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
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.FWO scholarship granted to Niels De Nutte
Our member Niels De Nutte was recently granted a special PhD scholarship by the FWO (National Research Foundation). This full-time grant allows Niels to finish his PhD work as part of our research group from November 2023 untill the end of October 2024. Congratulations!succesful PhD defense Sofia Nikitaki
We are happy to announce that SSAB member Sofia Nikitaki (KU Leuven Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies) has successfully defended her PhD thesis on Monday, 3rd July 2023, in Auditorium Wolfspoort in Leuven.
Events
- Practical info-
SSAB-dag 2023
On 7 February, wel host the first annual SSAB-day, in which research will be presented and discussed. This day will be held in Mechelen. The details are as follows:
- Practical info-
Open lecture: The Intellectual History of Atheism in Sweden
This lecture, by dr. Anton Jansson, is held as part of the course on the history of freethought and secular humanism in Belgium in the postgraduate program Praktisch Humanisme. dr. Jansson holds this lecture as part of his stay in SSAB in the framework of a Eutopia Alliance exchange.
- Practical info
Inaugurale lezing Verhaegen-leerstoel VUB-ULB 2023: The Genesis of the 1723 Constitutions of the Free-Masons
Graag nodigen we U uit op de VUB-ULB Verhaegen-leerstoel 2023, getiteld The Genesis of the 1723 Constitutions of the Free-Masons