3rd International Scientific Conference “Christianity and Creativity”

12 June 2023, Šiluva

To be creative is God’s calling for a human being. In the Book of Genesis, we read that the Lord Creator creates a human being as a small creator, called to cooperate in the great and continuing act of creation. To be human is in itself to reflect God’s creativity in our own creativity. However, creativity might imprison. In postmodern society, being creative is not just a fashion statement but an imperative for everyone. Concepts such as creative industries and creative economy are emerging, making creativity a must. In the information age, social networks empower everyone to be creators. However, the question arises whether this does not undermine the concept of creativity itself as an exceptional and sublime activity. This also leads to the question of whether creativity is not becoming one-day, profane, not bringing long-term changes in life.

When the Catholic philosophers Bishop Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz and Gottfried Leibniz discovered the binary numbering system, which would become of the utmost importance to humanity some 300 years later, they did not foresee full implications of this discovery. The same has happened with the achievements of many discoverers and creators. This opens up the possibility of seeing human creation as a fragment that emerges in earthly reality in a small form but is rooted in God’s immeasurable creativity. This is where the depth of creativity opens up from a Christian point of view: a human can only be truly creative by overcoming individualistic impulses and opening himself/herself to God, the Creator, who rewards His creation with creativity. Being creative, a human being discovers himself/herself as a creator in the context of the totality of God and creation. By accepting reality as created, a human being is able to pursue earthly goals creatively and fruitfully.

The 3rd International Scientific Conference in Šiluva is devoted to the study of the fundamental concept of creation and creativity from the point of view of theology and other sciences and to an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of creativity in various spheres of human life and activity.

Conference topics

  • The importance of creation in the lives of people and human communities.
  • Creativity and teleology: the (in)compatibility of the long-term and short-term influences of the creative outcome on history.
  • The relationship between creativity and chance.
  • Human creativity from a biblical perspective.
  • of Christianity on the perception of present and future creativity).
  • Perspectives on creativity and the role of Christianity in tackling climate change, artificial intelligence and other major issues facing humanity today.
  • Creativity and consumer society. Will we evolve from consumers to spiritual creators?

Abstract (up to 200 words) submission by 20 April 2023 at info@siluva.lt.

Conference venue: M. Jurgaičio a. 17 A. Šiluvos šventovė, Raseinių raj.

Participation fee – EUR 70*. The fee includes the following: overnight stay, coffee break, lunch, meeting evening, breakfast, a tour around Šiluva, and the Certificate of Participation. The fee does not include arrival to Šiluva.

*Participation fee for participants who are not staying overnight is 30 Eur.

Scientific committee:

Chairperson: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Benas Ulevičius

Deputy Chairperson: Dr. Kastytis Rudokas

Members: Prof. Dr. Žanete Narkēviča, Prof. Dr. Marek Chmielewski, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Piotr T. Nowakowski, Prof. Dr. Birutė Obelenienė, Prof. Dr. Artūras Lukaševičius

Organising committee:

Chairperson: Silvija Čižaitė-Rudokienė

Members: Priest Robertas Urbonavičius, Dr. Kastytis Rudokas

Organisers: VšĮ Šiluvos piligrimų centras and the Faculty of Catholic Theology at Vytautas Magnus University

Conference Patron: Archbishop Kęstutis Kėvalas

Conference partners: Archdiocese of Kaunas, Raseiniai Regional History Museum

Media sponsors: radio station “Marijos radijas”, online portal “Raseinių naujienos”, online portal “Mano Raseiniai”