In The Netherlands, Muslims are being stereotyped as backward and primitive.
Religious symbols in the public sphere are contested and disputes about
‘Dutch culture’ and ‘Dutch identity’ come sharply to the fore in popular
media.

This seminar wants to address the challenge of living together differently. If multi-culturalism is a drama, what other possibilities are there to respect difference without fear? Adam Seligman from Boston University (US) will speak about his experiences as negotiator between competing groups in conflict-areas. This seminar is an attempt to translate, together with Seligman, his insights into the Dutch situation.

Programme:
15:00 – 15:20 Welcome and introduction by Lucien van Liere: On identity and place in The Netherlands
15:20 – 15:40 Adam Seligman (Boston University): Living together differently
15:40 – 17:00 Open discussion with Seligman on main topics like multi-cultural society, relations between Muslims, Christians and Secularists in The Netherlands, on being what you think you are, senses of belonging and place of Muslims in Dutch society.

Prof.dr. Adam Seligman is especially known for his constructive role in
religion-related conflicts. He has brought combatting and conflicting
parties together in so-called Summerschools. The results of what he has achieved are striking. Seligman’s focus is mainly on perspectives on others and otherness and perspectives on the self as victim. He tries to break thsrough the classic divide between perpetrator and victim by learning people how they, but seeing themselves as victims, contribute to the conflict.

Organisers: Centrum IIMO (Expert Centre of Intercultural Theology,
Inter-religious Dialogue, Missiology and Ecumenics) attached to the
Department of Religious Studies and Theology of the Utrecht University
(Faculty of Humanities).

Location: Campus De Uithof, Utrecht: University Library: Boothzaal
(Heidelberglaan 3, 3584 CS Utrecht. Campus De Uithof can be accessed from Utrecht Central Station by bus 11, 12 en 12-S. Descend at bus stop:Heidelberglaan.

Registration Attendance to the seminar is free, but it is necessary to
register because the number of seats in the lecture is restricted. Everyone has to register, preferably by email, with Jeannette Boere (a.c.m.boere@uu.nl), Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, tel. 030 – 253 2079. Ultimately on 16 June, 2011