1^ST CALL

14th Nordic Conference on Religious Education    

Dates: 12-15.6.2017 

Theme: Dialogue, cultures and religion in learning environments and beyond

Location: School of Theology & School of Applied Sciences of Education and Teacher Education, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus

WELCOME TO NCRE2017!

In a season of change and movement there is a growing demand for new ways of interpreting the past, present and future. Many global processes such as migration, pluralism and the redefinition of citizenship challenge the traditional notions of borders concerning cultures, states and nationalities, ethnicities and religions. Arguably the early 2000’s has also shown that religion is a relevant –and sometimes even a dominant – actor in the public space. In addition, today the need for dialogue and educating for dialogue skills is increasingly being recognized. At the same time dialogue concerning religions is also becoming more inclusive: dialogue in religious education is to recognize not only the dialogue between religious traditions but also dialogue that includes non-religious traditions or takes place within religious traditions. As the many borders in our world a becoming again more transparent and cultures blended, there is an increasing need to re-examine the conceptions and theories concerning the individual, religions and education through the interplay of philosophical and theological analysis, empirical evidence and scholarly interaction.

The theme of NCRE2017 is “Dialogue, cultures and religion in learning environments and beyond”. The learning environments refer to for instance homes, and classrooms and informal and digital learning environments along with other school and church related contexts. This includes topics such as:

·      Borders and de-borderisation in citizenship, nationality, cultures and identities

·      Religions and non-religious traditions in various learning environments

·      Dialogue, beliefs and education

·      Diverse and silenced voices in religious education

·      Church, state and school relations in education

·      Human rights and right for religion/non-religion in education

·      The individual in a pluralistic and digitalized world

One of the characteristics of the University of Eastern Finland is dialogue. First, the UEF is an outcome of a merger of two universities in 2010. Second, in Karelia the interaction between the relatively large Orthodox population and Lutheran population has shaped local culture, customs and history. Third, Karelia is located at the border area between Finland and Russia: it is a place where east meets west. Furthermore, the school of Theology at UEF is one of the few academic institutions that includes both Western and Orthodox theology. It is our wish that you would participate in the scientific dialogue in NCRE2017 in this distinctive context as our most welcome guests.

The keynotes of NCRE2017

Professor Zvi Bekerman, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Professor Cok Bakker, University of Utrecht, Netherlands

Professor Mette Buchardt, University of Aalborg, Denmark

Professor Tuula Sakaranaho, University of Helsinki, Finland

Presentation forms and proposals

Similarly to the previous conference, NCRE2017 includes the following presentation formats and proposals.

Paper proposal

The papers may address aspects of the conference theme or other topics. The abstracts should be 250-300 words, full papers about 2000 words. The length of a paper may exceed this; however more time will not be given for its presentation.

Symposium proposal

We invite groups of researchers to present a theme for debate or a collection of small papers in order to shed light on a particular question. The abstract for a symposium should be 250-300 words, full contribution about 3000 words. Both should be presented for a whole symposium, and not as separate contributions. The names of presenters and discussant(s) should be included both in the abstract and the full paper.

Open forum presentation proposal

Open forum format is a very open form of presentation. Anything fresh and working is welcome here (use of short videos, pictures, open room method, posters, round table, panels, etc). This is also a form for the works and research that are very much in progress. In case of a whole open forum proposal the proposal should consist of description of the contribution and its purpose, procedure of how the discussion will take place, what questions will be touched and possible other contributors. Also questions what were raised in keynote lectures may be further developed. However, also single posters or roundtable presentations (with one or more authors) will be grouped under this presentation form. In a nutshell an open forum proposal can be (please indicate clearly):

·      A whole open forum presentation

·      A single open forum presentation

The abstracts should be about 250 words, full contribution 500-1000 words.

Location

School of Theology & School of Applied Sciences of Education and Teacher Education, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus.

You can reach Joensuu by train or by plane via Helsinki.

Important dates

2016

September                                         2^nd call. Details about costs.

December 1^st  – December 15^th       Proposal submission

2017

January 31^st                                       Review results and decisions

February 28^th                                    Early bird registration fee

April 30^th                                            Conference registration ends

April 30^th                                                                  Deadline for full papers and contributions

Schedule

The conference will last Monday 12.6.2016 from 12.00 and until Thursday 15.6.2016 by 15.00.

Full details of conference fees will be given in September 2016. This includes information on accommodation possibilities, the preliminary schedule and the conference fee.

