23 - 27 June 2025

Conference on religious dialogue scrutinized also spatial and mapping aspects

by Reet Hiiemäe

In 23-27 June 2025 the Third World Conference of Religious Dialogue and Cooperation was held in Krushevo (North Macedonia) with the subtitle “Religion and the Contemporary Phase of Globalization: Possibilities and Challenges.” In her presentation “Revisiting spatial turn in religion: the example of mental mapping of environmental health crises” our Estonian team member Reet Hiiemäe explored the importance of spatial thinking and related mental mapping in the context of various past and present crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and Hurricane Katrina. Drawing on her experience from the project CHRYSES, Reet highlighted the importance of religiously informed mental maps in shaping responses to environmental health crises. She identified key factors that have fostered interfaith cooperation during several major crises. Reet emphasized the need for more systematic research to critically evaluate the post-disaster relief efforts carried out by faith and interfaith organizations, particularly in relation to their spatial outputs (such as the dynamics of neighborhood support networks or jointly held commemoration events), to be better prepared for future crises, while recognizing, supporting and enhancing this type of cooperation also at administrative-governmental levels.