Category Archives: Calls for Papers

CFP: Islam of the Global West

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Islam of the Global West is a pioneering series that examines Islamic beliefs,
practices, discourses, communities, and institutions that have emerged from ‘the
Global West.’ The geographical and intellectual framing of the Global West
reflects both the role played by the interactions between people from diverse
religions and cultures in the development of Western ideals and institutions in
the modern era, and the globalizations of these very ideals and institutions. In
creating an intellectual space where works of scholarship on European and North
American Muslims enter into
conversation with one another, the series promotes the publication of
theoretically informed and empirically grounded research in these areas. By
bringing the rapidly growing research on Muslims in European and North American
societies, ranging from the United States and France to Portugal and Albania,
into conversation with the conceptual framing of the Global West, this ambitious
series aims to reimagine the modern world and develop new analytical categories
and historical narratives that highlight the complex relationships and rivalries
that have shaped the multicultural, poly‐religious character of Europe and North
America.

SERIES EDITORS
Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, Reed College, USA ghaneabk@reed.edu
Frank Peter, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar fpeter@qfis.edu.qa

EDITORIAL BOARD
Leila Ahmed, Harvard Divinity School, USA
Schirin Amir‐Moazami, Freie University Berlin, Germany
John Bowen, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
Xavier Bougarel, Centre nationale de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), France
Ian Coller, University of California, Irvine, USA
Edward E. Curtis IV, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, USA
Mercedes García‐Arenal, Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales CSIC, Madrid,
Spain
Sophie Gilliat‐Ray, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
Riva Kastoryano, Centre de Recherches Internationales, SciencesPo, France
Aisha Khan, New York University, USA
Andrew March, Yale University, USA
Sean McLoughlin, University of Leeds, UK
Anne Sofie Roald, Malmö University, Sweden
Mark Sedgwick, Aarhus University, Denmark

CONFIRMED VOLUMES SO FAR
Pooyan Tamimi Arab: Amplifying Islam in the European Soundscape. 2017.

NCSR Abstract submission deadline approaching!

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Abstract submission deadline is approaching

Dear friends of the NCSR-conference! We wanted to remind you, that there is still and only three weeks left to submit an abstract for a paper to be presented at the Nordic Conference for the Sociology of Religion in Helsinki, 17th–19th August 2016. The theme of the conference is: Wellbeing, leadership and the lifespan – Current trends in the sociology of religion
We welcome your abstracts until March 15th, 2016.

Please see the available sessions and other submission guidelines on our web page http://blogs.helsinki.fi/ncsr-2016/ before submitting!
Abstract submission form
The conference fee (by May 31st) is 170€,
and for PhD and master’s students 130€.
More info on our website
Registration for the conference begins in April.
Please follow this newsletter
and our webpage for more information!
August is a busy month in Helsinki! To secure your preferred accommodation for the NCSR, please book well in advance!

The hotel options and our special rates are now published on our website! http://blogs.helsinki.fi/ncsr-2016/practical-information/housing/
Accommodation is not included in the conference price. Please contact your selected hotel directly for bookings and payment.
Looking forward to warm August weather and meeting You in Helsinki!
Kati Tervo-Niemelä
Jenni Spännäri
and the whole organizing team

CFP: Alternative Religiosities in the Soviet Union and the Communist East-Central Europe

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CALL FOR PAPERS

for the topical issue of Open Theology journal

Alternative Religiosities in the Soviet Union and the Communist East-Central Europe:

Formations, Resistances and Manifestations

Open Theology (http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/opth) invites submissions for the topical issue “Alternative Religiosities in the Soviet Union and the Communist East-Central Europe: Formations, Resistances and Manifestations”, under the general editorship of Dr. Rasa Pranskevičiūtė and Dr. Eglė Aleknaitė (Vytautas Magnus University).

