Lincoln Theological Institute

Over the last 30 years, a body of literature has been published on the theme of a critical theory of space. Indeed, Prof Soja is one of the leading contributors to this development. While much attention has been paid to 'the historical and 'the social' in critical theory, the matter of 'the spatial' was, it was claimed, under-theorised. This effort to promote space as a crucial category of critical theory has many sources: the multi-layered crises shaking the world's largest cities, a postmodern turn that sought to explore issues synchronically as well as diachronically, and environmental concerns regarding the use and abuse of spaces. From the perspective of the western religions, space has also been an important theme: the 'Holy Land' of Israel and pilgrimages are two obvious examples. As the religions have turned their attention to consideration of cities (where most religious adherents in the West now live) and ecological spaces, religious theorists - including theologians - have addressed the theme of space and have begun to draw on the critical theory of space.

• Download a poster (PDF)

SPEAKERS

Prof Edward Soja, Dept. of Urban Planning, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), author ofPostmetropolis: Critical Studies of Cities and Regions (2000).

Prof Sigurd Bergmann, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, author of  Creation Set Free: The Spirit as the Liberator of Nature (2005).

Prof Timothy Gorringe, University of Exeter, UK, author of A Theology of the Built Environment (2003).

• Conference Report (PDF)
• Conference Remarks (PDF)
• Watch and interview with Ed Soja (Real Media Player)

CONFERENCE VENUE

The venue for the conference is the University of Manchester, Humanities Lime Grove building (no. 67 on the campus map), lecture theatre A101, 10am - 4pm. To view the Campus map, please click here. To see directions to the University, please click here.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For queries regarding making a booking, please contact Janet Meredith, conference administrator janet.meredith@manchester.ac.uk

For questions about the conference, please contact Peter Scott peter.scott@manchester.ac.uk