Sára Eszter Heidl

• September 2014 - June 2017: Bachelor's Studies in Sociology, University of Szeged
• September 2017 - June 2020: Master's Studies, Study of Religions, University of Szeged
• from October 2020: Doctoral student at the Max-Weber-Kolleg, Erfurt

Event Religion as an alternative to modern religious phenomena

My work is dedicated to the phenomenon „Event Religion” or „Festival-religion”. The purpose of the research is to approach modern religion and belief in an innovative way. In modern times the traditional and institutional religious forms are faded and the personal and non-institutional approach is increasing. In this context the traditional approach to religious phenomena which has focused on (in Europe mainly Christian centred) church affiliation, religious practice, belief, and self-identification should be revised and a new scientific perspective is required for studying new religious trends.

As human relationships weaken to the transcendent within institutionalized religious settings, individuals seek and find new connections at occasional events. A festival is considered an event that can be easily reached while giving intense experiences and helping to take a break from everyday life.

Event Religion is built of four Dimensions of experience, which can help to interpret the phenomenon: the sphere of community, private experience, time and space, and symbols. These are closely linked and create a kind of religious event. The dimensions are parallel to the axes of Theory of Resonance (Hartmut Rosa), which is a new way to approach the modern social behaviour and modern faith. Theory of Resonance can be used to understand Event Religion, which can give a new perspective to the examined population and open new approaches for other events to be examined.

The research focuses on the questions what makes a festival or other event religious, and what role the community, personal experience, time and space, and symbols play in this process. The Dimensions are connected by the notion of temporality. The aim of the research is to create qualitative questions and quantitative variables that can be used in investigating Event Religion and Resonance in different events.