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Stipe Odak

Professeur

SSH/TECO Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies (THER)

SSH/RSCS Institut de recherche Religions, spiritualités, cultures, sociétés (RSCS)

Stipe Odak est professeur d’éthique appliquée à la Faculté de théologie et d’étude des religions de l’Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain). Il a effectué ses études de bachelier et de master en sociologie et en littérature comparée à la Faculté des humanités et des sciences sociales de l’Université de Zagreb, ainsi que des études de théologie à la Faculté catholique de théologie de la même université. Il a poursuivi sa formation à la KU Leuven, où il a obtenu un master en théologie et sciences des religions (2011), un master complémentaire (advanced master) en théologie et sciences des religions (2012) et un doctorat en théologie (2018). La même année, il a également obtenu un doctorat en sciences politiques et sociales à l’UCLouvain. Il est en outre titulaire d’un bachelier de la Thomas More University, avec une spécialisation en analyse de données et en sécurité informatique. Ses recherches portent principalement sur l’articulation entre conflits, réconciliation et mémoire collective. Ses projets actuels s’intéressent notamment à l’éthique de la recherche sur les génocides, aux expériences de disparition, aux formes de religiosité collective et aux enjeux de l’intelligence artificielle au regard de l’épanouissement humain.

Postal address

RSCS - Collège Albert Descamps
L3.01.02
Grand Place 45
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

TECO

SH07A - Collège Albert Descamps
Floor 03 Office D 338
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

2026

Journal article

Odak, S., Cehajic Clancy, S., Guest, A., Machlouzarides, M., & Scheerder, A. (2026). Religiosity in a post-conflict setting: Open vs Politicised religiosity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Submitted. (Original work published 2026)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278630

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2026). Le suicide assisté de Dieu : souffrance insoutenable et répulsion morale dans le Livre de Job. Bible, émotions et narrativité, Montreal.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278636

Odak, S. (2026). Reconciliation-scapes. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Religion, Conflict and Reconciliation: Uncovering Taboos, Louvain la Neuve.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278635

Odak, S. (2026). Identitäten am Balkan. Religiöse Identitäten in (Mittel- und Ost-) Europa, Passau.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278637

2025

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2025). Ethical and Theoretical Reflections on Addressing Memories After Mass Violence. MSA Prague 2025 (9th Annual Memory Studies Association Conference), Prague.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278640

Odak, S. (2025). Fear and Loathing in the Balkans: Reflections on Cultures of Political Religiosity. Pluritans, Zagreb.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278641

Odak, S. (2025). Zombie Memories and Mnemonic Vampires: Politics of Memory in Post-Truth Conditions. 10 Years EU Transitional Justice Policy – Ways Forward, Egmont Palace.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278643

2024

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2024). Intergenerational Memory Transmission: Mechanisms, Contexts and Implications. Searching for Memory between the Mind and the World, Trento.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278645

2023

Book chapter

Odak, S., & et al. (2023). Jasenovac Uses and Misuses of the Past: Manipulations and Historical Revisionism Surrounding the Biggest WWII Camp in the Balkans. In Odak, Stipe; Kuznar, Andrijana; Lucić, Danijela (ed.), Jasenovac: Manipulations, Controversies and Historical Revisionism [Jasenovac: Manipulacije, kontroverze i historijski revizioni.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/224979

Odak, S. (2023). Construction of Victimhood and its Fragmentation within National Frameworks. In Anne Bazin, Emmanuelle Hébert, Valérie Rosoux, Eric Sangar (ed.), Memory Fragmentation from Below and Beyond the State. Rooutledge.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278633

Monography

Benčić Kužnar, A., Odak, S., & Lucić, D. (2023). Jasenovac Concentration Camp: An Unfinished Past. Routledge.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/278649

Journal article

Odak, S., Cordonnier, A., Rios Oyola, S., Bouchat, P., & Rosoux, V. (2023). Developing a memory studies program: Lessons and challenges. Memory Studies, 16(6), 1685-1692. https://doi.org/10.1177/17506980231207609 (Original work published 2023)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/263677

2022

Monography

Odak, S., & Grozdanov, Z. (2022). Balkan Contextual Theology.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/117543

2021

Journal article

Odak, S., & Cehajic Clancy, S. (2021). Religion and Politics as a Dangerous Mix: Effects of Religiosity on Intergroup Forgiveness and Reconciliation in a Post-Conflict Setting Peace and Conflict. Peace and Conflict : journal of peace psychology, 27(3), 497-507. (Original work published 2021)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/117553

Odak, S. (2021). Reevaluating Religious Understandings of Reconciliation: A Study in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Peacebuilding. Published. (Original work published 2021)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125791

Odak, S. (2021). The Sound of the Sun: Religious understandings of peace and the role of religious leaders in peacebuilding―a qualitative study in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Peace and Conflict Studies, 28(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.46743/1082-7307/2021.1705 (Original work published 2021)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/22846

Odak, S. (2021). Post-Conflict Memory as Performative Justice. Peace Review : a journal of social justice, 33(3), 347-354. (Original work published 2021)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/117549

