Religious Toleration in Classical Antiquity
Call for Papers
Workshop – 20-22 May, 2026 – University of Groningen
The ancient world occupies a particular position in the history of religious toleration, having been identified as a period in which polytheistic religions naturally tolerated religious difference. This rosy picture has been questioned in recent scholarship, which has moved away from the teleological assumptions, the essentialized view on religion, and the supposed distinction between religion and state that underpin the traditional view.
This workshop seeks to contribute to the renewal of the study of religious toleration in Classical Antiquity by considering it as one particular way of dealing with religious difference. Indeed, toleration can be defined as ‘the conditional acceptance of, or non-interference with, beliefs, actions or practices that one considers to be wrong but still “tolerable,” such that they should not be prohibited or constrained.’ Toleration is therefore to be understood as a social practice that deals with an unavoidable fact of social life, namely social differences between individuals and groups. Toleration is an intentional and voluntary way of dealing with such difference, for otherwise it cannot be distinguished from, e.g., indifference or the material impossibility of suppression. Thus, a discussion of toleration draws our attention to the norms of a society, social structure, and individual agency as crucial factors which shape practices of dealing with difference. Understanding toleration as a social practice also implies it has a flexible connection with justifications: the latter are to be situated on a spectrum from post-factum rationalisations of existing social practices to attempts to bring about change in these practices.
This workshop is interested in contributions that address the following three questions:
- What factors determine that a society identifies groups or individuals as an ‘out-group’ or as deviant (e.g. deviant behaviour, newness or foreignness)?
- How did societies deal with such differences? What range of practices existed and which of these can be labelled as tolerant or intolerant? Which legal and moral constraints determined individual as well as group behaviour towards deviancy?
- On what grounds was toleration or suppression justified? Which philosophical, moral or practical reasons could be adduced for either position?
We welcome especially papers on case studies that address topics different from the ones often adduced in scholarship on toleration (such as the condemnation of Socrates, the suppression of the bacchanalia, the suppression of Jewish revolt). Given our interest in toleration as a social practice, we are particularly interested in papers that offer a detailed contextualisation for specific cities, groups or sets of sources. The focus of the workshop lies on practices of (in)toleration in Greco-Roman antiquity, but we welcome also contributions on Judaism, early Christianity and Manichaeism.
Confirmed Speakers
- Jörg Rüpke (University of Erfurt)
- Andreas Bendlin (University of Toronto)
- Inger Kuin (University of Virginia)
- Renske Janssen (Leiden University)
- Irene Salvo (University of Verona)
Submission Details
- Please send a title, an abstract (max. 300 words), and a short bio (max. 150 words) to
Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein. . - Deadline for submission: 30 June 2025.
Publication Plans
- We are planning to publish the proceedings of the workshop. Selected papers will be considered for inclusion in this publication.
Financial Support
- While we cannot guarantee funding for travel or accommodation at this stage, please contact us if you require financial support, and we will explore possible options.
Organizers: Peter Van Nuffelen (Ghent University), Rebecca Van Hove (University of Groningen), Carmen Burgio (Ghent University and University of Groningen)