Religion and Spirituality in Society - December Newsletter

Having trouble? Click here to view this email in your browser. Follow the Religion in Society Knowledge Community  december newsletter, 2012 Publishing Featured Book - Faith, Belief, and Scripture: Anglicanism and Homosexuality Faith, Belief, and Scripture: Anglicanism and Homosexuality by Rob James examines how the Anglican Community has been tearing itself apart over the issue of homosexuality since the Lambeth Conference in 1998 and rumblings of discontent stretch back years before that. Most Anglican debate on homosexuality focuses the argument on the Bible. Does the Bible allow homosexuality or not? This book begins by taking one step back from the argument. It looks at what it means to approach a text as scripture, from the standpoint of faith. It then examines why the Bible is used to claim such radically different positions and why those who argue for either position can legitimately claim to find their argument supported by reading the Bible. For more information about this book, as well as other published by the Religion in Society community, please visit our online bookstore. Recommending The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society to Your Institution's Library Help Common Ground to share the intellectually rigorous work published in The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society with the scholarly community at your home institution. By recommending The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society, you are helping to disseminate your work and that of your colleagues and broadening access to cutting edge research in your field. We encourage you to submit a recommendation to a representative at your institution’s library by visiting our website and downloading the recommendation form. Library representatives may contact us at journals@religioninsociety.com with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your contributions and your advocacy as an active and valued member of the Religion in Society Community. Conference Conference Plenary Speakers Announced: 2013 Religion & Spirituality in Society Conference Tempe, Arizona, USA - 8-9 March 2013 The conference will feature plenary sessions by some of the world's leading thinkers and innovators in the field.  The 2013 speakers are: Dr. Tracy Fessenden, Arizona State University – Religion and its Role in Modern American Society Dr. Norbert M. Samuelson, Arizona State University  - Judaism and the Modern Sciences               Call For Papers: Current Deadline - 3 January 2013 Proposals for paper presentations, workshops, or colloquia are invited for the Third International Conference on Religion and Spirituality in Society to be held 8-9 March 2013 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, USA. We welcome proposals from a variety of disciplines and perspectives that will contribute to the conference discourse. We also encourage faculty and research students to submit joint proposals for paper presentations or colloquia. Proposals are invited that address issues of religion and spirituality through on e of the following categories:         Theme 1:  Religious Foundations         Theme 2:  Religious Community and Socialization         Theme 3:  Religious Commonalities and Differences         Theme 4:  The Politics of Religion Presenters may also choose to submit written papers for publication in the fully refereed International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society. If you are unable to attend the conference in person, virtual registrations are also available which allow you to submit an article based on your presentation for possible publication in this fully refereed academic journal. The deadline for the current round of submissions to the conference Call for Papers (a title and short abstract) is 3 January 2013. For more information about submitting your proposal or registering for the conference, visit the conference website. Community Stay Connected to Your Peers with Scholar Log-in or sign up today for your free Scholar account. Our innovative social knowledge networking site keeps you connected to peers around the world in a space that allows knowledge producers to work collaboratively. Educators are encouraged to inquire about adding student accounts to Scholar, allowing access to a suite of interactive, collaborative tools that support students as they write-to-learn and learn-to-write across the curriculum. Scholar's tools also help teachers quickly and easily track student progress and design learning experiences for whole classes, small groups, and individual students. Sign up at http://cgscholar.com or send inquires and demonstration requests to jason.berg@cgscholar.com. The Latest News Is God Happy? American Civil Religion in the Age of Obama: Interview with Philip S. Gorski The Starting Point: Where Did the Book of Genesis Come From? The Taste for Being Moral A Scholarly Affair With a Side of Activism In This Issue Featured Book - Faith, Belief, and Scripture: Anglicansim and Homosexuality Share Our Journals With Your Institution's Library 2013 Conference Plenary Speakers Announced Explore Scholar, Connect With Peers Conference Updates Submit a Proposal Current Submission Deadline: 3 January 2013 Register for 2013 Conference Regular Registration Deadline: 8 December 2012 Alumni Registration Deadline: 8 December 2012 Conference Hotel Book at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel with our Reduced Conference Rate  (rate available for booking until      4 February 2013)   Common Ground Publishing University of Illinois Research Park 2001 South First Street, Suite 202 Champaign, IL 61820 USA Forward to a Friend | Manage Your Subscription | Conditions Copyright © 2012 Common Ground Publishing

