The Observation of God

Conventional knowledge today shifts cultural, political or psycho-political observations of religion into the focus of its interests. By contrast, and modelled on Niklan Luhmann’s »Basteleien am Gottesbegriff«, the speakers dedicate their contributions to observations-theoretical dimensions relating to the problem of God.

In a panel discussion, participants enquire into the status of transcendence in the age of total immanence. They enquire into the status of »reality« following the revocation of the twin reality of religion, and define similarities and differences among the three great monotheisms. They pursue, furthermore, questions relating to the specific attributes of violence as these are variously expressed in the different religions − they scrutinize the abstract-media violence of secular Christian-Western society and the fundamentalist violence of pre-secular societies. They address question pertaining to the afterlife of religion in culture, and the search for an idea of eschatology in post-historical interpretation. The speakers will conclude by discussing a general, post-religious observation theory (Dirk Baecker), which may, perhaps, converge with an idea of theopoetics (Peter Sloterdijk).

In addition to the lectures and discussion groups, the theoretical film »L’Occhio di Dio« by Christian Matthiessen, as well as the theory installation »Jacques Derrida: Above All: No Journalists!« will be presented.
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Program

Friday, May 16, 2014

Saturday, May 17, 2014