DESCRIPTION

After the boom of traditional religions (i. e. prevailing national religions or those that have a relatively long history in a particular country) and alternative religious movements (i. e. religious movements that offer an alternative to the traditional religion(s) in a particular country) in post-communist/post-socialist countries, the religion(s) of this area have gained increasing scholarly attention. Research on the religious situation during the prior communist/socialist period is primarily focused on restrictions placed on traditional religions and their survival strategies, while the corresponding phenomena of the alternative religious of that time still lack proper analysis.

The special issue invites papers that address alternative religiosities in the communist/socialist countries up to 1990. Due to Soviet control, they mostly existed underground and could remain only if expressed clandestinely. Beside the officially-established Soviet culture, connected with the Communist Party’s aim to control all aspects of the public sphere, there was an unofficial cultural field that was very receptive to the arrival, formation, spread and expressions of diverse alternative religiosities and spiritualities. The disappointment with the existing narrowness of the official communist ideology and the loss of the absolute allegiance to it led to the formation and rise of unofficial socio-cultural alternatives within the system. The underground activities, including access to alternative spiritual and esoteric ideas and practices, generally existed in parallel, or even jointly, with the official culture and institutions.

We invite religious scholars, historians, anthropologists, as well as authors representing other disciplines, to submit both empirical and theoretical papers including, but not limited to the following topics:

• Networks and inter-community connections

• Flows of ideas within the Soviet Union and communist East-Central Europe and from the outside

• Centers and peripheries of the milieu of alternative religiosity in the region

• Politics and actions of the regime towards alternative religiosity

• Restrictions, repressions and survival strategies of practitioners of alternative religiosity

• Milieu of alternative religiosity as a space of resistance

• Relationships of communities of alternative religiosity with dominant religious traditions

• Theoretical frameworks and methodological problems in research on alternative religiosities within the Soviet Union and the communist East-Central European region

Authors publishing their articles in the special issue will benefit from:

  • transparent, comprehensive and fast peer review
  •  efficient route to fast-track publication and full advantage of De Gruyter Open’s e-technology,
  •  no publication fees,
  • free language assistance for authors from non-English speaking regions.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Submissions are due June 30, 2016. To submit an article for the special issue of Open Theology, authors are asked to access the on-line submission system at: http://www.editorialmanager.com/openth/

Please choose as article type: “Special Issue Article: Alternative Religiosities”.

Before submission the authors should carefully read over the Instruction for Authors, available at: http://www.degruyter.com/view/supplement/s23006579_Instruction_for_Authors.pdf

All contributions will undergo critical review before being accepted for publication.

Further questions about this thematic issue can be addressed to Dr. Rasa Pranskevičiūtė at Rasa.Pranskeviciute@degruyteropen.com or Dr. Eglė Aleknaitė at ealeknaite@yahoo.com. In case of technical questions, please contact journal Managing Editor Dr. Katarzyna Tempczyk at katarzyna.tempczyk@degruyteropen.com

CfP: Crossing the borders. Interdisciplinary research in Arabic and Islamic studies (Yerevan State University)

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Crossing the borders. Interdisciplinary research in Arabic and Islamic
studies

Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia, May 2016

The Chair of Arabic Studies at Yerevan State University in cooperation
with Middle Orient project is pleased to invite graduate students (MA
and PhD) and recent post-docs of all fields associated with Arabic and
Islamic Studies (broadly defined) to present their recent research
during the graduate conference entitled “Crossing the borders.
Interdisciplinary research in Arabic and Islamic studies”, which will
take place on May 5-6, 2016.

Research papers are accepted on all aspects of Arabic and Islamic
studies, including, but not limited to:
–Islamic Studies (History, religion, politics)
–Arabic Literature
–Arabic Linguistics
–The History of Arabic countries
–The Arab world in the framework of international relations
–Intercultural dialogue
–The topical issues of Arab Middle East

Each participant will be expected to speak for no longer than 20
minutes. At the end of each session the discussion will be opened by
the session moderator.

Submission process

For submitting a paper proposal, please send an abstract of proposed
paper (no more than 300 words) and a current CV to
graduateconferenceysu@gmail.com by 15th of February, 2016. Abstracts
should provide a brief description of the work, clearly outlining the
theoretical perspectives and methodology to be applied in the paper.

