Author: katieaston

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Update: The Social Science of Secularity – Frank L. Pasquale writes up the study of non-religion to date and predicts a “coherent and enduring field of enquiry”

There were some issues with the link for this this article, but this has now been resolved, link here

The Council for Secular Humanists has published a paper by Frank L. Pasquale, titled “The Social Science of Secularity”

Following a failure of irreligious studies to get off the ground in 1971, the purposeful study of the non-religious has again attempted flight and seems to be rocketing, as a subject in its own right, as much NSRN work can attest. This is a fact championed by Pasquale who gives the NSRN a good write up as an “innovative organisation”.

Pasquale gives a useful overview of the breadth of current research and the genesis of organisations such as the NSRN and CAR (Center for Atheist Research). He pays particular attention to key areas needing serious consideration from researchers, including the thorny issue of terminology, accurate description and characterisation. Other key areas include  health, pluralisation of world-views and all “will increasingly need to direct attention to the vast and apparently growing mass of “seculous,” “religular,” or “fuzzy” types in between”.

Posted on by katieaston News, Publications

The Social Science of Secularity – Frank L. Pasquale writes up the study of non-religion to date and predicts a “coherent and enduring field of enquiry”

The Council for Secular Humanists has published a paper by Frank L. Pasquale, titled “The Social Science of Secularity”

Following a failure of irreligious studies to get off the ground in 1971, the purposeful study of the non-religious has again attempted flight and seems to be rocketing, as a subject in its own right, as much NSRN work can attest. This is a fact championed by Pasquale who gives the NSRN a good write up as an “innovative organisation”.

Pasquale gives a useful overview of the breadth of current research and the genesis of organisations such as the NSRN and CAR (Center for Atheist Research). He pays particular attention to key areas needing serious consideration from researchers, including the thorny issue of terminology, accurate description and characterisation. Other key areas include  health, pluralisation of world-views and all “will increasingly need to direct attention to the vast and apparently growing mass of “seculous,” “religular,” or “fuzzy” types in between”.

Posted on by katieaston Calls for Papers, News and Events

CFP: New York Conference on Asian Studies (Asian Religions in the West and Asian American Religions)

Perhaps some room for an NSRN panel or presentation; particularly to address challenges to the epistemological models implied in the secularity thesis and structures of modernity and enlightenment thought, assumptions about belief as a central tenet to religion and critiques of secular ideologies outside mono-theistic traditions. The ongoing visibility of religious practices and role of new technologies as tools in this challenge is also another possible avenue of exploration in the conference themes.

NEW YORK CONFERENCE ON ASIAN STUDIES

September 28-29, 2012

State University of New York at New Paltz

Asian Religions in the West and Asian American Religions: Contesting Identities and Praxis

Graduate students and scholars working in all areas and disciplines of Asian Studies and Asian American Studies are invited to submit proposals on papers that engage the theme of “Asian religions in the West and Asian American Religions”. Topics may include, but are not limited, to the following:

–Contesting established gender and social roles

–Resistance to established canons and epistemological models

–Contesting identities and the politics of identity

–Performance of identities and ritual constructions of community

–The role and impact of globalization

–The role and impact of new media, social media, cyber-space and cyber-communities

–Invented traditions and their political, social, historical, or cultural repercussions

Proposals should include the name, institutional affiliation, and e-mail address of the presenter, the title of the paper, and an abstract not exceeding 250 words in length. Please submit individual paper proposals to Cuong T. Mai at (cmai@uvm.edu), by March 15, 2012.

More information here

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EASR 2012 Ends and Beginnings: Abstract Registration Open

ENDS AND BEGINNINGS, Annual Conference of the European Association of the Study of Religion (EASR)

Södertörn University, Stockholm. 23-26 August, 2012

This years theme address moments of ending and beginning in the everyday practices of religious ritual and promises of new beginnings offered by the hereafter or a renewed existence. Scholars of secularism and nonreligion may find the the conferences larger question of whether there can be said to be a beginning or an end of religion in general of interest and hope that this perspective can be offered.

More details can about the conference be found on the EASR 2012 website and for pre-registration

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Call for Application – UCSIA Summer School “Culture, Religion and Society”

(26 August – 2 September 2012, Antwerp, Belgium)‏

We would like to draw your attention to the call for applications for the 2012 UCSIA summer school on “Religion, Culture and Society”. This summer school is a one-week course taking place from Sunday 26 August until Sunday 2 September (dates of arrival and departure). This year the programme will focus on the topic of Secularism(s) and Religion in Society.

Topic:

It is evident that religion, culture and society are strongly interwoven and are crucial for understanding the contemporary world. With globalization touching all aspects of our lives, religion(s) and culture(s) have to understand their position in this complex globalizing process. It is the aim of the interdisciplinary UCSIA summer school to better understand the dynamic interplay between the macro- and micro-social developments concerning religion that take place in much of the contemporary world.

