Modernising Islam through Indonesia's New Media: Celebrity Preachers and the Shaping of Cosmopolitan Values. Indonesia is recognised as a leading producer of moderate Muslim scholarships, reconciling Islam to modern, pluralistic political life, but little is understood of how cosmopolitan values permeate everyday religious practice. This project focuses on an emergent arena of Indonesian Muslim communication, celebrity preaching, to determine how 'modern' modes of religiosity are being promoted ....Modernising Islam through Indonesia's New Media: Celebrity Preachers and the Shaping of Cosmopolitan Values. Indonesia is recognised as a leading producer of moderate Muslim scholarships, reconciling Islam to modern, pluralistic political life, but little is understood of how cosmopolitan values permeate everyday religious practice. This project focuses on an emergent arena of Indonesian Muslim communication, celebrity preaching, to determine how 'modern' modes of religiosity are being promoted through the new electronic media. It examines how communications and religious practices cultivated in this arena help middle and upper class Muslims respond to destabilising social changes with reflexive and tolerant stances supportive of civic pluralism, and identifies the conditions in which they might yield to fundamentalism.Read moreRead less
Philosophy, the Religious Life, and the Making of Modern Science. This project will enhance our understanding of unique features of Western society-in particular the success and prestige of the sciences and the waning influence of religion and philosophy. This will in turn provide fresh insights into science-religion controversies within the West and will shed light on the distinctive nature of the secular ethos of the West in comparison with cultures (such as some Islamic societies) in which r ....Philosophy, the Religious Life, and the Making of Modern Science. This project will enhance our understanding of unique features of Western society-in particular the success and prestige of the sciences and the waning influence of religion and philosophy. This will in turn provide fresh insights into science-religion controversies within the West and will shed light on the distinctive nature of the secular ethos of the West in comparison with cultures (such as some Islamic societies) in which religious considerations play a dominant role in public life and international affairs. Aside from its intrinsic merits, this project will also further promote Australia's growing reputation as a centre for excellence in the field of early modern intellectual history.Read moreRead less
Hume's Sceptical Materialism. The early modern period is the decisive period in shaping the modern outlook, but its major figures are not well understood in Australia. This project will enable a broader and more unified understanding of the intellectual movements of the period (showing Hume to be not an intellectual outsider but someone offering a sceptical version of the radical Enlightenment) - and so will enable a better understanding of our intellectual heritage.
Protestant Apocalypticism, the Book of Revelation, and History in English Thought, 1550-1800. This project will make a further significant contribution to Australia's strong international reputation in Early Modern Thought. It is crucial to Australians' understanding of our contemporary world in which Apocalyptic dualism, particularly the demonisation of the other by both Western conservative elites and Christian and Muslim fundamentalists,is a central feature of modern discourse. With conservat ....Protestant Apocalypticism, the Book of Revelation, and History in English Thought, 1550-1800. This project will make a further significant contribution to Australia's strong international reputation in Early Modern Thought. It is crucial to Australians' understanding of our contemporary world in which Apocalyptic dualism, particularly the demonisation of the other by both Western conservative elites and Christian and Muslim fundamentalists,is a central feature of modern discourse. With conservative religious movements which treat the Bible literally significantly on the increase in Australia, it is crucial to the national interest to be aware of the socially divisive elements in both Biblical fundamentalism and contemporary Protestant sectarian Apocalypticism. Read moreRead less
The Clash of Sacred and Secular Authority in the Letters of Innocent I. The ecumenical significance of achieving a better understanding of the historical development of papal primacy revealed in the letters of Pope Innocent I consists in part in the promotion of core Australian values like tolerance and respect, which contributes to improved social cohesion and harmony. Examining the impact of religious values in shaping the European cultural fabric in a critical transition period enhances the c ....The Clash of Sacred and Secular Authority in the Letters of Innocent I. The ecumenical significance of achieving a better understanding of the historical development of papal primacy revealed in the letters of Pope Innocent I consists in part in the promotion of core Australian values like tolerance and respect, which contributes to improved social cohesion and harmony. Examining the impact of religious values in shaping the European cultural fabric in a critical transition period enhances the current Australian debate about the relationship between religion and politics in national life.Read moreRead less
