CO-SPONSORSHIP: Interreligious and Interfaith Studies Unit, Religion in Europe Unit, and Vatican II Studies Unit
60th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate
2025 marks the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the groundbreaking Vatican II declaration on the Church’s relationship with non-Christian religions. To commemorate this milestone, the Interreligious and Interfaith Studies, Religion in Europe, and Vatican II units invite proposals for a co-sponsored panel that explores the enduring significance, challenges, and future implications of Nostra Aetate in European, North American, and other contexts.
We welcome papers that critically engage with the following themes:
- The historical and political context of Nostra Aetate and its development.
- The impact of Nostra Aetate on Christian-Jewish, Christian-Muslim, or other interfaith relations.
- The role of Nostra Aetate in shaping Catholic and interreligious dialogue today.
- The reception of Nostra Aetate by non-Christian religious communities and secular actors.
- The relevance of Nostra Aetate in contemporary Europe amidst rising secularization, religious pluralism, and global challenges such as Islamophobia and antisemitism.
- Critical perspectives on the limitations of Nostra Aetate, including voices marginalized by its framework.
This panel aims to foster a rich, interdisciplinary dialogue that examines how Nostra Aetate has shaped and continues to shape interreligious dynamics and religious identities in an increasingly pluralistic world.
Proposals from diverse disciplinary and methodological perspectives are encouraged.