Actualité

The XXth edition of ‘Les Entretiens’ took place at the Abbaye de Royaumont on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 December.

A unique moment of collective reflection that favours the long-term nature of the debate on ideas over the primacy of short-attention-span, the Entretiens offer a compass of meaning.

Their vitality makes them a remarkable refuge for the deployment of innovative ideas and the enrichment of debate at the heart of modern civilisation.

This year, ‘Les Entretiens’ provided an opportunity to reflect together on the theme of ‘Believe’. This simple verb touches on all aspects of humanity: intelligence, character, the relationship with the future, transmission and responsibility towards our environment and future generations. Without Belief, there can be no stability, no human and scientific progress, no social contract and, a fortiori, no democracy.

Obviously, ‘Believe’ also raises the question of religious belief, in a 21st century where we have experienced disenchantment followed by a sudden and sometimes brutal re-enchantment of our world. But that is only one aspect of this rich and profound theme.

After all, to ‘believe’ is to have confidence in the future and, based on laws and institutions, to hope for a united society supported by a sustainable social model.

Naturally, there is a ‘hidden darkness’ in many human beings, fed by ambition and fanaticism that want to replace conviction and lead to the renunciation of scientific and technical progress, social separatism and deception, for which social networks have become the propaganda tools.

This is the downside of ‘Believe’, but it does not justify a society of mistrust built on suspicion and control.

At a time when the public arena is beset by radicalism, the XXth Entretiens de Royaumont brought together committed people from all backgrounds to explore the relationship between believing, knowing, trusting and defending one’s convictions, through powerful and inspiring personal accounts and discussions. To better understand how ‘Believing’ gives strength to our commitments and values, and enables us to defend them and move forward in all circumstances.