Notifications of acceptance will be sent until 29th of February, 2016.

All proposals will be subjected to peer-reviews. The selected papers
will be published in the proceeding volume of “Arabic Studies”- the
annually published official journal of the Chair of Arabic Studies,
YSU.

For any enquiries regarding the conference, please contact
info@middleorient.com.

CFP: Religion and Belief in the Public Sphere of Eastern Europe

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Culture and Society: Journal of Social Research
Call for Papers for Special Issue on:
Religion and Belief in the Public Sphere of Eastern Europe

Guest Editors:
Milda Alisauskiene, Department of Sociology, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Email: m.alisauskiene@smf.vdu.lt
Panagiotis Pentaris, Faiths & Civil Society Unit, Department of Social, Therapeutic & Community Studies, Goldsmiths University of London, UK
Email: p.pentaris@gold.ac.uk

Summary
The role of religion in Eastern Europe has seen recent and most significant changes. The atheist doctrine of the socialist period was overcome between the years 1989 and 1991 (Gerlach & Töpfer 2015). Such change interplayed with public life, while religion and belief found various and different roles in society, usually more apparent. This period enhanced the notion of ‘freedom of religion and belief’ (Gerlach & Töpfer 2015). Nonetheless, contemporary societies in Eastern Europe experience a heterogeneous religious landscape. The population’s religious and belief identities grow diverse as we move on in the 21st century. The current makeup of the society also depicts new challenges and controversies in different spheres of public life. The role of religion and belief has also changed while non-belief and the contested notions of secularity have gained much attention in discourse and personal belief, both.
In light of the changes mentioned above, legislation should be addressing these exigent issues and provide appropriate frameworks to accommodate the religious difference in the public sphere. Nonetheless, social policy need be informed by current and ever-changing demographics, as well as how the current religious landscape is playing out in different spheres of public life (also see, Dinham & Francis 2015).
The present special issue draws attention to the growing religious diversity in Eastern Europe and its implications in public life. The collection of the articles calls for enhancement of the discourse in the sociology of religion and study of religions in Eastern Europe.
The aim of this special issue is dual; to further explore the changing religious landscape in Eastern Europe. Also, it seeks to unpack the role of religion and belief in public life, and how that plays out in politics, policy, and everyday practices. Therefore, the guest-editors are inviting papers that will address these issues, and will add to the discourses of the sociology of religion in Eastern Europe.

Please express your interest by submitting a 300-word abstract of your proposed work to the guest editors (contact details provided above), by the 28th of February 2016. With your submission, please include your affiliation and contact details. Notifications of acceptance and invitations to submit the first draft will follow in March 2016.

Timeline:
25/01/16: CFPs is disseminated/published.
28/02/16: Expression of interest from potential contributors & submission of 300 word abstracts to guest editors.
March 2016: Notification of acceptance & invitations to submit first draft.
30/06/16: 1st draft submission for internal reviews.
31/07/16: notifications of reviewers’ comments to authors.
30/09/16: Submission of final version of manuscripts for publication.
30/11/16: Final special issue manuscript submission to Culture and Society.
Spring 2017: Publication of the special issue.

For more information about the journal, see: http://culturesociety.vdu.lt.

NEW DEADLINE: International Conference: Polish Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

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We cordially invite researchers, PhD candidates, and students to
participate in the “Third International Conference of the Polish Society
for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Psychology, Culture,
Biology”, which will take place in *Krakow, Poland on 20 – 22 June, 2016. *

*Submissions has been extended till 21 February 2016. *

The conference will build a network for the third international symposium
of psychologists of religion and spirituality in Poland. The two previous
conferences held in Lublin (2014) and Gdańsk (2012), had researchers from
various disciplines come together towards the common idea of studying
psychological aspects of religious and spiritual life. We want the third
conference of the society to share the same idea of incorporating an
interdisciplinary approach, so we address our call for papers to
representatives of various academic fields. We therefore invite not only
psychologists and religious studies scholars, but also sociologists,
biologists, cultural theorists, philologists, historians, pedagogists,
philosophers and theologians of various denominations who are interested in
the study of mutual relationships between religion, spirituality, and
psychology.

