Religion in Intellectual History

The Inaugural Religion in Intellectual History Symposium will take place on Tuesday 5 May 2026. The symposium will be held in person at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge. This year, our theme is Faith and Modernity. If you are interested in attending, please fill in the form below. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We will be in touch with further details soon.

12:30-13:00: Symposium Registration (tea and coffee provided)

Opening remarks by James Dilley (Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge)

1300-14:30: Faith and Modernity in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, Chaired by Cameron Bowman (Keble College, Oxford) 

Ann Thomson (EUI): 'Religion, laïcité and Enlightenment'
Jessica Patterson (Trinity Hall, Cambridge): 'Dissenting Religion and the Politics of Empire in the Eighteenth Century'

14:30-15:00: Break 

15:00-16:30: Faith and Modernity in the Twentieth Century, Chaired by James Dilley (Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge) 

Joshua Bennett (Oxford): TBC 
Samuel Zeitlin (UCL): 'Carl Schmitt in Franco's Spain, 1962'

16:30-17:00 Break 

17:00-18:00: Keynote Address

John Coffey (University of Leicester): 'Intellectual History and the Return of Religion'

18:00: Drinks Reception 

For any queries about the symposium or call for papers please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]