RELIGION DEBATE
THE SAVING WORD: On the necessity or redundancy of religion in the 21st century

date September 29 location Upper auditorium, Huis de Beurs time 3.30 PM entrance free

Against all expectations, the number of religious believers is growing. Meaning in life, spirituality, identity and social norms: these are but a few of the motives for people seeking sanctuary in Higher Things. Secular critics anxiously warn against the breakdown of our secular state. Will the clerics again regain power? What are the causes of this religious revival? Do we really have any need for religion at all? Noorderlicht has four prominent experts cross swords in a debate over the contemporary role of religion - and its necessity or redundancy.

Speakers:
Dr. Paul Cliteur - Lawyer and professor of law at the University of Leiden, op-ed columnist and writer, with a Humanist background. He recently published his latest book, Moreel Esperanto, a plea for an autonomous ethics.

Dr. Patrick Vandermeersch - Professor in the psychology of religion at the University of Groningen. His specialities are psychoanalysis and the intellectual history of religion. He has written diverse books and articles, on self-castigation and other topics.

Dr. Huub Oosterhuis - poet, priest, composer and theologian. Founder of the Study Group for Theology and Liturgy. He has written countless poems and songs inspired by religion. He was also among the parliamentary candidates for the Socialist Party during the election for the Lower House in 2006. (The fourth speaker was not yet confirmed at the time this magazine went to press. For more information, see the Noorderlicht website.)

Moderator: Dr. Hans Harbers - Professor of the Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Groningen. Former director of Krisis, the journal for contemporary philosophy, and moderator of DwarsDiep, a political/cultural discussion center in Groningen.