Every term, Lund's University organises a series of three-open lectures, linked to the RRE program. The theme of this term is 'fearing the other', so the three lectures will be about judeophobia, christianophobia and islamophobia.
The first one will be coming Tuesday, September 10th and the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies in Lund. Time: 4.15 PM. Professor Jesper Svartvik will give the lecture about judeophobia.
I'm quite sure that many of us Lund students will come, which might lead to some nice socializing, drinks and possibly dinner afterwards. So if you're in the neighborhood, please come!! :-)
/PD
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Monday, 2 September 2013
Remember remember - the first of September
Hooray, it’s the first Monday of September. I guess it’s the
start of the Academic Year at all of the six RRE institutions. Well, at least
it is in Lund. So, it took me some effort to come out of bed at an early time
this morning. (And I can tell you that I consider everything before 9 AM ‘early’
after quite a long holiday…)
I started with reading a book for my course on the Religions
in Contemporary Perspective: ‘Abraham’s
Children – Jewish Christians and Muslims in Conversation’ by Solomon,
Harries and Winter. (T&T Clark, 2005.) The concept of the book is special:
it was born out of the so-called ‘ Oxford Abrahamic Group’. In this group,
Jewish, Christian and Islamic scholars came together twice a year. Three
scholars would present a paper on an aspect of one of the three religions,
followed by a discussion. Because of the personal beliefs of the scholars, the
discussions did not only have an academic, but also a personal dimension and
contributed to mutual understanding, even if the discussions were sometimes
heated. This book is a collection of the presented papers and the discussion
that took place in this group.
Personally, I think that this is very interesting approach and it provides definitely for different reading than other academic books I have read before. When read that Harries thanked his wife Jo “who has provided hospitality for the group, with its variety of dietary requirements”, I had to smile. However – out of the 15 contributors to the book only two are women and that made my smile a little smaller.
Personally, I think that this is very interesting approach and it provides definitely for different reading than other academic books I have read before. When read that Harries thanked his wife Jo “who has provided hospitality for the group, with its variety of dietary requirements”, I had to smile. However – out of the 15 contributors to the book only two are women and that made my smile a little smaller.
So, fourth cycle – what do you think about the concept of
this book? And what about the ‘lack’ of female contributors? Am I making fuss
about nothing? ;-)
I guess I should get back to reading in the meantime…
/PD
/PD
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Re-starting up!
A renewed welcome, I think one could say! For several
reasons, this blog has been down for more than half a year (we apologize!), but
we have the solid intention to start this up again and continue throughout the
year with blogs about anything (slightly) related to the RRE program, which
could be both be very academic entries, but also just fun little posts.
A warm welcome especially to the new 5th cycle
students, who will officially begin their studies next week, but in most places
probably already have had a welcome meeting. We’re happy to have you here!
Writer of the above is Paula, a 4th cycle student
(that means I started in Fall 2012) in Lund. For now, I am the only one of my
cycle writing blogs, but if someone – either 4th or 5th
cycle – feels inspired to join, that would be very great. Just send a mail to religiousroots@gmail.com.
Not only this blog is starting up again, also summer is
coming to an end and a new term is almost there! The new students will, like
every year, start with two smaller courses: ‘Method and Theory’ and ‘Religion
and Society’. Teaching for this course will be given in Rome, to which they
will leave in a few weeks. (No, we are not jealous, it only seems so. J)
Me and the other third-semester students will take two compulsory courses: ‘The Three Religions in Contemporary Perspective’ and the thesis colloquium, which should prepare us for the real work in the last semester. Apart from that, we can still choose one course. In my case that’ll be a course about the role of women in the three traditions – I’m curious.
I’m looking forward to the new semester and hope you too!
Me and the other third-semester students will take two compulsory courses: ‘The Three Religions in Contemporary Perspective’ and the thesis colloquium, which should prepare us for the real work in the last semester. Apart from that, we can still choose one course. In my case that’ll be a course about the role of women in the three traditions – I’m curious.
I’m looking forward to the new semester and hope you too!
Friday, 21 December 2012
a call for help
Hi guys!
Here comes a couple of links, if you are interested to read about the results from the student survey on the nordic master programs, which RRE is a part of. The first link is here in case the second one dosent work, cause the first one leads you to the page where it is explained about the the student survey and the second one leads directly to the survey. Have fun!
http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-ministerraad/ministerraad/nordisk-ministerraad-for-uddannelse-og-forskning-mr-u/raadgivningsgrupper/raadgivningsgruppen-for-nordisk-samarbejde-inden-for-hoejere-uddannelse-hoegut/nordic-master-program/de-studerendes-meninger-om-nordic-master-programme
http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-ministerraad/ministerraad/nordisk-ministerraad-for-uddannelse-og-forskning-mr-u/raadgivningsgrupper/raadgivningsgruppen-for-nordisk-samarbejde-inden-for-hoejere-uddannelse-hoegut/nordic-master-program/de-studerendes-meninger-om-nordic-master-programme/student-survey-of-the-nordic-master-programme-2012
Also I kind of wrote this post as a concern for the future of the blog, since we really want to keep it, but we dont really have the time to write stuff. I am, as I have done before, urging both students, former students and professors, to write small texts or big texts they would like to see published on the blog. It dosent take much, and it would help us a lot!
again, our email is religiousroots (a) gmail.com
we love to get an email from you!
have religiously rooted holiday!