2020

Monography

Odak, S. (2020). Religion, Conflict, and Peacebuilding: The Role of Religious Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Springer.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/122269

2018

Book chapter

Odak, S. (2018). The Heavy Weight of Responsibility [Teški teret odgovornosti]. In Odak, Stipe; Benčić, Andrijana; Lucić, Danijela (ed.), Jasenovac – manipulacije, kontroverze i povijesni revizionizam Knjiga je. JUSP Jasenovac.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/223501

Odak, S. (2018). Mixed Blessing : La politique étrangère des Etats-Unis en engagement avec les dirigeants religieux, le cas de la Bosnie-Herzégovine. In Tanguy Struye, Tanguy de Wilde d’Estmael, Valérie Rosoux (ed.), La politique étrangère. Struye, Tanguy; de Wilde d’Estmael, Tanguy; Rosoux, Valérie.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/228060

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2018). Divided bridges: Peacebuilding potentials and limits of religious leaders, the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 18 th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125789

Odak, S. (2018). Failed Reconcilation: One Theo-Political Reading. Reconciliation – Cases of Failure, Louvain la Neuve.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125668

Dissertation

Odak, S. (2018). Religion in no man’s land : an interdisciplinary research into the role of religious leaders in peacebuilding processes, the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/171619

2017

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2017). Breaking the Circle: Positive Potential of Religion in Transformation of Intractable Conflicts. Religion, Cooperation and Conflict in Diverse Societies, International Society for the Sociology of Religion, Lausanne.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125787

Odak, S. (2017). Broken Harmonies: Religious Leaders as Peacebuilders in Post-Conflict Societies. Religion & Politics in the Crisis of Engagement.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125783

2016

Monography

et al. (2016). Is there a Place for Me in the Church?: Interviews and Essays.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/42651

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2016). Never Again? The Role of Memory in Reconciliation. Ringen um Versöhnung. Versöhnungsprozesse zwischen Religion, Politik und Gesellschaft.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125780

Journal article

Odak, S., & Benčić, A. (2016). Jasenovac – A Past that does not Pass: The Presence of Jasenovac in Croatian and Serbian Collective Memory of Conflict. East European Politics & Societies, 30, 805-829. https://doi.org/10.1177/0888325416653657 (Original work published 2016)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/92036

2015

Journal article

Odak, S. (2015). The Crucified God in a Crucified Region. Concilium, 2015(51), 143-147. (Original work published 2015)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/47200

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2015). Touch Without Grip: Theological Reflections on Identity and Beyond it. Forum Junge Theologie.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125778

2014

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2014). “Because I did not Become a Hero” – Imagination of Food as a Form of Spiritual Resistance. The Rhetorics of Food, Leuven.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125777

Odak, S. (2014). Wounded Memory: The Role of Religion in Generation and Resolution of Collective Memory of Conflict. Doctorandicolloquium Babel 2014: Association belge pour l’Histoire des religions.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125775

Journal article

Odak, S. (2014). A Wounded Body that Seeks Redemption: Towards a Theological Metaphor for Understanding Collective Memory of Conflict. Louvain Studies, 38, 307-333. (Original work published 2014)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/72712

2013

Conference paper

Odak, S. (2013). Language, Grammar and a Map. International Conference Theology in a Postmodern Context, Prague.

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/125774

2012

Journal article

Odak, S. (2012). The Technical Book of Job: Reading Job from a Transhumanist Perspective. Disputatio philosophica, 15, 91-102. (Original work published 2012)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/35448

2011

Journal article

Odak, S. (2011). New Pentecost or New Spirituality? New Presence: Review for Intellectual and Spiritual Questions, 9, 477-485. (Original work published 2011)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/173729

Odak, S. (2011). Red God: Reflections on Yearning, God, and Abstract Art. New Presence: Review for Intellectual and Spiritual Questions, 9, 85-107. (Original work published 2011)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/22025

Odak, S. (2011). Heroines in Strange Costumes: Female Transvestism/Cross-dressing in Medieval Hagiographies. Disputatio philosophica: International Journal on Philosophy and Religion, 14, 33-42. (Original work published 2011)

https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/handle/2078.5/39565

Year	Label	School
2013	Master in sociology and master in comparative literature	University of Zagreb (Croatie)
2013	Master of advanced studies in theology and religion	Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) (Belgique)
2012	Master of arts in theology and religious studies	Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) (Belgique)
2008	Bachelor of art in comparative litterature and bachelor of science in sociology	University of Zagreb (Croatie)

Learning units for 2026

Label	Code
Bioethics	LRELI1351
Ethics - Society - Religion	LRELI1352
Societies, cultures, religions : Ethical questions	LTECO2203
Christian Social Ethics : politics and economics questions I	LTHEO2261
Christian Social Ethics : politics and economics questions II	LTHEO2262
Bible and culture	LTHEO2431
Research seminar in applied ethics	LTHEO2952

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Stipe Odak

Postal address

TECO

Learning units for 2026