Roundtable Discussion: What can the study of religion offer at this current moment?

What can the study of religion offer at this current moment?

Roundtable discussion hosted by the Department for the Study of Religion, Anne Tannenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies, and Institute of Islamic Studies

Participants: Shari Golberg, Amira Mittermaier, Yigal Nizri

Since October 2023, with global attention focused on Palestine/Israel, reports of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinianism have skyrocketed. What can the study of religion contribute to our understanding of this “moment of danger”? How can scholars of religion critically engage with public and media discourses? What is the line between academic and activist work? Thinking across different locations, histories, and languages and drawing on their background as scholars and teachers, the roundtable participants will reflect on ongoing debates around defining antisemitism, longer histories of Muslim-Jewish dialogue and solidarity, and the challenges involved in teaching religion amidst contested political landscapes.