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
N-M-P!
Hi guys,
you get two blogposts today, lucky you!:)
This one I (Hilde) was supposed to write ages ago, but I kind of forgot.
In September, we RREs (+former RRE`s ) had the possibility to participate in a workshop/ presentation of student survey results, in four Nordic cities. the workshop was arranged by the nordic council of ministries. They sat down at some point and had the brilliant idea to make cooperation between the nordic countries even broader, by making inter-nordic master programs. They made out a call about it, and a lot of people/universities applied for funding to start a project. Some professors already cooperating within fields of religious studies and theology in the nordic countries saw the call, put there heads togheter and Voila! RRE was born:)
As you already probably understood, RRE is not the only master program of its kind. in the workshops we participated in we met some brilliant people doing old norse studies and marine biology, and we learned that "our" way of doing a program like this is special, because the model RRE uses, with compact seminars, is after my understanding quite unique. Other programs do 1+1 year (or 1+ 1/2+1/2) meaning the students actually move been the countries while they study, unlike us who rather goes on a holiday to Helsinki or Bergen. Not that the seminars feels like a holiday, they are busy and challenging, but soo much fun:)
anyways, these meetings, taking place in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Bergen (and Stockholm?) had two parts: the presentation of the results from the student survey, and a workshop.therefore, in what follows, you will see that I asked my RRE friends to answer the following questions:
(1)What is, after your opinion, the most important results from the evaluation/student survey? and (2) What is after your opinion the most important results from the workshop?
Nils Hallvard graduated RRE from UIO (University of Oslo) in the autumn of 2011, and is currently a phd.student at MF- Norwegian school of theology, in their religious studies department. He participated in the workshop in Bergen.
Morten is currently studying RRE at Copenhagen university, and was enrolled in RRE in 2011. He participated in the workshop in Copenhagen.
on question 1 they replied:
Nils Hallvard: The positive feedback/results which RRE got, being the biggest program within NMP and the best organized one. I find these facts especially important because we know that our field of study is not of high priority among politicians working with the field of higher education.
Morten:
The most important thing that I found out during the NMP workshop was that our program works in quite a different way from the other Nordic master programmes. They all stay a period of time at on host-university only to then move to another. I think that the way the RRE is structured works much better because it enables you to make contacts in a specific place, as well as creating connections with students and teachers throughout the nordic countries. Of course it makes some challenges in relation to E-learning, challenges that still need to be met by some of the teachers in the RRE program.
On question 2 they replied:
Nils Hallvard: It was really clear that we need better routines for the programs to continue running,better communication between the universties. and that there is a lack of information, especially for international students, about what the universities has to offer. The students needs to get the same information other international students (like exchange students) get when they start studying. Housing was mentioned as a problem for many, and visa is a constant challenge.
Morten:The most important thing that was discussed was the thing about housing and living expenses. The students might benefit from an extended hand in this matter, not just from the host university but from the coordinators of the RRE program. Given that I myself am a native Dane living in Denmark i did not have these problems, but i understand how a lack of housing, or a dorm not living up to the standard, can be a stress factor for people moving the the cold north.
Thank you Nils Hallvard and Morten! I would like to add that Morten answered me by email, and in English, while i interviewed Nils Hallvard, meeting him as his work and in Norwegian, so that it is my translation of what he said.
To their excellent replies I would like to add that the single most important thing for me is that the universities take the survey seriously and DO SOMETHING soon, because the NMPs are excellent programs, but there is a lot of logistic stuff which could go much smoother. Ask students who studied abroad which information they found important before and upon their arrival in the new country. I had an excellent mentor when I did an exchange semester in Århus, Anne who is also doing RRE now ( but was doing her bachelor in theology at that time) and for me she and other helpful students was gold to me.
This is, sadly, my last blogpost. I dident graduate RRE yet, but I will in february, and until then I am overloaded with work. I might come by and do a guestpost at some point, we will see.
Best, Hilde
you get two blogposts today, lucky you!:)
This one I (Hilde) was supposed to write ages ago, but I kind of forgot.