 

Religion and Spirituality in Society - November Newsletter

Having trouble? Click here to view this email in your browser. november 2012 newsletter Conference CALL FOR PAPERS: 2013 Religion in Society Conference in Tempe, Arizona Proposals for paper presentations, workshops, or colloquia are invited for the Third International Conference on Religion and Spirituality in Society to be held 8-9 March 2013 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, USA. We welcome proposals from a variety of disciplines and perspectives that will contribute to the conference discourse. We also encourage faculty and students to submit joint proposals for paper presentations or colloquia. Presenters may also choose to submit written papers for publication in the fully refereed International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society. If you are unable to attend the conference in person, virtual registrations are also available which allow you to submit an article based on your presentation for possible publication in this fully refereed academic journal. The deadline for the current round of submissions to the conference Call for Papers (a title and short abstract) is 3 January 2013. For more information about submitting your proposal or registering for the conference, visit the conference website. We are also pleased to offer a limited time Alumni Registration Discount for delegates or student delegates who have attended a Religion Conference in the past. Please visit the registration page for more information on the Alumni Discount and corresponding deadlines. Accommodations Now Available: The Tempe Mission Palms Hotel is located in downtown Tempe walking distance to Arizona State University (ASU) and conveniently located within walking distance to downtown Tempe’s shopping, dining and entertainment district. The beauty surrounding this Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ hotel is mimicked in the décor and relaxing ambiance. All of the spacious lodging accommodations at this hotel are designed to comfort you and uplift your spirits. Conference delegates are offered a special, discounted rate through 4 February 2013. Please visit our website to book your room today! Publishing Announcing: Hybrid Open Access Common Ground Journals are now offered on a Hybrid Open Access model. This is a new development in scholarly publishing, increasingly offered by both university presses and well-known commercial publishers. Hybrid Open Access means that some articles are available only to subscribers, while others are made available at no charge to anyone searching the web. Authors pay an additional fee for the open access option. They may do this because open access is a requirement of their research funding agency. Or they may do it so that non-subscribers can access their article for free. There are still considerable benefits for paying subscribers, because they can access all articles in the journal, from both current and past volumes, without any restrictions. But making your paper available at no charge increases its visibility, accessibility and thus potential readership. Click here for more information.  Call for Peer Reviewers Common Ground Publishing is looking for academics and professors to volunteer as peer reviewers for our book series. Each volunteer will be placed into a pool of subject matter experts and we will contact you when there is a book that is suited for your area of expertise. For examples of the types of books we publish, please visit: http://religioninsociety.cgpublisher.com/. Please forward your resume or CV to books@commongroundpublishing.com with the subject line "Book Reviewer" followed by the knowledge community for which you would like to review. Community Stay Connected to Your Peers with Scholar Login or sign up today for your free Scholar account. Our innovative social knowledge networking site keeps you connected to peers around the world in a space that allows knowledge producers to work collaboratively. Educators are encouraged to inquire about adding student accounts to Scholar, allowing access to a suite of interactive, collaborative tools that support students as they write-to-learn and learn-to-write across the curriculum. Scholar's tools also help teachers quickly and easily track student progress and design learning experiences for whole classes, small groups, and individual students. Sign up at http://cgscholar.com or send inquires and demonstration requests to jason.berg@cgscholar.com. In This Issue 2013 Conference Call for Papers Call for Peer Reviewers Introducing Scholar - A New 'Social Knowledge' Space The Latest News Secularism of a New Kind Christian Right Failed to Sway Voters on Issues Mortify Our Wolves Conference Updates Submit a Proposal Current Submission Deadline: 3 January 2013 Register for 2013 Conference Regular Registration Deadline: 8 December 2012 Alumni Registration Deadline: 8 December 2012 Conference Hotel Book at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel with our Reduced Conference Rate Common Ground Publishing University of Illinois Research Park 2001 South First Street, Suite 202 Champaign, IL 61820 USA Forward to a Friend | Manage Your Subscription | Conditions Copyright © 2012 Common Ground Publishing

