Panel discussion
The Principle of Religion
with Angelika Neuwirth, José Casanova
Angelika Neuwirth and José Casanova examine the role of religion as a catalyst of history. They pursue the emergence of the modern religions during late antiquity—before their respective dogmas had taken clear shape—as well as their early confrontations and changes up to today.
Moderated by Bernd M. Scherer & Alexander Kluge
Angelika Neuwirth
Humanities and cultural scholar, professor of Arabic studies, Freie Universität Berlin. Focuses include the Quran and Quranic exegesis, modern Arabic literature. Sigmund Freud Prize for Scientific Prose 2013.
José Casanova
Professor of sociology, and senior fellow of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Author of Public Religions in the Modern World (1994).
The discussants
Joseph Rustom is a conservation architect and researcher based in Beirut and Berlin. His current research interests also include the urban strategies of religious communities in postwar Beirut.
Gunter Gassner is an architect and Researcher at LSE Cities and Guest Lecturer at the LSE. He is interested in the relationship between financial capitalism and religion as translated into built form with regard to current notions of austerity.
