International Conference hosted by the Chair for Practical Theology, Humboldt University of Berlin and the Chair for Comparative Literature, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Considering the significance of preaching globally, the exceptional status of the sermon is quite evident. Yet, preaching conveys claims to power and (consciously) exerts influence on the audience in highly diverse manners. Preaching is embedded in sociocultural patterns of power distribution and the legitimization of authority claims, which vary locally, culturally, and politically. The relationship between politics and preaching with its claims to (interpretive) power, thus, turns out to be highly ambivalent and can range from explicit separation between the religious and the political sphere, to mutual instrumentalization by different agents, or even critical engagement.
The conference seeks to discuss political rhetoric in religious discourse but also investigates religious rhetoric in political discourse. Adopting a multi-disciplinary perspective, the conference seeks to analyze the rhetorical interplay between religion and politics through the lens of preaching. Scholars from fields including theology, history, literary and cultural studies, as well as the social sciences and anthropology, will come together to explore how (political) preaching can serve as a powerful instrument for influencing culture and politics.