2019 CALL FOR PAPERS
The overarching theme for this conference is “Religion, Medicine, and Health.” You may submit any proposal that addresses this theme tailored to an individual section below. Sections will also consider proposals on topics beyond the conference theme.
Submit all proposals through the AAR-SW Abstract Submission Form.
To propose a panel or workshop, please submit the AAR-SW Panel/Workshop Submission Form.
Submission deadline: October 15, 2018.
For questions related to a specific section, contact the convener listed below. For other questions, you may contact Tiffany Puett, tiffany@diversityandciviclife.org or Jennifer Hancock, jenhancock73@gmail.com.
Arts, Literature, and Religion Section
Convener: Rebecca Poe Hays, R_Hays@Baylor.edu
The Arts, Literature, and Religion section investigates the artistic representations of religion as a force in everyday life, notes the expectations within these representations, and explores the influence that these representations impress upon the surrounding world. This interdisciplinary program unit invites papers exploring any aspect of the intersection between art, literature, and religion. We additionally provide a forum for the exploration of religion and religious themes through one’s own art, and thus invite proposals for artistic presentations, performances, and galleries (e.g., painting, photography, music, creative writing, etc.). In addition to a general call for high quality presentations and papers engaging the intersection of Art, Literature, and Religion, we especially invite papers and presentations that engage this year’s conference theme, “Religion, Medicine, and Health.” 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.
Black Theology Section
Convener: Gary Green Black Theology Section, g.f.green@tcu.edu
We are excited to invite proposals for papers and/or panels that fall under the newly established Black Theology section of SWCRS 2019. Black theology, particularly as it includes liberationist, womanist, and other key trajectories of thought, is an area with a demonstrated history of engaging race, class, gender, and sexuality in potentially revolutionary ways. An area that has not been explored as much are the ways black theology may contribute to how we think about issues of medicine and health. Contributors are encouraged to submit proposals that engage creatively with any variety of the aforementioned themes. While priority will be given to those proposals that address this year’s conference theme “Religion, Medicine, and Health,” all submissions will be seriously considered based on their potential for enriching conversations around black theology more broadly. Abstracts for papers and panels should not exceed 400 words in length.
Ethics, Society, and Cultural Analysis Section
Conveners: Katina Harris, kharris56@student.pvamu.edu and Paul Martens, Paul_Martens@baylor.edu
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 conference theme of “Religion, Medicine, and Health.” Topics for consideration include, but are not limited to: end of life issues, aging and spirituality, pastoral care, concern for basic human rights, and informed consent. Proposals involving multiple presentations or panel discussions (comprised of no more than three participants) focused upon a single topic, figure, or text are welcome. Proposals should not exceed 400 words; please include a title and brief abstract.
History of Christianity Section
Convener: Justin Doran, jmdoran@middlebury.edu
The History of Christianity section has an open call for any paper or panel proposal dealing substantially with contemporary or historical Christian traditions. We are, as always, particularly interested in research that deals with the Southwestern United States. This year, we encourage proposals that deal with the conference’s theme on Religion, Medicine, and Health. Specific topics that would fit this theme include Christian responses to scientific and industrialized medicine, Christian interactions with Latina/o folk medicine, histories of the Catholic Church’s global engagement with the indigent and sick, or responses to death and dying among Christian faith healing movements. Proposals for individual papers should include a paper title and an abstract of between 250 and 500 words. Panel proposals should include a panel title, individual paper titles with participants, and a 250 to 500 word description of the panel theme.
Liberation Theology Section
Convener: Joao Chaves, drjoaochaves18@gmail.com
The Liberation Theology section invites papers and panel proposals that deal with all subjects and themes that fall under the broadly-defined Liberation Theology scope. However, we particularly encourage proposals that focus on: (1) Liberationist approaches to issues of public health, (2) Liberationist responses to the suffering and death in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria, and (3) contributions of black liberation theology—particularly James Cone—to questions regarding the intersection of Liberation Theology and issues of religion, medicine, and health. Proposals should not exceed 400 words and should include a title and brief abstract.
Philosophy of Religion Section
Convener: Kandace Geldmeier, kandace.geldmeier@gmail.com
Proposals are invited in all areas of philosophy of religion, including metaphysics, phenomenology, epistemology, ethics and theodicy. Papers are particularly encouraged along the 2019 theme, “Religion, Medicine and Health.” Questions surrounding embodiment have been popular across the discipline of religion in general for several decades; related to that trend, this section is interested in papers discussing the intersection of medicine and health across any area in the philosophy of religion.