Contact

Email: ncre2017@uef.fi

Homepage: http://www.uef.fi/en/web/ncre2017

Local committee

Professor Martin Ubani, UEF, Chair

Risto Aikonen, UEF

Sari Havu-Nuutinen, UEF

Vesa Hirvonen UEF

Pekka Metso, UEF

Sari Murtonen UEF

Eveliina Ojala UEF

Ismo Pellikka UEF

Saila Poulter, University of Helsinki

https://www.lcc.lt/academic-conference/

Health and Human Flourishing:
Multidisciplinary Perspectives
CALL FOR PAPERS | DATE: MARCH 23-25, 2017
Organized by by LCC International University (Lithuania)
and the Samford University College of Health Sciences (U.S.A.)
Hosted at the campus of LCC International University, Klaipeda, Lithuania
Deadline for Abstract Submission: Sept. 1, 2016

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION EXTENDED

*Call for papers!*

International Conference

PRACTICES OF TRANSFORMATION:

THE ORGANISED CULTURAL ENCOUNTER

27- 28 October 2016

Venue: Roskilde University, Department of Communication and Arts

Roskilde, Denmark

Keynotes by:

Professor Sarah Pink, RMIT University, Melbourne

Professor Gill Valentine, The University of Sheffield

Professor Awad Ibrahim, University of Ottawa

Professor Emma Renolds, Cardiff University

Conference theme:

Organised cultural encounters (OCEs) are activities that through particular intervention strategies aim at creating transformation. They may be cultural exchange programmes, reconciliation projects, community cohesion initiatives, interfaith dialogue meetings or various projects related to integration of immigrants. These interventions are organised around differences considered to be identity formative and divisive, in particular ethnicity, religion, nationality or ‘culture’, sometimes also including other socio-cultural categories that are seen as intersecting axes of differentiation or diversity (gender, sexual orientation, class, age, (dis)ability). Setting up these kinds of encounters is a widespread practice that aims at facilitating for instance integration, tolerance and community cohesion in the context of culturally diverse societies. Thus, OCEs are invested with much hope for transformation not only of the attendees, but also in the society, societies or contexts addressed by the encounter. Organisers (implicit or explicit) lean on assumptions concerning the nature of differences, encounters and social change.

The conference is interdisciplinary and we invite papers that critically examine these assumptions and practices through the study of particular kinds of OCEs, their arenas and methods. Theoretical as well as empirical papers are welcome. While other themes are welcome, we in particular invite papers within the following themes:

–          Transformative methods in OCEs (narratives, art, exhibition, ritual, travel)

–          Producing and/or managing (cultural) differences

–          Staging and scripting cultural encounters

–          Performativities of cultural encounters

–          Bodies and affects related to cultural encounters

–          Intersecting access of differentiation

–          Research methodologies of OCEs

–          Genealogies of OCEs

–          Activism and research: when practitioners of OCEs are also researchers of OCEs

–          The spatio-temporality of OCEs

–          OCEs and global power dynamics

SUBMISSION OF PAPER PROPOSAL AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION

If you are interested in participating in the conference, please send an abstract (no more than 250 words) and a short biography (no more than 100 words) by 10 June to Helle Bach Riis (hriis@ruc.dk) and Lise Paulsen Galal (galal@ruc.dk). Successful applicants will be notified by 4 July, 2016.

Please consult the CFP Practices of Transformation Conference 27- 28 October 2016_SUBMISSION EXTENDED for a full description of conference theme and cfp.

The First International Congress of the Chilean Society for the Sciences of Religion will be held in Concepción, Chile, on May 23-26, 2017

FirstCall

Religious Literacy in a Plural Age
NEH Working Conference
Saturday, July 9, 2016
(open to the public)

Opening Keynote: Diane Moore, Author of Overcoming Religious Illiteracy
Featuring: Adam Dinham, Author of Religious Literacy in Policy and Practice
Jim Fraser, Author of Between Church and State
Linda K. Wertheimer, Author of Faith Ed
Nate Walker (Newseum)
Vincent Biondo (Project Co-Director)
Kate McCarthy (Project Co-Director)
Closing Keynote: Steve Prothero, Author of Religious Literacy and God Is Not One

Has religious literacy become a necessary component of citizenship? In England and Quebec, the state school curriculum has been revised to include religious literacy. Do these programs share successful strategies that can succeed in other places? We are seeking faculty experts and doctoral candidates from diverse disciplines and personal backgrounds to improve religious literacy education. Can we accommodate differences while also identifying common ground that unifies across ethnic, religious, and partisan lines? If you are interested in attending or presenting, please send a note of interest and/or anonymous abstract (300-word maximum) to californiapluralism@gmail.com before May 25, 2016.

Spirituality, Culture and Well-Being

A multidisciplinary conference

for scholars, researchers and the community

The Context

• We live in a secular, pluralistic society.
• The former certainties of traditional religions have slipped away.
• Diverse spiritual and cultural expressions undermine a shared understanding of what it means to live well.

The Conference

• appreciates and critiques cultural diversity
• encourages a rich, multi-layered understanding of well-being
• probes interactions between spirituality, culture and well-being
• engages multiple perspectives from theology, the social sciences, education, and the creative and performing arts
• promises a challenging and rewarding experience for those considering the complexities of contemporary life

Excelsia College is sponsoring an international research conference to be held on Tuesday 4 & Wednesday 5 October 2016 at its campus located at 69-71 Waterloo Road Macquarie Park NSW Australia.

