Cultural Considerations WG webinar – Moon: Religion and Ritual

Since the dawn of time, the Moon has attracted the devoted attention of Earth’s inhabitants. It has been attributed divine powers, magical abilities, and significant influences on our daily lives, from bottling wine to sowing seeds to cutting hair. With this webinar, we intend to explore how primitive beliefs led to the Moon being seen as the first step toward the conquest of space.

Free registration on Zoom

Agenda

1. Remo Rapetti: Introduction
2. Deana Weibel: “The Once-Distant Moon: From a Sacred Light to a Human Domain”
3. Carolyn Kennett: “Moonlit Monuments”
4. Lisa Pettibone: Comments and Questions.

Speakers

Dr. Deana L. Weibel is Professor of Anthropology at Grand Valley State University (USA), jointly appointed in GVSU’s Religious Studies program in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. Her research focuses on the intersections of religion, science, and space exploration, including how astronauts’ subjective experiences in space are used in spirituality and meaning-making. She is the author of The Ultraview Effect: What We Can Learn from Astronauts About Awe, Humility, and Exploring the Unknown (University of California Press, forthcoming May 2026).

Carolyn Kennett is an archaeoastronomer, astronomer, and author. She serves as Chair of the Society for the History of Astronomy and is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Her research and writing explore topics ranging from planetary science to Cornish prehistory. Carolyn has appeared on BBC Sky at Night and is a regular contributor to regional television and radio programmes. She has presented her work at conferences around the world.