Date: 2-3 of August, 2019

Venue: Parramatta City Campus, Western Sydney University

169 Macquarie St, Parramatta, NSW, Australia

Abstracts due: 10 of April 2019 (title, 250-word abstract, short bio)

Submit to: Dr Kathleen Openshaw k.openshaw@westernsydney.edu.au

Keynote Speaker: Associate Prof Richard Vokes (University of Western Australia)

Symposium Conveners:

Prof Cristina Rocha, Religion and Society Research Cluster, WSU

Prof Mark Hutchinson, Alphacrucis College

Dr Kathleen Openshaw, Religion and Society Research Cluster, WSU

Mrs Ingrid Ryan, Alphacrucis College

Symposium Theme

Over the past few decades, Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity (PCC) has exploded in the Global South and grown considerably in the Global North. Much of this grow this fuelled by networks of megachurches, the mobility of community leaders across diasporic networks, migration and media. While traditionally missionaries would travel in a North-to- South direction, more recently megachurches from the Global South have moved horizontally, across to other developing countries, and also made inroads in to the Global North in efforts of reverse missionisation. Such attempts to missionise to locals in the Global North have been largely (though not wholly) unsuccessful and churches have turned their focus to migrants from the Global South. Many studies have shown that migrants, who were not attached to PCCs before migration, join churches in the diaspora as they offer them a home away from home. Meanwhile, diasporic churches also face difficulties keeping these (as well as second generation) migrants, since they may prefer local churches in an effort to integrate. In this symposium we probe these themes and are seeking papers on the following topics:

• Historical developments
• Missionary activities and migration
• Translocal and transnational PCC networks
• Translocal and transnational families and PCC
• Young migrants and PCC
• Second generation migrants and PCC
• Gender, PCC and migration
• City infrastructures and diasporic churches
• Theological themes and migration
• Cultural translation, negotiation, adaptation of migrant churches
• PCC, media, music, information communication Technologies and migration
• Material culture and migrants’ lived experiences in PCC churches
• Aesthetics and embodied practices
• Immobility, borders and PCC

Cristina

Professor Cristina Rocha

Director of Religion and Society Research Cluster

Western Sydney University

President: Australian Association for the Study of Religion

Annual Meeting
San Diego, CA
November 23-26, 2019

Sociology of Religion Unit
Call for Papers

https://papers.aarweb.org/content/sociology-religion-unit

Statement of Purpose:

The Sociology of Religion (SOR) Unit of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) serves as a bridge between religious studies and the subdiscipline of sociology of religion. It functions as a two-way conduit not only to import sociological research into religious studies but also to export the research of religious studies into both the subdiscipline and the broader field of sociology. Only through a cross-fertilization transgressing departmental boundaries can there be breakthroughs in research in both fields. The unit has a wide conception of sociology of religion. It is open to a multiplicity of paradigms and methodologies utilized in the subfield and sociology more broadly: theoretical as well as empirical, quantitative, qualitative, and comparative-historical. By liaising with other Program Units, the Sociology of Religion Unit is able to bring the rich diversity of critical and analytical perspectives that are housed in the American Academy of Religion into mainstream sociology of religion. Conversely, it aims to provide scholars of the study of religion with a deeper understanding of the landscape of sociology of religion.

Call for Papers:
The purpose of the Sociology of Religion program unit of the American Academy of Religion is to bridge the gap and generate cross-fertilization between the Sociology of Religion and Religious Studies. We are open to papers in all areas and therefore encourage submissions of any topic relevant to the sociology of religion. This year, we are particularly interested in the following topics:

• Topics related to San Diego (Immigration/Latinx experiences, militarism, etc.) and public intellectuals (which is the theme of the conference)
• Pedagogical panel: sociology of religion is taught in both sociology and religious studies departments. However, in religious studies departments, so as not to conflict with the turf of sociology departments, it is often called “religion and society.” For this panel, we are interested in comparing how sociology of religion is taught in sociology and religious studies departments
• W.E.B. DuBois’s relevance to the sociology of religion
• A return to Jane Addams and others whose work refutes an epistemic split between sociology and activism
• Relevance/relationship of quantitative to qualitative research
• Applied sociology as a form of pubic intellectual work

Publication:
The Sociology of Religion Unit of AAR regularly co-sponsors panels with the peer-reviewed print and online journal Critical Research on Religion (CRR) (http://crr.sagepub.com). Published by SAGE Publications, the journal has over 8000 subscriptions worldwide and is ranked by Scopus #16 out of 432 religion journals (https://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php?category=1212). Presenters of promising papers in SOR panels will be invited to turn their papers into articles and submit them for peer review to CRR.

