RKS - Religion, Knowledge, Society

12th international conference RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) - “Power and Vulnerability: Narratives of Uncertainty in Global Dynamics”, May 22nd, 2026, Constanța (Romania)

Welcome & Introductory Remarks

Ioan Dura - Chairman, Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța
Teodosie Petrescu - Archbishop of Tomis
Cosma Mitu - Dean of Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța
Raluca Matei - Dean of Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța

12th international conference RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) - “Power and Vulnerability: Narratives of Uncertainty in Global Dynamics”, May 22nd, 2026, Constanța (Romania)

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS - Significances of Power and Vulnerability in Contemporary Times: Challenges and Perspectives

„Vulnerabilities and Potentials of Memory Work: The Right to Memory, Religion and Human Rights”
José Eduardo Franco & Susana Alves-Jesus - The Centre for Global Studies, Aberta University (Portugal)

„The Power and Vulnerability of Conspiracy Narratives in the Current Global Dynamics”
Nicu Gavriluță - Faculty of Philosophy and Social Political Sciences, “Al. I. Cuza University” of Iași (Romania)

„Jesus Christ: Power Made Perfect in Vulnerability”
Claudiu Turculeț - Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” (Romania)

„Power and Vulnerability in Technological Singularity”
Victor Jeflea - Faculty of Economical Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

12th international conference RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) - “Power and Vulnerability: Narratives of Uncertainty in Global Dynamics”, May 22nd, 2026, Constanța (Romania)

Panel - Global Uncertainties and Local Responses: Power, Vulnerability, and Narrative Constructions

„Black Swans: Uncertainties and Vulnerabilities”
Cristina Gavriluță - Faculty of Philosophy and Social Political Sciences, “Al. I. Cuza University” of Iași (Romania)

„Power and Precarity: Rethinking Global Uncertainty in the Indian Context”
Bhima Kumar Kukkamalla - Department of Philosophy, University of Allahabad (India)

„Power and Uncertainty - Conceptual Dynamics”
Laurențiu Gheorghe - Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest (Romania)

„Narrative of Power and Flow's with Reference to Globally Uncertainty: An Experience of Dynamic
Leadership of Pakistan”
Abdul Rashid - Department of Quran o Sunnah, University of Karachi (Pakistan)

12th international conference RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) - "Power and Vulnerability: Narratives of Uncertainty in Global Dynamics", May 22nd, 2026, Constanța (Romania)

Panel - FRAGMENTED SELVES, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES: EDUCATION AND MEANING IN A PRECARIOUS WORLD

"The Role of Education in Reclaiming Identity from the Fragmented Reflections of the Online Environment"
Cristian Petre - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

"Vulnerability of Adolescents to Addictive Behaviors: Psychosocial Consequences and Intervention Strategies"
Rodica Enache & Roxana Marina Crețu - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

"Religious Narratives and Collective Resilience as Expression of the Social Functions of Meaning in Organizational Adaptation to Global Uncertainty"
Felicia Cordoneanu - Faculty of History, Philosophy, and Theology, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați (Romania)

"From Existential Anxiety to the Reconstruction of Meaning: Vulnerability, Spiritual Resilience, and Psychological Integrity in the Age of Uncertainty"
Mihaela Băiceanu, Raluca Matei, Roxana Marina Crețu - Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

12th international conference RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) - “Power and Vulnerability: Narratives of Uncertainty in Global Dynamics”, May 22nd, 2026, Constanța (Romania)

Panel - VULNERABILITY AND POWER: RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

„Using AI Tools in Research - Strength and Vulnerability”
Claudia Sălceanu & Raluca Matei - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

„The Role of Faith in Addiction Therapy”
Laura Giurgiu & Raluca Matei - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

„Vulnerability, Precariousness and Grievability: A New Social Ontology”
Chidella Upendra - School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Indore (India)

„The Power of Seience and the Vulnerability of Religion. Two Ways to Truth”
Mendo Henriques - Catholic University of Portugal (Portugal)

