhaps, on purpose. ... more It is often said that our society forgets quickly. Western society forgets, perhaps, on purpose. Recent examples conveniently taken from the Italian context, such as the hot dispute over inclusive language, the controversial new edition of the Roman Missal, and the – nearly ineffective – declaration of the illegitimacy of patronymic automatism, all point to a clear desire to sever ties with a past that no longer seems to concern us. And yet, this is not the whole story. Even when one does remember, one does not do so programmatically. In other words, no practical guidance for the present – or the future – is derived from history. The same authors deeply committed to tradition do not usually draw concrete consequences about its power, be it coercive, compelling, necessitating, or, at the very least, “directional”. Indeed, it is far from easy to enumerate thinkers who come up with tangible suggestions for making the most of the past. If nothing else, the resulting list of names is rather short. The risk is the charge of conservatism; the difficulty lies in the actual identification of such suggestions, and of such consequences.
«Rosmini Studies», 2024
The thought of the German theologian Franz C. Overbeck (1837-1905) has not been well received, an... more The thought of the German theologian Franz C. Overbeck (1837-1905) has not been well received, and yet not so much in terms of quality but of quantity. Despite the theoretical value of his œuvre, Overbeck’s name remains mysterious, if not obscure, to date. Nevertheless, one can come across it in the work of Giorgio Agamben (1942). Such a circumstance cannot surprise those familiar with the Italian philosopher, who often draws on even little-known authors from the most diverse disciplines. After paying the necessary attention to Agamben as a reader in general and as a reader of theology in particular, the following paper will assess his references to Overbeck. It will be concluded that the Italian philosopher’s appeal to the German theologian, however spare, limited, and “unaware”, does not fail to strike a chord, especially as regards the interpretation of Overbeck’s notion of “Urgeschichte”.
«Rivista di storia e letteratura religiosa», 2021
This article provides the Italian reader with the translation of a 1919 short story by the German... more This article provides the Italian reader with the translation of a 1919 short story by the German theologian Erik Peterson (1890-1960), the second and relatively successful publication of a scholar whose work, on the contrary, gained a certain degree of resonance, albeit of good quality, only among the experts of the field. The translation follows a brief introduction to the theologian’s personality which tries to shed light on the biography and character of an author often mistakenly depicted as strict and austere. One is convinced that brightening up some of these often-overcast features requires a fresh look at the events of the young Peterson’s life as a student and "Privatdozent" in Göttingen (1912-1924).
«Atti dell'Accademia "San Marco" di Pordenone», 2021
A portrait of the Italian historian Giulio Cesare Testa (Cuneo, 1937 - Pordenone, 2021). In memor... more A portrait of the Italian historian Giulio Cesare Testa (Cuneo, 1937 - Pordenone, 2021). In memoriam.
«Humanitas. Rivista bimestrale di cultura», 2021
The aim of this paper is to shed new light on "Monotheismus als politisches Problem" (1935), the ... more The aim of this paper is to shed new light on "Monotheismus als politisches Problem" (1935), the famous work of the German theologian Erik Peterson (1890-1960). The focuses of this enquiry are a synoptic overlook on this book alongside the two articles that constitute it and the peculiar positioning of the pagan philosopher Celsus throughout it, as well as the consequent necessity of re-evaluating the idea of στάσις as an idiosyncratic element of Early Christianity. From these starting points, the author tries to better comprehend the Petersonian theology of martyrdom and eschatology and hopes to prove that this work can be interpreted through an unpredictable (provocative) paradigm: Peterson's endorsement, in that decisive historical period, to the Celsian reading of Christianity as a subversive movement – of course, in his case, favourably received. This particular – and partial – perspective would, therefore, allow the text to be vindicated from the misunderstanding and manipulation it has suffered from in time.
«Denʞkollektiv - trans | disziplin Simone Weil», Nov 1, 2020
The French political theorist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865), the German theologian Franz C. ... more The French political theorist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865), the German theologian Franz C. Overbeck (1837-1905), and the French philosopher Simone Weil (1909-1943) share an interest in rethinking socialism against the backdrop of sharp criticism of Christianity. Proudhon lays the foundation of this philosophy, leaving Overbeck and Weil to carry on his heritage, albeit in opposed directions. All three figures mark an often ignored but essential juncture between the 1840s and the 1940s in the history of ideas concerning the relationship between socialism and Christianity. In what follows, we introduce our three thinkers and areas of their overlapping interest, all through catalogical notes to map a very short history of ideas often overlooked in academia.
