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Pentecostal Connections: Migration, Missionaries, Mobility and Media between Australia and Brazil. This project investigates the rise of global Pentecostalism by exploring a Pentecostal transnational religious field between Australia and Brazil. In particular, it aims to investigate the role of Pentecostalism in the social welfare of migrants in Australia. This research contributes significant new knowledge to the ways in which religion is globalised and localised in everyday life, the role of r ....Pentecostal Connections: Migration, Missionaries, Mobility and Media between Australia and Brazil. This project investigates the rise of global Pentecostalism by exploring a Pentecostal transnational religious field between Australia and Brazil. In particular, it aims to investigate the role of Pentecostalism in the social welfare of migrants in Australia. This research contributes significant new knowledge to the ways in which religion is globalised and localised in everyday life, the role of religion in assisting migrants, and the continuing vitality and renewed public role of religion in late modernity. It will broaden the official vision of Brazil-Australia relations, encouraging policy to extend beyond the economic and political to include the cultural and social.Read moreRead less
Religion, state and social inclusion: lessons from schools in three countries. Social inclusion is a priority for governments in Australia and overseas. Religious schools can be exclusionary, but can also provide safe havens for religious minorities. This project analyses a range of educational controversies in France, USA and Australia to propose programs and policies that enhance inclusion in religiously diverse societies.
The edition, translation, and study of the newly discovered Senior collection of Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara. This research will produce scholarly editions, translations, and studies of several of the newly discovered Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara (modern Afghanistan/Pakistan). These manuscripts, which are the earliest Buddhist manuscripts yet discovered (c. 1st century A.D.), represent the first major find of early Buddhist texts from this region, and some of the fi ....The edition, translation, and study of the newly discovered Senior collection of Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara. This research will produce scholarly editions, translations, and studies of several of the newly discovered Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara (modern Afghanistan/Pakistan). These manuscripts, which are the earliest Buddhist manuscripts yet discovered (c. 1st century A.D.), represent the first major find of early Buddhist texts from this region, and some of the first examples of the literature of the Dharmaguptaka school of Buddhism. This research will substantially increase our understanding of the history of Buddhism in this region, of the formation of Buddhist literature, of Gandhari, the ancient language of this region, and of this little understood school of Buddhism.Read moreRead less
Academies under Stress: the Reinvention and Survival of Platonist Schools, 360BC-AD565. This project promises new insights into the versatility that is required for an intellectual movement to fend off social, political, religious, and intellectual pressures, preserving whatever is thought central to its mission, and responding positively to the needs and demands of successive eras. Though grounded in antiquity, and involving a Greek movement's response to successive Macedonian, Roman, and Chris ....Academies under Stress: the Reinvention and Survival of Platonist Schools, 360BC-AD565. This project promises new insights into the versatility that is required for an intellectual movement to fend off social, political, religious, and intellectual pressures, preserving whatever is thought central to its mission, and responding positively to the needs and demands of successive eras. Though grounded in antiquity, and involving a Greek movement's response to successive Macedonian, Roman, and Christian pressures, or to other pressures of a social, political, scientific, and religious nature, modern analogies will be instructive. In particular it should offer lessons both for higher educational bodies and for minority intellectual or religious movements responding to mono-cultural pressures that regularly arise. Read moreRead less
Macrina of Annesi and the Emergence of Monasticism in Central Anatolia. This project builds on extensive research into the 'Great Asketikon' of Basil the Great, the primary document of monasticism in Anatolia (modern Turkey). By using on-the-ground search for the location of Annesi (the family home of Macrina, Basil's sister), a new collation of all the sources relating to Macrina and a new collection of the letters of Gregory of Nyssa, Macrina's biographer, it aims to present a revised view of ....Macrina of Annesi and the Emergence of Monasticism in Central Anatolia. This project builds on extensive research into the 'Great Asketikon' of Basil the Great, the primary document of monasticism in Anatolia (modern Turkey). By using on-the-ground search for the location of Annesi (the family home of Macrina, Basil's sister), a new collation of all the sources relating to Macrina and a new collection of the letters of Gregory of Nyssa, Macrina's biographer, it aims to present a revised view of the emergence of this local monasticism. Two books, if not three will result: an historical monograph, 'The Book of Macrina' and 'The Letters of Gregory of Nyssa'.Read moreRead less
