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Is Idolatry Dead? Disenchantment and Misenchantment in the Contemporary World
The 2024 conference explored the question: How is the language of idolatry and enchantment used—and misused—in today's world? We often hear of the contrast between an "enchanted" global South and an increasingly secular and "disenchanted" North. At the same time, however, Pope Francis has revived idolatry critique, focused especially on the false gods of the supposedly secular political economies dominated by the global North. But idolatry critique can be dangerous; colonial powers frequently denigrated indigenous people as idolaters in need of conversion. Speakers came together to address the following topics:
- Colonialism and idolatry critique
- Enchantment, disenchantment, and misenchantment in the global North and global South
- Scriptural and theological reflection on idolatry
- Naming today's idols
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