The organizers are planning to publish conference proceedings, papers and
posters (after a successful peer-review process) through the following
venues*: post-conference edited volume on existential health* in the
context of healthcare, education and well-being; the international journal
“Studia Religiologica”; post-conference e-book – open access dedicated
to the current issues in psychology of religion and spirituality.

Conference website: https://ptprid3.wordpress.com/
<https://ptprid3.wordpress.com/>

Important dates related to the 20-22 June 2016 conference:

  • Abstract submission by: *21 February 2016 *
  • Abstract notification by: 1 March 2016
  • Conference fee payment by: 15 March 2016

Sincerely,

The Organizing Committee

CFP: American and Muslim Worlds, 1500-1900

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CALL FOR PAPERS:

American and Muslim Worlds circa 1500-1900

Conference at the University of Pennsylvania, McNeil Center for Early American Studies

30 Mar – 1 Apr 2017

Keynote speakers: Denise Spellberg, author of Thomas Jefferson’s Quran: Islam and the Founders; Sylviane Diouf, author of Servants of Allah: African Muslims Enslaved in the Americas

Program Committee: Edward E. Curtis, Mehmet Darakcioglu, Mitch Fraas, Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, John Ghazvinian, Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, Timothy Marr, Daniel Richter, Heather Sharkey, Karine Walther

Long before the age of twentieth century geopolitics, the American and Muslim worlds informed, interacted, perplexed, inspired, confounded and imagined each other in ways far more numerous than is frequently thought. Whether through Salem traders in the East Indies, Ottoman consuls in Washington, orientalist themes in the work of Emerson, Morisco converts in Latin America, or the burial practices of enslaved Africans, there was no shortage of opportunities for Islam, Muslims and the inhabitants of the Americas to meet, interact and shape one another.

We invite proposals for a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary conference examining the interplay between American and Muslim worlds, circa 1500-1900, to be held at the University of Pennsylvania’s McNeil Center for Early American Studies in the spring of 2017. Most papers will be pre-circulated via a password-protected website, accessible only to conference registrants, who will be expected to read them in advance.

We are intentionally leaving the term “American and Muslim worlds”€ open to the widest possible interpretations. Possible topics could include (but are not limited to):

–  Islam and slavery in the Americas

–  Islam and the founders

–  Muslim immigration to the Americas

–  American missionary activity as well as eschatological and other religious responses to the Muslim world

–  Military conflicts (e.g., the Barbary wars)

–  American orientalism

–  Material culture (carpets, textiles, horses, irrigation, etc)

–  Aesthetic forms

–  Diplomatic and political history

–  Trading networks

–  Travel narratives

We envisage this conference as an intellectual platform bringing together scholars from the US and abroad, to consider the interweaving of American and Muslim worlds. We are particularly open to papers that consider Muslim responses to events that scholars in the Anglophone world have traditionally considered from “American” points of view (e.g., the US and the Barbary wars, missionary activity). We are also favorably disposed to papers that disrupt the idea of American and Muslim worlds as two separate and non-overlapping entities. Finally, we are keen to attract papers that conceive of the Muslim world as something more than just the Middle East (for example, papers that deal with the Ottoman Balkans; Central, South and Southeast Asia; West Africa).

Confirmed participants include Jacob Berman, Karoline Cook, Michael C. Hawkins, Paul Lovejoy, Bethel Saler, and Malini Johar Schueller. The conference will feature an opening plenary with presentations from senior scholars, and discussion-intensive panels of research in progress, with plenary speakers serving as discussants. The forum will also feature a public exhibit at the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts at Penn’s Van Pelt Library.

Some support for travel and lodging expenses will be available to conference presenters.

