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New religiosity and sustainable food cultures  

Friday 30 May 10:30am-3:30pm BST

A one-day seminar with hybrid participation
King’s College London and Online

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This seminar examines the plural responses, reactions and new directions coming from religious and spiritual communities in response to contemporary sustainable food practices.

Creating a more perfect world is a fundamental aspect of religious innovation and reinvention. Food cultures are often central to this project. What one eats, how the food is sourced, how one eats, and who one eats with are all fundamental elements in the way that human religious communities define themselves and seek to influence outside cultures. Religious calls for more sustainable, ethical food practices are nothing new. But with the current climate crisis, such practices are reaching more into mainstream cultures. 

The day aims to bring together academics and religious communities, asking them to consider how do religious and spiritual communities respond to, address or indeed resist societal transitions to sustainable food. We are particularly interested in the ways in which they integrate carbon literacy concerning food in their teaching and practices. Moreover, we invite contributors to reflect on some of the central challenges, developments and trends that come with these transformations. 

Programme 

 

10.30am-11.00am Registration 

11.00am-11.15am Welcome and Introductions 

11.15am-12.30pm Session 1 

11.15am-11.30am Dr. Ellie Atayee-Bennett, Southampton Solent University Faith Veganism: Rearticulating Religion through Sustainable Food Practice 

11.30am-11.45am Victoria Addinall, Independent researcher – A visit to The Eustace Miles: exploring the convergence of vegetarianism, health and new ideals at the turn of the century 

11.45am-12.00pm Lutfi Radwan, Willowbrook Farm – Stewardship responsibility and balance: an Islamic antidote to wreckless consumerism 

12.00pm-12.15pm Ginny M. Daley, Independent researcher and Green Christian – Vegan feasts or a battle for oat milk? The impacts of ingroup norms on low-carbon diets in the church 

12.15pm-12.30pm Dr. Jim Hague and Dr. Maria Nita, The Open University – Cultural dialogue on cultivated meat 

12.30pm-12.35pm reflections by Dr. Maria Nita 

12.35pm-1.30pm Lunch 

1.30pm-2.45pm Session 2 

1.30pm-1.45pm Dr. Martin Wood, University of Gloucestershire – Food For All: Pop-up Prasadam 

1.45pm-2.00pm Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen, Independent researcher and Pagan – Euro-Animist Relating to Food (online) 

2.00pm-2.15pm Talia Chain, Sadeh Farm – Rooted in the Land: Jewish Agricultural Traditions for a Sustainable Future(online) 

2.15pm-2.30pm Dr. Hilde Capparella, RMUK InI Food Bank - ‘Ital is Vital’: Rastafari sustainability practices in South London 

2.30pm-2.45pm Dr. Stephen Jacobs, University of Wolverhampton – Yogic diets, personal wellbeing and sustainability 

2.45pm-2.50pm reflections by Dr. Maria Nita 

2.50pm-3.30pm Panel discussion with all speakers 

Seminar is hosted by INFORM and funded by the Centre of Global Challenges and Social Justice at the Open University.

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Inform is a registered charity, no. 801729. Company no. 2346855. Terms and Conditions

Inform is a registered charity, no. 801729. Company no. 2346855. Terms and Conditions