The Enchanted Meaning | FBK-ISR Final Symposium

The dialectic between enchantment and disenchantment has long been a central theme in the
history of theology and religious studies. From early theological reflections to modern
academic inquiries, the tension between the mystical, awe-inspiring dimensions of religion
and the rational, critical approaches of secularism has shaped the evolution of religious
thought and practice. Enchantment evokes wonder, connection to the divine, and the sense of
the numinous, while disenchantment, particularly as articulated in the modern era, challenges
these elements through the forces of rationalization, secularism, and critique.

Throughout history, religious traditions have navigated this tension, reflecting broader
shifts in societal values and epistemological paradigms. For centuries, enchantment played a
key role in reinforcing communal religious experiences, fostering a shared sense of mystery
and divine presence. However, with the advent of modernity, processes of disenchantment
took hold, particularly in Western intellectual traditions, often reducing religion to a series of
rational and moral codes, stripped of its mystical elements.

Sociologically, this dialectic has manifested in the cohesion of religious communities
around enchanting rituals, while disenchantment has emerged in response to scientific
advancements and the secularization of society. Psychologically, humans appear to be
naturally predisposed to seek the extraordinary and the transcendent, yet the very cognitive
mechanisms that lead us to faith can also give rise to doubt, skepticism, and eventual
disenchantment.

In our contemporary era, however, this traditional narrative of enchantment versus
disenchantment is being transformed by new technologies. The digital age, and particularly
advances in artificial intelligence and virtual reality, introduces new forms of enchantment
that blur the lines between the mystical and the technological. Technologies once seen as the
ultimate tools of rationalization now provoke quasi-religious devotion and experiences of
awe. Digital realms foster new forms of communal belief, where virtual spaces become sacred,
and algorithms are imbued with near-magical significance.

At the same time, this symposium seeks to explore not only the technological
dimensions of enchantment but also the broader, enduring phenomena of enchanted meaning
in religious, cultural, and social contexts. We are particularly interested in understanding how
meaning itself becomes enchanted—how it acquires an aura, a power that transcends mere
representation and touches the divine or the supernatural.

Confirmed speakers:
Andrea BETTINI | Cinzia BIANCHI | Marianna BOERO | Donata CHIRICO’ | Silvia CRISTOFORI | Cristina DEMARIA | Marina DEPALO | Francesca ERVAS | Vittoria FIORELLI | Sara FORTUNA | Anna Maria LORUSSO | Angela MENGONI | Benedetta NICOLI | Stefania PALMISANO | Tiziana PANGRAZI | Nicola Luciano PANNOFINO | Francesca PIAZZA | Cecilia ROFENA | Stefano SBALCHIERO | Francesca TAROCCO | Silvia VIZZARDELLI

The programme will be available soon

Scientific coordination: Massimo Leone, Director FBK-ISR

Cycle of seminars: “(Dis-)Enchantment in Religion and Ethics“

The talk will be held in Italian/English.

The presentation will be in-person in the FBK Aula Grande.

	L’iniziativa è stata realizzata anche grazie al contributo della Direzione generale Educazione, ricerca e istituti culturali del Ministero della Cultura.