Abstract
This case-study discusses the House of Literature in Oslo as a venue for interreligious dialogue in a Norwegian context. Our research has taken a closer look at spatial dimensions of a venue frequently used for interreligious dialogues. The House of Literature is perceived by some organisers as a neutral space when it comes to religious and life-stance positions and therefore appropriate for interreligious activity, but is it neutral in terms of other factors which are important in engaging people in the city in dialogue? This case investigates the house as a physical construct and examines a selection of activities held in 2014. Not all the activities mentioned could be termed as interreligious dialogues as such, even though they touch upon themes concerning religion and existential questions. Using the categories of materalisation, abstraction, socialisation, occupation and temporalisation as analytical tools, the case study argues for a finely meshed understanding of what makes a venue for interreligious neutral and inclusive.
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References
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Husebø, D., Johannessen, Ø.L. (2019). Case Study 6: The House of Literature in Oslo. In: Ipgrave, J. (eds) Interreligious Engagement in Urban Spaces. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16796-7_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16796-7_14
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