First CePOZiR
Conference – 2025
Zagreb, September 24-26, 2025
Address of the President of the Scientific and Program Board
Dear Participant,
The First CePOZiR Conference – 2025, which will be held between 24-26 September 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia, is the first in the series of international conferences organized by the Center for the Study of the Relationship between Science and Religion of the Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the University of Zagreb. The basic goal of the Conference is to bring together academic researchers working on diverse subjects spanning the relationship between science, society, and religion. The conference’s scope is focused on the relationship between science and religion, the influence of religious beliefs on society, and the general social reach of scientific knowledge.
The main intention of this conference series is to evaluate the state of the art in researching the inter-relations between science, society, and religion. Both, science and religion are today in a delicate position because of the immensely dispersed “post-truth” ideology which is present almost in all the modern popular media. Consequently, the problem of demarcation between science and pseudo-science, as well as between religion and pseudo-religion is not only one of the urgent questions, but it has an immediate impact on the delicate relationship between religion and science in modern society.
I welcome you to the beautiful City of Zagreb and wish you inspired academic moments during the most intellectually perfected addresses of our distinguished guests and throughout the whole endeavour.
Sincerely, Hrvoj Vančik
Support
MAIN PATRONS
The Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the University of Zagreb
PATRONS
The Catholic University of Croatia
The Catholic Faculty of Theology of the University of Zagreb
The Faculty of Science of the University of Zagreb
The Institute of Philosophy (Zagreb)
SPONSORS
MEDIA SUPPORT
Coming Soon …
Spokesperson of the Conference
Ante Belić, mag. phil., Secretary of CePOZiR
For Conference info: ante.belic@ffrz.unizg.hr
Note: We kindly ask media representatives to announce their activities at the Conference and then make the appropriate arrangements with the Conference Spokesperson
Important Dates
• Early bird registration: April 1, 2025
Early bird registration fee: 50 €
• Late registration: May 1, 2025
Late registration fee: 70 €
Feedback from the Organizational Board to participants: not later than June 15, 2025
Registration (!)
How to register?
To register, please, download this Questionnaire and follow the instructions within the document
For additional questions regarding the registration contact us at this email: cepozir.conference@ffrz.unizg.hr
How to pay the registration fee?
Important: : We kindly ask participants to make payments between June 15th and July 1st, 2025, and AFTER receiving feedback from the Organizational Board
• For Croatian citizens:
Ime banke: Zagrebačka Banka d.d.
IBAN: HR0723600001101272866
Platitelj: Ime i Prezime, adresa
Model: HR00 ili HR99
Poziv na broj: datum uplate ili ostaviti prazno
Opis plaćanja: kotizacija za Prvu CePOZiR konferenciju – 2025.
• For foreign citizens:
Bank name: Zagrebačka Banka d.d.
IBAN: HR0723600001101272866
SWIFT: ZABAHR2X
Payer: Name and Surname, address
Model: HR00 or HR99
Reference number: payment date or leave blank
Payment description: registration fee for the First CePOZiR Conference – 2025
Lecturers
DISTINGUISHED KEYNOTE LECTURERS (in alphabetical order)
• Professor emeritus Piero Benvenuti
University of Padova, Italy
Tentative title of the lecture: Cosmologia as the Bridge to Reunite Science and Theology
Conference Section: The Relationship between Science and Religion
• Revd Dr Rodney Dennis Holder
The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge, UK
Tentative title of the lecture: Modern Cosmology and the Argument from Design
Conference Section: Science and Society
• Very Revd Prof Dr Nikolaos Loudovikos (Π. Νικόλαος Λουδοβίκος)
University of Ioannina, Greece & University of Balamand, Lebanon & Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK
Tentative title of the lecture: What society? What science? What religion?
Conference Section: Religion and Society
INVITED SPEAKERS (in alphabetical order)
• Professor Paul Clemens Cavallin
NLA University College
Tentative title of the lecture: Artificial Intelligence and Christian Humanism
Conference Section: Science and Society
• Professor Ivan Vasilev Christov
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Theology
Tentative title of the lecture: Philosophical and Scientific Elements in the Byzantine Accounts of Creation
Conference Section: The Relationship between Science and Religion
• Professor Luciana Dini
Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”
Tentative title of the lecture: Are We a Scientific or Fideistic Society?
Conference Section: Religion and Society
• Professor Niels Henrik Gregersen
University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Theology, Centre for Science and Faith
Tentative title of the lecture: Deep Incarnation and Its Critics: Scientific and Theological Perspectives
Conference Section: Religion and Society
• Dr Erkki Vesa Rope Kojonen, University Lecturer
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Theology
Tentative title of the lecture: Re-examining the Compatibility of Evolution and Design Arguments
Conference Section: The Relationship between Science and Religion
• Professor Srećko Kovač, scholar emeritus
Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb
Tentative title of the lecture: Morality as Based on Religion
Conference Section: Religion and Society
• Rev. Prof.Dr. Dr. Nancey Claire Murphy
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena CA, USA
Tentative title of the lecture: Paul Feyerabend on Science, Theology, and the Good of Society
Conference Section: Science and Society
• Professor Ornella Parolini
Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore (Rome), Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
Tentative title of the lecture: Where Do Science and Faith Meet? A Scientist Point of View
Conference Section: The Relationship between Science and Religion
More coming soon …
Program
Coming Soon …
Ceremonial Academy - Presentation of the Ruđer Bošković SJ Award
The Ruđer Bošković SJ Award for Academic Contribution to the Study of the Relationship between Science and Religion is awarded for an exceptional contribution to the development of this academic field aiming to promote and advance it publicly and professionally.
By Cabinet decision of July 17, 2024, the Ruđer Bošković SJ Award was awarded to the Croatian doyen of the academic field of studying the relationship between science and religion, Dr. Marijan Šunjić, professor emeritus (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science).
The Award will be presented to the laureate during Ceremonial Academy as part of the official Program of the Conference.
Venue
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Jordanovac 110, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia, EU
Hall: F. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ (122 seats)
Note: Commercial parking space is available at the site
Getting to the Venue from a rally point (for lecturers only)
Lectures need to know (!): CePOZiR Conference Crew will meet you at the rally point and accompany you to the Venue
Rally point: Kaptol (Cathedral square); address: Kaptol 29a
Conference Crew
Coming Soon …
Miscellaneous
Currency in Croatia: Legal tender in Croatia is EUR (€)
Internet access: Free Wi-Fi service is available at the premises
Welcome party, early gatherings, breaks, and late gatherings
Light refreshment: Provided for all registered participants and CePOZiR Conference Crew
Short pauses: A supply of bottled water for all registered participants and CePOZiR Conference Crew; commercial coffee machines are available at the site; the unregistered audience is encouraged to bring their source of water
Light lunch: Sandwich bar (provided for all registered participants and CePOZiR Conference Crew); in general, special diet requests will be met if pre-announced; however, persons with special (i.e. medical) diet needs are encouraged to bring their food if necessary
Short get-together in the open: Beverages & a supply of bottled water for all registered participants and CePOZiR Conference Crew; the unregistered audience is encouraged to bring their source of water
Casual get-together over dinner: Open to all but, however, food and beverages (based on personal choice) are at one’s own expense; PUB MEDVEDGRAD ILICA (all participants)
City of Zagreb – In case you wanna discover the city: InfoZagreb & The City of Zagreb
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments will be offered at the appropriate date and the due time …