Call for Proposals

This Group invites proposals on the following topics:

• Hybridity, syncretism, and multiple religious belonging — questioning the category of religious conversion. We live in a time when hybridity, syncretism, and “multiple religious belonging” are becoming increasingly popular. In addition, the percentage of “nones” (i.e., unaffiliated people and those who claim to be “spiritual but not religious”) is rising exponentially. Yet outside the industrialized West, religious belonging is actually increasing. Therefore, given this context, how do we understand and possibly reframe the category of religious conversion? We invite papers from scholars in a wide variety of fields (e.g., sociology of religion, history, theology, ethics, psychology of religion, etc.), religious/spiritual traditions, and/or cross-cultural perspectives to submit paper proposals that treat this profound sea-change in the idea and reality of religious conversion


• For a cosponsored session with the Pentecostal–Charismatic Movements Group, Religion and Migration Group, and Ethics Section, exploring practices, ethics, and effects of religious conversion, especially those relating to immigration, migration, and/or Pentecostalism

Mission

This Group studies the full spectrum of issues related to religious conversions, in any historical or geographic context, encompassing different forms of religious belief and practice. The scope of the issues we cover is broad and wide-ranging. We consider investigations into the reasons for various types of religious conversions including, but not limited to intellectual, theological, philosophical, historical, experiential, psychological, social, cultural, political, and economic causes. We also study the consequences of religious conversions, both individually and socially, and their implications. We encourage the methodologies of multiple disciplines, as well as interdisciplinary approaches. More narrowly focused areas of inquiry suggested by interested scholars include, but are not limited to the following:

• Multiple conversions


• Group and individual conversions


• Forced conversions


• The narrative and/or literary aspects of conversions


• Hybridity


• Ecclesiological consequences of conversion


• The place and role of conversion in a specific religious tradition


• Theories of conversions


• Formulas of religious conversion (as step-by-step processes)

Anonymity of Review Process

Proposer names are anonymous to Chairs and Steering Committee members until after final acceptance or rejection.

Questions?

Linda A. Mercadante
Methodist Theological School, Ohio
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Marc Pugliese
Brescia University
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Method of Submission