Anglicanism and the modernisation of English literary culture. This project significantly deepens our understanding of historical relations between religion and culture in the West. This is important in the current geopolitical situation where religion, culture and politics are so interconnected. More specifically, by offering an innovative account of how Anglicanism helped produce English culture, it helps us recognize that religion has played a formative role in shaping the secular modern for ....Anglicanism and the modernisation of English literary culture. This project significantly deepens our understanding of historical relations between religion and culture in the West. This is important in the current geopolitical situation where religion, culture and politics are so interconnected. More specifically, by offering an innovative account of how Anglicanism helped produce English culture, it helps us recognize that religion has played a formative role in shaping the secular modern forms and values that characterise Western cultures. Furthermore, it will help Australia become a research leader in a field of cultural studies and cultural history that is increasingly important to the humanities and social sciences globally.Read moreRead less
The Christian Culture of the Early Middle Ages. The 'Fall of the Roman Empire' has traditionally been seen as marking a major develpment in western history. Against such an interpretation, this project seeks to establish the importance of intellectual and cultural traditions associated with the coming to dominance in society of Christian ways. It will suggest that a largely new set of cultural practices and attitudes laid the foundation for a very different culture. The outcome will be a major ....The Christian Culture of the Early Middle Ages. The 'Fall of the Roman Empire' has traditionally been seen as marking a major develpment in western history. Against such an interpretation, this project seeks to establish the importance of intellectual and cultural traditions associated with the coming to dominance in society of Christian ways. It will suggest that a largely new set of cultural practices and attitudes laid the foundation for a very different culture. The outcome will be a major monograph and various shorter studies.Read moreRead less
The development of the cult of Mary in North African Christianity (100 - 431 C.E.). As part of international collaborative research dedicated to dispassionate examination of the development of the cult of Mary from 100 to 431 CE, this project deals with literary evidence from North Africa, in which the works of Augustine dominate. The Latin texts will be examined philologically, theologically and historically in order to reconstruct Mary's place in early Christianity, the raw data made available ....The development of the cult of Mary in North African Christianity (100 - 431 C.E.). As part of international collaborative research dedicated to dispassionate examination of the development of the cult of Mary from 100 to 431 CE, this project deals with literary evidence from North Africa, in which the works of Augustine dominate. The Latin texts will be examined philologically, theologically and historically in order to reconstruct Mary's place in early Christianity, the raw data made available online, and the results disseminated through conference papers, monographs and journal articles. This research, the first of its kind, will make a contribution to women's studies, and to the study of late antique culture and hagiography.Read moreRead less
A study of the rise of Islam and community survival in Indigenous Australia. The recovery of the history of Islam in Indigenous Australia makes available new information about the sources of national identity. It provides compelling arguments to dismantle community stereotypes that have prevented the recognition of an exemplary hybrid community tradition as integral to our collective sense of self. Linked to the contemporary phenomenon of Indigenous Islamicisation, this study makes possible a ne ....A study of the rise of Islam and community survival in Indigenous Australia. The recovery of the history of Islam in Indigenous Australia makes available new information about the sources of national identity. It provides compelling arguments to dismantle community stereotypes that have prevented the recognition of an exemplary hybrid community tradition as integral to our collective sense of self. Linked to the contemporary phenomenon of Indigenous Islamicisation, this study makes possible a new and timely dialogue between Australian Muslims, Indigenous communities and Australian society generally. Identifying new sources and resources of community-making at a local, national and international level, this study significantly enriches Australia's capacity to negotiate its place in the world. Read moreRead less
Dwelling in the Household of God: The Spirituality of the Fourth Gospel. The household scenes in John's Gospel offer a new understanding of Johannine theology and its underlying spirituality. This study investigates the expression "The Household of God" as a major metaphor for the self-identity of the early Christian community as it is reflected in the narrative of the Fourth Gospel. The project will extend knowledge of the history and religious experience of one Christian community in the las ....Dwelling in the Household of God: The Spirituality of the Fourth Gospel. The household scenes in John's Gospel offer a new understanding of Johannine theology and its underlying spirituality. This study investigates the expression "The Household of God" as a major metaphor for the self-identity of the early Christian community as it is reflected in the narrative of the Fourth Gospel. The project will extend knowledge of the history and religious experience of one Christian community in the last three decades of the first century, particularly in the community's relationship with emerging Rabbinic Judaism.Read moreRead less