It Concerns You Too 5 – Searching for the lost magic
Roundtable discussion about new religiosity and spirituality
On October 14, the fifth Téged is érint (It Concerns You Too) roundtable discussion at Lehetőségek tere (The Space of Opportunity) focused on new religiosity and spirituality.
The central question of the evening was clear and thought-provoking: What does religion truly mean? Our guests – Lőrinc Borsos (Lilla Lőrinc and János Borsos), Mohan, and Endre Kovács – opened the discussion by introducing themselves and sharing their personal and professional perspectives. Cultural anthropologist Endre Kovács then presented three distinct definitions of religion, sparking a dynamic and insightful exchange of ideas rooted in the participants’ own experiences. Following the moderated discussion, the conversation continued in a world café format, allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers.
Téged is érint (It Concerns You Too) is an ongoing interactive roundtable series hosted by Lehetőségek tere (The Space of Opportunity). Each session brings together experts and individuals with lived experience to discuss key issues shaping contemporary society – topics that deeply affect and inspire younger generations.
Previous discussions have explored ADHD, the impact of art, artificial intelligence, and the female cycle. This time, our focus turned to new religious movements and modern spirituality, inviting reflection on how faith and meaning are redefined in today’s world.
Lőrinc Borsos (János Borsos and Lilla Lőrinc) is a fictional creative entity active since 2008, working at AQB in Budapest. Their artistic practice engages with questions of identity, religion, politics, spirituality, and (self-)mythology. The year 2016 marked a turning point for this non-existent persona, when black – as both theme and material – and a more indirect, nuanced form of (social) criticism and tone became defining elements. In recent years, collective creation – particularly their spontaneous, studio-based “free art school” the Legion – has also become part of their artistic activity. (borsoslorinc.com)
Endre Kovács, a cultural anthropologist, examines the relationship between religion and modernity. His research focuses on the social, political, and cultural meanings of yoga and modern spirituality. At the center of his anthropological interest lies “authenticity” as symbolic capital, along with the reflexive self-understanding of religious and spiritual communities. He conducts fieldwork in Hungary and India, focusing particularly on contemporary forms of yoga, tantra, and spirituality.
Mohan is a Krishna-conscious priest and theologian who has been serving at the MKTHK (the Hungarian Society for Krishna Consciousness) since 2003. In the beginning, he worked as a street book distributor and fundraiser, and since 2017, he has been the Church’s primary liaison and organizer of donations. He completed his studies at BHF. His main areas of focus are interfaith dialogue and the relationship between science and spirituality, but he has also actively contributed to developing his community’s poverty alleviation and environmental initiatives. After 20 years as a monastic student, he married his wife, Mohíni, in July.
Mohíni is a Krishna devotee of Turkish origin. She is an amateur singer, an enthusiastic reader, and an adventurous person. Her path in Krishna consciousness began in 2019, when, during her mathematics studies, she met devotees in Turkey. Later, while continuing her studies in Germany, she also learned Sanskrit. She has been living in Hungary for more than a year, including one year at the Budapest MKTHK temple. She is currently a member of the Bhaktivedanta Theological College, where she works as a teaching assistant and is preparing for her doctoral studies.
Moderator: Zsófia Puszt
Participants:
Lőrinc Borsos (Lilla Lőrinc and János Borsos), fictional artist entity
Endre Kovács, cultural anthropologist, in his research focusing on the relationship between religion and modernity
Mohan a Krishna-conscious pastor, theologian and his wife Mohíni, a Krishna Bhakta
