This event took place on 9th April 2008
Berrill Lecture Theatre, The Open University, Walton Hall Campus, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
In this lecture Professor Wolffe will move beyond the truisms of the post-9/11 world, drawing particularly on his own expertise in modern British religious history and developing two central themes. First it will be argued that in order to achieve a balanced understanding of the place of religion in the contemporary world a strong historical perspective is essential. Second, the question posed by the title will be pursued at a methodological level. It will be argued that while secular historians are often neglectful of religion, and history can be distorted in the service of religious commitment, a constructive critical assimilation between the disciplines of History and Religious Studies has much to contribute to wider academic and religious understanding.
For further information on The Open University’s inaugural lecture programme visit
http://www.open.ac.uk/inaugural-lectures/
In this lecture Professor Wolffe will move beyond the truisms of the post-9/11 world, drawing particularly on his own expertise in modern British religious history and developing two central themes. First it will be argued that in order to achieve a balanced understanding of the place of religion in the contemporary world a strong historical perspective is essential. Second, the question posed by the title will be pursued at a methodological level. It will be argued that while secular historians are often neglectful of religion, and history can be distorted in the service of religious commitment, a constructive critical assimilation between the disciplines of History and Religious Studies has much to contribute to wider academic and religious understanding.
Click below to play the event (60 minutes)
