http://www.aarweb.org/About_AAR/regions/Southwest/call.asp
Southwest Region
Call for Papers
Southwest Region
March 7–8, 2009
Marriott Hotel, DFW Airport
Irving, Texas
The Southwest Commission on Religious Studies invites members of constituent organizations to submit paper proposals for the 2009 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 organization, but in order to accommodate as many people as possible, papers must not be read more than once during the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, the deadline for paper proposal submission is November 1, 2008.
The meeting will take place at the Marriott Hotel, DFW Airport, 8440 Freeport Parkway, Irving, Texas 75063; Phone: 972–929–8880.
Arts, Literature, and Religion
The arts are a powerful medium for representing cultural values and for expressing criticism of them. A founding principle of American culture that receives a great deal of rhetorical attention from time to time is religious tolerance. How, then, might the arts foster religious tolerance...or tolerance of religion?
Papers are solicited which address the role and power of art to represent cultural values or to criticize them, that reflect on the relationship between American culture and the practice of religion, and that consider in what respects religious tolerance, or tolerance of religion, is indeed an abiding cultural principle.
Presentations that address these questions in a creative way — illustration with reference to specific works, multi-disciplinary collaboration, for instance — will receive preference in selection for panels comprising two or three papers, organized by approach, theme, or genre. Works in progress, experiments, or theological suggestions are also welcome.
Proposals/abstract should be submitted to Katherine Downey, The Hockaday School, kdowney@mail.hockaday.org.
History of Christianity
The History of Christianity section has an open call for papers. While all submissions in the field will be considered, three areas of are of special interest: 1) John Calvin — 2009 marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, as well as the 450th of the final edition of his Institutes; 2) The area of Baptist studies — 1609 marks John Smyth’s founding of the first Baptist Church in Amsterdam, so papers concerning Baptist origins are germane; and 3) Abraham Lincoln — he was born in 1809 and, while he had no strict religious affiliation, he is considered deeply spiritual, as is reflected in his language. He reflects a common contemporary sentiment.
Sent proposals to Arthur A. Torpy, we4torpys@grandecom.net.
Philosophy of Religion and Theology
Proposals are invited in all areas in philosophy of religion or in theology. Proposals involving multiple presentations or panel discussions (no more than three participants) focused on a single topic, figure, or publication will be especially welcome (either have each panelist provide an abstract, which is preferred, or supply credentials of panelists). Proposals that feature interdisciplinary or interinstitutional participation, and that promise to stimulate productive discussion, will be favored.
For a joint session with the Asian and Comparative Religion section and the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, we invite proposals for a roundtable session on the topic, “Design and Evolution: The Encounter of Traditions and Modern Science.” The roundtable format will require participants to provide summaries of their papers. Proposals for this joint session should be sent to the chairs of each section. All proposals should be no more than two pages, with the title of the presentation and some sense of the argument. Include a return address, contact number, and email address. Please do not submit proposals as e-mail attachments; paste them into the body of the e-mail.
Submit proposals to both Steve Oldham, University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, soldham@umhb.edu and Rebecca Huskey, University of Oklahoma, rhuskey@ou.edu.
Ethics, Society, and Cultural Analysis
Proposals for papers and panel discussions are invited on any topic intersecting ethics, society, and cultural analysis including politics and religion, race and religion, social ethics, poverty and economic justice, ecological and environmental ethics, medical ethics, theological ethics, sexual ethics, and the use of scripture or tradition in ethics. Also of interest are reflections on global economy and health care, the use of and impact of race-class-gender ethical analysis, constructive treatments of contemporary ethical issues, and pedagogical styles in ethics.
Send proposals to Melanie L. Harris, Texas Christian University, m.l.harris@tcu.edu.
Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion
The Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion section invites paper proposals on any topic concerning all aspects of Asian religious practice and thought, both historical and contemporary. However, papers in the areas of religion and science, taxonomy in religious studies, nationalism, politics, and possession and trance in comparative perspective are especially encouraged.
There is a special interest in a joint roundtable session with Philosophy of Religion and Theology section and members of the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion on the topic, “Design and Evolution: The Encounter of Traditions and Modern Science.” The roundtable format will require participants to provide summaries of their papers.
Proposals for regular panels or the roundtable on design and evolution should not exceed 500 words and should include the title, brief description, and an indication of the main argument of the presentation (Word attachment via e-mail preferable). Please note: Some overhead projectors and slide projectors may be available; if using a PowerPoint presentation, please make your own arrangements for a data projector. Please let the chair know if you have any AV needs.
Send proposals to Ivette M. Vargas, Austin College, ivargas@austincollege.edu.
Theta Alpha Kappa
Student members of Theta Alpha Kappa chapters in the Southwest Region are invited to submit papers for presentation at the regional meeting. Open to all topics. One session will be devoted to the best papers. Submissions must come from the Chapter Advisor 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.
Submit proposals to Nadia Lahutsky, Texas Christian University, n.lahutsky@tcu.edu.