The following conference information is provided by Dr. Laura Yerekesheva (Prof., al Farabi Kazakh National University. (Almaty, Kazakhstan)
The conference is organized within the frames of the research project “Religious Institutions and Practice in Kazakhstan in the Context of Digitalization and Changing Social Space at a Times of COVID Pandemiсs” funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (ГФ МОН РК 2020-2021, ИРН AP08956706), project leader Dr. Laura Yerekesheva, Faculty of Oriental Studies, al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
The purpose of the conference is to examine the impact of the changing external environment and forms of social interaction caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic on religious institutions and practices, both in the world and in Kazakhstan, particularly, the impacts this has on the Islamic and Christian communities. Whereas Kazakhstan is taken as a particular case, yet the conference discussions may also refer to the situation in general, or other specific contexts and areas.
Main themes for discussion:
Religious Rituals
How can previously existing traditional religious practices and rituals (Friday prayers, Sunday sermons, Hajj, Ramadan/Eid, Easter, Christmas, etc.) be transformed in the context of limited social interaction and a simultaneous increase in online communications? How this might affect the well-established traditional rituals and lead to the subsequent discussions among believers and in society at large.
Religious Education
How are religious confessions and denominations ready to develop and introduce a new format of religious education? How does this affect the nature of education, program development, international cooperation, the application of foreign religious educational experience (including online), or, conversely, rejection of it?
The Conference Programme can be accessed here.
Online details for the Conference are provided below.
Theme: Religious Institutions and Practices during the COVID Pandemics: Challenges and Answers
Time: 15 April 2021 01:45 PM, Almaty Time (GMT +6)
Conference Zoom Link : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87647542373?pwd=YVlST0dtdTlmU2FSdDBnTzBhQXVUdz09
Meeting ID: 876 4754 2373
Access Code: 197557
Conference will start at 14:00 hrs. Almaty Time (GMT +6)
