In Nîmes, the Popular University of Religions wants everyone to study the religious fact
“The religious fact is an object of knowledge. Studying it, in an exceeded way, is a necessity. »» This is the conviction of François Clavairoly, pastor and former president of the Protestant Federation of France (FPF). And it is on this promise that has just been founded, in Nîmes (Gard), the Popular University of Religions. This secular university – association law 1901 – bet on the learning of religion and aims at “Offer keys to understanding everyone to understand the spiritual diversity that shapes our societies”specifies Claire des Mesnards, initiator of the project and president of the association. This university is based on a scientific and ethical committee made up of researchers, religious facts and academics.
“In the country of secularism, one hundred and twenty years after the law of 1905notes Joffrey-Pierre Soulages, co-founder, Confusion has settled. As soon as we consider that secularism is the absence of sacred, one obtains a fractured society, losing bearings. Allowing everyone an access to knowledge of cults, under the prism of scientific and academic rigor, is our modest contribution to redo society. »»
Over several cycles,, The popular university is materialized by lectures, interactive workshops, cultural visits, meetings. With a watchword: the requirement of a teaching provided in different educational formats. “You have to learn to read a religious text without wondering if you believe it or not, learn to observe a church, a mosque, a synagogue, a temple”quotes Father Christian Salenson, priest of the Nîmes diocese and founding member.
Widen the public
Begun in March, the first courses, which take place in various places in the city, attracted around 80 participants, including people interested in their own religion, others by the faith of the other, or even curious non-believers.
How to convince more broadly the interest of studying religious fact? University members give themselves time to expand the Circle of students. “The challenge is also to reach people with responsibilities, elected officials, opinion leaders, magistrates, journalists, doctors, teachers”lists François Clavairoly. “Faced with the return in force of the spiritual, sometimes in places that do not have a safeguard, it is necessary to be able to give benchmarks to people so that they have alarm signals which are triggered if they hear enclosing, even sectarian speeches”underlines Claire des Mesnards.
Popular, this university wants to be by its accessibility and by a “Popularization” of religious fact. “When I speak of Muslim worship, I approach the five pillars of Islam, the founding texts, the philosophy of Averroès …explains Mohammed El Mahdi Krabch, founding member, theologian, for whom this university responds to a request from citizens. Theology is a rigorous discipline. This requires us to simplify texts, without caricaturing them, with clear words and sentences. »» Each text is then validated by the scientific and ethical committee.
Religions, a “meaningful resource” for the Republic
Can filling the ignorances of religious facts improve the relations between citizens, believers or non-believers? “Religions can give breath to the Republic. They are a meaningful resource. The roots of society and the republic are religious, even before the Republic exists,, It is Islam, Christianity, Judaism. »»
Deeply rooted in republican values, this popular university seeks, “Without proselytism”to explain religions. “The Republicexplains Philippe Corcuff, founding member, who defines himself as agnostic and anarchist, must be able to rely on the spiritual in the sense that he is the link between the interior of each citizen and the common base. It is this link that allows the collective to exist. »» He continues: “In our current society there is intolerant use of secularism by people I call Laïcards, who slow down the teaching of the religious fact. We allow ourselves to do so as part of this university. »» In Nîmes, and perhaps, tomorrow, elsewhere.
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The cycles of the Popular University of Nîmes began with a first session on the founding texts of religions.
She is assured Every Wednesday, excluding school holidaysby Céline Rohmer, theologian from Nîmes, lecturer in New Testament. The following cycles, under development, will deal with “reason and faith”, “ethics”, or even “art and religions”.
A membership (€ 20) to the association is requested, engaging the participants to respect the principles of non-prosélytismto cultivate dialogue and tolerance ([email protected]).
