Politics and Religion in the Middle Ages and Today: Thoughts of an American Medievalist
| When: | Mo 26-06-2023 19:00 - 20:30 |
| Where: | Courtroom, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Oude Boteringestraat 38, 9712 GK Groningen |
Keynote lecture by prof. Christopher M. Bellitto, Ph.D., Kean University, New Jersey USA
Fulbright Specialist, University of Groningen
Studying the Middle Ages is no longer a quaint exercise in exploring an exotic past reflected in Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. What were the Middle Ages really – and why do they now matter in such an explosive way in terms of politics and religion? We’ll turn not only to the topics of the Crusades and race—then and now—but also to illuminating developments in the United States where a particular brand of Christian nationalism appeals to an idealized Middle Ages where church and state were fused in theocracy.
This keynote is part of the summerschool Medieval Religion: its topicality, methods and sources but is open to everyone who is interested.