Guest lecturers are Rajeev Bhargava (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi), Peggy Levitt (Wellesley College), Robert W. Hefner (Boston University) and John Hutchinson (London School of Economics).

Practical details:

Participation and stay for young scholars and researchers are free of charge. Participants should pay for their own travel expenses to Antwerp.

You can submit your application via the electronic submission on the summer school website. The completed file as well as all other required application documents must be submitted to the UCSIA Selection Committee not later than Sunday 15 April 2012.

For further information regarding the programme and application procedure, please have a look at their website.

Please help us to distribute this call for application among PhD students and postdoctoral scholars who might be interested in applying for this summer school.

For all further information, do not hesitate to contact UCSIA on the address below.

Sara Mels

Project coordinator

UCSIA vzw

Prinsstraat 14

B-2000 Antwerp

Belgium

Tel. +32 (0)3 265 45 99

Fax +32 (0)3 707 09 31

e-mail: sara.mels@ua.ac.be

Posted on by katieaston Calls for Papers, Publications

CFP for special issue on ‘Gender, Religion and Migration’ in new e-journal Religion and Gender

Perhaps there might be some interest for applications which include a persective on secularism and nonreligion in this special issue of Gender, Religion and Migration.

The special issue on Gender, Religion and Migration will look at the intersectional dimension of gender, ethnicity and religion where religion in particular plays a central role in providing a sense of belonging for migrants and represents a source of identification during the migratory experience. The special issue will focus on the ways in which gender roles are constructed and reproduced through religion within migrant communities in urban contexts and brings together leading scholars in the field of migration to explore how geographical mobility shapes gendered religious identities. For too long social sciences and migration studies have paid insufficient attention to the importance of religion in the everyday lives of many migrants and Levitt’s (2008) call for more ‘empirical, grounded’ research on migration and religion aims at filling this particular gap in the literature .

Mobilizing religion may serve a range of diverse purposes during the migratory experience and, indeed, migration may in turn shape the different ways in which religion is reproduced on an every day basis if compared with the country of origin of the worshippers. Religion can also provide a trans-national source of identification; for example, it may play a significant role in enabling migrants to imagine themselves within collectivities that span beyond the nation-state. In other words, religious worship may fulfil many functions for migrants, not only spiritual, but also material and social such as civic participation and commitment towards the parish for church goers (Levitt 2008). Hence, for migrants in particular, religion can potentially provide a means for both maintaining and expressing continuity of faith and practice while negotiating integration within a new environment (Stanczak, 2006).

The special issue On Gender, Religion and Migration will build on the symposium at Middlesex University, held in 2011, to explore comparisons and contrasts across different religious communities which could include for example, Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Hindi, etc.

This collection of articles aims to bring together empirical research from different academic disciplines, including sociology, geography and anthropology and using a range of methods to engage with and research different religious communities. We welcome papers that present a comparative approach to studying religion in migration.

In particular, we are looking for papers that tackle the following:

• Comparisons across religious groups

• Intersectional dimensions of gender, ethnicity and religion

• Construction of gender through religion in urban contexts

• Religion as a trans-national source of identification and the role of gender in negotiating local integration through religion

• Religion as a source of civic engagement differently negotiated in migrant women and men

• Role of religious organizations in providing integration opportunities while ensuring continuity of social practices with the country of origins for migrant women and man

• Role of religion in the intergenerational negotiation of belonging in the host country and outcomes in challenging traditional gender roles

If you are interested please send a 200 word abstract, along with a short biographical note, to Dr. Ryan and Dr Vacchelli at the addresses below by Monday 27 February

Please note that if your abstract is accepted, full papers will be needed by June 2012.

Dr. Louise Ryan and Dr. Elena Vacchelli, Middlesex University,

Contact: l.ryan@mdx.ac.uk and e.vacchelli@mdx.ac.uk

Call for Papers for special issue on ‘Gender, Religion and Migration’ in new e-journal Religion and Gender http://www.religionandgender.org
 