Papers of approximately 7,500 words will be due for precirculation no later than 3 February 2017. To be considered, please send an abstract of 250-300 words, along with a one-page CV, to mceas@ccat.sas.upenn.edu no later than 16 May 2016. Decisions will be made during summer 2016.

 

CFP: Human Dignity in Islam Symposium, Sydney – July 16-17 2016

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CALL FOR PAPERS

What would Prophet Muhammad do?

 

Exploring the Meaning & Application of

Human Dignity in Islam

International Roundtable Symposium, July 16th – 17th 2016

Imam Hasan Centre, Sydney, Australia

Synopsis

A great deal of scholarship in the West has emerged on the concept of human dignity in the fields of law, ethics and philosophy. The commonly cited influences of Immanuel Kant, human rights instruments after World War II and role of religious scripture have contributed to the modern understanding of human dignity – the innate self-worth, humanity and moral and rational agency of a human being. Others such as Macklin deem human dignity to be a “useless concept” meaning nothing more than personal autonomy (Macklin, R., “Dignity as a Useless Concept.” British Medical Journal 327. 2003, p.1419-1420).

Comparatively, modern Muslim scholarship on the meaning and application of human dignity is still sparse and many argue that “religious voices no longer carry much weight” in this discussion (Rae, S. B., and Cox, P. M., Bioethics: A Christian Approach in a Pluralistic Age. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans. 1999, p.2). Most Muslim scholars trace the concept of human dignity to various verses in the Qur’an and Prophetic narrations but is this methodological approach anachronistic? Are current attempts to construct a notion of human dignity from the Islamic tradition a Eurocentric reflection of the philosophical justifications used in Western scholarship? Apart from discussions of autonomy and constraint, is there anything original that the Islamic tradition can offer in formulating an understanding of human dignity? Ultimately, should human dignity be a bedrock principle in Muslim jurisprudential (fiqhi) and ethical (akhlaqi) discourses?

Whilst we cannot find all answers in history, we can certainly tap into some enduring visions and principles left by courageous figures such as Prophet Muhammad who the Qur’an describes as possessing a “great character” (68:4). He tirelessly worked to bring dignity to those who were treated as less than human such as slaves, women and the impoverished. With the negative political and media attention that paints Islam as a terrorist and inhumane religion, the symposium aims to frame the aforementioned questions within the transformative, merciful and daring spirit of Prophet Muhammad.

The symposium does not restrict discourses and models to be exclusively associated with Prophet Muhammad – it welcomes all types of knowledge-bases in a multi-disciplinary setting; rather it aims to set a viable historical context in which experts can discuss the issue of human dignity. The date of the symposium coincides with the month of Shawwal. This is the month in which the marriage between the Prophet and Lady Khadijah took place – a union based on showing deep compassion and humanity to the less fortunate in society.

Abstracts

Contributors are expected not just to provide a theoretical analysis of human dignity from the Islamic tradition but possible frameworks to solve current jurisprudential, ethical and philosophical problems. Combining seminary and university intellectual approaches in one’s presentation are encouraged.

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words coupled with a short biography. Those whose abstracts are accepted will be required to submit a paper of approximately 8,000 words before the symposium for a projected edited compilation. Contributors are free to select from the themes below or suggest their own ideas:

·         Human dignity in scriptural and spiritual discourses – lexicology, usage, Divine and Prophetic intent

·   Human dignity in philosophical and metaphysical discourses – origins, conceptions, the meaning of humanity, empowerment, constraint and existentialism

·         Human dignity in legal and jurisprudential discourses – the treatment of religious denominations, non-Muslims, women, slaves and others; its relationship with human rights and contributions of current Muslim scholars

·         Human dignity in ethical discourses – its place in Muslim ethical literature and the need (or lack of) to create a discipline of usul al-akhlaq (principles of ethics)

·         Human dignity in bioethical discourses – application to bioethical issues – consent, autonomy, beginning of life & end-of-life care, genetic engineering, animal-human experimentations

