Call for Proposals

This Group invites individual paper, papers session, and roundtable proposals related to all aspects of Japanese religious practice and thought, both historical and contemporary. We welcome proposals relating to, but not confined by, the following topics:

• Religion and nationalism


• The rhetoric of decline


• Ritual failure


• Prophecy and spirit possession


• Material culture


• Work-shopping a particular section of a religious text


• Teaching pop culture and Japanese religion across multiple time periods


• An ethnography panel or workshop


• For a possible cosponsored session with the Buddhism Section, early twentieth century Japanese politics and the development of Buddhist studies.

We are also keenly interested in proposals for screening a film or documentary and then building a panel around discussions with the director. Panel proposals should include a panel abstract and individual paper abstracts, to be submitted as a complete package by the panel organizer. Proposals that include explicit reflection on the study of religion more broadly are preferred. Creative formats — film, organized discussion, precirculated papers/texts, workshop, etc. — are encouraged.

Mission

This Group is a forum for scholars of different disciplines — including textual, historical, anthropological, sociological, ritual, artistic, and other areas of study using different methodological approaches — to present their research findings on various aspects and forms of Japanese religious life in the past and in the contemporary setting, within Japan and other areas of the world where these forms have been transplanted or have come to exert influence.

Anonymity of Review Process

Proposer names are anonymous to Chairs and Steering Committee members during review, but visible to Chairs prior to final acceptance or rejection.

Questions?

Barbara Ambros
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Mark Rowe
McMaster University
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Method of Submission