Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology - News and Events
2009 Calendar of Events
January
February
March
Mindfulness Counselling: Buddhist Traditions and Mental Health
This public seminar, offered in collaboration with the Monash Asia Institute, will involve a presentation by Ven. Naotune Vijitha Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Dhammasarana Temple in Keysborough. He is a scholar well versed in Pali and Buddhist studies. It will be followed by a panel discussion with: the Ven. Sucinta, trained as a psychologist in Germany, and a fully ordained nun (Bhikkhuni) in the Theravada tradition since 1998, residing at Sanghamittarama in East Bentleigh; Professor Padmasiri de Silva, Adjunct Research Associate with CSRT, formerly Head of the Department of Philosophy & Psychology at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He has also obtained an advanced diploma in counselling, and is practicing in the field.
Dr Craig Hassed, of the Department of General Practice, in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University, will then launch a new book by Dr Padmasiri de Silva, An Introduction to Mindfulness-Based Counselling: The Magic of the Ordinary & the Elegance of Small Things (Sarvodaya Vishvalekha Publication, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka). Light refreshments will be served. Download program. [pdf 12kb]
- Date: Sunday 15 March 2009
- Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm
- Venue: Monash University, Caulfield Campus
Building K, Room K309 - Admission: Free but bookings recommended contact susan.grist@arts.monash.edu.au
- Further enquiries: constant.mews@arts.monash.edu.au

Varieties of Religious Mysticism
The Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology and the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation invite you to a seminar.
Steven T. Katz (Elie Wiesel Centre for Judaic Studies, Boston University) is a prolific scholar both on Jewish thought, in particular on responses to the Holocaust. His most recent volumes include The Impact of the Holocaust on Jewish Theology (2005) and Wrestling with God: Jewish Theological Responses During and After the Holocaust (2007). He is also interested more broadly in theories of mysticism, on which he has edited three important collections of essays: Mysticism and religious traditions (1983), Mysticism and language (1992) and Mysticism and sacred scripture (2000).
The establishment is also planned of a postgraduate reading group in religion and theology. Postgraduates working in any aspect of religious studies, whether Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Eastern, or interreligious dialogue, are strongly encouraged to participate. Details will be discussed immediately after this seminar.
- Date: Thursday 19 March 2009
- Time: 3.00pm-5.00pm
- Venue: Building H, Room H.126
900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield Campus - Contact: constant.mews@arts.monash.edu.au or nathan.wolski@arts.monash.edu.au
- Bookings: acjc@arts.monash.edu.au or (03) 9902 0771
- Entry: $10 (students/pensioners $8)
April
Who am I as citizen of Earth? Ecology, spirituality and the future
Free public conversation series leading up to the Parliament of the World's Religions. This conversation brings together three individuals all involved in organisations with a strong commitment to ecological spirituality, but from different religious and spiritual traditions
With Rabbi Jonathan Keren Black, founder of GreenFaith Australia and also the Jewish Ecological Coalition, Anne Boyd, founder of EarthSong, and Jacques Boulet, Head of School of Oases, based at the Augustine Centre, Hawthorn.
- Date: Monday 20 April 2009
- Time: 6.00pm-7.30pm
- Venue: Treacy Conference Centre
126 The Avenue, Parkville Vic 3052 - Bookings: earthsong@pacific.net.au
May
Who am I? Spiritual identity in a secular society
Two lovers of literature discuss issues of searching for spiritual identity in a secular society: David Tacey and Michelle Prawer.
Dr David Tacey is Associate Professor of English at La Trobe University and a frequent commentator on issues of spirituality in Australia, having appeared in programs broadcast by the ABC, SBS and Channel Four (London). He is frequent contributor to a number of national and international journals on psychology, psychoanalysis, religion, literature, and the arts.
Michelle Prawer a librarian specializing in Young Adult literature at Leibler Yavneh College in Melbourne. She is also Head of English and teaches English to middle and senior level students. She is a VCE assessor, a member of the Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge selection panel, a YABBA committee member and actively involved in the Children's Book Council of Australia, Victorian branch.
The event is free, but bookings recommended
- Date: Sunday 17 May 2009
- Time: 3.00pm-4.30pm
- Venue: The Jewish Museum of Australia
26 Alma Road, St Kilda Vic 3182 - Bookings: (03) 8534 3600 or RSVP@jewishmuseum.com.au
Europa Sacra
Launch of a new book series, published by Brepols.
Europa Sacra is a series of books published by the distinguished academic publisher, Brepols (Turnhout, Belgium), devoted to studying the way religion shapes and is shaped by different forms of community life within Europe, from late antiquity to the eighteenth century. The series welcomes monographs relating to aspects of social and religious history, whether dealing with official ecclesiastical structures or with less clearly defined local communities, within a broadly European context.
