An international symposium titled “Religion, Media, and Culture in Southeast Asia” will be held at Ledalero Institute of Philosophy and Creative Technology, Maumere, Indonesia, from 19–21 February 2026, bringing together scholars, researchers, and practitioners to examine the dynamic intersections of religion, media, and culture in contemporary Southeast Asian societies.

Co-hosted by the Ledalero Institute of Philosophy and Creative Technology (Indonesia) and the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication, Saint John’s University (Thailand), the symposium aims to deepen scholarly reflection on how rapid social change, post-secular realities, and the rise of digital media are reshaping religious life and cultural practices across the region.

The symposium responds to the growing influence of new media technologies, which have transformed how religious messages are produced, circulated, and received. While digital platforms offer new opportunities for religious institutions to promote values, foster dialogue, and contribute to social transformation, they also pose challenges by encouraging the personalization of belief and questioning long-established traditions and institutional authority. Similar tensions are evident in cultural life, as digital media simultaneously revitalizes and disrupts long-standing cultural norms.

Keynote speakers include Benjamina P. Flor (University of the Philippines), who will address “Embodying the Sacred in the Digital Age: A Communication Approach,” and Enqi Weng (Deakin University, Australia), who will present on “Sticky Media Discourses and ‘Empire Religion’: Contested Settler–Indigenous Relations in Australia.” Panel discussions will also explore themes such as social media, religious communication, and peacebuilding.

In line with its academic focus, the symposium will present papers that critically engage with issues surrounding religion, media, and culture, particularly within the Southeast Asian context. The papers will be presented across multiple short paper sessions throughout the three-day event.

The symposium will be conducted in a hybrid format, with on-site sessions at Ledalero and live streaming available online. Interested participants can register through the official symposium link provided in the poster (pdf file).

source
https://asianresearchcenter.org/blog/news/international-symposium-on-religion-media-and-culture-in-southeast-asia-ledalero-19-21-feb-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawPxjrpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkR3VTUHRmUkh5blVlS004c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrI33J1o9QktM4iF5wClD3qYoCYpKs1ltzI-e_MRzwYZBqohu8gZCZHDtQQl_aem_eTvOaUFs-wnlUxFBD0fMCQ