The UNIC Virtual Conference 2025, titled Theology in Times of Crisis: Bochum-Zagreb
Dialogue, took place on January 17, 2025, online via Zoom. The conference was organized by
Ana Thea Filipović (Professor of Religious Education & Catechetics / Zagreb), Bernhard
Grümme (Professor of Religious Education & Catechetics / Bochum), Branko Murić (Professor
of Fundamental Theology / Zagreb), and Vito Alexander Vasser Santos Batista (Research
Associate in Religious Education & Catechetics / Bochum). It was supported by the university
program UNIC@RUB, which fosters the development and expansion of digital teaching
opportunities (Virtual Mobility/Virtual Exchange) in international collaboration. In this case,
the existing international partnership between the Catholic theological faculties in Bochum and
Zagreb was further intensified and expanded.
The conference was open to students and doctoral candidates from both universities as part of
their curriculum and aimed to reflect on current theological issues in times of crisis. At the same
time, it sought to strengthen the connection and collaboration between the faculties and
universities through a comparative and joint approach. This goal, which had been
communicated to students during preparatory sessions, was highlighted once again by Branko
Murić, who delivered an introductory plea for the event.
It would be rather unusual for an international conference to run completely smoothly, and this
event was no exception. Last-minute changes were necessary as a planned contribution on the
topic “Ministries for Women in the Catholic Church? Reflection on the Synodal Path and the
Synod on Synodality” had to be canceled due to illness. A complete restructuring of the program
was not feasible in such a short time, so the originally planned first presentation, which was
canceled, was replaced by a contribution from Vito Alexander Vasser Santos Batista: Dussel’s
liberation as resistance: Theology, philosophy, and decoloniality in the fight against exclusion.
This lecture offered an initial approach to Theology in Times of Crisis by formulating
philosophical-historical and theological responses to the neocolonial challenges of our time,
drawing on Dussel’s work. In a complex world where neocolonial and neo-imperial power
fantasies persist, Dussel provides a sense of orientation. This is particularly evident in the
context of the neocolonial (or neo-imperial) war being waged by Russia on Ukrainian territory,
as well as in the colonial claims made by the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump,
regarding Greenland and Panama.
Another contribution to the conference that generated great interest was the presentation by Eric
Johannes Machoczek: The role of the Catholic Church in the ecological crisis: Theological
perspectives on climate change and stewardship. His lecture examined the role of the Catholic
Church in addressing the ecological crisis and highlighted theological perspectives on climate
change and responsibility. Drawing on key Church teachings, such as Laudato Si, he
emphasized humanity’s moral responsibility to preserve creation as a gift from God. The
presentation explored Church-led initiatives – from global engagement to local actions – and
called for ecological conversion, sustainable lifestyles, and collective action. In conclusion, the
contribution conveyed the hope that faith and solidarity could serve as significant sources of
inspiration for protecting our common home.
Following Eric Johannes Machoczek's presentation, Lorenz Wagner delivered his talk,
Encouraging interreligious dialogue through religious education. In his presentation, Wagner
emphasized the growing relevance of interreligious dialogue, particularly against the backdrop
of increasing religious diversity in contemporary society. He argued that such dialogue not only
provides orientation in a pluralistic world but also promotes harmonious coexistence among
different religions. Wagner explored existing approaches in Germany to address religious
pluralization, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. At the same time, he highlighted the
need for further improvements in this area. Among his suggestions were integrating
interreligious dialogue more deeply into teacher training, designing interreligious teaching
methods, and involving students directly in conversations with members of other religions.
After Wagner's lecture, Selina Köhler presented her talk titled Superdiversity by Steven
Vertovec: A fruitful perspective for catholic religious education. Superdiversity, a concept
introduced by Steven Vertovec in 2007, critiques traditional multiculturalism by highlighting
the complexity and dynamism of modern societies. Köhler demonstrated how dimensions such
as language, religion, migration, gender, and transnationalism interact with one another. She
argued that superdiversity offers a valuable perspective for Catholic religious education as it
expands the understanding of heterogeneity, reflects religious plurality, fosters dialogue, and
can be effectively integrated into teaching.
