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Stéphane Encel

Stéphane Encel Historian of religions, author and speaker

A historian of religions with a PhD from the Sorbonne, Stéphane Encel draws on history, foundational narratives, and the humanities to shed light on the transformations of our time: artificial intelligence, the search for meaning, collective behaviour, authority, and religion.

His distinctive approach brings together worlds that are usually kept apart: the Bible and Matrix, ancient myths and artificial intelligence, Orwell and religion, social psychology, and foundational narratives.

Languages
French
Duration
Flexible format, from keynote to in-depth expert session
Formats
Keynote, interactive expert session, workshop

Biography

A historian of religions with a resolutely contemporary outlook

Stéphane Encel est titulaire d'un doctorat en histoire, spécialisé dans l'histoire des religions et l'anthropologie religieuse à Paris IV-Sorbonne, et a également été formé en histoire juridique. 

Pendant de nombreuses années, il a enseigné l'histoire, la religion, la culture générale, les études médiatiques et les défis de l'intelligence artificielle. Il enseigne actuellement à Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne et aborde également l'histoire et les questions éthiques de l'IA.

From the Bible to Matrix: understanding the present through foundational narratives

La force distinctive de Stéphane Encel réside dans sa capacité à connecter des mondes qui sont généralement maintenus séparés : la Bible et Matrix, les mythes anciens et l'intelligence artificielle, Orwell et la religion, la psychologie sociale et les récits fondateurs. 

Ces références ne sont pas utilisées de manière nostalgique, mais comme des outils pour comprendre des questions contemporaines de liberté, responsabilité, pouvoir, technologie et identité humaine.

Artificial intelligence as an existential question

Lorsqu'il aborde l'IA, Stéphane Encel adopte délibérément un angle différent de celui des spécialistes en technologie. Sa question n'est pas seulement ce que l'intelligence artificielle peut faire, mais ce que son développement révèle sur nous. 

Prométhée, Faust, Frankenstein, le Golem et Matrix deviennent des jalons dans une longue histoire de la relation de l'humanité avec ses propres créations. Son objectif est d'aller au-delà des fantasmes technologiques, de reprendre le contrôle de l'outil et de replacer l'être humain au centre.

Challenging assumptions rather than delivering ready-made answers

Expert en APM depuis 2024, Stéphane Encel crée des discours qui invitent les participants à réfléchir plutôt qu'à simplement recevoir un message fixe. 

Des questions, des échanges en table ronde, des expériences en psychologie sociale, des extraits de films, des textes historiques, des mythes et des références populaires se combinent pour créer des sessions dynamiques et accessibles.

History, myths and foundational narratives to shed light on artificial intelligence, freedom, authority and the search for meaning.

— Stéphane Encel
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Conferences

Stéphane Encel draws on history, foundational narratives, myths and the humanities to illuminate contemporary transformations and place the human being back at the centre of the debate.

01

Man, where are you?

The existential challenge of artificial intelligence

What if the real question raised by AI were not what machines will become, but what we want to remain?

Artificial intelligence fascinates and worries us in equal measure. Stéphane Encel moves beyond a purely technological debate and places AI within a much longer history: humanity's relationship with knowledge, its creations and its own limits.

From Prometheus to Frankenstein, from the Golem to Matrix, human societies have constantly imagined creatures capable of surpassing their creators. AI revives these ancient fears and forces humanity to ask a fundamental question: what truly makes us human?

  • Move beyond myths and misconceptions about AI
  • Understand AI through the long history of our relationship with technology
  • Question freedom, responsibility, identity and inner life in an automated world
  • Put human purpose and the purpose of technology back at the heart of decision-making
Ideal for Executive committees, digital transformation, innovation, HR, leadership seminars, corporate conventions
Format Keynote or interactive expert session · de 45 minutes à 1h30
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02

Does God have a beard?

Moving beyond misconceptions about God and religion

Understanding religion in order to better understand the world, others — and sometimes ourselves.

In a world where religion, identity, secularism and spirituality are often approached through simplistic oppositions, Stéphane Encel returns to facts, words and context.

What is a religion? What is the sacred? Do religions necessarily lead to violence? Are they compatible with democracy? What place can religion have in the workplace? His aim is less to provide definitive answers than to restore the nuance required for understanding.

