CALL FOR PAPERS
Interested participants should submit a paper proposal of no more than 500 words to the session chair of the unit for which they wish to present.
Paper Proposal Deadline: October 15, 2017
Proposal Acceptance/Rejection Notifications: November 7, 2017
All accepted participants must register for the regional conference via the SWCRS website by February 10, 2018.
Arts, Literature, and Religion Section
Convener: Marc DiPaulo, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
We would like to investigate artistic representations of religion as a force in everyday life, to note the expectations within these representations, and to measure the influence some understanding or performance of religion has on the perspective these works take. Papers that consider such moments in the arts or literature are welcome. So, too, are presentations or performances that wrestle with depictions of religion in one’s own art (painting, photography, music, creative writing, etc). Other high quality paper topics will be considered as space allows. Proposals should not exceed 500 words and should include a title, a brief description, and an indication of the main arguments the presentation will make. Presentations that directly address the conference theme – “Religious Experiences: Then and Now” – are particularly welcome, though not required. Please include a brief self-introduction. Send proposals to: Dr. Marc DiPaolo (marc.dipaolo@swosu.edu), Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion Section
Convener: Mark Dennis, Texas Christian University
The Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion section invites paper and panel proposals on aspects of Asian religious thought and practice, both historical and contemporary. We also invite participation in two roundtable discussions: one will address Dan Arnold’s Brains, Buddhas, and Believing: The Problem of Intentionality in Classical Buddhist and Cognitive-Scientific Philosophy of Mind and the other, focused on pedagogy, will take up Jeffrey Kripal’s Comparing Religions. Proposals should not exceed 500 words and should include a title, brief description, and indication of the main arguments of the presentation. If using a PowerPoint presentation, please bring your laptop and make your own arrangements for a data projector. Please indicate if you have any special audiovisual requests. Send proposals to: Mark Dennis (m.dennis@tcu.edu), Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
Ethics, Society, and Cultural Analysis Section
Conveners: Katina Harris, Prairie View A&M; and Paul Martens, Baylor University
We welcome proposals on all themes and topics that fall under the ethics, society, and cultural analysis umbrella, but we would like to particularly encourage proposals that address the following three foci: (a) religious resources for engaging race and/or immigration (with attention to our region); (b) engagements with the Christian ethics of D. Stephen Long (who has recently moved to our region); and (c) religion and the “grand challenges” or “big ideas” of our time. Proposals should not exceed 400 words and should include a title and brief abstract. Proposals that incorporate the conference theme—“Religious Experiences: Then and Now”—will be prioritized. Send proposals to: Katina Harris (kharris56@pvstudent.pvamu.edu), Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
History of Christianity Section
Convener: Justin Doran, Claremont McKenna College, University of Texas
(a) History and Anthropology of Christianity: We invite proposals on any topic in the history or anthropology of Christianity, especially those that deal with this year’s theme on religious experience. Marking the 100-year anniversary of the U.S. Sedition Act, we are especially interested in proposals that deal with the relationship between religious experience and conscientious objection, criticism of the government, or Christian resistance to organized violence.
(b) Religions in the Latina/o Americas: Reflecting the restructuring of programming at the national AAR, this year we invite proposals for panels or conversations on topics related to religions in the Latina/o Americas. In recognition of the 200-year anniversary of the founding of New Orleans, we invite proposals for individual papers and full panels that analyze sites of religious contact in the Latina/o Americas, including Latino USA. While we encourage presentations that deal with this year’s theme on religious experience, we will happily consider any topic on Latina/o or Latin American religions.
