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The course introduces the fundamental principles, concepts, and dynamics of migration and diaspora within the context of religion and society, focusing particularly on Eastern Christian communities and their experiences in their regions of origin and across global diasporas. Students explore historical and contemporary patterns of mobility, displacement, and transnationalism, examining how migration shapes religious identity, cultural transformation, language preservation, intergenerational relations, and concepts of home and belonging. Special attention is given to the role of communication and digital media in connecting diaspora communities with their ancestral homelands, creating transnational networks and “virtual homelands,” as well as to media representations of migrants, refugees, and religious minorities. The course also examines the contribution of churches, faith-based organizations, and diaspora networks to social justice, civil society, humanitarian engagement, interfaith dialogue, and just governance. Combining perspectives from migration studies, religious studies, communication science, and social ethics, the course critically reflects on integration and assimilation, secularity and religious persistence, identity and alterity, and the opportunities and challenges facing Eastern Christian communities in increasingly pluralistic and interconnected societies.
The course is taught by Rouba El Helou-Sensinig PhD (ABD) and Prof. Dr. Eugene R. Sensenig. It combines asynchronous learning materials with synchronous online sessions.
The live ZOOM sessions take place on Wednesdays from 16:00 to 18:00 (CET) on the following dates: October 21; November 4; November 18; December 2; December 16; January 13; January 27; February 3.
The course is open to all interested participants, is conducted in English, and participation is free of charge.
To register, please contact: ecsonca(at)ku.de.
