Honne Conference Hotel, Biri > 21 – 23 October 2024
Existential approaches to Health, Culture, Religion/Spirituality, and Ecology
What does it mean to be human in a time of crises?
The purpose of the conference is to be a Nordic interdisciplinary meeting place for existentially oriented research on health, culture, religion, spirituality, ecology and other related fields. Existential approaches are on the agenda and vital within a number of disciplines and practices. The idea behind this conference is that we can meet, tell each other about our research, learn from each other, and together contribute to further research and knowledge development in our related fields.
The conferences builds on the psychology of religion conferences, which have been arranged annually since 2007. This year, the conference asks what it means to be human in a time of crises. This relates to the global situation of war and ecological threats, as well as to individual human crises associated with illness or other forms of suffering. However, all themes within the broad spectrum of existential approaches are welcome for presentations at the conference.
We are pleased to announce that professor Pehr Granqvist at Stockholm University will have the opening lecture on “Attachment, spiritual experiences, and psychedelic science”. For more information: Pehr Granqvist – Stockholm University (su.se).
Professor and psychiatrist Neil Krishan Aggarwal from New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Medical Centre talks about “The importance of cultural and existential information for diagnostics and treatment planning”. For more information: Neil Krishan Aggarwal | Columbia University
Professor in systematic theology Jan-Olav Henriksen will give a lecture about “Religion, solidarity, and response-ability in times of crisis”. The climate crisis calls for long-term responses and global solidarity. How can religion contribute to this, and what aspects of a theological understanding of what it means to be human need to be addressed and brought to light to secure a response that will not lead to “burn-out activism”. This lecture will address possible conditions for a solidarity that includes every living being on the planet, and argue that experiences that are mediated by sensual, emotional, and cognitive engagement with nature are of crucial importance to make this happen. Thereby, it is also possible to counter emotions of fear and helplessness and the temptation to defer the necessary means for facing the crisis. Jan-Olav Henriksen | MF School of Theology (mf.no).
Associate professor and Deputy head, School of Theology, University of Eastern Finland will speak about “navigating existential crises in nursing homes and share viewpoints from the perspective of caregiver competence”. Suvi-Maria Saarelainen | University of Eastern Finland
Paper, panel, posters
Panels
Panel 1: “Existentially healthy societies and the awareness of death”, Tatjana Schnell (MF vitenskapelig høyskole), Peter la Cour, Christina Prinds, Christiaan Rhodius
Panel 2: “How do chaplains and psychologists work (best together) to reach people in times of crisis?”, Heidi F. Pedersen (Faculty of Health, Aarhus University), Aida H. Andersen, Karsten Thomsen
Papers
Paper session 1: Death, bereavement, existential health
“Meaningful Deathscapes”, Auli Vähäkangas, University of Helsinki
“Life vitality – a concept with a possible potential in the understanding of suicide and suicide prevention”, Mari Pettersvold, University of South-Eastern Norway
“Exploring Sibling Bereavement Bonds Through Supernatural Experiences among Finns”, Milla Korkalainen (University of Helsinki), Auli Vähäkangas, Anna Liisa Aho, Suvi-Maria Saarelainen
“Existential Dialogues in Mental Healthcare Chaplaincy relating to Patients at Risk of Suicide. Pluralistic and Interdisciplinary Perspectives”, Ane Inger Bondahl Søberg, Innlandet Hospital Trust
Paper session 2: Environment, community and nature
“Existential crisis as gateway to what it means to be human: Kierkegaard’s remedy against (suicidal) despair”, Almut Furchert, The Hong Kierkegaard Library, Center for Research and Publication, Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN, USA / Independent Scholar / Private Practice
“Can good neighbours save the world? Bottom-up hope in community initiatives for sustainability”, Hildegunn Marie Tønnessen Seip, Ansgar University College
“Love, Personhood and Ecological Awareness: Renewing Psychology in a Planetary Age”, Gunnar Gjermundsen, psychologist, PhD fellow, Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo
“Meaning and mental health if connected and attached to decaying nature and place”, Sindre Cottis Hoff, NTNU
Paper session 3: Dementia, nursing homes and existential health
“Meaning in life and the experience of time as it passes by for people living with dementia”, Knut Hestad, Innlandet Hospital Trust
“Meaning in life in persons with severe dementia”, Tor-Arne Isene, Research centre for existential health, Innlandet Hospital Trust
“The validity of the Meaning in Life in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia Questionnaire (MIND)”, Torgeir Sørensen, VID Specialized University and Research Centre for Existential Health, Innlandet Hospital Trust
“Physicians’ understandings and experience of advanced care planning in Norwegian nursing homes: a qualitative study”, Liv Ødbehr (RN, PhD, University of Inland Norway), Reidun Hov, Harald Sanaker, Åsa Serholt Jensen. Aina Korup, Tuva Sandsdalen
Paper session 4: Medication, therapy, eco-grief, existential health
“Downsizing psychotropic medication: Patients’ quests for existential health”, Stine Madsen Kvaløy, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
“Psilocybin-Assisted Group vs. Individual Therapy in Cancer Survivorship”, Anja Hallan-Wolff & Ida Falchenberg Espensen, AFS, Innlandet Hospital Trust
“Existential climate and disaster fear and grief as themes in pastoral care”, Lars Danbolt (Research Centre for Existential Health, Innlandet Hospital Trust), Anne Austad, Hans Stifoss-Hanssen, Anne Hege Grung
Paper session 5: Religious affiliation, stress and meaning
“Existential needs of a client who is in crises after religious disaffiliation”, Maria Björkmark, Åbo Akademi University, Malin Andtfolk, Linda Nyholm
“Religious affiliation and the experience of covid-stress and meaning-in-life – preliminary results”, Cathrine Bang Hellum, Research Centre for Existential Health, Innlandet Hospital Trust
“Meaning of Parenting among Syrian Migrants in Sweden”, Mudar Shakra, Uppsala University
Poster/stand
“Openness about death”, Åsa Serholt Jensen and Reidun Hov, Utviklingssenter for sykehjem og hjemmetjenester, Innlandet
Research groups meetings
Established research groups can ask for time to arrange their own meetings during the conference. It is also possible to have meetings before the program starts Monday morning. The organizers will arrange meeting rooms and other practical issues.
Please fill in the contact form for requests.