Proposals should not exceed 400 words and should include a title and brief abstract. Please send proposals to: Justin Michael Doran (jmdoran@utexas.edu, Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
Philosophy of Religion Section
Convener: Kandace Geldermeier,
Proposals are invited in all areas in philosophy of religion, including metaphysics, phenomenology, epistemology, and theodicy. Papers are especially encouraged along the theme of “Religious Experiences: Then and Now.” Proposals involving multiple presentations or panel discussions (no more than three participants) focused upon a single topic, figure, or text are welcome. Each panelist should provide an abstract for such submissions. Proposals that feature interdisciplinary or inter-institutional participation, and that promise to stimulate productive discussion, will be favored. Abstracts should be no longer than 400 words in length. Send proposals to: Kandace Geldmeier (kandace.geldermeier@gmail.com), Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
Religion and Class Section
Convener: Susanne Scholz, Southern Methodist University
We invite proposals for a panel on the intersectionality of religion, class, and reproductive rights. As Bryce Covert observes in his opinion piece in the New York Times on April 25, 2017, “[e]conomics frequently drive women to seek an abortion in the first place.” He also quotes Bernie Sanders as asserting: “Once you get off of the social issues — abortion, gay rights, guns — and into the economic issues, there is a lot more agreement than the pundits understand.” The intersectionality of class and reproductive rights is thus highly contested and controversial even among progressive politicians. Scholars in religious and theological studies must further investigate how religious practices and faith principles intersect with the rhetoric and politics of reproductive rights and class. Papers on specific historical, sociological, philosophical, textual, ethnographical, theological, or religious dimensions of this year’s broadly framed topic are welcome, as this section explores class studies in religion from multifaceted, diverse, and justice-oriented contexts. We are looking forward to your proposal of no more than 400 words. Send proposals to Dr. Susanne Scholz (sscholz@smu.edu), Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
Religion, Gender, and Sexuality Section
Convener: Whitney Cox, University of Houston
Contributors to this section are encouraged to consider the conference theme of “Religious Experiences: Then and Now” in light of also-changing notions of gender identity, sex, and sexuality. Papers are invited that explore how individual and group experiences of gender and sexuality change, inform, and overlap with religious experiences. Proposals involving multiple presentations or panel discussions (no more than three participants) focused upon a single topic, figure, or text are also welcome. Proposals that feature interdisciplinary or inter-institutional participation, and that promise to stimulate productive discussion, will be favored. Abstracts should be no longer than 400 words in length. Send proposals to: Whitney Cox (wcox23@gmail.com), Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
Theta Alpha Kappa Section
Convener: Jenny Veninga, St. Edwards University
Student members of Theta Alpha Kappa chapters in the Southwest Region are invited to submit their research for presentation at a TAK paper session or at a SWCRS poster session. It should be noted that, although any TAK member is permitted to submit a paper proposal for the TAK panel, this session has traditionally been a forum for undergraduates. One session will be devoted to the best papers; open to all topics. Submissions must come from the chapter adviser and include: 1) the presenter’s name and contact information; 2) the entire paper (preferred) or an abstract of the paper (acceptable); 3) the name of the school; and 4) venue for which the paper was prepared (i.e., honors project, senior thesis, etc.). In the event that there are more proposals than can fit in one session, local chapter advisors may be asked to select the one best submission from their schools. Students whose proposals are not included in the paper session will be encouraged to submit the proposal to the SWCRS poster session and guided through that application process. Submit proposals to: Jenny Veninga (jennv@stedwards.edu), Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
Theology Section
Convener: Natalie Carnes, Baylor University
For the first time at AAR-SW, theology will have its own section at the 2018 meeting. To mark this occasion, the Theology Section invites proposals that reflect on the question of why theology is significant today—in the academy, to the church, and for the world. Proposals may address this question systematically and explicitly, or they may choose to answer implicitly, by displaying the type of importance theology has. Proposals may address the different forms and genres theological work takes today, from the dogmatic to the ethnographic, from the historical to the experimental, from the more continentally-influenced approaches to the rise of analytic theology.
Proposals involving multiple presentations or panel discussions (no more than three participants) focused upon a single topic, figure, or publication are especially encouraged. Each panelist should provide an abstract for such submissions. Proposals that feature interdisciplinary or inter-institutional participation, and that promise to stimulate productive discussion, will be favored. Abstracts should be no longer than 400 words in length. Send proposals to: Natalie Carnes (Natalie_Carnes@baylor.edu), Katherine Downey (katherinebrowndowney@gmail.com) and Paul Martens (Paul_Martens@baylor.edu).
GENERAL INFORMATION
The annual meeting will be held March 9-11, 2018 at the Marriott Hotel, DFW Airport North in Irving, Texas.
The Southwest Commission on Religious Studies invites members of constituent organizations to submit paper proposals for the regional meeting. Proposals should be submitted to the person designated in each section. Please indicate if the proposal is being submitted to more than one section. Proposals may be submitted to more than one section, but in order to accommodate as many people as possible, papers must not be read more than once during the meeting.
A response to your proposal will be sent within one month of the CFP deadline. If your proposal is accepted, you should confirm your participation in the session with the program chair. In addition, you must register for the meeting. All presenters must register at least one month prior to the meeting.
AAR-SW REGIONAL MEETING POLICIES
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION POLICY
All presenters must register for the SWCRS conference at least one month prior to the meeting.
POLICY ON UNDERGRADUATE PAPERS
In order to apply to present a paper, undergraduates will be required to include a faculty sponsor who is a member of the AAR and to submit the whole paper for consideration.
POWERPOINT AND OTHER PROJECTION MEDIA PRESENTATIONS POLICY
AAR-SW has a limited number of rooms with AV capabilities reserved at the regional meeting. All sessions requiring AV services must be coordinated with the AAR-SW Regionally Elected Coordinator. Before the Call For Papers Deadline.
