Two MA theses on Augustine

As written before, we in Lund had the pleasure to attend the thesis defense of two 5th cycle students on Tuesday. Coincidentally both theses concerned the writings of Augustine! The two graduates are Kyraki Arvaniti with her thesis "From Nicomachean Ethics to City of God. A study on evolution from metriopatheia to passions and sins" and Annamaria Laviola with "Interchangeable Bodies. The Materialization of Bodies in Augustine’s thoughts on marriage and virginity."

I only could attend the presentation of Annamaria, but I have heard that both students did a very good job. Now they will have a week to revise their theses based on the comments that they received during the seminar and then they will be real RRE graduates. Congratulations, Annamaria and Kyriaki - great work! 

Annamaria during her presentation

Kyriaki giving comments

Pondering professors

The two students after the defense

/PD

PS. I'm sure that there must be more people who have finished just before summer, but I only know about Lund. Did you finish or do you know others? Send me some pictures and/or write a blog yourself and it will be uploaded! :-) DS.

Right now in room B353 of LUX in Lund...

two fifth cycle students defend their theses on Augustine! Stay on for more info...or drop by. Until 5.30, drinks on the 4th flour afterwards.

/PD

Is the RRE Blog still alive?

Yes, it is. It was just in a state of hibernation, which really isn't that strange if you think about Scandinavian winters. 

But we're back with great news: another student graduating from the program! 
About two weeks ago, Ivana from Serbia handed in her thesis. Me and Thomas visited her on her last full day in Copenhagen. In between catching up over a good cup of coffee and eating Asian food at Wagamama (we recommend), she showed us det Kongelige Bibliotek - Copenhagen's very new Royal Library, which is also known as the Black Diamond. 
It's a great building with fantastic architecture and a majestic atmosphere. We were highly impressed. Go to Copenhagen, ye prospective RREs. :-)

Ivana and her thesis in front of the room where she spent many hours writing 

Some images of the library, but they don't really do justice to the building. 

By Ivana's request, I had to include a picture with all of us on it. Allright then.

Ivana, congratulations!

/PD

Information meeting for those interested in RRE

Have you been considering joining the RRE program or are you simply interested in knowing more about the contents of the program? Then come to the information meeting in Lund on December 18th! Between 15.15 and 17 hrs the coordinator and teachers of the program will tell about its content and I'm certain that there will also be some students to talk with.

Is Lund a bit far away for you? Don't worry, you can also watch the meeting on the web: http://chat.play.du.se/. :-)

And it's Lund again

Today it’s time for this term’s second compact seminar and – hipp hipp hurra! – this time it’s my ‘academic home town’ to host it. The seminar will start with the Emergence course (for the 6^th cycle) this Monday afternoon, which will run until Wednesday morning. From Wednesday afternoon until Friday morning, several courses are planned, a.o. a text course in Arabic and a course on Augustine.

As we’re waiting for the students to arrive, I’ll upload some old Pictures that I made of Lund for anyone who unfortunately cannot make it here. As you can see, they were made during different seasons as we – fortunately – don’t have snow here yet, but an astonishing 14 degrees Celsius. But: beautiful city, eller hur?

NB. Today is also the day that I’ll take the opportunity to convince some new students to take over this blog…wish me luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Compact seminar in Oslo

At the end of September, the 5^th cycle was on a seminar in Norway’s capital, Oslo. Heikki sent me some pictures of the seminar, which I – shamefully – only manage to post now. (Sssh, don’t tell him.) From what I have heard, they have had a great time, visiting a synagogue service, a Friday prayer in a mosque and a short Christian service. They also had a Shabbat dinner at home of teacher Gunnar Haaland –is this becoming a tradition?

Heikki, thanks for the Pictures!

 

 

 

 

/PD

 

Open Lectures Lund

It has taken some time, but they're coming up again - Lund's Open Lectures! Every term ther RRE program in Lund organises three lectures about an RRE-related theme. They are open to everyone, RRE-affiliated or not and are often continued with a drink in the pub. Feel welcome! The best news: it will be able to follow the lectures on distance as well. Read below on how to do that.

 The Religious Roots of Europe Open Lectures, Autumn 2014

Parting of the Ways between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

From a contemporary perspective we perceive Judaism, Christianity and Islam as three world religions. Even if they share historical and ideological roots, they are still separate entities, with different legacies and groups of believers. Sometimes the difference is emphasized to the point of making us see them as contrasting cultures, or even civilizations. But when did these religions part ways? And how did they part? And are there ideas or practices where they still have not parted, or where they could meet again? In a series of open lectures, the "parting of the ways" will be discussed from a historical perspective. In the first lecture, Dr. Magnus Zetterholm will speak about disagreements within the early Jesus movement as the first stage in the parting of the ways between Judaism and Christianity. Zetterholm - who has been awarded for his study - belongs to an increasing number of scholars who argue for a much later "separation" than previous scholars did. Later, Dr. Holger Zellentin from the University of Nottingham, will bring us to another debated issue: the impact of Christianity and Judaism on early Islam. He will read the Holy Qur'an as a crossroads between the three religions. And finally, the well-known former Professor of Islamology at Lund, Jan Hjärpe, will help us disentangle the parting of the ways between Shia and Sunni Islam - a matter of utmost relevance for understanding the present Middle East. Welcome!

Oct 9, 16.15 LUX C126

 Dr. Magnus Zetterholm

The Politics of Separation: How the Jewish Jesus Movement became an Anti-Jewish Religion

Nov 4, 17.15 LUX C121

Dr. Holger Zellentin, University of Nottingham

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: The Qur'an as a Crossroads

Dec 4, 16.15 LUX C121

Prof. Jan Hjärpe

The many Islams: What about Sunnism and Shiism and the role of religious affiliation?

All lectures take place at LUX, Helgonavägen 3, Lund.

For more information, email andreas.westergren@teol.lu.se.

If you go to the following page: http://chat.play.du.se/ you will be able to log in to the room that is stated in the schedule. It should be possible to attend without logging in, but to ask questions you need your STIL-identity. 

/PD