Inaugural LERU Theology and Religious Studies Early Career Seminar held in Cambridge

Over forty doctoral and post-doctoral students in all areas of Theology and Religious Studies gathered in the beautiful surroundings of St John’s College, Cambridge, together with some of their professors to participate in the inaugural LERU (League of European Research Universities) TRS early career seminar. Students came from Cambridge, Copenhagen, Freiburg, Geneva, Heidelberg, Helsinki, Leuven, Lund, Munich, Oxford, Sorbonne, Strasbourg, and Zurich. They gave papers on their own research covering topics as diverse as cosmogony in the Nag Hammadi finds, Kierkegaard’s phenomenology of faith, organ donation, religious historiography in Montenegro, the argument from evil, female pastoral care workers, and false prophecy in Jeremiah. As well as presenting their own work they heard presentations on careers outside academia, applying for post-doctoral research funding, EU and UK funding schemes, and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. There were also excursions around the city of Cambridge, to the city’s new mosque and to the Cairo Genizah collection. The new venture was greeted with enthusiasm by all who participated, and the hope is to have a second LERU TRS early career seminar in two years' time.