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About the conference


The formation of an European identity in European citizens requires the prerequisite of enabling the individuals to successfully negotiate the cultural, religious and social diversity in Europe. This process of identity formation reaches beyond the boundaries of Europe and has the effect that the approximation between the European nations is not characterised by a delimitation of nationalities but much rather by an approximation of Europeans to non-Europeans within the frame of a pluralistic world culture.

Thus a successful identity formation in Europe can make an important contribution to world peace and increase the margins and self-development opportunities for citizens.

As identity formation is a matter of concrete interaction and union between participants, religions can play an important role in this process. Religions’ ability to accept and foster pluralism can make a convincing emphasis on the coexistence of different religions, whose presence in Europe is increasingly obvious. Religious pluralism, however, is also a problem. A diversity of religious reference points comes with a diversity of political, cultural and social sources of frictions. This is particularly the case for Europe. European communities are heterogenic all the way through to disparate with regards to religions and at the same time characterised by influential traditions of monotheistic religions and denominations.

Acts of terror by religious fanatics in Europe have made it very clear that friction among religions can harbour a high potential of violence.

Recently established concepts in relation to religious pluralism in Europe aimed at nurturing feelings of “togetherness” and “for each other” could set a sound foundation for a pluralistic future. In the light of the above, the conference would like to offer a forum, which allows the scientific  debate of different phenomenon of tolerance and religious pluralism in Europe.

  • Interactions and frictions between religions.
  • Philosophical and theological concepts of religious pluralism.
  • Potential of risk of religious radicalism in Europe.
  • Good Practice examples from European countries.
  • Education policies and concepts of higher education in relation to religious pluralism in Europe.

Universität Wien

Zentrum für LehrerInnenbildung
Islamische Religionspädagogik

Porzellangasse 4,
3.Stock, Zi. 307
A-1090 Wien



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