  • Challenge major misconceptions about religion
  • Provide keys to understanding the place of religion in contemporary societies
  • Better understand secularism, identity and cultural diversity
  • Understand religious issues in the workplace
  • Question the role of spirituality in the face of loss of meaning and technological change
Ideal for Executives, HR, diversity and inclusion, institutions, education, international organisations, intercultural seminars
Format Keynote, interactive expert session or in-depth workshop · de 45 minutes à 1h30
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03

Hero or villain…

How do we become one or the other?

Why can ordinary people, depending on circumstances, become extraordinary — or commit the unacceptable?

We like to believe that our values determine our behaviour. But what happens to those values when group pressure, authority, fear, social context or simply the inaction of others comes into play?

Drawing on history, sociology and major social psychology experiments, Stéphane Encel explores one of the most disturbing questions of all: how much of our decision-making truly belongs to our personality, and how much depends on circumstances?

  • Understand the mechanisms behind action and inaction
  • Identify the influence of groups and environments on decisions
  • Decode conformity, authority and individual responsibility
  • Improve human relationships and collective dynamics within organisations
  • Ask a fundamental question: how can we become better?
Ideal for Leadership, management, HR, ethics, team cohesion, corporate culture, change management
Format Keynote or interactive workshop · de 45 minutes à 1h30
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For which events?

Stéphane Encel speaks at the key moments where people, performance and impact matter.

  • Seminars and conventions
  • Leadership committees and strategic talks
  • Product launches
  • CSR and climate events
  • Institutions, schools and universities

Possible formats

Formats adaptable to your goals and context.

  • Inspiring talk
  • Impactful keynote
  • Participative workshop
  • Panel
  • Webinar

Why choose them?

A unique experience serving strong, useful messages.

  • Field experience backing the message
  • Authentic and inspiring stories
  • Human, demanding and accessible approach
  • Tailored content aligned with your stakes
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Videos

A selection of interviews and appearances showcasing his approach, teaching style and ability to make complex subjects accessible.

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Man, where are you? — The existential challenge of AI 17;01
Interview

Man, where are you? — The existential challenge of AI

Stéphane Encel relit les grands récits bibliques comme une source universelle de réflexion sur la liberté, la quête de sens, la technologie, la laïcité et les grands défis de notre époque.

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The Bible, a manual of subversion — Conversation with Yasmina Jaafar 02:52
Interview

The Bible, a manual of subversion — Conversation with Yasmina Jaafar

Face à l’IA, à l’immédiateté et à la perte de repères, Stéphane Encel montre comment les grands récits bibliques offrent des modèles de pensée anciens mais toujours féconds pour interroger notre place dans le monde, retrouver du sens et affronter les défis contemporains.

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The Bible — A manual of subversion 17;09
Short format

The Bible — A manual of subversion

Stéphane Encel montre comment les grands récits bibliques, de Babel aux prophètes, offrent des clés intemporelles pour questionner le pouvoir, résister à la déshumanisation technologique et redonner du sens à notre rapport au monde.

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Intelligence artificielle : remettre l’humain au cœur du progrès 10:32
Interview

Intelligence artificielle : remettre l’humain au cœur du progrès

Face à la fascination pour l’IA, Stéphane Encel invite les dirigeants à préserver le libre arbitre, l’intériorité et la fraternité, en rappelant que la technologie doit rester un outil au service de l’humain et non devenir une nouvelle forme d’idole.
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Publications

  • Un peuple de solitaires ? Quelques réflexions sur l’histoire juive, Le Cerf, forthcoming spring 2027
  • La Bible. Manuel de subversion, Le Cerf, 2026
  • Géopolitique de la Bible. Relations et représentations au temps des Écritures, PUF, 2024
  • Dieu est-il barbu ? 30 idées reçues sur Dieu et les religions, Le Cerf, 2024
  • Le monde selon Orwell : Avez-vous lu 1984 ?, Le Cerf, 2023
  • Matrix. En quête de nos futurs, Le Passeur, 2022
  • L’antisémitisme en questions, Le Passeur, 2019
  • Josué. Le premier conquérant de la Terre sainte, Tallandier, 2015
  • Tuer pour Dieu. Rapport à la violence et sa légitimité dans le judaïsme ancien, Geuthner, 2013
  • Les Hébreux, Armand Colin, 2009
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