2020 CALL FOR PAPERS
This year’s theme is Religion and Crisis. From war and violence to peacemaking, from sexual abuse to the #MeToo movement, from xenophobia to human rights and dialogue, from climate change denials to environmental justice movements, religion can play multiple roles in crises. For the 2020 conference—not coincidentally an election year—we want to ponder religion’s relationship to crisis past and present. How does religion create or perpetuate crises? How does religion offer resilience and hope in response to crises?
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.
All proposals should be submitted through this link, where you will be required to choose the appropriate section for submission:
Submit a Panel/Workshop Proposal
The proposal deadline is October 15, 2019
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
Unit Chair: Rachel Toombs, Rachel_Toombs@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 and Crisis.”
Black Theology
Unit Chair: Gary Green, g.f.green@tcu.edu
With the many public issues that have come up amid the approaching election cycle, religion remains a central part of the public conversation. It has been used to justify mistreatment of persons in this country and abroad. It also continues to provide resources for resistance for faith communities seeking justice. The Black Theology section invites proposals that relate to the overall conference theme, Religion and Crisis, with particular consideration of this theme in the context of Black communities. Preference will be given to proposals that consider issues of race in relation to religion and crisis, as well as those that engage the intersections of sexuality, gender, and class. We are especially interested in proposals that take up the question of religion’s role in these issues, whether for good or for ill. While proposals that engage the conference theme will be given priority, all submissions will be seriously considered based on their potential to enrich broader conversations related to Black Theology.
Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion
Unit Chair: Mark Dennis, m.dennis@tcu.edu
The Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion section invites paper and panel proposals on historical and contemporary aspects of Asian religious thought and practice. We are especially interested in individual papers and panels addressing this year’s conference theme “Religion and Crisis.”
Ethics, Society, and Cultural Analysis
Unit Chairs: Katina Harris, kharris56@student.pvamu.edu
The Ethics, Society, and Cultural Analysis Section invites paper and panel proposals on themes and topics related to ethics, society, and culture. We especially encourage proposals addressing this year’s conference theme: “Religion and Crisis.” Religion can play multiple roles in crises and this year we encourage abstracts exploring religion’s role in past and present crises. Topics for consideration include, but are not limited to, social justice and human rights issues (e.g., war, violence, peacemaking, sexual abuse, and environmental justice). Topics may also explore religion’s role in creating crises, perpetuating crises, offering hope, or fostering resilience in crises.
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 that feature interdisciplinary or inter-institutional participation, and that promise to stimulate productive discussion, are particularly attractive.
History of Christianity
Unit Chairs: Rachel Ozanne, rachel.ozanne@gmail.com and Ryan Fitzgerald, ryan.fitz@utexas.edu
In times of crisis, Christians have historically turned to their religious faith and practices to understand how to respond. In particular, they have considered their relationship to governing powers and power structures, though in drastically different ways—from Paul’s exhortation to obey the law of the land all the way to David Koresh’s retreat to a private compound. This session invites papers that critically examine how Christians from any and all parts of the world have understood and acted upon their understanding of their relationship to the worldly powers that be. Papers can consider these and related questions: How have Christians condemned and/or condoned corporate power structures? How has secularism affected Christian political movements? How has Christianity been used in service to military regimes? Submissions might also consider the ways in which those in power have utilized Christian ideas and practices to respond to times of crisis. Ultimately, we hope to consider the vast array of ways in which people who consider themselves Christian have interacted with the world around them to understand, to interpret, to respond to or to retreat from crisis.
Latinx Religions
Unit Chair: João Chaves, drjoaochaves18@gmail.com
The Latinx Religion section invites papers and panel proposals that deal with all subjects and themes that fall under the broadly-defined Latinx Religion scope. However, we encourage proposals that focus on this year’s Conference Theme, “Religion and Crisis,” particularly: (1) Religion and the New Right in Latin America, (2) Latinx Religions and resistance in Trump’s America, and (3) Religion and gender struggles in Latinx and Latin American contexts.
Philosophy of Religion
Unit Chair: 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 2020 theme, “Religion and Crisis.” Thinkers and theories across the many facets of philosophy of religion are keenly aware of the crises of the day and of the responsibility to address them. As the conference theme outlines, we want to ponder religion’s relationship to crisis past and present. How does religion create or perpetuate crises? How does religion offer resilience and hope in response to crises? In what ways does philosophy of religion, broadly speaking, critically engage with the topic of crisis? This could also be construed as crises within the field of philosophy of religion, religious crisis, and/or with philosophical engagement with current events.
