The panel "Religion, Migration and Border-work in Context" was proposed by Daniela Lucia Rapisarda and led by Tomas Sundnes Drønen. For three hours we were taken to different contexts reflecting on migration and theology. Daniela talked about the Mediterranean Sea as hermeneutical site for a postcolonial theology of migration.
Sturla Stålsett, from MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, had a presentation on gang violence, state of exception and migration as theological challenges in El Salvador. Ingrid Løland gave some reflections about transnational repression and the Eritrean diaspora in Norway. Tomas presented migration and theology in Northern Cameroon. Kari Storstein Haug ended the panel with reflections on postcolonial theological challenges to discourses of hospitality and borders.
The discussions concentrated on questions of borders and on power relations in migratory settings. Different approaches towards inclusion of migrants and theologies of hospitality in different contexts were highlighted, and differences and similarities related to all the different case studies were brought to the forefront.
The panel "(Transforming) Visions of Empire: Documenting Politics and Religion in the Twentieth Century" was proposed by Hugo Gonçalves Dores and Marina Xiaojing Wang and led by Kirsten Rüther. Rüther is from the University of Vienna and had a presentation on "Apartheid"s Emptiness" using photographs taken by Norwegian missionaries in South Africa. There were three presentations in the panel from the University of Coimbra by Miguel Bandeira Jerónimo, Hugo Gonçalves Dores and Ana Guardião on photos in Portuguese colonialism, Angola and the Nigeria-Biafran war. Frieder Ludwig and Retief Müller from VID had presentations on visual practices, imperial strategies and contested loyalties during the First World War, and the mission airplane named after the "Nordic Apostle" Ansgar. Ellen Vea Rosnes presented a collaboration project with Yvette Derason from the University of Toliara on Lutheran educational work in Toliara, Madagascar.
The presentations in this panel touched upon the values and challenges of using photographs in historical research. How can we use photographs alongside other historical documents? How do we relate to the lack of knowledge of the photographers and the context in which the photos were taken? How far can we go in interpreting the intentions of photographers? And can photos be said to, regardless of the intentions of the photographers, represent common perceptions of the time in which they were taken? These were some of the questions raised during the discussions.
Davide Bertelli co-proposed the panel "Exploring Transnational Religion: Dynamics, Intersections, and Knowledge Production between the Global North and South". He had a presentation with the title "Conversations "here" don"t reach "there"" - or do they? How belonging impacts participation in transnational LGBTQ+ activism among religious and non-religious migrants". In his panel, co-proposer Ely Orrego-Torres (Northwestern University/Sciences Po Paris) presented how transnational religious networks operate at the Organization of American States. Rev. Charlie Bell (Girton College Cambridge) talked about the Anglican Communion and its connections to culture, commonality and colonialism, specifically looking at how LGBTQIA issues are at the core of the disunity and fragmentation within the transnational Anglican community. Finally, Caterina Bandini (CNRS, University of Nantes) presented the case of transcolonial Judaism, whereby Jewish activists reframe their Jewish identities by participating in Palestinian solidarity activism in Israel and the West Bank.
The conversation that followed the presentation was rich of insights and challenging questions, including issues of intersectionality, forms of resistance, discussions on how states and religious organisations may work together or against one another in the implementation of repressive policies. There was also a lively and fruitful discussion on forms of resistance and social justice, and how it is necessary to apply a transnational lens to understand and analyse such phenomena.
In the panel "Ecumenical ecotheology, eco-ethics, and eco-interreligious shift paradigms " initiated by the World Council of churches there were two presentations by VID researchers. Tom Sverre Bredal-Tomren chaired part of the panel and had a presentation on "Ecotheology, the Anthropocene and Environmental Ethics: Curricula for ecotheology and theological education" and Aksel Johan Lund on "An Ecotheological Analysis of «Green» Collect Prayers". Both presentations aroused interest and there were a lot of questions and comments from colleagues and listeners from different countries.
Daniela Lucia Rapisarda commented on the book newly published by Sturla Stålsett A Political Theology of Vulnerability. Daniela also chaired a panel on Political Theologies.
Daniela is originally from Sicilia and expertly guided the VID group through the streets of Palermo in search of historical sites, markets and local food. We shared nice moments together with good reflections and conversations.