Lecture Series BIK
BaFID organizes thematically oriented lecture series under the name ‘Bayerisches Interreligiöses Kolleg’ (BIK for short).
The lecture series for the coming winter semester 2025/2026 is currently in the planning phase. The Topic:
„Die schönsten Weltuntergänge? Zukunftsszenarien, Utopien und Dystopien.“
Utopias in literature, film, art, or religion paint beautiful pictures of future social lifestyles, while dystopias are rather gruesome ones. This criticizes existing structures and, at the same time, points to alternative ideas and unrealized potential.
In the three religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, there have also been repeated attempts to develop social counter-designs and reform programs and to dream of a better world. These include ideas in the holy scriptures themselves, the expectation of a millennial kingdom of peace (‘millenarianism’) or a messiah, as well as real attempts to establish egalitarian communities or theocracies.
In times of social upheaval, the question increases: How do we want to live? Previous routines and the status quo are being radically questioned. Climate protection movements such as ‘Fridays for Future’ believe that a change in our way of life is essential if humanity is to survive. The World Economic Forum speaks of a ‘restart’ that has become necessary. Critical voices fear the imposition of a ‘new world order’ or an ‘eco-dictatorship,’ which they do not favor.
‘Improving the world’ sounds like a lofty goal. At the same time, we know that the greatest attempts to improve the world and promises of salvation, such as communism, have often led to untold suffering.
In this lecture series, we want to look at the topic from different perspectives, such as religious traditions, religious studies, literature, sociology, history, and politics.
In an interdisciplinary exchange, we would like to reflect on how people in the past and present have imagined an ‘improvement’ of the world and what similarities and differences there are in this regard. Where are the boundaries between a religious utopia and religious fanaticism? What functions do utopias or dystopias have? And what differences and similarities can be found between religious utopias?
We look forward to welcoming you to the lectures of our lecture series!
- 16. October 202516:15 – 17:45
Technikfanatismus in der islamischen Welt - 23. October 202516:15 – 17:45
Hoffnung und Verblendung – Jüdischer Messianismus in der Neuzeit - 30. October 202516:15 – 17:45
„Nichts wie weg“? Das Christentum zwischen apokalyptischer Sehnsucht und Liebe zur Welt - 6. November 202516:15 – 17:45
Cool bleiben! Kryonik als Brücke zur Medizin der Zukunft? - 13. November 202516:15 – 17:45
Galaktische Ankunft abgesagt? Wie die neureligiöse Rael-Bewegung Israel für das Ausbleiben der Außerirdischen verantwortlich macht - 20. November 202516:15 – 17:45
Apokalypse ohne Gott? Säkulare Apokalypsen aus religionssoziologischer Sicht - 27. November 202516:15 – 17:45
Post-futuristische Zukunftsvisionen? Utopische Weltentwürfe in der zeitgenössischen Kunst - 4. December 202516:15 – 17:45
Vorwärts immer, rückwärts nimmer? Ideen zu einer komparatistischen Prognostik von KI-Utopien und KI-Dystopien - 15. January 202616:15 – 17:45
Vom Untergang zur Erneuerung – Thesen zur Funktion von Dystopien - 29. January 202616:15 – 17:45
Frei gewählt – unfrei gelebt? Islamistische Zukunftsszenarien in französischen Romanen
You can find information on past lecture series on our homepage and some of the lectures in full length on our YouTube-Channel.