Call for Proposals

The purpose of the Sociology of Religion program Unit of the American Academy of Religion is to bridge the gap and generate cross-fertilization between the Sociology of Religion and Religious Studies. We are open to papers in all areas and therefore encourage submissions of any topic relevant to the sociology of religion. This year, we are particularly interested in the following topics:

  • Topics related to Boston (and the contributions of prominent sociologists in the region)
    • Links between capitalism, consumerism, neoliberalism and climate change issues
    • Conflicting identities (intersectional identities in conflict)
    • Disciplinary boundaries between sociology of religion and religious studies
    • Sociology of knowledge – especially an exploration of the relationship between religion and STEM
    • In anticipation of the 2020 US Election, we are interested in panels that are NOT about Trump and do not perpetrate a narrative of American exceptionalism (i.e. panels that explore religion alongside politics, elections, national identity, race, and populism in a global context)

We are also in the process of planning sessions on the following topics:
• Revisiting Religion and the Public Sphere (prearranged session on Habermas’ new work)
• Co-sponsored with the Critical Theory and Discourses on Religion Program Unit: Putting the social back into the sociology of religion (and religious studies in general): a round table with Veronique Altglas (invited panel discussion)

Publication:
The Sociology of Religion Group of AAR regularly co-sponsors panels with the peer-reviewed print and online journal Critical Research on Religion (CRR) (http://crr.sagepub.com). Published by SAGE Publications, the journal is ranked as first tier by Scopus and has over 10,000 subscriptions worldwide. Presenters of promising papers in SOR panels will be invited to turn their papers into articles and submit them for peer review to CRR.

Guidelines for Submitting Proposals

  • Step 1:Find a topic in the general Call for Proposalsor Call of a specific Program Unit that interests you.
  • Step 2:Determine which type of proposal you wish to submit.
  • Paper proposal — A paper written by you (and possibly a coauthor) that you will present in response to a theme within a Program Unit’s Call.
  • Papers session proposal — A proposal of a complete session of different papers on a theme, complete with its own description, abstract, a presider, paper presentations, and (optionally) a respondent. Presenters in a papers session must submit their proposals to the papers session organizer, who in turn is responsible for inputting them into the Program Administration Proposal, Evaluation, Review, and Submission (PAPERS) System .
  • Roundtable session proposal — A proposal of a complete session, including a presider, list of panelists, and (optionally) a respondent; all of whom will speak (ex tempore) on a common theme.
  • Step 3:Write your 7,500 character (including spaces) proposal and 1200-character (including spaces) abstract. Paper sessions require a separate7,500 character proposal and 1200-character abstract for each paper in the session. The abstracts will be listed in the Online Program Book.
  • Step 4:Submit your proposal via the method requested by the Program Unit no later than Monday, March 2. Most Program Units have elected to use the online PAPERSsystem only. Carefully note any audiovisual equipment you require before you submit your proposal.
  • PAPERS: Submit your 7,500 character (including spaces) proposal and 1200-character (including spaces) abstract via the Program Administration Proposal, Evaluation, Review, and Submission (PAPERS) system. NB: Do not place your name or other identifying remarks in the body of the proposal field or abstract field in PAPERS; this may endanger the anonymous review process of the Unit and acceptance of your proposal may be jeopardized. Your name and contact information is sent automatically with the proposal. For help using the PAPERS system, please consult the PAPERS User Manual or if you still require assistance, email support@aarweb.org.
  • E-mail: Submit your 7,500 character (including spaces) proposal and 1200-character (including spaces) abstract within the BODY of ONE single e-mail to the contacts listed in the Program Unit’s call (usually the Chairs). Attach the Participant Form for E-mail Submission. Please be sure you use the exact same title on the Participant Form for E-mail Submission as you do on the e-mailed proposal. Proposals received without the participant forms will be disqualified. Participant forms received without proposals or abstracts will also be disqualified. If you are requested by the Program Unit to submit a copy to both co-Chairs or Steering Committee members, follow the instructions listed. If no one person is specified, send your complete proposal to either one of the co-Chairs.
  • E-mail with Attachments: Submit your 7,500 character (including spaces) proposal and 1200-character (including spaces) abstract, and Participant Form as attachments in one single e-mail to the contacts listed in the Program Unit’s call (usually the Chairs). Attach the Participant Form for E-mail Submission. Be sure you use the exact same title on the Participant Form for E-mail Submission as you do on the attached proposal you e-mail. Proposals received without the participant forms will be disqualified. Participant forms received without proposals or abstracts will also be disqualified.
  • Step 5:Notification of your proposal’s acceptance status for the Annual Meeting program will be sent by April 1, 2020.

https://papers.aarweb.org/pu/sociology-religion-unit

https://papers.aarweb.org/content/general-call-proposals-instructions