RELIGIons and Societies in the face of contemporary Challenges (ReligiS)

In recent years, the question of religions has become both omnipresent and more problematic than ever, due to the extreme complexity and diversity of its current manifestations. Many issues have been raised in the public debate, such as the roots of fundamentalism and radicalisation, the geopolitical impact of religions, new practices in dealing with pluralism and diversity, concerns about the public teaching and education in the context of the French laïcité, etc. These changes pose new questions for institutions (government, local authorities, hospitals, schools, the justice system, prisons, businesses) and affect our European neighbours as much as the rest of the world: everywhere the question of the place of religion in the public sphere is being acutely raised.

With regard to this context, ReligiS focuses on the transformation of the interactions between religions and societies in the contemporary world with a long-term perspective. Its main objective is twofold. First, in the French academic context, it intends to develop a new scientific framework, one that will be resolutely open, interdisciplinary and international, in order to rethink the processes of transformation in the relationship between religions and societies. Second, it aims at creating new institutional and scientific conditions for a large-scale change in the mechanisms and actions for transferring knowledge and scientific expertise on religions to policy-makers and society. This double ambition will be supported by the creation of a International Collegium for the Study of Religion and Society (CI-ReligiS), based at the University of Strasbourg, as a common platform for all Unistra research centres working on religions, as well as for the research centres of the 12 main academic partners.

Led by the University of Strasbourg, which itself has a long and rich experience in the field of religious studies, ReligiS draws on an array of knowledge, skills and competencies from a solidly structured consortium of thirteen universities and research centers, including the CNRS, the University of Lorraine, EHESS, EPHE, INALCO, Sciences-Po, the Universities of Lyon 2 and Lyon 3, the ENS-Lyon, Aix-Marseille University, the BNU Strasbourg and the EfA. Adding support to this consortium is a network of national and international partner institutions (public organisms, associations, learned societies, etc.).. The inaugural conference will take place from 15 to 17 October at the University of Strasbourg.

The ReligiS project is structured around 8 work packages (WP): in addition to the management one (WP1) it contains three thematic and four transverse WPs. The thematic WPs focus on i) mapping religion (when secularisation and globalisation question the traditional categories) (WP 2); ii/ interacting with religion (when religious plurality amount to both a challenge and a social opportunity) (WP 3); iii/ analysing religion (when the intelligibility of this phenomenon seems problematic for many of our contemporaries) (WP 4). Transverse WPs aim at i/ supporting the creation of a strong national community of researchers for the study of religion by promoting national and international mobility and the education of PhD students (WP5); ii/ supporting the development of digital humanities within the field of religious studies with an open science approach (WP6); iii/ creating a university think-tank offering scientific expertise, reflection and debates on these complex phenomena and launch initiatives in line with the principles of participatory science (WP7); iv/ promoting a range of vocational education courses adapted to the needs and challenges of the various professional sectors targeted by the project (WP8).

Alain Dieckhoff and Stéphane Lacroix are coordinating GR2 (group 2.1), entitled 'Situating Religion', alongside Norig Neveu (Aix-Marseille University). This group will revisit the interactions between globalisation and the (re)nationalisation of religion. Drawing on a comparative and multidisciplinary study of forms of religious nationalisation, it will examine their links with global dynamics. In a second phase, the group will analyse the circulation of material forms associated with religion, as well as the mechanisms involved in the formation and implementation of belief. Finally, the group will focus on the transnational construction of religious discourse through education, preaching, and translation.

The two researchers are also coordinating the creation of the ReligiS Lab (group GR7.1), a think tank developed as part of the Chair of Religious Studies in partnership with MISHA (University of Strasbourg). This editorial structure provides a space for specialists in the study of religion and society to publish their contributions on current issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. It also provides a forum for dialogue with decision-makers. In addition to publishing six news briefs per year, the ReligiS Lab will organise workshops on topics related to its publications. These workshops will bring together researchers, international experts, and policymakers to discuss major contemporary religious issues. A series of podcasts will also address these issues, inviting researchers from the network to contribute to this new medium. In order to fulfil these objectives, the CERI welcomes Charza Shahabuddin as a postdoctoral researcher.

Project duration: 2025-2031

This project receives government funding managed by the ANR under France 2030, reference ANR-24-RSHS-0005.