Religion in Plural
This article (in Dutch) forms the theological background of John Veldman’s research into catholic developmentcooperation. Cordaid asked him to explore the fundamental changes and shifts in paradigm within the organisations thinking about religion and development.
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Proselytism
Proselytism confronts Western development workers in various ways. They may be confronted with national and international missionary activities from mostly Christian and Islamic organisations.
On the other hand, Western development workers from Faith Based Organisations may be falsely accused of converting the people they work for.
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International Consultation on "Light Development"
On April 15th 2010 the Knowledge Centre organised an International Consultation on the concept of “Light Development” in The Hague. “Light development” is a new way to structure 3P: People, Planet, Profit.
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Practitioner's guide
The staff of the Knowledge Centre will publish a ‘religion and development practitioner’s guide’ written for Dutch development professionals. By now, it has become clear that religion plays an important role for many people in developing countries. But how does this translate into the daily practice of development cooperation, where mutual understanding is crucial?
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Two symposia on social trust
The Knowledge Centre Religion and Development (KCRD) organised in 2009 two symposia about social trust, related to development work. Social trust is found where people trust the good intentions of others and are confident that others can carry out their intentions within their social and institutional contexts. Experts advised the participants how to give 'hands and feet' to this value.
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Meeting International Advisory Board
The international Advisory Board gathered in the Netherlands in April for their Annual Meeting.
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Studies in Islamic Economics
Islamic University Rotterdam (partner organisation of the Knowledge Centre) published the book: “Studies in Islamic Economics”, edited by the IUR rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akgündüz.
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News from the KCRD Staff
Louke van Wensveen
At the end of April, our dear colleague and staff member Louke van Wensveen left the Knowledge Centre (and Oikos) in order to become local councillor in Brummen (NL).
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Responding to Climate Change: Religion and Southern Perspectives on Light Development
July 2009, the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development organized an international panel on religion, development, and climate change. The panel took place at the University of Amsterdam. It was part of the conference 'Religion, Nature, and Progress', an initiative of the International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture. 'Responding to Climate Change: Religion and Southern Perspectives on Light Development,' was the title of the panel.
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Religious Rituals and Social Capital Formation
Foot washing before the Lord’s Supper: in African Independent Churches this ritual has everything to do with development. During a presentation for the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development, South African theologian Cas Wepener explained how.
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Handvest voor Compassie (Charter of Compassion)
Het Kenniscentrum Religie en Ontwikkeling was aanwezig bij de presentatie van het Handvest voor Compassie ( Charter for Compassion), op 12 november 2009 in de Mozes- en Aäronkerk te Amsterdam. De Britse schrijfster en religie-expert Karen Armstrong nam het initiatief voor het opstellen van dit handvest, waarvan de wereldwijde presentatie op dezelfde dag plaatsvond op 175 bijeenkomsten in 32 landen.
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Leveraging local pockets of social cohesion and the newly built nation-state: the role of religion
Monday 7 September 2009, Seth Kaplan, author of "Fixing Fragile States. A New Paradigm for Development" (Praeger 2008) visited the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague. A perfect occasion to invite him to present his book to the members of the Knowledge Forum Religion and Development Policy. Sixteen NGO professionals and academics came to ISS to listen to Kaplan and discuss with him his major notions and recommendations.
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Light development as a North South franchise
On July 24 2009, the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development organized a panel discussion on the topic 'Responding to Climate Change: Religion and Southern Perspectives on Light Development'. The panel was part of the conference 'Religion, Nature, and Progress', hosted by the International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture (Amsterdam, July 23-26 2009).
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Lecture professor Gerrie ter Haar and booklets on the occasion of 10 years Chair Religion and Development ISS
“Who’s afraid of religion?” With this triggering question, Professor Gerrie ter Haar closed the celebrative symposium on the occasion of 10 years Chair Religion and Development at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague (11 June 2009). Please read her full presentation here.
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Oikos symposia on Social Trust
In the context of the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development, Oikos organized two symposia on Social Trust as an immaterial value in development cooperation. The report of the first symposium (in Dutch) can be read here.
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Lecture: The development of a Dutch Islam
Welmoet Boender, staff member of the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development, was invited to speak at the conference 40 years of Marrocan emigration to Holland, which was held in Rabat, Maroc last May. She presented a paper there: The Development of a Dutch Islam.
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Religion as instrument for development
In the Dutch magazine "Religie en Samenleving", an article was published on Religion as an instrument for development cooperation (in Dutch). This article was written by David Renkema, co-ordinator of the Knowlede Centre.