·         Human dignity in historical and socio-political discourses – its role in early and later Muslim battles, modern terrorism and advancement of the state

·         Human dignity in comparative discourses – comparisons and critiques between Islamic, Western/Eastern or interreligious conceptions of dignity and Eurocentrism

Venue, Travel & Accommodation

The symposium will be held at the Imam Hasan Centre, located in Annangrove, Sydney which since its establishment in 2004 has been a place of religious worship, interfaith dialogue, community-building, academic workshops and lectures. More information about the centre can be found here: https://www.imamhasancentre.com.au/ A few places are reserved for early career researchers so graduate researchers in Australia are encouraged to submit abstracts. Monetary assistance for travel and accommodation may be requested and granted if available (particularly for those living in Australia). Information about call for papers can also be found here: https://www.imamhasancentre.com.au/conferences/

Submissions and Queries

·         Abstract submission date: March 20th 2016

·         Paper submission date: July 1st 2016

Abstracts and queries can be sent to Dr. Imranali Panjwani, Lecturer & Researcher at the Imam Hasan Centre, at: ipanjwani@hotmail.com. For further enquiries, please ring the Centre’s main number on: +61 2 9679 0855.

CFP for New Editors of Politics & Religion

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Politics and Religion
Call for Proposals for New Editor(s)

The Religion and Politics section of the American Political Science Association invites applications from individuals, pairs, or teams for the editorship of Politics and Religion (P&R) from January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2021. Nominations and self-nominations are encouraged. The section particularly encourages nomination of pairs or teams of editors where each editor represents a different country and a variety of substantive expertise.
Interested applicants for editor should be senior scholars and members in good standing of the Religion and Politics section. Applicants are expected to have records of significant research accomplishment in the subfield of Religion and Politics, intellectual breadth and depth, an entrepreneurial approach to attracting and soliciting quality manuscripts, authors, and reviewers, and excellent administrative, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

information for candidates
Politics and Religion is the flagship journal for the subfield of Religion and Politics, published by Cambridge University Press. P&R receives close to 100 submissions per year and continues to grow. As a result, serving as editor requires substantial commitments of time, intellectual effort, and management skill. It also offers an opportunity to shape the intellectual direction of the journal and the field.
The P&R editor reports to the Executive Committee of the Religion and Politics Section of APSA and to the Publishing Editor at Cambridge University Press. The editor will appoint book review editors and journal editorial board members in consultation with the section’s executive committee. The editor is required to provide at least one written report per year on the state of the journal, in addition to frequent informal consultation with the section and CUP. Cambridge University Press provides a stipend to the editor each year to defray some of the administration costs of the journal.

to Apply
Candidates should e-mail a single PDF that includes a full curriculum vita, a letter of intent or proposal that discusses vision and goals for the journal, particularly addressing the challenge of balancing international politics, American politics, comparative politics, and political philosophy in an outlet for Religion and Politics research; experiences directly relevant to the position of editor; plans for management, and organization of the journal’s workflow; and statements of financial support commitments from the host university(ies).
Applications should be sent to Elizabeth Shakman Hurd (eshurd@northwestern.edu), Religion and Politics section chair, and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, March 15, 2016.
All applicants will receive e-mail confirmation.
Nominations and Questions: If you wish to nominate a person to serve as editor, you may contact Elizabeth Shakman Hurd who, in turn, will contact the nominee. If you have questions about the responsibilities of serving as editor of Politics and Religion you are encouraged to contact the chair of the Religion and Politics section committee.