Another noteworthy contribution was presented by Patrick Glodek in his lecture Reconciliation
and peacebuilding: Theological responses to war and conflict. Glodek underlined the urgency
of reconciliation in contemporary conflicts, particularly in the context of Ukraine and the
tensions between Israel and Palestine. Rooted in the theological conviction that God Himself
embodies reconciliation, and with the cross as a symbol of forgiveness and justice, Glodek
highlighted the central role of the Church. He elaborated on how prayer, humanitarian aid, and
interreligious dialogue significantly contribute to peacebuilding efforts. At the same time, he
addressed the challenge of balancing justice and forgiveness. Reconciliation was described as
a divine mandate requiring courage, humility, and hope in God’s ultimate plan for peace.
Following Glodek, Manuel Hartmann delivered his presentation, Non-Denominationals and the
Holy Bible – Theology with nones? Hartmann explored the declining familiarity of the Nones
(those without religious affiliation) with the Bible and its theological core, raising the question
of how theology can engage with the non-affiliated. He emphasized that this is not just about
imparting ethical and historical knowledge but also about enabling the Nones to critically reflect
on their own beliefs in light of the Christian faith. The goal, he explained, is to equip them with
linguistic proficiency, dialogical argumentation skills, and a deeper understanding of Christian
theology. Theology, he argued, can be practiced by Nones as long as it is grounded in a religious
framework. However, the Nones themselves neither need to share nor practice this faith to
engage with it theologically or biblically.
Following Hartmann, Marko Grčević delivered his talk titled Nurture of sensitivity for
diversity: Ecumenical and interreligious learning in religious education in Croatia. Grčević
addressed the challenges of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue in Croatia, which he vividly
described as “trenches of confessional solipsism”. Despite this context, he offered perspectives
for advancing ecumenical and interreligious relations, with particular emphasis on the central
role of religious education in fostering sensitivity to diversity. This, he argued, could help build
bridges of understanding and cooperation in the long term.
Next, Rev. Hierodeacon Methodios (Pranić) presented his lecture, Becoming more than human:
Theosis and transhumanism in the modern world. In his talk, Pranić examined the contrasting
notions of human transformation as represented by Orthodox Christian theosis and secular
transhumanism. While theosis focuses on divine grace, community, participation in the
Church’s liturgical life, and spiritual growth as the path to fulfilling human destiny,
transhumanism aims to transcend biological limitations and pursue immortality through
technology. Though both approaches share the goal of alleviating human suffering, they differ
fundamentally in their principles. Pranić also explored ethical questions related to the
integration of technology within an Orthodox theological framework and presented theological
responses to the challenges posed by transhumanist aspirations.
After discussions on ecumenical and interreligious learning, Marija Hardi presented her lecture
titled Confronting atheism in the thought of Bishop J. J. Strossmayer and the relevance of his
message today. She explored the life and intellectual legacy of Bishop Joseph Juraj
Strossmayer, a key figure in modern Croatian society. She highlighted his challenges with
atheism, a major 19th-century issue. Her presentation examined how Strossmayer’s methods
and reasoning against atheism are still relevant today, particularly in interpreting contemporary
Signs of the Times, providing a historical perspective on theological responses to societal
challenges.
In conclusion, the conference provided numerous opportunities for discussion following each
presentation, allowing participants to share their perspectives and gain deeper insights. To close
the event, Branko Murić, Bernhard Grümme, and Ana Thea Filipović summarized the key
takeaways. They highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary and international collaboration
for theology in times of crisis and pointed toward future prospects.
A central outcome of the conference was the recognition of how valuable exchanges across
national, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries can be, particularly in light of the pressing global
challenges of our time. The event demonstrated that the dialogue between the Catholic
theological faculties in Bochum and Zagreb is not only productive but also holds immense
potential for further intensification of cooperation.
In this spirit, the existing partnership is not only to be continued but also expanded and
deepened. Plans include strengthening international collaboration through regular conferences
and joint research projects. A concrete step in this direction is the preparation of a joint
publication, which aims to make the conference outcomes as well as additional contributions
accessible to a broader audience.
The conference was, therefore, not only a great success but also a strong signal for the future.
It underscored how theology, through international exchange and collaborative solidarity, can
provide valuable impulses for addressing complex global challenges. The cooperation between
Bochum and Zagreb will continue with the aim of opening up new spaces for intercultural and
interdisciplinary dialogue and realizing joint projects.
Alexander Vasser Santos Batista
Research Associate in Religious Education and Catechetics at Ruhr University Bochum