The twenty-fourth session of ISREV will be held in Riga, Latvia from Sunday, July 23 to Friday, August 1st, 2025. ISREV seminars each have a theme, and this time we will focus on “Religious education in turbulent times: How to foster hope and well-being of young people?” During the seminar researchers and experts from the field will discuss
- How can religious and values education sustain hope in the time of political, cultural, and ecological distress?
- How can religious education (RE) foster well-being and resilience in the world of uncertainties and constant crises?
- In the face of multiple challenges, how can RE contribute to enhancing dialogue and human flourishing?
There is a need for new research that would shed light on the role of RE in preparing young people to face the challenges of our time both on the individual and collective level. The interconnectedness of technology, religion and education is a theme that deserves more scholarly interest in the field of RE and where RE faces similar challenges to humanities at large. A critical role of RE is to prepare young people to navigate the complex and technologized world, to find meaning and feel at home, as well as foster autonomy and critical awareness.
Plenary Speakers:
Prof. Mary Hess (USA)
Prof. Gerdien Bertram-Troost (Netherlands)
Associate prof. Ole Andreas Kvamme (Norway)
Dr. Kevin O’Grady: (UK)
Prof. Manfred Pirner (Germany)
Saila Poulter and her team are working at formulating arrangements for an academically stimulating and personally enriching program. The team of hosts, Laima Gelkina, Dzintra Ilisko and Lasma Latsone, are attending to provide appropriate venues such as accommodations, meeting rooms, social activities and the like. The local organizers represent three different universities in Latvia (University of Latvia, Riga Technical University in Liepaja and Daugavpils University), but the event will be organized in Riga, in the premises of Latvia University.
The seminar will be organized in hybrid format allowing also online participation.