CFP: AAR Sociology of Religion Group

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Call for Papers
Sociology of Religion Group
American Academy of Religion
San Antonio, Texas
November 19-22, 2016
Statement of Purpose:
The Sociology of Religion Group of the American Academy of Religion 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 group 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 Group 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.
Theory, Method, and their Application:
Sociology of Religion as part of a larger discipline is marked by a canonization of its theory and its division by paradigms and methodologies–whether these be the classics (Weber and Durkheim), the old paradigm (functionalism and social constructionism), or the new paradigm (rational choice) on the one hand or quantitative, qualitative, or historical-comparative sociology on the other. As it intersects with sociology of religion, the study of religion has drawn from theories and methodologies in conversation with sociology, anthropology, critical theory, psychology, history, and other related disciplines. We are interested both in papers that utilize the methods and theories in the study of religion and bring them into the sociological canon as well as those that help religious studies gain a better grasp of the sociological theory of religion. We encourage papers that exploit both the theory and methodology of sociology of religion and religious studies and use them as frames for analysis of concrete cases. In particular, we request papers that touch upon social divisions examining race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, region, age, etc.
Internationalism and Diversity:
Critics of sociology of religion have pointed out that the field is dominated by North Americans scholars primarily interested in Protestantism. The discipline of religious studies provides a clear antidote to these perceived limitations. Therefore, we encourage contributions from academics who study the various religious traditions around the world as well as those studying North American religious communities. In particular, we would like submissions from scholars from all academic ranks across the lines of nationality, region, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
Call for Papers:
The Sociology of Religion Group (SOR) invites both panel and paper proposals across a wide range of topics of interest to both the sociology of religion and religious studies and are particularly interested in papers, which speak to both thereby encouraging increased dialogue between them. In particular, this year’s CFP expresses interest in the following topics:
• Following the theme of AAR’s 2016 annual meetings, the Sociology of Religion Group invites papers that address the multi-dimensions of “Revolutionary Love.” This includes but is not limited to love communism (or the communism of love), brotherly/sisterly love, or love as an impulse for social change. Conversely, it could include the inverse hypothesis – where love is not revolutionary at all but is egoistic or narcissistic (self-love), where revolutions are not based on love but on hate, where love is harmful and tears down dreams rather than build them up. Finally, papers could contain a synthesis addressing the contradictory impulses of revolutionary love – e.g. paradoxical reflections of the religious adage to love thy enemy.
• Social and Religious Movements and/or Social Movements Theory and Religious Movements Theory
• Competing Canons within the Sociology of Religion and Religious Studies
• Theory and Methodology including issues of reproducibility, validity, and empiricism
• Religion and the Public Sphere
• Religion and Education including but not limited to “Religion and Education in Pluralistic Societies” or “Religion and Education in the Postsecular Age.”
• In a co-sponsored paper session, the Quaker Studies Group and Sociology of Religion Group invite proposals on normative religious identity and notions of the ‘true Church.’ We are interested in papers that utilize sociological theories and methods in the analysis of this topic. We are particularly interested in the following questions: What mechanisms do religious groups use to establish normative identities, particularly against deviants or schismatics within their own group? How is ‘membership’ and ‘authenticity’ counted and measured? What types of authority are used to sustain particular identities and how are these operationalized within the group? How are notions of ‘the world’ constructed and sustained, and how are these notions adapted when they no longer serve their original purpose (for example during the processes of denominationalization or internal secularization)?
• The topics mentioned above are meant merely as suggestions. We encourage submissions of all papers that utilize sociological theories, methods, and questions in their analysis of religion. We are particularly interested in papers that address issues of inequalities of race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or those that utilize critical paradigms including but not limited to critical theory, Marxism, feminism, queer theory, post-colonialism, post-structuralism, and environmentalism.
Publication:
The Sociology of Religion Group 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, over 2600 libraries worldwide have subscriptions to the journal. Presenters of promising papers in SOR panels will be invited to turn their papers into articles and submit them for peer review to CRR.
Leadership:

Co-Chairs:
Rebekka King (Middle Tennessee State University) rebekka.king@mtsu.edu
Warren S. Goldstein (Harvard University) goldstein@criticaltheoryofreligion.org
Steering Committee:
Afe Adogame (Princeton University)
Courtney Bender (Columbia University)
David Feltmate (Auburn University)
Volkhard Krech (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)
Katja Rakow (Universiteit Utrecht)
Randy Reed (Appalachian State University)