15.01.2016

Between Glorification and Marginalization: Religion and Ageing in Global Perspective

A joint conference of the UEM (United Evangelical Mission) and KiHo (Protestant University Wuppertal / Bethel), took place from 11-13 December 2015 on the Holy Mountain in Wuppertal. The subject of the conference, headed by Angelika Veddeler and Prof. Andrea Bieler, was "Religion and Ageing in Global Perspective". The programme, speakers, and audience crossed disciplines and nationalities and included both subject experts and students from various universities. The combination of theory and practice, of scientific reflection and reports from experts in the field, provided a conceptual definition for the conference. Prestigious representatives from gerontology, anthropology, developmental psychology, sociology, and theology examined the issue of ageing in individual and social terms. The presenters came from Botswana, South Africa, Mexico, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Brazil, and Germany.  Following an introduction to the current and future trends with regard to demographic change in Africa, Asia, and Europe, as well as the influences that are fostering this transformation, an initial conclusion emerged that not only are generational relationships transforming, but also the cultural images of ageing and the way that the new "young-old" and "old-old" conduct their lives.
This terminology already clearly demonstrates the challenge of who is being talked about when we talk about ageing. The European and North American discourse now distinguishes between a so-called third age, in which older people experience a trend of decreased performance and other aspects, but conduct their lives and participate in society very actively, and a fourth age, the stage of life that is strongly characterized by health problems and processes of mental and physical decline. The keywords self-determination, autonomy, satisfaction, and perception of oneself and others play an important role in this. Theological perspectives on the topic of ageing linked biblical conceptions of humanity and perceptions of ageing to questions arising from the new medical and gerontological possibilities. Prof. Musa W. Dube (University of Botswana, Botswana) called for a intersectional reading of the Bible with different perspectives on the biblical texts, especially from marginalized groups and from a postcolonial viewpoint. The church and its structures offer support and development opportunities for ageing people, as does individual religiosity and the congregational community.
The perception of ageing and one’s personal experience of it were investigated from a psychological perspective, influenced not only by individual circumstances, but also by social factors. Prof. Hans-Werner Wahl (University of Heidelberg, Germany) called for research that considers ageing a lifelong process and intergenerational event in which vulnerability and possibilities for development intertwine, in place of research that is guided by deficits and deals with ageing as a seemingly isolated phenomenon. Prof. Helene Fung (Chinese University of Hong Kong) stated that in the Chinese cultural sphere in particular, interpersonal relationships that contribute to societal harmony in general have a major role in ageing alongside five general factors that are important for social and personal life. The international roster of speakers provided insights into different cultures on four continents: Brazil and Mexico, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Germany. It became clear that the situation of older people is crucially influenced not only by cultural conditions, but also by political realities and attitudes. The abandonment of traditional, family-based care is aggravating a poor infrastructure, as is the lack of financial security in old age. Prof. Jaco Hoffman (North-West University, South Africa) explained that in and around South Africa there are and will be more and more older people who depend on care from family members, because there are no institutionalized or reliable structures for such care. But if younger people often cannot meet this obligation, the so-called generational contract loses its validity and reliability. As an interim result, Prof. Dr Beate Hofmann cited the ambiguity of ageing and the approach to it: ageing is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather is always subject to influences such as culture, race, and ethnicity and must also be considered and dealt with from postcolonial and gender-studies perspectives. Dr Hofmann designated research into the role of organizations and caring communities in different contexts as an important task.