Symposium 2002:

Past Approaches,

Present Globalisation,

Future Challenges.

An international symposium organized by the Macau Ricci Institute and the Instituto do Oriente (academic center of research of the Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa), to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552) in China (on 上川 Shangchuan Island, 廣東 Guangdong Province).

Dates: November 28-29, 2002 - Venue: Pousada de Mongha, Macau.
Language: Chinese (Putonghua) or English.

Presentation

The eleven years (1541-1552) that the Spanish Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier spent in Asia were years of intense " European Renaissance " and religious controversies. At that time, Europe, although being primarily concerned by the rediscovery of the antique roots of its culture, ventured nevertheless East and West across the seas in search for new "discoveries" in the World - and for new markets.

Man of his time, Xavier, only after he reached Japan in 1549, realized that, for the Christian faith to grow in any place, it must equally respect local cultural roots. For his actions and words to bear fruit in Japan, he had first to go to China.

Francis Xavier's "awakening" continues, in various ways, to challenge present day research on "Religion and Culture" - all the more so through two facts: in today's "Global Village", local cultures struggle to survive and the "search for meaning" remains widely spread.

Main Themes for more specific Topics:

European Renaissance at a price: global expansion. Studies of some historical cases in Asia.

Bitter lessons in Asia of a mercantilist civilisation. Analysis of some historical periods.

Present day encounter of cultures in Asia and the role of world religions: seeds of cultural harmony or germs of cultural conflicts?

Future challenges in a Global Village: factors that could shape the future of Asia and the ways of channeling them.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

On Saturday, November 30, and Sunday, December 1st, as a conclusion to the symposium,
a visit to 上川 Shangchuan Island is to be organized. All registered participants to the Symposium are cordially invited to join and will later receive more detailed information.