Professor Dr. Miltiadis Konstantinou, Dean of the School of Theology of AUTH
Honorable delegates
Over the last decade of the 20th
century, developments in economic, social and political level
interacted with each other and brought a tremendous change in the
cultural level of the whole Europe. Migration of people for different
reasons (refugees, workers, etc) have modified the map of the continent
and transformed the European national societies to multicultural
societies. Parallel to this development, and maybe in relation to it, a
reinforcement of fundamentalistic trends and practices of introversion
in different social levels are observed. Religions are expected to play
an important role to the above changes. Today, the increase of
non-Christian populations in Europe and specifically of Muslims places
Islam second in numbers after Christianity, a fact with obvious
consequences in specific cultural and social sectors of life. Therefore,
it is obvious that a multicultural society can hardly exist or even
hope to survive, without the support of religion. From another point of
view, a confrontation of people in a religious level might be proved
catastrophic for the coherence of the society, especially if it is
accompanied by religious fanaticism.
Today, all governments of European
countries are making serious efforts both towards implementing a model
of a neutral state at all levels of government, education, etc., and
towards respecting religious freedoms and human rights in general. It is
obvious that Europe is today afraid of religions and probably not
unfairly. Under these conditions the Christian Churches in Europe are
today facing a dilemma; they will either reinforce the religious
elements by exploiting the fears and insecurities of their flock in an
effort to regroup them, or they will try to emphasize the most authentic
elements of Christian faith in order to increase their prestige in
society, risking, of course, the absolutesity of their hierarchical
organization.
However, in order to religions to proceed
to the second option, the exit from the impasse of the socio-economic
crisis must precede, which is largely a consequence of the inability or
failure to give real meaning to life. Because there is no doubt that
securing a dignified life and providing proper education is the best
treatment against racism and extremism.
To the extent it is accepted that
religious beliefs and perceptions affect the public and private spheres
and affect the function of institutions, the forming of identities and
the meeting with the Other, it is obvious that the study of the
religious phenomenon and the relationship of religion with culture and
politics in the new globalized environment requires the collaboration of
scientists from different disciplines.
As the modern society experiences times
where the enemies of reconciliation do not cease to cultivate isolating
and divisive tendencies by highlighting the contradictions, and while
the degradation and depreciation of human beings as a consequence of
globalization is rendered a world phenomenon, such a project is
certainly a big challenge that is expected to give only good results
both for the society and the religious communities.
Believing that this conference wants to
serve these goals, I welcome you as Dean of the School of Theology at
the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and I congratulate the members
of the Scientific Committee for their initiative and wish great success
to its works!