In 2025, it is 1700 years since the synod of Nicaea, which was supposed to end a theological conflict in the Christian church, but became the beginning of new era of theological debate. Of course, theological debate has been going on both before and beyond Nicaea. As the detailed program shows, we would like to think of theology both in view of and despite the debates in the fourth century. So much has happened since then, but still, a lot of the questions that were at the agenda 1700 years ago also remain today.
Today, Islamic theology is an important branch of Nordic systematic theology. Islam and its theology appears about three centuries after Nicaea. It offered a new world of theology that became immensely influential and also of great importance for the developments in later Christian theology. We have included opportunities for engaging with Islamic theology in the program, as we would like this conference, with its historical roots in Western Christian theology, to be an open space not only for embracing, but also questioning and reforming the theological identities that follows from such strong historical heritage as Nicaea. In one special panel, we will also commemorate one of the greatest theologians of our time, Jürgen Moltmann, who passed away in June 2024.
As the program reveals, in this conference we will try a somewhat new format, based on what we call levelled key notes and speed presentation sessions. Levelled key note sessions means that we have a series of sessions with two invited speakers in each. Speed presentation sessions means that you, who attends the conference, are invited to present a brief paper, 5-7 minutes (all the speed presenters get maximum 10 mins each for setting up, present and finish off). Please read here for more details about the Speed paper presentations, which will take place Friday 10.45-12.30.