The special issue on Gender, Religion and Migration will look at the intersectional dimension of gender, ethnicity and religion where religion in particular plays a central role in providing a sense of belonging for migrants and represents a source of identification during the migratory experience. The special issue will focus on the ways in which gender roles are constructed and reproduced through religion within migrant communities in urban contexts and brings together leading scholars in the field of migration to explore how geographical mobility shapes gendered religious identities. For too long social sciences and migration studies have paid insufficient attention to the importance of religion in the everyday lives of many migrants and Levitt’s (2008) call for more ‘empirical, grounded’ research on migration and religion aims at filling this particular gap in the literature . 
Mobilizing religion may serve a range of diverse purposes during the migratory experience and, indeed, migration may in turn shape the different ways in which religion is reproduced on an every day basis if compared with the country of origin of the worshippers.  Religion can also provide a trans-national source of identification; for example, it may play a significant role in enabling migrants to imagine themselves within collectivities that span beyond the nation-state.  In other words, religious worship may fulfil many functions for migrants, not only spiritual, but also material and social such as civic participation and commitment towards the parish for church goers (Levitt 2008). Hence, for migrants in particular, religion can potentially provide a means for both maintaining and expressing continuity of faith and practice while negotiating integration within a new environment (Stanczak, 2006).
The special issue On Gender, Religion and Migration will build on the symposium at Middlesex University, held in 2011, to explore comparisons and contrasts across different religious communities which could include for example, Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Hindi, etc. 
This collection of articles aims to bring together empirical research from different academic disciplines, including sociology, geography and anthropology and using a range of methods to engage with and research different religious communities. We welcome papers that present a comparative approach to studying religion in migration.
 
In particular, we are looking for papers that tackle the following: 
 
•	Comparisons across religious groups
•	Intersectional dimensions of gender, ethnicity and religion 
•	Construction of gender through religion in urban contexts
•	Religion as a trans-national source of identification and the role of gender in negotiating local integration through religion 
•	Religion as a source of civic engagement differently negotiated in migrant women and men
•	Role of religious organizations in providing integration opportunities while ensuring continuity of social practices with the country of origins for migrant women and man
•	Role of religion in the intergenerational negotiation of belonging in the host country  and outcomes in challenging traditional gender roles
 
If you are interested please send a 200 word abstract, along with a short biographical note, to Dr. Ryan and Dr Vacchelli at the addresses below by Monday 27 February:
 
Please note that if your abstract is accepted, full papers will be needed by June 2012.
Dr. Louise Ryan and Dr. Elena Vacchelli, Middlesex University,
Contact: l.ryan@mdx.ac.uk and e.vacchelli@mdx.ac.uk
Posted on by katieaston Calls for Papers, Publications

Call for Book Proposals: Religion, Education and Values

Series Editors:

Dr Stephen Parker

The Rev’d Canon Professor Leslie J. Francis

Dr Rob Freathy

Dr Mandy Robbins

Debates about religion, education and values are more central to contemporary society than ever before. The challenges posed by the interaction between these different spheres will continue to increase as the effects of globalization and cultural pluralization impact on educational settings. Our radically changed and rapidly changing environment poses critical questions about how we should educate individuals to live in increasingly diverse societies.

Books in this series offer the most recent research, from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, on the interface between religion, education and values around the world. The series covers such themes as the history of religious education, the philosophies and psychologies of religious and values education, and the application of social science research methods to the study of young people’s values and world-views.

Books within the series are subject to peer review and include single and co-authored monographs and edited collections. For more information, please contact Christabel Scaife, Commissioning Editor, Peter Lang Ltd, c.scaife@peterlang.com.

Posted on by katieaston Calls for Papers, News and Events

CFP: New Forms of Public Religion 5th to 7th September 2012

AHRC/ESRC RELIGION AND SOCIETY PROGRAMME

5th to 7th September 2012

The Divinity School, St John’s College, Cambridge, CB2 1TW

Call for Papers

The fact that religion has not privatised, but remains an important aspect of public life, is now well recognised. But talk of ‘public religion’ can be vague and unfocused. The aim of this conference is to explore – with new findings – the forms which public religion is taking today, not only in the West, but elsewhere in an increasingly connected world.

The conference streams indicate the main arenas in relation to which public religion will be discussed, and on which papers are invited.

Additional suggestions are also welcome:

  • The Market and Religion
  • Politics and Religion
  • Law and Religion
  • Religion, Media and Civil Society
  • Violence (State and Non-state) and Religion
  • Religion in Public Places and Spaces
  • Religion, Health and Welfare
  • Religion and Education
  • Religion and Migration

Speakers include:

Lori Beaman

José Casanova

The Rt Hon Charles Clarke

Grace Davie

Pamela Dickey-Young

Stewart Hoover

The Rt Revd Graham James

Meredith McGuire

Nancy Nason-Clark

Jim Spickard

Linda Woodhead

The conference will showcase thirty or so projects funded by the Religion and Society Programme which have new findings in this area. These will be supplemented by the papers received through this open call.

Individual paper proposals (max. 200 words) should be submitted to:

Peta Ainsworth: p.ainsworth@lancaster.ac.uk by 30th April 2012.