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.
Religion & Class
Unit Chair: Susanne Scholz, sscholz@mail.smu.edu
We invite papers on any aspect of religion and class, particularly in regard to past and present moments of crisis, such as war, violence, or peacemaking, sexual abuse or the #MeToo movement, xenophobia, racism, sexism, homophobia or transphobia, human rights issues, manufactured crises, the use of propaganda, global climate change, or any other past or present forces, movements, or ideas preventing or fostering social justice in the world.
Religion, Gender & Sexuality
Unit Chairs: Chad Pevateaux, cjpevateaux@txwes.edu and Laulie Eckberger, L.Eckeberger.16@unimail.winchester.ac.uk
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 and Crisis” through paradigms of gender identity, sex, and sexuality. Participants are invited to consider religion, gender, sexuality and crisis, broadly construed, especially in relation to the following:
- LGBTQ* Rights and Identities in Crisis
- Gender Crisis at the Ballot Box (e.g. Buttigieg vs. Pence, gay marriage, abortion)
- Intersections of Gender/Sexuality Crisis and Environmental Crisis
- Protecting the Porous Borders of the Body (Politic): Gender, Immigration, and White Male Nationalism
- Undoing White Male Supremacy. For possible co-panel with Black Theology section
- #MeToo and Toxic Masculinity
- Sexual Abuse and Religion (e.g. #ChurchToo, Catholic sexual abuse crisis, abuse in guru traditions)
- Specific Traditions, Gender, Sexuality, and Crisis (e.g. Buddhists, Gender, Sexuality and Crisis). For possible co-panel with the Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion section
Proposals involving multiple presentations or panel discussions (no more than four participants) focused upon a single topic, figure, or text are also welcome. Such proposals that feature interdisciplinary or inter-institutional participation, and that promise to stimulate productive discussion, will be favored.
The Study of Islam
Unit Chair: 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.
The theme for this year’s regional meeting is Religion and Crisis. From war and violence to peacemaking, from sexual abuse to the #MeToo movement, from xenophobia to human rights and dialogue, from climate change denials to environmental justice movements, religion can play multiple roles in crises. For the 2020 conference—not coincidentally an election year—we want to ponder religion’s relationship to crisis past and present. How does religion create or perpetuate crises? How does religion offer resilience and hope in response to crises? Some relevant topics include (but are not limited to):
- Crises of Islamic Authority (Historical or Contemporary)
- The Qur’an in/and Conflict
- Islam and State Persecution
- Muslim Crises of Faith
- Tradition in Conflict with Modernity
- Islam and Environmental Crisis
- Muslims and the #MeToo Movement
- Islamophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
- Islam and Incarceration
- Islam and Muslims in Trump’s America
- The Crisis of Islamic Masculinities
- Muslims and the Refugee Crisis
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.
Theology
Unit Chairs: Natalie Carnes, Natalie_Carnes@Baylor.edu and Elise Edwards, Elise_Edwards@baylor.edu
This year, the Theology Section invites proposals that address the theme of Crisis and Christology. Proposals might treat either Christology in times of crisis or crises in Christology. Proposals that are theological and constructive, rather than simply historical, are welcomed—even if they do not bear directly on this year’s theme.
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.
Theta Alpha Kappa and Undergraduate Research
Unit Chair: Jennifer Veninga, jennv@stedwards.edu
We are excited to announce that this year’s meeting will include two sessions dedicated to outstanding undergraduate research. For both sessions, we especially encourage papers related to this year’s conference theme, “Religion and Crisis,” though we invite submissions on all areas of religious and theological studies. One session will include papers from student members of Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society chapters in the Southwest Region. 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. For a second session, we invite submissions from any undergraduate student.
For both sessions, submissions must come from a sponsoring faculty member or the chapter adviser (if submitted to the TAK session) 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, faculty sponsors or local chapter advisors may be asked to select the one best submission from their schools.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The annual meeting will be held February 28 – March 1, 2020 at the Dallas Marriott Las Colinas Hotel in Irving, Texas.
The Southwest Commission on Religious Studies invites members of constituent organizations to submit paper proposals for the regional meeting. 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
Undergraduate papers may only be submitted for the Theta Alpha Kappa and Undergraduate Research section. Submissions must come from a sponsoring faculty member and require the submission of 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 AV services must be requested with your proposal submission.