For instance, how are topics such as healing, sickness and death articulated from phenomenological or epistemological perspectives? How do we define health and wellness and what do the normative implications of those definitions reveal? How can we approach questions regarding disease, medical practice and health in terms of theodicy and ethics? Are there specific medical phenomena (cancer, infertility, etc.) that thinkers within the philosophy of religion have tackled? Are there theories of health and well-being particularly angled from a philosophy of religion perspective? How might the tools in the philosophy of religion address the four cardinal principles of bioethics: beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and social justice? What are the metaphysics of medicine and health? In what ways can topics in the philosophy of religion inform ethical healthcare practices? How might the topics in the medical humanities provide insight or practical instances across the range of subject areas in the philosophy of religion?
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, are particularly attractive. Abstracts should be no longer than 400 words in length.
Religion and Class Section
Convener: Susanne Scholz, sscholz@mail.smu.edu
We invite papers on any aspect of New Age Healing Practices as they relate to class, economics, and money. Among the New Age Healing Practices could be practices such as acupuncture, massages and other forms of bodywork, meditation and visualization, nutritional therapy, psychic healing, herbal medicine, healing using crystals, metals, music, chromotherapy, and reincarnation therapy, homeopathy, yoga, reiki, biofeedback, chiropractic, kinesiology, aromatherapy iridology, or prominent occult influences, including the work of Emanuel Swedenborg and Franz Mesmer, as well as ideas of Spiritualism, New Thought, or Theosophy.
While we strongly encourage papers and panels related to these issues, we also welcome other submissions under the heading of Healing, Religion and Class or other topics related to Religion and Class.
Religion, Gender, and Sexuality Section
Convener: Whitney Cox, wcox23@gmail.com
The Religion, Gender, and Sexuality Section invites paper and panel proposals on issues related to the intersections of religion with gender and/or sexuality, both historical and contemporary. Contributors to this section are encouraged to consider the conference theme of “Religion, Medicine and Healing” in through paradigms of gender identity, sex, and sexuality. Participants are invited especially to consider how both social and biological notions inform, are informed by, and trouble the intersections of science and religion suggested by the conference’s theme. 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.
The Study of Islam Section
Convener: Sajida Jalalzai, sjalalza@trinity.edu
This section encourages individual and panel proposals related to the study of Islam. We welcome submissions dealing with the Qur’an and the Sunna, law, philosophy, theology, mysticism, ritual, gender and sexuality, modernity and globalization, teaching, religious pluralism, and other areas of general interest.
For the 2019 SWAAR regional meeting, we are especially interested in papers related to the conference theme, “Religion, Medicine, and Health.” Some relevant topics include (but are not limited to):
● Prophetic Medicine
● Medieval Islamic Medicine and the Institution of the Hospital
● Spiritual and Philosophical Conceptions of Sickness and Healing
● Rituals of Physical or Spiritual Healing
● Possession and Exorcism
● Islamic Biomedical Ethics
● Muslims, Mental Health, and Counseling
● Muslim Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care
● Islam and Disability
● Contraception, Abortion, and Sexual Health
● Islamic Dietary Laws and Health
Proposals involving multiple presentations or panel discussions (of no more than three participants) focused on a single topic are welcome. Each panelist should provide their own abstract for submission. Abstracts should be no longer than 400 words in length.
Theology Section
Conveners: Natalie Carnes, Natalie_Carnes@baylor.edu and Elise Edwards, Elise_Edwards@baylor.edu
This year, the Theology Section invites proposals that treat either this year’s conference theme of religion and healing or its own theme of creation. For the latter, proposals might treat different models of creation in contemporary theological discussion, the significance of the doctrine of creation to theological thought, or some other aspect of creation theology. Proposals that are theological and constructive, rather than simply historical, are welcomed–even if they do not bear directly on religion and healing or creation.
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.
Theta Alpha Kappa Section
Convener: Jennifer Veninga, jennv@stedwards.edu
Student members of Theta Alpha Kappa chapters in the Southwest Region are invited to submit their research for presentation at a TAK paper 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; while we particularly encourage papers related to this year’s conference theme, “Religion, Medicine, and Health,” we invite submissions on 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.
Workshop/Panel Proposal
To propose a workshop or panel discussion, please complete the following AAR-SW Panel/Workshop Submission Form.
To propose a program unit or other event that you would like to see at SWCRS, please contact our Regionally Elected Coordinator and AAR-SW Regional President.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The annual meeting will be held March 8-10, 2019 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.
