About

  1. Home
  2. About

About

DialogLab is one of the many activities coming from Templeton project – Faith and Beliefs of „Nonbelievers“. It aims at reaching out and discussing deeper existential and religious topics with the young generation through various and innovative tools. In the framework of the previous Templeton project The Future of Religious Faith, we have discovered that although it is possible to enter dialogue even with very young people, the communication is of a very short time span and limited to a few contributions and comments. Within the framework of this DialogLab, we would also like to address the question of how the young generation can be kept in critical and deeper themes of thinking for a longer period of time.

The aims of this activity

  1. To raise discussion among young generation on belief of believers and belief of „nonbelievers“ via different communication channels, thus inviting „both groups“ to reflect on their own faith and beliefs.
  2. To explore the ways of „deepening the dialogue“ with the young generation on the issue of belief and non-belief.
  3. From the received outputs, we would like to create an archive that remains here as a „testimony to our time.“

Youth Video Contest

  1. In order to participate you must be in the age between 15 – 25 years.
  2. Create a maximum 3-minute-long video answering the contest question: What is your belief? What do you believe in?
  3. Upload the video on YouTube and send the link to projekt.templeton@gmail.com. Please include “DialogLab Contest” as subject of the e-mail.

Timeframe

Call for video applications is open between March 15, 2022 – June 30, 2022
Prize for the most inspiring five videos answering the contest’s question.
All five final contestants will be invited to take part in a final round-table discussion with VIPs from the field of interfaith dialogue.

Main Prizes:

  1. CZK 5,000 Alza Gift Voucher (www.alza.cz)
  2. CZK 3,000 Alza Gift Voucher
  3. CZK 2,000 Alza Gift Voucher
  4. CZK 1,000 Alza Gift Voucher
  5. CZK 500 Alza Gift Voucher

Our Team

Jakub Dostál – Project Coordinator, activist, master’s degree graduate of the Social Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin with a strong interest in interfaith dialogue, humanitarian aid, diplomacy, and politics. Jakub gained an in-depth insight into global social and political context through his professional experience in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Robert Řehák, Ph.D. – Project Coordinator, special Envoy for Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue and Freedom of Religion or Belief with an inter-depth focus on social cultural and inter-religious dialogue between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Specialization in Judaism and Hebrew studies, active as court interpreter in the Hebrew language. Former cultural and press secretary at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tel Aviv (Israel) or at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington D.C. (USA).
Academic Leadership

Mons. prof. PhDr. Tomáš Halík, Th.D. – Academic Leadership, catholic priest, theologian, religionist, sociologist, psychologist, philosopher, professor of sociology of Charles University Prague, pastor of the Academic Parish, and President of the Czech Christian Academy. Lectured at a number of universities and international scientific conferences in Europe, in the USA, in Asia, Australia, Canada and Southern Africa. Visiting professor at Oxford University, Cambridge University and Harvard University. Holder of Templeton prize and several awards for literature, merits for intercultural and interreligious dialogue as well as human rights and spiritual freedom.

Prof. Pavel Hošek, Th.D. – Academic Leadership, head of the department of religion at the Evangelical Theological Faculty of Charles University in Prague and preacher of the Church of the Brethren. Focuses on the relationship between theology and culture. Specializes in the relationship between theology and the science of religion, as well as in interfaith dialogue and interfaith cooperation.

Mgr. Pavol Bargár, M.St., Th.D. – Academic Researcher, Researcher at the Protestant Theological Faculty, Charles University, Prague and the Central European Center for Mission Studies (SCMS). Graduated from St Edmund’s College, The University of Cambridge (M.St. in Jewish-Christian Relations). National team coordinator for the John Templeton Foundation funded project „The Future of Religious Faith from Central European Perspective“ at the Czech Christian Academy, Prague. Member of the Academic Committee at the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute Europe. Member of International Association, Central and Eastern European Association for Mission Studies and diverse editorial boards.

Doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D. – Academic Leadership, Associate Professor of Religious Studies in the Department for the Study of Religions at Masaryk University, Brno (Czech Republic). Holder of M.A. in Philosophy and Religious Studies (1998) and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies (2004). Former Head of Department and Secretary General of the European Association for the Study of Religions. Specialisation in new religious movements, religions in Central Europe and the United States, and the methodology of the academic study of religions Author of five books and more than forty articles.