The project “(Re)Negotiating Social Cohesion – Religion and Community in Antiquity (800 BCE – 400 CE)”, led by Beate Diana Dignas of Oxford University (UK) and Einstein Visiting Fellow at Humboldt University (HU), explores the multifaceted role of religion in Greek and Roman antiquity in relation to social cohesion. Religion could foster unity by creating shared values and beliefs, yet it was also often a source of conflict.
Through a comparative analysis, the project examines different historical periods and political systems in which political crises and religious diversity posed significant challenges to the integration of individuals and social groups. Subprojects analyze democratic processes in Classical Athens, the global and local dynamics of the Hellenistic world, and religious conflicts in Late Antique cities.
Drawing on historical, sociological, and theological approaches, the research investigates the structures and actors for whom religion became a medium for negotiating social identity and cohesion. This role of religion remains relevant today, making the project’s insights highly valuable for contemporary discussions on social integration and contributing directly to a deeper understanding of modern societies.