The Relevance of an Exhibition on Religion to Contemporary Society (In French)
Mathieu Boisvert, Professor, Department of Religious Studies
Université du Québec à Montréal
In the eyes of a society often described as “post-modern”, religion is usually seen as a remnant of the past, a category limited to developing societies that have not yet matured enough for a separation of Church and State. This discussion is aimed at defining the thorny issue of religion, while demonstrating that religious expression is not always limited to the “spiritual” realm, and suggesting that religion has always been—and will remain for society as a whole—an important vector of identity.
What are the tangible functions of religious identity? Which identities are the primary forces at play on the global stage of our contemporary world? What are the discourses and counter-discourses—both internal and external—that define these identities? What are the dynamics between these various discourses and discussions? Approaching the topic from a sociological rather than religious perspective, Boisvert demonstrates the importance of religion in terms of our relationship to the world, and in terms of our relationships with one another.
Mathieu Boisvert
Mathieu Boisvert has been a professor of Religious Studies at the Université du Québec à Montréal since 1992. He has a doctorate in religious studies from McGill University (1992), an M.A. in South Asian Studies from the University of Toronto (1987), and a diploma in the Pali language from the University of Mumbai (1985). He has edited several works, including the three volumes of Un monde de religions (Presses de l’Université du Québec). His current interests include the phenomenon of pilgrimage and ethno-religious identity in Canada.
The tradition of research at the Canadian Museum of Civilization dates back 100 years, when its forerunner — the Anthropology Division of the Geological Survey of Canada — was established. For the past 20 years, members of the Museum’s curatorial staff have hosted lunchtime conferences with a view to exchanging ideas, collections and questions with fellow researchers and Museum visitors. This winter’s line-up features several distinguished speakers, chosen from among the Museum's curators and research fellows. We welcome one and all to these lectures — pull up a chair, indulge your mind, speak your piece. Each presentation lasts 30 minutes, and is followed by a question-and-answer period.
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