Charles Strong’s Australian Church (1885-1917) and Australian Secularism. This project plans to study a politically active network associated with Rev. Charles Strong and his independent congregation, the Australian Church, in Melbourne, before and after Federation. Congregation members included Members of Parliament, a chief justice, union leaders and feminist activists. This church network was central in the shaping and institutionalisation of Australia’s secular political settlement. The proj ....Charles Strong’s Australian Church (1885-1917) and Australian Secularism. This project plans to study a politically active network associated with Rev. Charles Strong and his independent congregation, the Australian Church, in Melbourne, before and after Federation. Congregation members included Members of Parliament, a chief justice, union leaders and feminist activists. This church network was central in the shaping and institutionalisation of Australia’s secular political settlement. The project aims to conduct a systematic analysis of the theological ideas about religion-state relations that contributed to Australian secularism. It should result in a fresh interpretation of early Australian progressive thought, and contribute philosophical resources for addressing religion-state dilemmas in modern Australia.Read moreRead less
The digital restoration of the Dublin Kephalaia codex and its importance for the history of religions. This is a project at the forefront of the emerging use of digital technology to render legible manuscripts long regarded as unreadable. The unique fourth century codex, now housed at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle, has been known of since 1929. The latest developments in image enhancement, especially the pseudocolour technique, offer the first chance for an international team led ....The digital restoration of the Dublin Kephalaia codex and its importance for the history of religions. This is a project at the forefront of the emerging use of digital technology to render legible manuscripts long regarded as unreadable. The unique fourth century codex, now housed at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle, has been known of since 1929. The latest developments in image enhancement, especially the pseudocolour technique, offer the first chance for an international team led from the University of Sydney to read and publish the text. Its contents record discussions about religion, human nature and the natural world held by sages from East and West at the court of the Persian king; and illuminate the dynamic cultural interchange between India and the Mediterranean world that characterised late antiquity.Read moreRead less
The Design and Decoration of Burial Chambers in Old Kingdom Egypt. This project represents a significant attempt to understand the rationale behind the evolving design and decoration of Ancient Egyptian burial chambers. The undertaking of this important research by Australian based scholars will continue to establish Australia as a leading nation in the important international discipline of Egyptology, while also continuing to forge a relationship with Egypt. During an era in which Australians h ....The Design and Decoration of Burial Chambers in Old Kingdom Egypt. This project represents a significant attempt to understand the rationale behind the evolving design and decoration of Ancient Egyptian burial chambers. The undertaking of this important research by Australian based scholars will continue to establish Australia as a leading nation in the important international discipline of Egyptology, while also continuing to forge a relationship with Egypt. During an era in which Australians have in general engaged in discourses of insecurity and threat, our project will resonate with many contemporary concerns, asserting a link between the growing sophistication of society and a concomitant sense of threat and insecurity.Read moreRead less
Investing and Cashing in Social Capital: Using denominational differences among Christian churches to identify the costs and benefits of different network patterns. How much do Christian churches contribute to strengthening Australia's social fabric? Do different denominations contribute in different ways, with some more concerned with relationships within the congregation while others are more concerned with reaching out to the wider community, crossing boundaries of age, class, gender, religi ....Investing and Cashing in Social Capital: Using denominational differences among Christian churches to identify the costs and benefits of different network patterns. How much do Christian churches contribute to strengthening Australia's social fabric? Do different denominations contribute in different ways, with some more concerned with relationships within the congregation while others are more concerned with reaching out to the wider community, crossing boundaries of age, class, gender, religious affiliation and ethnicity? This project utilises the large National Church Life Survey (NCLS) databases to assess the contribution to social capital of churches across Australia. NCLS Research is the world leader in surveys of church life and this project will form a new basis for international comparisons with the USA, England and New Zealand.Read moreRead less
Contemporary scientific explanations of religion: A methodological and philosophical analysis. The idea that religion is an evolved feature of human nature plays a key role in the ongoing culture war between those critical of some aspects of the scientific worldview, especially the theory of evolution, and those who take it upon themselves to defend science against the perceived threat of religion, notably the so-called 'new atheist' media stars. Analysing the philosophical and methodological is ....Contemporary scientific explanations of religion: A methodological and philosophical analysis. The idea that religion is an evolved feature of human nature plays a key role in the ongoing culture war between those critical of some aspects of the scientific worldview, especially the theory of evolution, and those who take it upon themselves to defend science against the perceived threat of religion, notably the so-called 'new atheist' media stars. Analysing the philosophical and methodological issues raised by naturalistic explanations of religion will clarify the potential relationships between science and religion in a pluralist and predominantly secularist society like Australia in which the claims of science are accorded a special authority.Read moreRead less