The Vrije Universiteit Brussel has a strong and longstanding expertise on secular thought, in historical as well as contemporary perspectives. This is rooted in the basic principle of the university, the principle of free inquiry (vrij onderzoek), which unites scientists from the exact and human sciences alike. The newly established Secular Studies Association Brussel (SSAB) unites the academics as the Center for the Study of the Enlightenment and Free Thought once did. The present core of the new research group is still to be found in the humanities, with researchers from the departments of history, philosophy, the law faculty and the faculty of psychology and education. We warmly welcome contributions made by other disciplines. As such our approach to secular studies is purposely broad.
We are convinced that research into the growing group of seculars in society should become a spearhead of our university, able to collaborate on an equal footing with analogous foreign researchers and institutes. These collaborations or partnerships can provide a platform able to connect with a society that is increasing in diversity, but where the, broadly defined, secular profile is still little known.
Recent news
Onderzoek naar seculariteit en samenleving. De eerste SSAB-dag
Op woensdag 7 februari 2024 vond de eerste SSAB-dag plaats in het Vrijzinnig Centrum De Schakel in Mechelen. De dag begon met een planningsvergadering voor onderzoek, waarbij ook erfgoedpartners Liberas en CAVA hun (onderzoeks)plannen voor de beleidsperiode 2024-2028 uiteenzetten.Transnational Scholars : Research Mobility and Knowledge Production in Religious Studies
On 8th December, our colleagues from the CIERL at the Université Libre De Bruxelles organise a workshop on the challenges we face as scholars of religious and secular studies when our research set up contains transnational perspectives. Two of our members will participate in this free event.
Events
- Practical info-
Multidisciplinary SSAB-Workshop: "Secularising/secularised Cities” (Eutopia event)
In this workshop, scholars from different disciplines (literature studies, ecofeminism, aesthetics and urban studies) discuss the complex phenomenon of the reciprocal influence between individuals and urban culture and disciplinin
- Practical info-
Biography and Secularism (Eutopia event)
From 22-23 March, we will hold the first activity in the wider project of 'Biography and Secularism'.
- Practical info-
religie of moraal anno 2024
Op zaterdag 23 maart 2024 van 9.30u tot +/- 15.00u verwelkomen wij alle geïnteresseerden in de Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België vo