All papers peer-refereed before the Conference will be included in the

published Conference Proceedings

Selected papers will included in an edited Volume based on Conference themes

Keynote Speaker

Christo Lombaard

Professor of Christian Spirituality, University of South Africa

• Christo’s best known publication is The Old Testament and Christian Spirituality (Atlanta, Georgia: Society of Biblical Literature, 2012), which was awarded the 2013 Krister Stendahl medal for Bible scholarship by the Graduate Theological Foundation, USA.
• Christo’s research specialisations include Biblical Spirituality, Post-Secularism, Spirituality Theory, Sexuality and Spirituality (including Song of Songs), Communication Media and Spirituality, the Patriarchs of Ancient Israel, and Pentateuch Theory.
• He holds two doctorates: a PhD in Communications (North-West University, Potchefstroom, specialising in Religious Communications), and a DD in Theology (University of Pretoria, specialising in Old Testament Studies).
• Christo is a South African National Research Foundation rated researcher, and a regular contributor to conferences across the globe.

Call for Papers

The conference will consider a broad range of theory, scholarship and research at the interface of theology, spirituality, culture and well-being with a core emphasis on how theology and spirituality can contribute to a richer understanding of culture and well-being – and vice versa.

Indicative topics include but are not limited to:

• The contribution of theology and/or spirituality to cultural expressions, including within the creative and performing arts, literature, and the popular media
• The contribution of theology and/or spirituality to individual well-being, including the physical, mental, ethical and relational dimensions of human well-being
• The impact of public life and culture, including modes of education, social welfare, and leadership and governance, on the form and content of theology and/or spirituality
• Ways in which cultural, social and educational institutions can facilitate positive contributions to the dialogue between theology, spirituality culture and well-being
• How expressions of theology and/or spirituality may need to change in order to contribute more widely to culture, public life and personal and social well-being

Expressions of Interest including proposed title, presenter, presenter’s affiliation and contact information should be emailed to Maureen Miner Bridges (see below) by Friday 27^th May 2016.

Abstracts of 150 words are to be submitted via email to Maureen Miner Bridges by Friday 1^st July 2016. Confirmation of acceptance of abstracts for a paper will be provided by 15th July.

Papers should be approximately 5000-6000 words and the conference presentation

no more than 30 minutes. Presenters may nominate to submit their papers for peer review in order to have their paper(s) published electronically in the ERA compliant Conference Proceedings. In addition, there will be a separate published monograph comprising selected papers from the conference.

Authors requesting peer review for publication must submit their papers by Friday 19^th August. Reviews will be sent to authors by 16^th September and final papers (including any revisions as a result of reviewers’ comments or discussion at the conference) must be received by 21^st October.

Conference Organiser

Dr Maureen Miner Bridges

Director of Research

Excelsia College
m.minerbridges@excelsia.edu.au

Conference Committee

Dr Maureen Miner Bridges, Prof Martin Dowson, Dr Peter Davis, Dr Mark Stephens

JOURNAL OF
RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK:
SOCIAL THOUGHT
www.tandfonline.com/WRSP

Affiliated with the Society for
Spirituality and Social Work
http://societyforspiritualityandsocialwork.com/

Call for Special Issue
ISLAM IN THE 21ST CENTURY:
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
FOR SOCIAL WORK WITH MUSLIMS
Guest Editor, Altaf Husain, PhD, Howard University School of Social Work
Deadline: June 15, 2016

This special issue aims to fill the gaps in the existing literature on social work education, practice and research with Muslims, with a particular focus on the examination of issues of social justice and Islam, and the concomitant impact of Islamic teachings on the development of policy and the delivery of social services. The special issue is intended to allow prospective authors the latitude to delve deeper into the role of Islam in the daily lives of potential clients and in the healthy functioning of organizations and communities.

Conceptual, research-based, and practice-oriented articles are being solicited in these four broad areas:
1. Islamic beliefs and values;
2. Micro direct practice;
3. Macro direct practice; and
4. Best practices in serving Muslim clients, organizations and communities.

Guiding questions to assist with the development of original manuscripts include:

• What does the Islamic philosophy of social work look like? Is there such a philosophy?
• What are the key Islamic beliefs and values which are central to ensuring spiritual competence among social work professionals working with Muslim clients?
• How does the Islamic belief system align with the values and ethics of the social work profession?
• How are mental health and psychosocial wellbeing defined, interpreted and addressed according to the Islamic teachings?
• How has anti-Islamic bigotry impacted individuals and communities?
• How is community defined and what unique principles of community organizing and development can be discerned from the Islamic tradition?
• What best practices have emerged within social work education, practice and research with the Muslim population?

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE CALL FOR PAPERS or share electronically with colleagues – click here.