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Category: English posts

Easter gardens and Christmas trees

By Fridus Steijlen – In Ambon, Fridus Steijlen observed Taman Paskah, public religious displays commemorating Easter, with symbolic crosses and caves. These were contrasted with secular Christmas decorations, subtly blending Christian and local traditions. As Easter approaches, religious symbols replace Christmas ones, reflecting the community’s deep Christian faith and the social significance of these holidays.

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Religion has left the hospital: the uneasy silence of professionalization

By Peter Versteeg – Have you ever wondered why something happened to you? I hope you haven’t because this question often arises when people are faced with something really serious, such as a severe illness or a traumatic event. But what is the nature of this “why” question? Does it seek a philosophical answer or is it an emotional outburst that cannot be answered?

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Two years after Myanmar’s military coup survivors of Rohingya genocide and victims of post-coup atrocities file joint complaint

By Maaike Matelski – On 8 December 2022, Nickey Diamond visited the VU for two lectures. Nickey is an activist from Myanmar who recently started a PhD in Anthropology at the University of Konstanz, where…

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Pardoning the innocent: the early modern witch hunt as traumatic heritage?

A History Month (Maand van de Geschiedenis) contribution by Peter Versteeg – We live in a time when calls for public apologies for all kinds of historical wrongs are everyday business. Recent attention to victims…

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