UNESCO Chair in Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue
Aim
Improve and promote strategies of leading cross- and inter-cultural dialogues aimed at withstanding any form of discrimination or violence, securing creative patterns existing in the framework of traditional cultures, and contribute to amplification of global culture of peaceful co-existence and sustainable development; improve and promote strategies of leading inter- and pluri-religious dialogues, directed at appeasement of open or latent contradictions, frictions or conflicts between adherents of different religious or spiritual practices, introducing values of these subcultures into comparative scientific research and societal debate; improve and promote transdisciplinary methodologies, regarded as indispensable tools of leading creative and innovative dialogue over traditionally defined and delimited borders between different scientific and/or philosophical disciplines, religious and/or spiritual doctrines, as well as different forms of social activism and inter-communal discourse.
History
The UNESCO Chair in Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue was established in 2000 at the Russian Institute for Cultural Research, Russian Federation.
IRD Activities
- Research – Interfaith Dialogue
Research activities of the UNESCO Chair focusing on interfaith dialogue included “Theoretical foundations of interfaith dialogue”. The project focuses on theoretical foundations of interfaith dialogue for mutual understanding, especially as part of intercultural dialogue between Christianity and Islam
- Interuniversity Exchanges and Partnerships
The UNESCO Chair is linked by steady partnership ties to a variety of research and educational institutions around the globe, providing prompt help and advice in all cases where expertise, counselling and academic cooperation in the organization of inter-religious and multi-cultural meetings, studies and education is necessary. The most fruitful partnerships were however formed in the framework of the newly founded UNESCO/UNITWIN Network on Inter-religious Dialogue for Intercultural Understanding, which was established in presence of our representative as part of the UNESCO flagship activities in March, 2006.
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Eastern Europe - Southern Europe - Western Europe - Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation