Religion and Aesthetics

Aesthetic considerations have frequently played an important role within various religious traditions. For example, certain religious doctrines ascribe beauty to God, to various religious exemplars, and even to the cosmos itself. Similarly, various religious practices and rituals involve the use of music, dance, and architecture (alongside a variety of other artistic elements). Further, the world’s religions have inspired the creation of innumerable great artworks across a range of forms and genres. These fundamental connections between the religious and the aesthetic have, however, been somewhat neglected of late and are therefore ripe for sustained investigation, which this conference aims to promote. The conference will bring together both aestheticians and philosophers with expertise and interest in various religious traditions to consider the many ways that aesthetic and religious values, practices, and experiences might relate to one another.

To register please visit http://store.nottingham.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/conferences/schools-and-departments/humanities/religion-and-aesthetics-conference. Some funding is available to defray the costs for postgraduate students. Please direct any queries to [email protected] or [email protected]. 

Confired speakers include

• David E. Cooper (Durham)
• Ian James Kidd (Nottingham)
• Jon Robson (Nottingham)
• Tasia Scruton (Leeds)
• Mark Wynn (Leeds)

We are grateful to the British Society of Aesthetics for their generous funding for this event.