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10 jaar Leerstoel Religion and Development
Op 11 juni 2009 bestaat de leerstoel Religion & Development aan het Institute of Social Studies 10 jaar. De leerstoel wordt bezet door Prof. Dr. Gerrie ter Haar. In het afgelopen decennium heeft Ter Haar een verbindende rol gespeeld in het op de agenda zetten van het thema religie in ontwikkeling, als schakel tussen wetenschap, beleid en de praktijk van ontwikkelingssamenwerking.
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Oikos Symposia 2009: Social Trust: Immaterial Value in Development Cooperation (in Dutch): May 14 and June 18, 2009
Social trust is found where people trust the good intentions of others and are confident that others can carry out their good intentions within their social and institutional contexts. The importance of social trust for relationships and effective cooperation in development contexts needs no argument. But how do we ‘give hands and feet’ to this essential, but immaterial value?
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Panel on Religion and Climate Change at ISSRNC conference July 24
This summer, the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development will organize a panel on the topic 'Responding to Climate Change: Religion and Southern Perspectives on Integral Development'.
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Policy dialogue with minister Koenders of Development Cooperation on Fragile States
We can look back upon a constructive policy dialogue between Minister Bert Koenders of Development Cooperation and the NGO members of the Knowledge Forum Religion and Development Policy, which took place on April 2, 2009. All participants, including the Minister, agreed about the importance of understanding the role of religion and religious actors in the context of fragile states.
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Journey to Aceh
In March, Welmoet Boender (Knowledge Centre Religion and Development) traveled to Indonesia with Clara van Eijk en Willy Houben (ICCO and KerkinActie), during their semi-annual visit to several partnerorganisations in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.
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Conference Report Religion, Conflict and Development in Fragile States
On 20 november 2008, the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development and IKV Pax Christi organised a conference Religion, Conflict and Development in Fragile States. Please find here the conference report with the main conference findings and summaries of region-specific presentations and discussions (Afghanistan, Great Lakes Region, Israel and Palestine, and Guatemala).
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International conference on Religion, Conflict and Development in Fragile States
At a conference on 20 November 2008, development workers and civil society representatives from the Great Lakes Region, Afghanistan, the Palestinian Territories and Israel discussed with the audience how specific religious resources and risks impact development cooperation and peace building under extreme political conditions.
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Religious Perspectives on Globalisation
The Dutch Social and Economic Council (SER), an advisory board to the Dutch government, recently published the report 'Sustainable globalisation: a World to be won' ( http://www.ser.nl/en.aspx). In response, the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development organised an expert meeting that focused on religious and Southern perspectives on globalisation (26 September 2008).
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Meeting International Advisory Board
In November 2008 our annual meeting with the International Advisory Board took place, following the conference on Fragile States.
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Dialogue with Dutch Political Parties
One specific objective of the Knowledge Centre Religion and Development is to deliver a well-informed contribution to political decision making involving the role of religion in development policy.
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Divali Dinner 2008
Seva Network Foundation (Seva) organised a Divali Dinner on the 7th November 2008 at the Haagse Lobby in The Hague. This dinner is organised every year on the occasion of the Hindu festival Divali.
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The Fourth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue
"While striving for peace and ending poverty, governments should not ignore religious organisations, since these organisations are often capable of reaching the poorest of the poor within a society." This was one of the recommendations from the participants of the Fourth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue.
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Handout Religion and Development available
The chapters of the Handout Religion and Development are now available on this website as pdf files.
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Conference Report Transforming Development is published
The Conference Report Transforming Development. Exploring approaches to development from religious perspectives, held in October 2007 in Soesterberg, is published. You can download the Conference Report here or order the printed version from our office in Utrecht (for € 5,- + postage). It is also available in French and Spanish (only as pdf-downloads).
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Handout Religion and Development
The Knowledge Centre Religion and Development presented a Handout Religion and Development at 11 March 2008 in Utrecht.
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Conference Transforming Development
The Knowledge centre Religion and Development has organised an inspiring conference titled: Transforming Development: Exploring New Approaches to Development from Religious Perspectives". This conference took place from Monday 15 October until Wednesday 17 October 2007 in Soesterberg, The Netherlands.
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Conference Dialogue with Islamic Movements on Democratisation and Human Rights
Dutch development organisations fostering democracy and respect for human rights in the Middle-East and North Africa observe a growing importance of Islamic movements. Dutch NGOs are therefore exploring the options of co-operation with these Islamic movements. The possibility to start a dialogue or co-operate with Islamic movements raises various questions and dilemmas among Dutch organisations. Do all Islamic movements offer valuable reference points? Are they suitable allies to work on democratization and human rights? Is it perhaps naïve - as has been written in Dutch newspapers over the last months - to believe in such a cooperation? Or is it naive not to believe in such dialogue and cooperation? Who should you talk to and who should you not talk to?
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