Method:

Please submit paper and session proposals through the AAR SOR Unit Portal: https://papers.aarweb.org/content/sociology-religion-unit

Process:
Proposals are anonymous to chairs and steering committee members during review, but visible to chairs prior to final acceptance or rejection

For further information, please contact AAR SOR Unit Co-Chairs:
Rebekka King, rebekka.king@mtsu.edu

Warren S. Goldstein, goldstein@criticaltheoryofreligion.org

The Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements (CenSAMM) is pleased to announce its first annual conference, to be held at the University of Bedfordshire (Bedford Campus) 27-28 June
2019.

The theme of the conference is The Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements: Critical and Interdisciplinary Approaches.

The aim of the conference is to facilitate critical and interdisciplinary discussion of apocalypticism, millenarianism and associated movements across time, place, and culture, and will cover academic fields such as anthropology, archaeology, biblical studies, critical theory, cultural studies, history, literary studies, Political studies, psychology, religious studies, sociology, etc. The interdisciplinary scope is broadly understood to include methodologies, comparative approaches, and showcasing of research more specific to individual fields of expertise.

Speakers include:

• John J. Collins (Yale Divinity School)
• Vanessa Harding (Birkbeck College, University of London)
• Bill McGuire (University College London)
• Sarah Rollens (Rhodes College)
• Beth Singler (University of Cambridge)
• Fatima Tofighi (EUME, Berlin/University of Religions, Qom)
• Paul-Francois Tremlett (Open University)

We invite individual paper proposals from scholars at all stages of their career, including postgraduates, and we welcome suggestions for group panels. Please submit proposals to conference@censamm.org.

Submissions for papers should include a 300-word abstract and short CV.
Deadline for proposals: 31 March 2019.

Please see the CenSAMM website for more information https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcensamm.org%2Fconferences&data=01%7C01%7Cmunnikm%40cardiff.ac.uk%7Cbb29cb68eed24657341e08d6610d800a%7Cbdb74b3095684856bdbf06759778fcbc%7C1&sdata=tB7V9mCVO4RkmVKpghrBa15UiCGwHcEYVm9rfh4ncuE%3D&reserved=0

The Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements (CenSAMM) is pleased to announce its first annual conference, to be held at the University of Bedfordshire (Bedford Campus) 27-28 June
2019.

The theme of the conference is The Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements: Critical and Interdisciplinary Approaches.

The aim of the conference is to facilitate critical and interdisciplinary discussion of apocalypticism, millenarianism and associated movements across time, place, and culture, and will cover academic fields such as anthropology, archaeology, biblical studies, critical theory, cultural studies, history, literary studies, Political studies, psychology, religious studies, sociology, etc. The interdisciplinary scope is broadly understood to include methodologies, comparative approaches, and showcasing of research more specific to individual fields of expertise.

Speakers include:

• John J. Collins (Yale Divinity School)
• Vanessa Harding (Birkbeck College, University of London)
• Bill McGuire (University College London)
• Sarah Rollens (Rhodes College)
• Beth Singler (University of Cambridge)
• Fatima Tofighi (EUME, Berlin/University of Religions, Qom)
• Paul-Francois Tremlett (Open University)

We invite individual paper proposals from scholars at all stages of their career, including postgraduates, and we welcome suggestions for group panels. Please submit proposals to conference@censamm.org.

Submissions for papers should include a 300-word abstract and short CV.
Deadline for proposals: 31 March 2019.

Please see the CenSAMM website for more information https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcensamm.org%2Fconferences&data=01%7C01%7Cmunnikm%40cardiff.ac.uk%7Cbb29cb68eed24657341e08d6610d800a%7Cbdb74b3095684856bdbf06759778fcbc%7C1&sdata=tB7V9mCVO4RkmVKpghrBa15UiCGwHcEYVm9rfh4ncuE%3D&reserved=0

The Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race (TRRR) invites presentation proposals for its 2019 conference, which will convene at Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations (HIPSIR), Hekima University College in Nairobi, Kenya, July 1-5.

This conference takes place against the backdrop of an era of increased political authoritarianism and a noticeable rise in racial and religious intolerance across the world. In Africa the issues of migration, review of conflict intervention mechanisms and an ideological shift on the war on terrorism have raised questions on US strategy in Africa. There has also been a noticeable increase in recent years of suspicions toward known and settled facts and of an economic and cultural nationalism that is fuelling conflicts across the World.

This time of global uncertainty requires a bold and progressive agenda, that also recognizes assets and cultures of cooperation to challenge the existing order. We seek papers that will address these issues with urgency, clarity and an understanding of what is at stake and what can be imagined.

