Ecumenism
“Religious freedom and the traps of secularisation” is the subject of a workshop that will be taking place at the Theological Faculty of Helsinki University today, an initiative of the “religion and human rights” research group of the Faculty, in partnership with the Ecumenical Council of Finnish Churches. The subject will be addressed from the perspective of human rights, to investigate the way people who deal with foreign affairs “in Western liberal democracies can be hindered by their lay education when they deal with religion in international relations, especially religious freedom in foreign affairs”, the organisers explain. Guest speakers include Andrew Bennett, ex ambassador for religious freedom to the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, in the last few days, Helsinki’s Theological Faculty opened a five-year research and educational project in “urban theology”: “Theology, like religions and religious communities, has always provided places to soothe pain and ease human cohabitation”, the coordinator, Henrietta Grönlund, explains. Theological perspectives need to be investigated to address the social problems of urbanisation, such as loneliness, poverty and social exclusion. “Students will combine the theoretical perspective on cities, religion and justice with hands-on work” in parishes and associations.