«Ce fastu? Rivista della Società Filologica Friulana "Graziadio I. Ascoli"», 2017
25 years after the publication of Folker Reichert’s pivotal Begegnungen mit China. Die Entdeckung... more 25 years after the publication of Folker Reichert’s pivotal Begegnungen mit China. Die Entdeckung Ostasiens im Mittelalter (1992) (and 20 years since the appearance of the Italian translation in 1997), this essay provides an account of the state of the art of the research on Odoric of Pordenone, the Franciscan monk who travelled across the Mongolian Empire between 1318 and 1330 (at the time of the Yuan dynasty) and who dictated the story of his peregrination (scil. Relatio) to Wilhelm of Solagna once he returned to Italy. To better define the ‘Odorician affair’, the second part of the article is dedicated to an interview with one of Odoric’s finest scholars, Giulio Cesare Testa. The scholar helps us summarize the results obtained so far by researchers and suggests possible directions for studies yet to be undertaken.
«Humanitas. Rivista bimestrale di cultura», 2017
The aim of this paper is to provide a brief account of Giovanni Filoramo’s thought on contemporan... more The aim of this paper is to provide a brief account of Giovanni Filoramo’s thought on contemporaneity. It will be examined through the canonical historical-genealogical point of view, highlighting, in particular, causes and outcomes of the “transfiguration” which followed the publishing of "Ipotesi Dio. Il divino come idea necessaria" (2016). Drawing from the most recent publications – always more attentive to the historical and theoretical trends of the last decades – the author will try to demonstrate how Filoramo’s epistemology, after the (partial) abandonment of “methodological agnosticism”, has move towards a form of “strong hermeneutics”. “Historical criticism”, “comparativism”, “religious history”, “relative autonomy of religion” are just some of the themes and the key-concepts taken on in order to prove this idea. Most of all, the purpose of the essay is to stimulate a fruitful debate around the ever-changing and manifold identity of the “Scuola di storia delle religioni di Torino”.
«Annali di storia dell’esegesi», 2023
«Historia Magistra. Rivista di storia critica», 2021
«Adamantius. Annuario di letteratura cristiana antica e di studi giudeoellenistici», 2020
«Historia Magistra. Rivista di storia critica», 2020
«Lo Sguardo. Rivista di filosofia», 2017
Lo Sguardo -rivista di filosofia N. 24, 2017 (II) -Limiti e confini del postumano 355 Recensione ... more Lo Sguardo -rivista di filosofia N. 24, 2017 (II) -Limiti e confini del postumano 355 Recensione P. Sequeri, Il sensibile e l'inatteso. Lezioni di estetica teologica Queriniana 2016 Luca Pellarin Il compianto M. P. Gallagher SJ , cui Il sensibile e l'inatteso [d'ora in poi SI] è dedicato, oltre a ribadire più volte come l'amico P. Sequeri fosse il più grande teologo italiano vivente, parlava di lui come d'un «gigante», d'un «colosso» il cui pensiero rappresenta «un primo passo verso la guarigione» dalla «dimenticanza» e dall'«impoverimento» della bellezza della fede (Mappe della fede. Dieci grandi esploratori cristiani, Vita e Pensiero 2011). È a tale ultima esigenza che risponde questo ponderoso volume.
In autumn 2022, along with my dissertation I had to submit three two-page papers, each dealing wi... more In autumn 2022, along with my dissertation I had to submit three two-page papers, each dealing with a topic unrelated to the dissertation itself and each advancing a bold thesis. One of these papers was later developed into a short article; another was the matrix of a book review; and as I have nothing planned for the third one, I have decided to upload it here and make it available to anyone who might be interested.
Nietzsche-Dokumentationszentrum (NDZ) - Naumburg an der Saale (Germany), 12th-15th October 2023
The principal aim of this Unit is to promote cross-disciplinary research characterized by a commo... more The principal aim of this Unit is to promote cross-disciplinary research characterized by a common agenda: a radical de-metaphysicization of the explanatory narratives of the processes of creation, transmission, blending, memorization, and survival of religious representations, experiences, and practices documented by Jesus followers across the ancient Mediterranean world between the 1st and 4th century CE. Since we are persuaded that a strategy of consilience among different perspectives is necessary to account for the complex formative dynamics of any large-scale symbolic system, the Unit programmatically resorts to ‘secular’ approaches which are too often opposed to each other – like cognitive and evolutionary approaches, historical discourse analysis, post-colonial studies and model-based sociological exegesis. More generally, we would like to contribute to the creation of a trans-disciplinary area where a new scientific policy in the research on Christian origins can be successfully pursued.
