Everything about World War I was massive. It was industrial-scale warfare fought along frontlines that stretched for hundreds of kilometres, manned and supplied by millions of people. This too was a war which produced an unprecedented stream of words. It was not just the politicians and officers who sat down to pen their thoughts. Ordinary soldiers near the front and their … [Read more...] about Reflecting on My work, Big Data and the History Manifesto
Secular
Captains of the Soul in Sceptical Times
The interaction between religious and non-religious beliefs in Australian society is complicated. It is often obscured by a public debate which in recent times has been punctuated by simple slogans, such as "Australia is a Christian country" or "separation between church and state". Passion about these issues has periodically run high through Australia's post … [Read more...] about Captains of the Soul in Sceptical Times
India at the Australian Historical Association Conference
Chinese-Australian history was well covered at the Australian Historical Association Conference but when I reviewed my conference notes I realised that a number of the sessions I attended were about the relationship between India and Australia. I have only dabbled in this history during a seminar in my honours year, but increasingly I feel drawn to learn more. Indians have … [Read more...] about India at the Australian Historical Association Conference
Secularism and History: Religious History Association Conference Part 2
“Religious historians have an important role to play in resisting grand narratives of secularism and modernisations”, stated Professor Hilary Carey at the commencement of the Religious History Association Conference last week. “Instead of a single path to modernity there are many”, she argued while encouraging historians of religion to engage with this insight of … [Read more...] about Secularism and History: Religious History Association Conference Part 2
What is Religion? What is Secularism? Religious History Association Conference Part 1
All week I am attending the Australian Historical Association Conference in Adelaide. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post this conference is really four conferences in one. I have been mostly attending the Religious History Association conference which concluded today. This post gives a brief introduction to some profound philosophical debates about religion and secularism … [Read more...] about What is Religion? What is Secularism? Religious History Association Conference Part 1
