Did the early modern world know of friendships and love relations between persons from various confessions? How were personal relations affected by confessional differences? What business connections, joint travelling and academic fellowship were there between people from various religious positions? What do we know about these relations and friendships? Where they exceptional? Under critique? Problematic? Influential?
This conference wants to answer these and other questions. It aims at presenting the latest research on the topic of transconfessional friendship and other personal relations, e.g. between Jews, Christians and Muslims, between Catholics and Protestants, between Eastern and Western Christians.
During the in person conference, a maximum of 14 early career scholars will have the opportunity to present their research. Presentations will last 30 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for discussion.
Papers are expected to present new research. Presenters consent to submit their (extended) text for a volume in the Refo500 Academic Studies (R5AS) series. The minimum length of the text is 5000 words.
Presenters arrange for their own travel and loding and will receive a reimbursement of up to € 600,00 (economy flight, regular train fare).
Applications can be submitted through the application form. Submission closes January 15, 2025. Applicants will be informed on acceptance after January 15, 2025.
Visual: Portrait of Two Friends (detail), Jacopo Pontormo, Wikimedia
