The Animals and Religion Consultation explores the myriad issues related to other-than-human animals and the world's religious traditions. Historical, theological and ethical issues are included in our broad area of research. In addition, we pose questions about "real" animals as well as "symbolic" animals.
At the 2008 American Academy of Religion meeting, we will focus on papers and panels considering: 1) Pedagogy, bringing animal studies into the religion classroom, course design, observation pedagogy; 2) Animals in Asian religious traditions; 3) Food, vegetarianism, animals as sacrifice, farming; 4) Presence and absence, relevance of experience with other animals, who has the authority to speak on behalf of or about animals; 5) Animals as divinities/divine; 6) Animals and Native traditions in the Americas (for a joint session with that program unit), particularly focused on animals as divinities; 7) Animals and eco-sustainability practices; 8) Methodological and disciplinary diversity of animals and religion studies; 9) Working with ethologists and evolutionary biologists; and 10) Animals in spirituality and theology, addressing any religious tradition.
For more information contact one of the program unit co-chairs: Laura Hobgood-Oster (hoboster@southwestern.edu) or Paul Waldau (paul.waldau@tufts.edu)