The conference is subsidised by the sponsors and costs £100 per delegate, £50 for postgraduates/unwaged (for the entire conference) or £50 per day, £25 for postgraduates/unwaged. The conference fee excludes accommodation and evening meals. For further details and registration go to:

http://www.religionandsociety.org.uk/events/programme_events/show/new_forms_of_public_religion

A limited number of bursaries are available for postgraduates in the UK who need to travel some distance to Cambridge. Please send an email with your registration form to Peta Ainsworth stating in one paragraph why you require assistance and how much your travel costs will be.

www.religionandsociety.org.uk

Posted on by katieaston Calls for Papers, News and Events

CFP Association for the Sociology of Religion, Denver, Colorado 12-18August

2012 Annual Meeting

August 17-18 – Denver, Colorado

Religion and Social Change

Papers and discussion sessions on all themes within the sociology of religion are welcome, but especially those related to the meeting theme, including, but not limited to, the following: Religion is both an agent and a product of social change. Closely linked to many historical and global transformations, religion has served as both an opiate and an amphetamine for change. Indeed, most religious traditions are predicated upon the idea that conversion transforms the individual and widespread acceptance of religious principles results in a utopian society. Some religions attempt to produce or prevent change by influencing the wider discourse surrounding key moral and political debates; others promote programs at the local level; still others, viewing society as beyond repair, attempt to produce their own utopian sub-societies. Yet, religion is also the product of social changes that mold beliefs and transform religious institutions. We want to explore this complex relationship between religion and social change. To what extent do the characteristics of religious groups and their members determine the manner in which they attempt to enact change? Do religious groups have special advantages or disadvantages in their ability to foster social change as compared to secular groups and institutions? How do larger social changes influence the religious beliefs and actions of individuals and institutions?

Papers and discussion sessions on all themes within the sociology of religion are welcome, but especially those related to the meeting theme, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • religion and politics
  • religion and gender
  • religion and racial harmony
  • religion and science
  • religion and volunteering
  • religion and morality issues
  • religion and extremist behavior
  • utopian and millenarian movements in religion
  • religious charitable organizations
  • religious conversion, religious experiences and personal transformation
  • theoretical perspectives regarding religion and engagement with society

DEADLINES:

-Session Proposals are due by 31 March 2012

-Paper Proposals and Abstracts are due by 30 April 2012

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: (1) Email your proposal to ASR2012@augustana.edu as a Word attachment. Place the title of your proposal first, then names, affiliations, and email addresses of all authors, then your abstract/proposal, all on one sheet of paper. (2) Limit paper abstracts to amaximum of 100 words. (3) 2012 membership in ASR is required for program consideration (one author, for multi-authored papers). Do not submit proposals prior to 1 January. PROGRAM CHAIR: Christopher Bader, Chapman University.

RALPH A. GALLAGHER TRAVEL GRANT

ASR makes available a limited number of travel assistance grants for members who are presenting papers at its annual meeting. These fall into two categories: student grants and grants for foreign scholars living outside of North America. Grants for students range up to $500.

Foreign scholar grants are subdivided between those living or working in ISA Category A or B countries and those living or working in ISA Category C countries. (The ISA geopolitical category scheme may be accessed at http://www.isa-sociology.org/form_isa.pdf. Note that ISA

membership is NOT required for consideration. ASR simply uses its scheme as the most universally recognized basis within the profession.) Grants for those in Category A and B countries are limited to $500. Grants for those in Category C countries may range up to $1,000. In no case will anyone receive a grant in excess of $1,000.

Applications should take the form of a letter submitted to the program chair along with the applicant’s program paper proposal. Applicants should state both the amount of their request to ASR and also indicate how they will fund that portion of their trip not funded by the

Gallagher Grant. It is acceptable to state that the remainder will come from the applicant’s personal funds. Applicants should understand that these grants are competitive and that the total amount of grants awarded seldom exceeds $5,000.

One-quarter of the grants may made by the Program Chair on his or her own initiative. The remainder of domestic Student awards are also made by the Program Chair based on applications. International award applications are vetted by the International Committee, to whom they are forwarded by the Program Chair. For 2012, the International Committee is composed of Prema Kurien (chair), Giuseppe Giordan, and Afe Adogame.


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TONIGHT: Religious Identity In ‘Superdiverse’ Societies, 8th February 2012 LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER

WESTMINSTER FAITH DEBATES

The first Faith Debate Religious Identity in ‘Superdiverse’ Societies is tonight, Wednesday, 8th February 2012 at RUSI, 61 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET. A few places are still available and if you would like to register, please email relsocpr@lists.lancs.ac.uk

The academic papers for the debate are now available to download: http://www.religionandsociety.org.uk/faith_debates/identity and speaker Professor Kim Knott has a piece on it in this week’s Tablet (http://www.thetablet.co.uk/).

The Faith in Schools debate on 22nd February is oversubscribed, but places are still available to register for the rest of the series, see website for more information: http://www.religionandsociety.org.uk/faith_debates