Symposium: Theological discourses on coloniality
The constructed global dis/order, inherited from past colonial empires, effects the lives of people worldwide. Many of the current violent conflicts as well as conditions of (exploitative) order, emerged from colonial domination and disruption, or were intensified by colonial interventions. With the influence of colonialism yet to be exhausted, for decades ecumenical theology has already been exploring ways forward. Reflections on colonial pasts and decolonial futures generally take place among senior theologians with strong international connections, but what about the younger generation and their experiences and knowledge of coloniality and its implications for Christianity worldwide?
Header image: orangescale, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About the programme
Over the past year we have invited Indonesian and Dutch Christian students to reflect on the connected Dutch-Indonesian history. What is the theological relevance of this history? How does it shape our being and our views of the other? Do we have a theological vocabulary to engage with this history? And what does reconciliation look like, if at all possible? These are some of the questions Dutch and Indonesian students discussed. Apart from the theological and social relevance of these questions, young theologians’ experiences and views will also shape future ecumenical church relations.
Our interpretations and conclusions from these conversations over the last year will be presented and discussed at a pre-symposium – connected with the IRTI International Conference 2024 – in the morning of June 27, 2024, at the Duta Wacana Christian University. We warmly invite you to join this symposium.
Programme schedule
- 09.00-09.30 Registration
- 09.30-09.45 Opening and welcome Moderator
- 09.45-10.15 "Wacana Pascakolonialisme di Seminari di Indonesia: Studi di STFT Jakarta dan STT BNKP Sundermann Nias." (English translation available). Speaker: Dr Oinike Harefa (STT BNKP)
- 10.15-10.30 Open discussion
- 10.30-11.00 Types of Religious Education and Postcolonial Theology. An empirical study case among High School Students in Tobelo, North Moluccas – Indonesia (Penerjamahan dalam Bahasa Indonesia). Speaker: Dr Handi Hadiwitanto (UKDW)
- 11.00-11.15 Open discussion
- 11.15-11.45 Present Christian identities with past colonial histories: theological reflections at the Protestant Theological University (Penerjamahan dalam Bahasa Indonesia). Speaker: Dr Kor Grit (PThU)
- 11.45-12.15 Closing discussion and questions
- 12.30-13.30 Lunch
Date and location
- Date: 27 June 2024, 09.00-12.30 WIB (GMT+7)
- Location: Duta Wacana Christian University, Indonesia
Registration
You can register for this symposium via the button on this page.
For questions, please email Kor Grit at: k.grit2@pthu.nl.
