TORINO, Italy, Dec. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Organized by the
Observatory on the Religious Pluralism, by the Buddhist information
Center of Giaveno and the National Church of Scientology of
Italy, the symposium addresses the
issue on anatheism with the intention to offer a scientific
contribution to the science of religions, suggesting the
interventions and contributions of numerous scholars and
researchers of the subject.
University professors, researchers, and experts on the history
and phenomenology of religion and representatives of various
religious traditions participated in the First European Conference
on Anatheism December 1 and 2, held
at the Palazzo Lascaris in Turin,
seat of the Regional Council of Piedmont.
Organized by the Buddhist Information Center of Giaveno and the
Church of Scientology, in coordination with the Observatory on
Religious Pluralism, the symposium sought to bring clarity to the
subject of anatheism.
Anatheism is a term introduced by philosopher Richard Kearney (Boston
University) in his book Returning to God After
God. He describes anatheism as "a third way beyond the
extremes of dogmatic theism and militant atheism: those polar
opposites of certainty that have maimed so many minds and souls in
our history. The third option, this wager of faith beyond faith, I
call anatheism. Ana-theosis, God after God...another
word for another way of seeking and sounding the things we consider
sacred but can never fully fathom or prove."
Professor Luigi Berzano of the
University of Turin and
coordinator of the Observatory on Religious Pluralism, emphasized
the significance of the initiative, describing it as "a conference
of historic significance for the sociology of religion," laying the
foundation for "a new approach to analyzing the phenomenon of
atheism."
The first session was moderated by Professor Stefania Palmisano, associate professor of
culture and communication at the University of Turin and included the following
presentations:
- Professor Giovanni Leghissa—University of
Turin: "Anatheism as religious
experience and the origins of modern spirituality"
- Dr. Massimo Introvigne—sociologist, attorney, author,
and founder and director of CESNUR, Center for Studies on New
Religions: "Anatheism and modern art: can this marriage
occur?"
- Professor Luigi Berzano—sociologist, Catholic priest,
president of CESNUR: "Anatheism research: the
infinity of religions"
The second session, moderated by the Reverend Elena Seishin Viviani,
a Buddisht monk, covered the following topics:
-
Professor Silvio Calzolari—religious historian
and orientalist: "Who shall take God's position? Spirituality
without religion in Asia: Buddhism
and Confucianism"
-
Rev. Fausto Taiten Guareschi—Zen Buddhist
monk: "Irreligious negligence"
-
Lama Paljin Tulku Rinpoce—Buddhist monk:
"The raft and the shore: the gods as able medians and the
sacredness of the good in the practice of Mahayana and
Vajrayana Buddhism
The final session of the first day was moderated by attorney Dr.
Fabrizio d'Agostini and included:
- Professor Marco Vannini—author
and expert on Christian medieval mysticism: "Mystic atheism and
anatheism"
- Professor Aldo Natale Terrin—Catholic priest, cultural
anthropologist and author: "God disappears, returns, changes aspect
in today's culture and religions"
- Professor Roberto Celada Ballanti—associate professor
of philosophy of religion at University of Genoa (presented by Professor Marco Vannini): "The parable of the three rings
as image of anatheism"
- Professor Enzo Pace—sociologist
and author: "Modern forms of believing in a time of strong
religions"
The conference resumed December 2
with an additional session moderated by Don Ermis Segatti, Catholic priest and professor
of history of Christianity and European theologies at the
Theological Faculty of Northern
Italy in Turin.
The papers presented in this session covered the following
topics:
- Dr. Alex Borio—Researcher of classic and modern
cultures at the University of Turin: "Anatheism in the sphere of the
spiritual path of Santa Teresa
d'Avil"
- Professor Emanuela C. Del Re—professor of
sociology of political phenomena in the Middle East: "Forms of anatheism of young
Muslims between the Diaspora and the Islamic State"
- Professor Claudio
Giuseppe Torrero—educator and author: "About the
reality of symbols"
- Professor Carlo Genova—professor of sociology of
cultural processes and lifestyles at the University of Turin: "Doctrine, credence and meaning in
religious practices."
- Dr. Alessandro Meluzzi—professor, psychiatrist,
bishop of the Christian Orthodox Church of Turin and former Senator of the Italian
Republic: "Anatheistic researches: sacred and parrhesia"
The Center of Buddhist Information of Giaveno and the Church of
Scientology announced the imminent publication of the proceedings
for anyone wishing to obtain copies of the papers.
For more information contact: LindaS@we-stand.org - Phone: (747)
999-0589
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SOURCE National Church of Scientology of Italy