This year’s panel aims to delve into the too-often overlooked relationship between asceticism and monasticism: the first taken as the cross-culturally applicable descriptor of practices, themes, and issues of world- and self-denial, the second understood as a homologous shorthand for the institutionalization and “traditionalization” of ascetic behaviors. The panel welcomes theoretically-informed case studies from textual analysis and archaeology developing new approaches capable of better elucidating this relationship.
Hotel Villa Artemis - Monte Artemisio - Via dei Laghi, Nemi (Roma, Italia), 8-11 settembre 2022
As a sociology of everyday life, H. Rosa’s theory of resonance is scarcely concerned with what on... more As a sociology of everyday life, H. Rosa’s theory of resonance is scarcely concerned with what one can call “borderline situations”. With this expression, we refer to (threshold) conditions distinguished from everyday experience by their extraordinary capability of shaping and re-shaping our existences, for they confront us with questions constitutive of our self-world relations. This existence-shaping capacity stems from their sheer potentiality. Can we respond to them resonantly? As regards, for instance, the end of the world and life, i.e. the borderline situations the workshop builds on, it is the very awareness of finiteness that intrudes into our Weltbeziehungen. Can we resonate to fellow humans, objects and gods without coming to terms with this sorrowful awareness? With these questions in mind, we would like to analyse two concrete subjects: Christian and Jewish eschatological perspectives of the late 19th and early 20th century, and the contemporary technoscientific endeavour of anti-ageing medicine. Both represent cultural answers to the problem of finiteness and prescribe an ideal form of being in the world.
by Luca Pellarin, Marcus Döller, Daniel Kuran, Jonathan Eibisch, Nassima Sahraoui, David Palme, Önder Özden, Leonardo Arigone, Pierangelo Bianco, Tiziana Faitini, and Francesca Raimondi
Erfurt (DE), 28th-29th October 2020, Augustinerkloster, in collaboration with Deutsche Forschungs... more Erfurt (DE), 28th-29th October 2020, Augustinerkloster, in collaboration with Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Bonn) and Max-Weber-Kolleg für kultur- und sozialwissenschaftliche Studien (Erfurt)
Ritual practices have always been a crucial element of cultural research, for they provide the ke... more Ritual practices have always been a crucial element of cultural research, for they provide the key to understanding the differences in cultural belief systems. Thus, the differences and changes within antiquity have been reconstructed as the differences between polytheistic and monotheistic rituals and beliefs. However, a closer look shows that many pivotal elements of those practices – ancient as well as modern – cannot be accounted for by reference to belief systems. Ritualistic elements have too easily been interpreted as expressions of specific "alien" belief-system or purely symbolic communication, in ancient as well as modern societies. They often stand in blatant contradiction to the actors’ belief systems, such as teddy bears for dead children or atheist weddings in sacred places. In this context, we consider the question of the conceptualization of religion in the context of its contribution to resonant self-world relations. How do socio-religious practices establish highly significant and particular relationships between the self and the world? How do ritual practices, persons, objects or places become endowed with a power that sacralizes these relationships and makes them resonant? The research presented in this panel draws on Hartmut Rosa’s concept of “resonance" as sociology of self-world relations with a particular focus on religious practices throughout the ages. In the proposed panel, the participants will look at the way in which self-world relations build up, contribute and amplify religious communication/religious action or make it repulsive. The way in which actors thus conceptualize their religious practices in accordance with or in contrast to their professed belief systems allows for glimpses of religious practices "on the ground“ of lived religion.
Convegno organizzato da Fondazione San Carlo di Modena, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Paris),... more Convegno organizzato da Fondazione San Carlo di Modena, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Paris), Universität Erfurt, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Université d'Angers
Erfurt (DE), 13th-14th May 2020, Bildungshaus "St. Ursula", in collaboration with Deutsche Forsch... more Erfurt (DE), 13th-14th May 2020, Bildungshaus "St. Ursula", in collaboration with Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Bonn) and Max-Weber-Kolleg für kultur- und sozialwissenschaftliche Studien (Erfurt)