Themes to be addressed include:
  *   Political and Religious Authoritarianism: Past, Present and Future
  *   Deconstructing Conflict, Violence and Sovereignty in Africa and Across the Diaspora
  *   Assets, Cooperatives and the Culture of Cooperation
  *   Patriarchy, Sexism and the Role of Culture in Africa and the Diaspora
  *   Faith-based Responses to the Immigration Crisis
  *   New Formations of African Identity on the Continent and Across the Diaspora
  *   Old Media New Media, Social Media and the Production of Knowledge-based Development
  *   Religion, Race and Morality in the Age of New Social Movements

We invite analysis of these and other tensions at the intersections of religion, race, class, gender and nationality, especially bearing upon faith sector positioning and responses within Africa and diasporic contexts. Contemporary and historical analysis of these contexts are welcome. Best practices presentations and scholarly papers should be outlined in an abstract of 250 words or fewer and emailed by January 30th, 2019 to Dr. William Ackah  (w.ackah@bbk.ac.uk<mailto:w.ackah@bbk.ac.uk>) and Dr. R. Drew Smith (rsmith@pts.edumailto:rsmith@pts.edu).

Further details at: http://www.religionandrace.org

International Conference in Manilla, July 26-27, 2019

We are pleased to announce the International Conference in Theology and Religious Studies, jointly organized by Liverpool Hope University (LHU) through the Andrew Walls Center for the Study of African and Asian Christianity and the Theology and Religious Education Department of De la Salle University (DLSU), Manila, Philippines. The Conference shall take place on July 26 – 27, 2019 in De La Salle University Manila, Philippines under the theme, “Church-State Relations: Religion in the Public Square”. The Conference shall bring together scholars engaged in the academic study of Theology/ Religion in public life in Asia and other regions. The conference will have paper presentations from notable scholars from Europe, Asia and the Philippines.

The “separation of Church and State” is a modern development that ensures freedom of religious expression. At the same time, it prevents governments from imposing particular religious doctrines on everyone. While modern states have upheld the separation between Church and State, the Church, in particular, has supported particular political interventions, movements, and advocacies pertaining to moral issues (e.g. on dictatorships and other human rights violations, legislations on reproductive health issues, divorce, LGBTQ rights, etc.).

This conference therefore explores the varied ways of living out and interpreting the separation and interaction between Church and State. It seeks to respond to the questions: What have been the various models of relations between Church and State? How has religion informed public advocacy? What were the extra and intra-ecclesial factors that shaped religious intervention? What were the consequences of such relations? What can scholarship learn from the experiences that is useful for facing issues today?

We invite scholars from other regions to join in the interdisciplinary conversations to understand the challenges Church-State relations pose for theological reflection and religious studies.

Follow this link for online registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUHCExTLFwWgotWdMl2_8ZGrG24gW0lEaZ_3bmczI4fvxZUw/viewform

• Please send your abstracts (250 words) with 5 keywords (and brief author background) to rito.baring@dlsu.edu.ph by December 15, 2018
• Payment Schemes for the Conference Registration (Inclusive of Simple Conference Kit, 2 Lunches, 4 snacks and certificates):

Local Participants Regular Registration – Php 1,500

Foreign Participants – US $ 50.00 – UCPB P. Ocampo Branch Savings Account 01-120-300035-8 Swift Code: UCPBPHMM

For other conference-related inquiries, kindly email: rito.baring@dlsu.edu.ph

thank you.

—

Dr. Rito Baring

Chair

Theology and Religious Education Department

De La Salle University

Manila

EASR 2019: Religion – Continuations and Disruptions

(Chairs: Frederik Elwert and Maren Freudenberg, Ruhr University Bochum)

Changes and disruptions in the religious field challenge the methodological approaches of scholars studying the field, as new phenomena might require modification to traditional methods or require new methods altogether. This holds particularly true for the rapid changes due to the digitization of society and the emergence of digital religious forms. Scholars face difficulties applying traditional qualitative and quantitative methods to the Internet and other digital spaces, which only partly mirror offline phenomena.

For example, when it comes to webpages, traditional methods of visual and textual analysis are of limited help, given the multi-modality and non-linearity of visual, textual, and audio components and the discrepancies between the user paths intended by the web design and the actual paths taken by users. There are, indeed, many aspects of digital spaces that can inform the study of digital religion, including networks of actions and platforms, interconnections between users, and non-traditional forms of expression. Therefore, there are some questions that need to be explored: In which ways can we, as scholars, approach digital venues? What is the impact of the chosen methodology on the object of study?

Thus we invite scholars to discuss the methodological challenges they face when studying digital religion.