In September, we RREs (+former RRE`s ) had the possibility to participate in a workshop/ presentation of student survey results, in four Nordic cities. the workshop was arranged by the nordic council of ministries. They sat down at some point and had the brilliant idea to make cooperation between the nordic countries even broader, by making inter-nordic master programs. They made out a call about it, and a lot of people/universities applied for funding to start a project. Some professors already cooperating within fields of religious studies and theology in the nordic countries saw the call, put there heads togheter and Voila! RRE was born:)
As you already probably understood, RRE is not the only master program of its kind. in the workshops we participated in we met some brilliant people doing old norse studies and marine biology, and we learned that "our" way of doing a program like this is special, because the model RRE uses, with compact seminars, is after my understanding quite unique. Other programs do 1+1 year (or 1+ 1/2+1/2) meaning the students actually move been the countries while they study, unlike us who rather goes on a holiday to Helsinki or Bergen. Not that the seminars feels like a holiday, they are busy and challenging, but soo much fun:)
anyways, these meetings, taking place in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Bergen (and Stockholm?) had two parts: the presentation of the results from the student survey, and a workshop.therefore, in what follows, you will see that I asked my RRE friends to answer the following questions:
(1)What is, after your opinion, the most important results from the evaluation/student survey? and (2) What is after your opinion the most important results from the workshop?
Nils Hallvard graduated RRE from UIO (University of Oslo) in the autumn of 2011, and is currently a phd.student at MF- Norwegian school of theology, in their religious studies department. He participated in the workshop in Bergen.
Morten is currently studying RRE at Copenhagen university, and was enrolled in RRE in 2011. He participated in the workshop in Copenhagen.
on question 1 they replied:
Nils Hallvard: The positive feedback/results which RRE got, being the biggest program within NMP and the best organized one. I find these facts especially important because we know that our field of study is not of high priority among politicians working with the field of higher education.
Morten:
The most important thing that I found out during the NMP workshop was that our program works in quite a different way from the other Nordic master programmes. They all stay a period of time at on host-university only to then move to another. I think that the way the RRE is structured works much better because it enables you to make contacts in a specific place, as well as creating connections with students and teachers throughout the nordic countries. Of course it makes some challenges in relation to E-learning, challenges that still need to be met by some of the teachers in the RRE program.
On question 2 they replied:
Nils Hallvard: It was really clear that we need better routines for the programs to continue running,better communication between the universties. and that there is a lack of information, especially for international students, about what the universities has to offer. The students needs to get the same information other international students (like exchange students) get when they start studying. Housing was mentioned as a problem for many, and visa is a constant challenge.
Morten:The most important thing that was discussed was the thing about housing and living expenses. The students might benefit from an extended hand in this matter, not just from the host university but from the coordinators of the RRE program. Given that I myself am a native Dane living in Denmark i did not have these problems, but i understand how a lack of housing, or a dorm not living up to the standard, can be a stress factor for people moving the the cold north.
Thank you Nils Hallvard and Morten! I would like to add that Morten answered me by email, and in English, while i interviewed Nils Hallvard, meeting him as his work and in Norwegian, so that it is my translation of what he said.
To their excellent replies I would like to add that the single most important thing for me is that the universities take the survey seriously and DO SOMETHING soon, because the NMPs are excellent programs, but there is a lot of logistic stuff which could go much smoother. Ask students who studied abroad which information they found important before and upon their arrival in the new country. I had an excellent mentor when I did an exchange semester in Århus, Anne who is also doing RRE now ( but was doing her bachelor in theology at that time) and for me she and other helpful students was gold to me.
This is, sadly, my last blogpost. I dident graduate RRE yet, but I will in february, and until then I am overloaded with work. I might come by and do a guestpost at some point, we will see.
Best, Hilde
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Did you know...
Hi guys! More from Interactive corner! This blog entry (inspired by Martin) is for everyone, even the newbie 4th cycles and professors, because every day is an opportunity to learn something new however brainy you are! Tell us in one sentence something you have already learnt or recently learnt from the course, starting with the epithtet "Did you know that...". This could be anything intellectual or trivial, for example, "Did you know that the nuns at the nunnery in Rome did not like to be woken up by a bottle of wine (empty, thank goodness) dropping down the stairs."
The best entry will win Catherine Bell's Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice.
So get thinking guys, and good luck!
The best entry will win Catherine Bell's Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice.
So get thinking guys, and good luck!
Thursday, 4 October 2012
For those still mastering the ins and outs of the English language...
This post is for those who have had the odd, and sometimes disheartening comment about our English. (I know I have and I am a native English speaker!) If you've misplaced your apostrophes or your word simply isn't "big" enough, chillax! If you don't believe me, take it from Stephen Fry. After all he is a brilliant genius, and his word is the law. FACT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7E-aoXLZGY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7E-aoXLZGY
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