Christoph De Spiegeleer

Christoph De Spiegeleer serves as an unpaid guest professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), affiliated with the History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics faculty. His academic work centers on the Secular Studies Association Brussels, where he has been active from 2011 to 2024.

His research interests primarily focus on secularization processes, particularly examining the historical development of secular thought and practices in Belgium. His work spans several interconnected fields including funeral practices, 19th century Belgian history, freethinkers movements, and the evolution of atheism in European contexts. A significant portion of his research analyzes how secular alternatives to religious funeral practices developed in 19th century Belgium, exploring the cultural, political and social dimensions of this transformation.

De Spiegeleer's publications reveal a strong emphasis on the intersection of religion, death culture, and political identity in Belgian history. His recent work has examined topics such as the moral dimensions of disbelief among Brussels freethinkers (1854-1870), secular burial practices, and the historical context of the Peasants' War. His research often employs transnational perspectives, as seen in his work on Charles Potvin and the Risorgimento.

Among his notable recognitions are the De Bock-Doehard Prize for best historical dissertation at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2009-2010) and the Emile Zola dissertation award (third place, 2012).

De Spiegeleer has been actively involved in academic collaborations, including the Workshop on Secularism and Biography (March 2024) and the conference 'THE NON-RELIGIOUS AND THE STATE' (October 2022), where he served as an organizer. His ORCID profile (0000-0002-4927-8607) documents his extensive scholarly output across multiple formats including journal articles, book chapters, books, and conference papers.