Panel - SACRED FOUNDATIONS AND SECULAR REALITIES: THE SEARCH FOR CERTAINTY IN AN AGE OF UNCERTAINTY

„Soteriology and Sovereignism: The Re-Enchantment of the Political Through”
Ion Cordoneanu - Faculty of History, Philosophy, and Theology, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați (Romania)

„Modern Reflections on Religion and Democracy from a Theological Perspective. Searching for a Common European Ground”
Radu Carp - Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Bucharest (Romania)

„The Need to Believe, Insecurity, and Religious Attachment in Times of Uncertainty”
Marguerite El Asmar Bou Aoun - Faculty of Religious Studies, Saint Joseph University of Beirut (Lebanon)

12th international conference RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) - “Power and Vulnerability: Narratives of Uncertainty in Global Dynamics”, May 22nd, 2026, Constanța (Romania)

Panel - FAITH AS CERTINITY. THEOLOGICAL APPROACHES

„The Power of the Cross and the Fragility of the World: A Theological-Moral Reassessment of Vulnerability in Global Dynamics”
Cosma Mitu - Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

„Beyond Uncertainty: Secular Views on the Meaning of Humanity and the World. The Orthodox Christian Perspective”
Florin Spanache - Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

„The Power of Faith and the Vulnerability of Violence in Communist Prisons”
Dumitru Carabaș - Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

„Truth and Certainty in the Horizon of Christian Life”
Răzvan Câmpulungeanu - Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

„Why Interreligious Dialogue Matters in Contemporary Conflicts: the Power of Interfaith Engagement”
Ștefan Lazăr - Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

12th international conference RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) - “Power and Vulnerability: Narratives of Uncertainty in Global Dynamics”, May 22nd, 2026, Constanța (Romania)

Panel - VULNERABILITY AS A CONDITION FOR REDEFINING LIFE

„Material Deprivation as a Vulnerability in Social Dynamics”
Enache Tușa - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

„The Four Dimensions of Religiosity in Contemporary Discourse: Between Symbolic Power and Identity Vulnerability”
Liliana Naclad - Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

„Religion, Power, and the Reorganization of Life”
Mihail Ungheanu - European Center for Ethnic Studies, Romanian Academy (Romania)

„Vulnerability, Dignity, and Holistic Care: The Elderly Person Between Institutional Dependence and Spiritual Meaning”
Adrian Titorencu - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța (Romania)

12th international seminar RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) – „Sacralization of Politics and Secularization of Religion. Old Narratives in New Paradigms”, May 24th - 28th, 2026, Frumosu, Suceava (Romania)

May 24 - Welcome and introductory remarks

Ioan Dura - Faculty of Theology, “Ovidius” University of Constanța
Raluca Matei - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Ovidius” University of Constanța

12th international seminar RELIGION, KNOWLEDGE, SOCIETY (RKS) – „Sacralization of Politics and Secularization of Religion. Old Narratives in New Paradigms”, May 24th - 28th, 2026, Frumosu, Suceava (Romania)

May 25 - SESSIONS I & II

„Projects for the construction of secular sacred places and times in European political history: The case of the First Portuguese Republic”
José E. Franco & Susana Alves-Jesus - The Centre for Global Studies, Aberta University (Portugal)

„Salvation without Grace: On the Soteriological Promise of Modern Ideologies and the Future of Liberal Democracy”
Daniel Nica - Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences, University of Bucharest (Romania)

„Beyond Ideology: Under-Discussed Drivers of Negative Depictions of Religion in Development Discourse”
Tadeusz Jarosz - Department of Philosophy, Jordan University College, Morogoro (Tanzania)

„The Legend of Saint Torpes: the Interaction between Politics and Religion”
Mendo Henriques - Faculty of Human Sciences, Catholic University of Portugal (Portugal)

„A Painter’s Vision of the Spiritual in Design”
Catarina Castel-Branco (Portugal)