These might include but are not limited to

• * multi-mediality of websites, e.g. text and image and video,
• * interactivity and usage studies,
• * non-linearity and network structures of web pages,
• * availability of large-scale data, e.g. web forums, YouTube comments,
• * multi-method studies (ex. textual analysis combined with interviews),
• * social network analysis of social media data, e.g. Twitter.
• While some of the challenges can be discussed from an abstract methodological perspective, many of them become apparent through concrete experiences in studying digital religion. The panel puts emphasis on the reflection of methodological approaches and challenges rooted in empirical studies that deal with specific cases of digital religion. However, more theoretical contributions are also invited.
• Case studies can include (but are by no means limited to)
• * the online self-representation of minority religions,
• * the appropriation of digital media by majority religions,
• * digital media beyond the web, e.g. mobile apps,
• * networks of religious media,
• * examples of religious contact and material forms of religion on the Internet,
• * hashtags as a frame for religious communication in the web (for example to foster critical discourses of religion).

We welcome innovative and interdisciplinary contributions that bring together new empirical and methodological perspectives, especially if they focus on under-researched phenomena. A possible outcome of the session is a special journal issue on methods for the study of digital religion.

If you are interested in submitting an abstract to this open session, please do so by December 15, 2018 on the conference website: https://easr2019.org/call-for-individual-papers/

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

—

Dr. Maren Freudenberg

We are happy to inform you that the call for individual papers of the 17th European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR) conference conference “Religion – Continuations and Disruptions” is now open! The deadline for individual papers is December 15, 2018. The conference is organized by the Estonian Society for the Study of Religions and will take place from from June 25 to June 29, 2019 in Tartu, Estonia. For more information about the call for papers please see: https://easr2019.org/call-for-individual-papers/

You can find the full list of all the approved open and closed sessions here: https://easr2019.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/EASR-2019-Sessions-1.pdf It is of course also possible to submit independent papers that are not intended specifically for any of these sessions.

We look forward to seeing your abstracts!
Best regards,
EASR 2019 Organizing Team
info@easr2019.org

SISR/ISSR Conference, Bardelona, July 9-12, 2019: The Politics of Religion and Spirituality

Convener(s):
Giulia Evolvi, Ruhr University Bochum
Maren Freudenberg, Ruhr University Bochum

Abstract (English):
The Internet holds an important role in people’s everyday lives because it provides venues to exchange opinions, consume news, and discuss politics and society. The influence of the Internet also extends to religion, as websites and social network accounts dedicated to faith and spirituality increasingly offer spaces to discuss religious practices and beliefs. Additionally, the Internet helps negotiate religious authority and its role in political decisions. New technologies not only allow religious organizations to intervene in public debates, but can also frame religious leaders’ influence on social and political matters. This panel aims at answering the following research questions: how is religious authority negotiated online? Which are the effects of religious authority on politics and society? Contributions that explore Internet-based religious authority are welcome, including but not being limited to: 1) Digital spaces that help believers to negotiate the role of religious leaders as sources of authority 2) Religious groups that employ the Internet to adapt to different socio-political contexts, fostering religious discussions between various religious traditions 3) Religious leaders who use the Internet as a way to establish a voice in political debates and create a religious-based political participation Interdisciplinary presentations that propose innovative theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome.

Abstract (French):
L’internet joue un rôle important dans la vie quotidienne, car il fournit des espaces pour échanger des opinions, consommer des informations et discuter de politique et société. L’influence de l’internet s’étend également à la religion, car les sites Web et les comptes de réseaux sociaux consacrés à la foi et à la spiritualité offrent de plus en plus d’espaces pour discuter des pratiques et des croyances religieuses. De plus, l’internet aide à négocier l’autorité religieuse et son rôle dans les décisions politiques. Les nouvelles technologies permettent non seulement aux organisations religieuses d’intervenir dans les débats publics, mais peuvent aussi influencer le rôle des chefs religieux par rapport aux questions sociales et politiques. Ce panel vise à répondre à deux questions de recherche : comment l’autorité religieuse est-elle négociée en ligne ? Quels sont les effets de l’autorité religieuse sur la politique et la société ? Nous sommes intéressés par des contributions qui explorent l’autorité religieuse sur internet, y compris, mais sans s’y limiter : 1) Des espaces internet qui aident les croyants à négocier le rôle des chefs religieux en tant que sources d’autorité 2) Les groupes religieux qui utilisent l’internet pour s’adapter à différents contextes sociopolitiques, favorisant les discussions religieuses entre diverses traditions religieuses 3) Les chefs religieux qui utilisent l’internet pour se faire entendre dans les débats politiques et créer une participation politique basée sur la religion. Nous sommes intéressés en particulier par des présentations interdisciplinaires proposant des approches théoriques et méthodologiques innovantes.

If you are interested in submitting an abstract to this open session, please do so by December 16, 2018 on the conference website: https://www.sisr-issr.org/en/conferences/call-for-papers

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

—

Dr. Maren Freudenberg