'A Secular Age': Tracing the Contours of Religion and Belief

Introduction

Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin, Ireland, is holding an international interdisciplinary conference and graduate summer school entitled 'A Secular Age: Tracing the Contours of Religion and Belief from Monday 8th to Thursday 11th June 2009.

Plenary speakers include:

• Professor Ruth Abbey (University of Notre Dame, USA)
• Dr. Eoin G. Cassidy (Mater Dei Institute, Dublin City University, Ireland)
• Professor Eamonn Conway (Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland)
• Professor Michael Conway (Pontifical University of Maynooth, Ireland)
• Dr. Stephen J. Costello (Dublin Business School, Ireland)
• Professor Michael Cronin (Dublin City University, Ireland)
• Dr. Conor Cunningham (University of Nottingham, UK)
• Dr. Joseph Dunne (St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin City University, Ireland)
• Professor Michael Paul Gallagher (Gregorian University, Rome)
• Professor Patrick Hannon (Pontifical University of Maynooth, Ireland)
• Dr. Padraig Hogan (National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland)
• Professor Gregor McLennan (University of Bristol, UK)
• Professor John Milbank (University of Nottingham, UK)
• Dr. Fainche Ryan (Mater Dei Institute, Dublin City University, Ireland)

The conference will explore the way in which theology and philosophy, when placed in dialogue with the social sciences, can reinvigorate public discourse. Some of the themes which will be discussed include:

• Assessment of Charles Taylor's A Secular Age;
• the relationship between religion, belief and modernity: a critical assessment;
• the role of theology and philosophy in the public square;
• the decline of the appeal to an objective moral order and the rise of the human rights culture;
• moral sources and diverse contexts today.

For further information, please contact Ms. Mary (Kennedy) Shanahan, conference organiser, at: or visit www.materdei.ie.