Research Centre "Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society" (RaT)

Interdisciplinary research

Initiators
The Research Centre "Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society" (RaT) was established in 2010 as a research platform at the University of Vienna. Chairman since 2010 is Prof. Kurt Appel, Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Vienna. Vice-speakers are Prof. Esther Heinrich-Ramharter (Philosophy), Prof. Gerhard Langer (Jewish Studies), Prof. Lukas Pokorny (Religious Studies) and Prof. Christian Danz (Protestant Theology). RaT is a member of the European Academy of Religion (EuARe).

Occasion
Time and again, religion is the cause of political and social debates. Religion is discussed diversely and, at present, more frequently and internationally. In scientific contexts, the relationship between religions and society is also made subject in a range of disciplines. The Centre was founded to provide a platform for scientific exchange and research projects focusing on this complex of themes and to render them visible. Starting from the mutual influence of religions and society, the members of the RaT investigate the effects of social transformation processes on religions and, vice versa, how changes within religions affect society.

Target Groups
Members of RaT are scholars from all disciplines dealing with current religion and transformation processes. They teach and research at the University of Vienna as well as at other institutions. International visiting scholars are also conducting research at the Centre. Currently, seven faculties and 14 disciplines are represented at the RaT. These include Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Islamic Theology, Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies and Religious Studies, Social Sciences, Law and Cultural Studies, Philosophy and Educational Sciences.

Objectives
RaT researches the reciprocal relations between religion, religiousness and transformation processes within contemporary global contexts. The Centre aims to strengthen international cooperation and networking relating to its topics. Networking extends to the research on religions within the University of Vienna, thus providing a platform for international research as well as for research at the University of Vienna.

Topics
The Research Centre identifies four key topics as focal points in its work:

  • Religious contemporary cultures in Austria in the contexts of migration and modernity.
  • Aesthetic and normative transformations of religious texts.
  • Religious education in secular societies.
  • Philosophy of religion in intercultural perspective and hermeneutics of religious texts

At present, there are eight research clusters:

Duration
The Research Centre was founded in 2010 as a research platform under the name "Religion and Transformation in Contemporary European Society" and has been a research centre at the University of Vienna since April 1, 2018. The Centre is being evaluated every four years and can be renewed depending on a positive evaluation.

Activities
The Research Centre maintains various forms of international cooperation. Scientific meetings, conferences, workshops, panel discussions, lecture series and guest lectures are regularly organized. RaT publishes an online open access journal (JRAT), the JRAT Supplementa ‒ an interdisciplinary, international, online open-access book series ‒ and the RaT Series. In addition, there are publications by RaT members, contributions to the press and media, the newsletter archive, and the RaT Blog.

Form of Organization
From 2010 to 2018, the research platform "Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society" had been operated as an institution of the University of Vienna. Since then, the Research Centre RaT has continued the work of the research platform.

Funding
RaT is funded by the University of Vienna and by third-party funds raised for individual projects.

Products
The series "Religion and Transformation in Contemporary European Society" comprises publications of the results of conferences in edited volumes as well as selected monographs by the members of the RaT. In addition, the RaT has founded the open access online journal "Interdisciplinary Journal for Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society", which is published biannually. Since 2021, the journal has been complemented by the online open-access book series JRAT Supplementa. JRAT and Supplementa are intended to take the thematic focus of the Research Centre into international discourse. In the RaTBLOG, members write about their research and current topics.

Website| Social Media | Contact
www.religionandtransformation.at
European Academy of Religion (EuARe): www.europeanacademyofreligion.org/rat

Forschungszentrum "Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society"
Schenkenstraße 8-10, 2. OG, Raum 53
A-1010 Wien

T: +43-1-4277-23803
E-mail: rat@univie.ac.at

 

editor: gm / update: jb / bs 2022