Christianity and Crisis | Round Table with Tornike Metreveli, Valentina Napolitano, Elisabeth Shakman Hurd & Ulrich Schmiedel

This episode of R&T, and special edition of the Conversations Series, is a panel discussion from the conference Christianity and Crisis in European Contexts (28-29/10 2022) held at CTR. Johanna Gustafsson Lundberg opens the episode, by introducing us to the moderator, Göran Rosenberg, as well as speakers Tornike Metreveli, Valentina Napolitano, Elisabeth Shakman Hurd & Ulrich Schmiedel.

In recent years, the integrity and identity of Europe have been challenged. So-called populist and nationalist movements have reshaped several European democracies’ political landscapes, the Coronavirus Pandemic has put pressure on Europe’s health care systems and economies, and a recent invasion of Ukraine has raised major questions about the borders and capacities of Europe’s economic and defense alliances. In this context, political figures, religious leaders and others have drawn on strands of Christian traditions to mediate between various parties, including governments, religious institutions, research institutions, and private citizens. This conference aims to investigate the place of Christianity – historically, theoretically, and practically – in Europe’s (and individual European countries’) ongoing challenges. Do these challenges constitute a crisis? If so, what kind of crisis does Europe face? What is the role of Christianity (actual, or possible) in exacerbating the challenges Europe faces, or in resolving them? We will deploy a variety of methodologies to approach and address these and other questions about the intersection of Christianity, politics, and identity in Europe.

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Music for the Conversation Series is generously provided by the Shavnabada Choir. The project author and the host of the Conversation Series is Dr. Tornike Metreveli.

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Religion and Theology is produced by Joel Kuhlin for the Center for Theology and Religious Studies. If you have comments or critique of this episode, or any other episodes of R&T, please contact us via the podcast's twitteraccount: @reloteol.