Ruth Illman – författare

This book brings the emerging fields of practical theology and theology of the arts into a dialogue beyond the bias of modern systematic and constructive theology. The authors draw upon postmodern, post-secular, feminist, liberation, and dialogical/dialectical philosophy and theology, and their critiques of the narrow modern emphases on reason and the scientific method, as the model for all knowledge. Such a practical theology of the arts focuses the work of theology on the actual practices that engage the arts in their various forms as the means of interpreting and understanding the nature of the communities and their members, as well as the mechanisms through which these communities engage in transformative work, to make persons and neighborhoods whole. This book presents its theological claims through the careful analysis of several stories of communities around the world that have engaged in transformational practices through a specific art form, investigating communities from Europe, the Middle East, South America, and the U.S. The case studies explored include Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze, indigenous, and sometimes agnostic subjects, involved in visual art, music, dance, theatre, documentary film, and literature. Theology and the Arts demonstrates that the challenges of a postmodern and post-secular context require a fundamental rethinking of theology that focuses on discrete practices of faithful communities, rather than one-dimensional theories about religion.

'Art and Belief' explores communication between faiths through an examination of contemporary artistic practice. The book discusses how a range of artists formulate their worldview and what motivates them to engage in dialogue. These artists are engaged in a wide range of artistic forms and practice and come to dialogue from diverse religious positions. The aim of the book is to question the assumptions of interreligious dialogue as a largely intellectual exercise in defining the religious "other" and to explore dialogue as a manifestation of interpersonal ethics.

This book brings the emerging fields of practical theology and theology of the arts into a dialogue beyond the bias of modern systematic and constructive theology. The authors draw upon postmodern, post-secular, feminist, liberation, and dialogical/dialectical philosophy and theology, and their critiques of the narrow modern emphases on reason and the scientific method, as the model for all knowledge. Such a practical theology of the arts focuses the work of theology on the actual practices that engage the arts in their various forms as the means of interpreting and understanding the nature of the communities and their members, as well as the mechanisms through which these communities engage in transformative work, to make persons and neighborhoods whole. This book presents its theological claims through the careful analysis of several stories of communities around the world that have engaged in transformational practices through a specific art form, investigating communities from Europe, the Middle East, South America, and the U.S. The case studies explored include Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze, indigenous, and sometimes agnostic subjects, involved in visual art, music, dance, theatre, documentary film, and literature. Theology and the Arts demonstrates that the challenges of a postmodern and post-secular context require a fundamental rethinking of theology that focuses on discrete practices of faithful communities, rather than one-dimensional theories about religion.

This book analyses religion and change in relation to music within the context of contemporary progressive Judaism. It argues that music plays a central role as a driving force for religious change, comprising several elements seen as central to contemporary religiosity in general: participation, embodiment, experience, emotions and creativity. Focusing on the progressive Anglo-Jewish milieu today, the study investigates how responses to these processes of change are negotiated individually and collectively and what role is allotted to music in this context. Building on ethnographic research conducted at Leo Baeck College in London (2014–2016), it maps how theologically unsystematic life-views take form through everyday musical practices related to institutional religion, identifying three theoretically relevant processes at work: the reflexive turn, the turn within and the turn to tradition.

How should researchers navigate in a global landscape of religious and secular worldviews? This volume contributes with an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of contemporary religion in a cross-cultural or global perspective. The chapters in the volume highlight quite different themes - from translation to sexuality and secularity, critically dismantling conceptions of e.g., the "sacred individual", "Eastern religions" and multiple belongings. Yet, they are united in their search for signs that help us contest categorical cultural, religious, and secular boundaries, methodologically, theoretically, and epistemologically. The debate on universalism vs. particularism can simply not be put aside and hence, the implications of this dichotomy needs to be further investigated. The volume explores current challenges pertinent to cross-cultural research on religion in today's world. It reflects important aspects of global cultural and religious diversity. All articles stem from the international research project "Young Adults and Religion in a Global Perspective". The project implemented a mixed methods study in twelve different countries across the world. The chapters univocally stress the importance of using a sensitive analytical toolbox when investigating values and worldviews in an increasingly interconnected world. Nevertheless, such sensitivity needs to entail a capacity to move across boundaries and positions, giving voice to novel existential positions that do not fit within the traditional patterns of set religious and secular boundaries.

How should researchers navigate in a global landscape of religious and secular worldviews? This volume contributes with an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of contemporary religion in a cross-cultural or global perspective. The chapters in the volume highlight quite different themes - from translation to sexuality and secularity, critically dismantling conceptions of e.g., the "sacred individual", "Eastern religions" and multiple belongings. Yet, they are united in their search for signs that help us contest categorical cultural, religious, and secular boundaries, methodologically, theoretically, and epistemologically. The debate on universalism vs. particularism can simply not be put aside and hence, the implications of this dichotomy needs to be further investigated. The volume explores current challenges pertinent to cross-cultural research on religion in today's world. It reflects important aspects of global cultural and religious diversity. All articles stem from the international research project "Young Adults and Religion in a Global Perspective". The project implemented a mixed methods study in twelve different countries across the world. The chapters univocally stress the importance of using a sensitive analytical toolbox when investigating values and worldviews in an increasingly interconnected world. Nevertheless, such sensitivity needs to entail a capacity to move across boundaries and positions, giving voice to novel existential positions that do not fit within the traditional patterns of set religious and secular boundaries.

'Art and Belief' explores communication between faiths through an examination of contemporary artistic practice. The book discusses how a range of artists formulate their worldview and what motivates them to engage in dialogue. These artists are engaged in a wide range of artistic forms and practice and come to dialogue from diverse religious positions. The aim of the book is to question the assumptions of interreligious dialogue as a largely intellectual exercise in defining the religious "other" and to explore dialogue as a manifestation of interpersonal ethics.

I Kultur, människa, möte visar författarna hur kulturella gränser skapas i möten mellan människor i dagens mångkulturella och föränderliga värld. De har ett brett humanistiskt perspektiv och beskriver hur gränser skapas och upplöses i mötet mellan människor vad gäller kultur, religion eller etnicitet. Det humanistiska perspektivet bryter upp dikotomin mellan individ och kollektiv, mellan inre och yttre, och söker i stället beröringspunkter. Begreppet kultur används för att belysa olika sidor av de meningsskapande relationerna mellan människan och den mångfald som omger henne.Boken erbjuder redskap för fördjupad förståelse av kulturmöten och visar hur vi kan se på bristande kommunikation, stereotyper och fördomar. Övriga teman som tas upp är bland annat globalisering, symboliska tolkningar och moralfrågor i relation till kulturmöten. Denna andra upplaga av en sedan drygt tio år använd och uppskattad kursbok är genomgående bearbetad och uppdaterad.Kultur, människa, möte riktar sig främst till studerande på kurser om kultur, kulturmöten och interkulturell kommunikation vid universitet och högskolor.