Religion und Ekstase - Talks

Visions, revelations, auditions: Altered states of consciousness and experiences of transcendence exist in all religions of the world. As subjective experiences, they elude research on the one hand, and are nevertheless of interest in religious studies, ethnology, or history on the other. 

Almost all religions unite two very different sides: they aim at understanding and agreement, try to make their view of the world plausible, to win others over. Language is necessary for this, a striving for comprehensibility. At least as important, if not even more important, is the ever new reference to fundamental existential experiences of God, the world, one's own existence. These experiences can have great effects, they can change lives. At the same time, they stubbornly refuse to be described. Not infrequently they are described as states of "ego-lessness", they are at the centre of mystical traditions.

What exactly is meant by this? What do individual religions mean by it?  Do they all mean the same thing or different things? We want to talk about this with representatives of different religions.

Our interlocutors:

Werner Heidenreich regularly leads meditation and discussion groups in Cologne. He is a member of the international lay order "Intersein" and a council member of the "German Buddhist Union".

Prof. Dr. Susanne Talabardon is professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Bamberg, where she teaches Jewish and comparative religious history. and comparative history of religion.

Annette Frickenschmidt is a retired Protestant pastor and has long been a teacher of meditation and contemplation.

Amal Omran is a Syrian director and actress (Collective Ma'louba, among others). For her work "Shağaf / Singing Hearts", her personal religious experience is an important approach.

Facilitators: Dr. Constanze Fröhlich, dramaturge, Theater an der Ruhr, Dr. Frank Vogelsang, director of the Evangelische Akademie im Rheinland

Free admission. Limited seating capacity, please come early to the theater box office.

In cooperation with the Evangelische Akademie im Rheinland.