At this Symposium we will be looking at fruitful ways of association with each other as Muslims and Christians in society.
Islam has become an undeniable part of Western society. In many respects, Muslims and Christians have become each other’s neighbours: religiously, socially, and politically. But: are we able to deal with this in a fruitful way together, or do we mostly encounter mutual misunderstanding, not knowing each other, living in our own “bubble”? What are the main opportunities and challenges for contact between Christians and Muslims?
The Herman Bavinck Lecture for 2022, by professor Christine Schirrmacher (University of Bonn), will enter into these questions. At the Symposium following this lecture, there will be a discussion between speakers from various backgrounds and the participants about best practices, obstacles, and fresh initiatives for mutual relations between Muslims and Christians.
Programme
15:30 Coffee and tea
16:00 Opening and Herman Bavinck Lecture by professor doctor Schirrmacher
17:00 Performance by the University Choir of TU Kampen, followed by a drinks reception
17:45 Dinner
19:00 Three perspectives on the relationship between Christians and Muslims
- Social perspective (Rien van der Toorn)
- Christian theological perspective (Bernhard Reitsma)
- Islamic theological perspective (Anne Dijk)
20:00 Break
20:15 Panel discussion
21:00 Closing
Locations, costs, registration and certificate
The Herman Bavinck Lecture and the Symposium will take place on May 31st 2022 in Kampen. The Herman Bavinck Lecture is open to the public and free of charge. Location: Broederkerk, Broederstraat 16 (Lemker hall). Registration is required.
The fee for the evening programme, including dinner, is € 49,-. Location: Theological University, Broederweg 15. Register here.
Attendance of the entire symposium entitles to a 0.25 EC certificate for Permanent Education.
About professor Schirrmacher
Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Christine Schirrmacher is a well-known international scholar of Islamic Studies, currently teaching as Professor of Islamic Studies at the Department of Islamic Studies and Near Eastern Languages of the State University of Bonn, Germany and the Evangelical-Theological Faculty (ETF) (Protestant University) at Leuven, Belgium.
Since many years, she lectures on Islam and security issues at different government institutions of security policy in Germany, as well as at the Academy of Foreign Affairs of the Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany, and is a consultant to different advisory bodies of society and politics. She has been appointed to the ‘Academic Advisory Council of the Federal Agency for Civic Education’ by the German Federal Minister of the Interior and has been appointed to the Kuratorium of the German Institute for Human Rights by the ‘Deutsche Bundestag’, the German Federal Parliament. She has also been appointed to the ‘Independent Experts’ Group fighting Islamophobia’ by the Minister of Inner Affairs, Berlin.
She is head of the ‘Institut für Islamfragen’ (Institute of Islamic Studies) of the German, Swiss and Austrian Evangelical Alliance, as well as ‘Commissioner for Islamic Affairs’ for WEA (World Evangelical Alliance). She has visited most Muslim majority countries and has been giving guest lectures abroad at many State universities.
About the other lecturers
Professor doctor Bernhard Reitsma is Endowed Professor at the Faculty of Religion and Theology, Beliefs and Practices at the University of Amsterdam and lector at the CHE in Ede. His expertise includes ‘The church in the context of Islam’.
Rien van der Toorn, MSc studied Non-Western Sociology and has done research in both Africa and the Middle East. He has been training organizations and educational institutions about intercultural communication for almost 30 years now.
Islamic theologian Anne Dijk, MA is founder and director of Fahm Institute, advisor and researcher. Her expertise includes authority and social questions.