- Date: Tuesday 19 May 2009
- Time: 4.00pm-5.30pm
- Venue: Monash University Clayton Campus
Building 11 (Menzies), Manton Rooms Ground Floor, Room SG02 - RSVP: susan.grist@arts.monash.edu.au
- Download flyer [pdf 1.50MB]
June
Who am I as a citizen? Religion, ethnicity and citizenship
How do religion, ethnicity and citizenship shape us?
Find out in this fascinating public conversation with two speakers: the Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan OAM and Toltu Tufa.
- Date: Sunday 14 June 2009
- Time: 3.00pm-4.00pm
- Venue: Immigration Museum, Old Customs House
400 Flinders Street, Melbourne - Bookings: Essential 13 11 02
July
Who am I in sickness and in health? Spirituality and wellbeing
Does spirituality shape health and well-being? Speakers are Ian Gawler OAM and Rob Moodie.
- Date: Monday 20 July 2009
- Time: 6.00pm-7.30pm
- Venue: St Michael's Uniting Church
Cnr Collins and Russell Streets, Melbourne - Booking: reception@stmichaels.org.au
August
Who am I in my inner life? Mysticism across religions
Presentation of Hindu, Buddhist and contemporary teachings on inner life with Jewish, Christian and Muslim responses. Speakers are Isobel Crombie, Padmasiri de Silva, Ken and Elizabeth Mellor, Constant Mews, Nathan Wolski, Salih Yucel and Claire Renkin.
- Date: Sunday 16 August 2009
- Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm
- Venue: Monash University Caulfield Campus
Building K, Room K309
900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East - Bookings: susan.grist@arts.monash.edu.au
September
Who am I in cyberspace? Spirituality and identity online
What is cyberspace doing to people's identity and spirituality? Speakers are Mandy Salomon and Rev.Francis McNab
- Date: Monday 21 September 2009
- Time: 6.00pm-7.30pm
- Venue: St Michael's Uniting Church
Cnr Collins and Russell Streets, Melbourne - Booking: reception@stmichaels.org.au
October
Who am I in hungry world?
Two people with a radical commitment to addressing issues of hunger and injustice locally and internationally ask how we can do so within the affluent West. Speakers are Margaret Fyfe CSB and Shanaka Fernando.
- Date: Wednesday 7 October 2009
- Time: 8.00pm-9.30pm
- Venue: Sala Venezia 2nd Floor
Veneto Club
191 Bulleen Road, Bulleen Vic 3105 - Contact: Giulia 9850 7111
November
Who am I in multireligious society: Religion across generations
Vibrant speakers from the Muslim, Sikh and Jewish communities reflect on religious identity across the generations. Speakers are Esma Yucel, Manpreet Kaur Singh and Sam Lipski AM.
- Date: Monday 9 November 2009
- Time: 6.00pm-7.00pm
- Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston Street (entry 3 La Trobe Street)
Postgraduate Advance Training Seminar (PATS)
Many postgraduate students pursuing research in the medieval and early modern field will be familiar with the importance of the study of religion and spirituality in these fields. Over the last decades the trend towards interdisciplinary studies has called for a greater methodological awareness of one's own discipline and that of other related disciplines. Researchers are required to develop a familiarity with a wider range of sources studied, for example not just written texts, but other types of material culture including visual objects, and awareness of the role of context, literary, social, political, and intellectual. Researchers are also expected to develop a more sophisticated technical knowledge of the genres specific to the study of medieval and early modern religion and spirituality.
- Date: Thursday 19 November 2009
- Time: 10am-4pm
- Venue: The Carmelite Library
214 Richardson Street, Middle Park - Contact: Constant.Mews@arts.monash.edu.au
Library: (03) 9682 8553 or librarian@carmelitelibrary@org
Interpreting St Francis and St Clare in a multi-religious society: from the middle ages to the present
A conference celebrating the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Franciscan movement
Plenary speakers at the conference include Michael Cusato ofm ( Dean of the School of Franciscan Studies at St Bonaventure's University, New York), Maurice Carmody (Nelson, New Zealand), author of two books on the history of the Franciscan order, Jacques Dalarun, of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, former director of medieval studies at the Ecole française de Rome and a Visiting Professor at the Franciscan Institute of St Bonaventure's, New York and Sister Briege O'Hare osc (Ireland), a contemporary exponent of the eremitical Poor Clare way of life.
- Date: Friday 20 to Saturday 21 November 2009
- Venue: Study Centre
Yarra Theological Union
98 Albion Road, Box Hill Vic 3128
December
Who am I? The visions of Jung, Darwin, Mondrian and Ramana Maharshi
Explores the responses of a groundbreaking psychologist (Jung), a scientist who probed the origins of human life (Darwin) an artist whose creativity tapped into metaphysical issues (Mondrian) and a great yogi with a profound spiritual philosophy (Ramana Maharshi). Speakers are Patrick Mahaffey, Doug McCann, Jason Smith and Mahant Swani Shankarananda.
- Date: Sunday 6 December 2009
- Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm
- Venue: Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne