IKETH Annual Conference 26-29 April 2018, Omis, Croatia

Sharing lives, love and security. Transforming relationships in changing societies

IKETH Conference April 26th-29th 2017

Experiences…

Traditional structures of relationships, namely of family, are changing. The reasons for that are several societal developments such as migration, increasing and as well decreasing female education standards and women’s employment or changes of political and economic systems.

Discussing this in a European setting, we realize there are different perceptions of this situation: While many women in middle and northern European societies feel encouraged for deciding in which relationships they want to live above traditional family structures, women especially from south-eastern European countries - namely from Ex-Yugoslavia – suffer from breaking family-bonding. Moreover, for many women losing family-structures implies serious threats to their economic, social and mental welfare.

Considering the different social and economic European contexts in which these changes take place and where we live, a lot of differences and questions rise.

Questions…

_ As already noticed the transformations of traditional relationships and communities bear different meanings for women in various European contexts. Any survey of this has to be very sensible and thoroughly in perception and interpretation.

_ Differences also show that we do not have the same desires and longings for strengthening and salvaging relationships. Do we share same values?

_ In which ways are religions and religious values helpful to follow our desires and in which ways are they not? Which hermeneutical and moral presuppositions do we have to consider?

These and more questions draw a colourful picture of longings and visions of helpful, lively relationships.

Conference aims…

Jewish, Christian, and Muslim speakers will share their studies and experiences in lectures and workshops. The aim is clarifying our own values, desires, and visions, and disclosing possibilities for sharing in interfaith and intercultural dialogue settings.

We will share this sensitive topic in an atmosphere of mutual confidence and radical respect, in different theoretical and practical approaches. We are aware of the varieties of possible answers and support diverse solutions to these questions. We will work in an attitude of “hospitality for ambiguities” to set another step mutual understanding and in peacebuilding.

The Ecumenical Women’s Initiative (EWI) in Croatia will be our partners and we will visit their partners and project in the country.