The Donner Institute

The Donner Institute for Research into Religion and Culture is a private research institute connected to the Åbo Akademi University Foundation. We gather researchers, students and cultural agents and provide a meeting point for research on religion and culture in Finland and in the Nordic countries. We work to strengthen the visibility of research and create spaces where new knowledge can be born.

News

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The Donner Institute’s Research Prize to Miitta Järvinen

We congratulate Dr Miitta Järvinen on receiving the Donner Institute Research Prize 2026! You can read about her research and...

2026 Grants for Postdoctoral Project Planning

The Donner Institute announced a new grant call in June. The grants are intended for the planning of postdoctoral projects...

New colleagues at the institute

On Tuesday, we welcomed our new colleagues, John Björkman and Andrea Franchetto, who began their positions at the Donner Institute....

Research & publications

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Approaching Religion 16 / 2 – Religion: Concealed and Revealed

The new issue of Approaching Religion presents papers related to the theme concealed and revealed. The articles are based on keynotes and papers presented at the summer school and conference Religion: Concealed and Revealed, organized in Turku in June 2025. The event was jointly organized by the Centre for the Study of Christian Cultures at the University of Turku, the Polin Institute for Theological Research at Åbo Akademi University and the Donner Institute. The authors relate to the topic from both historical and contemporary viewpoints, highlighting concealment as a way of survival, esoteric practices as inspiration for artists and thinkers,...

Donner Institute Research Prize awarded to Miitta Järvinen

The Donner Institute for Research into Religion and Culture in Turku has decided to award its 2026 Research Prize to...

Approaching Religion 16/1 – Social Identity Across Time: Interdisciplinary Applications

The new issue of Approaching Religion explores social identities. Religious identities are interwoven in complex ways with ethnic, cultural and...

Approaching Religion 15/2 on the Witching of Art History. How to Approach Women, Art and Esotericism

The new issue of Approaching Religion, ‘The Witching of Art History’ examines how women and artists beyond gender binaries have navigated...

Events

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Thu
26.11.

Seminar: Popularizing research

Save the Date - The Turku Hub for Research on Religion invites researchers and students to a seminar on popularizing research.

Book of the month

Handbook of Contemporary Religion, Film, and Television. 2026. Carole M. Cusack and Venetia Laura Delano Robertson (eds.), Brill. Since the turn of the millennium, research...