 

Alumni Registration Rate Now Available for 2013 Religion Conference

Having trouble? Click here to view this email in your browser. third international conference on religion and spirituality in society Alumni Registration Now Available! A Special Invitation to Past Religion in Society Conference Participants Build upon the conversations and dialogue of past conferences by joining us at the 2013 Religion in Society Conference in Tempe, Arizona, 6-8 March 2013. Delegates and Student Delegates who have participated in past Religion in Society Conferences are eligible to register with an Alumni Registration available for a limited time. Register before 8 December 2012 to receive US$50 off early or student registration types. We also welcome past participants to submit a proposal to the Conference Call for Papers (a title and short abstract). The current proposal deadline is 1 November 2012. Click here to submit a proposal. Tempe & Religion in Society Now in its third year, the Religion in Society Conference will be held at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Also home to The Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Arizona State University's commitment to interdisciplinary research fosters exchange and collaboration across publics making it an ideal venue in which to hold this year's Religion and Spirituality Conference. This interdisciplinary conference is for scholars, teachers, leaders and practitioners from any professional discipline who share a common concern for learning and an interest to explore issues of concern in the fields of religion and spirituality, and in particular their social interconnections and implications. Share this e-mail: Click Here to Access the Alumni Registration Discount Common Ground Publishing University of Illinois Research Park 2001 South First Street, Suite 202 Champaign, IL 61820 USA Forward to a Friend | Unsubscribe | Conditions Copyright © 2012 Common Ground Publishing

 

Religion and Spirituality in Society Newsletter, June 2012

2012 Religion Conference, Vancouver  Find Out More >

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Headline News

Announcing the 2013 International Religion and Spirituality in Society Conference Location and Date The 2013 Religion Conference will be held in Phoenix, Arizona USA at Arizona State University from March 8-9. For more information, please visit www.Religion-Conference.com Call for Papers If you intend to present a paper at the conference, your participation begins with submission of a paper proposal. For information on proposals, presentation types, and other options, please click here. To submit a proposal click here and follow the online instructions. If your proposal is accepted, you will then need to register for the conference. Registration Those who submit paper proposals should register following the acceptance of the proposal. Conference delegates who do not intend to present may register at any time. For registration options, or to register for the 2013 Religion Conference, click here. Themes The themes for the International Religion and Spirituality in Society Conference are loosely grouped into four categories: Religious Foundations Religious Community and Socialization Religious Commonalities and Differences The Politics of Religion More details on these themes can be seen online here. Please do note that these themes are meant to be rather broad so as to encompass a larger group of interests. Scope and Concerns The Religion Conference scope and concerns is outlined here. Contact Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have. We can be reached by email at support@religioninsociety.com or by phone at +1 (217) 328-0405.

Community News

The Last Trumpet By Elaine Pagels via The New York Times Many people mistakenly call the last book of the Christian Bible “Revelations.” It is actually the (one) Revelation to John. Elaine Pagels may be playing on that common error with the title of her latest book, “Revelations,” though in this case it is accurate: she ­places the biblical Book of Revelation in the context of other ancient narratives of visions and prophecy. Her account highlights several prophetic works and visionaries, from Ezekiel to Paul to the ancient sect of prophesying Christians called the Montanists, and others. Pagels also discusses the afterlife of Revelation in the Christianity of late antiquity through the fourth century. Her thesis is that apocalyptic literature — visions, prophecies, predictions of cataclysm — has always carried political ramifications, both revolutionary and reactionary, liberal and conservative, from the very beginning up until today, as seen in conservative iterations of millennial dispensationalism and the hugely popular “Left Behind” series of novels about the end of the world. The apocalyptic is political. “Revelation” is from the Latin translation of the Greek word apocalypsis, which can designate any unveiling or revealing, fantastic or ordinary. Scholars also refer to the document as the Apocalypse of John. And that same Greek word provides the label for all sorts of ancient literature that scholars call “apocalyptic.” The biblical text purports to relate a real vision experienced by an otherwise unknown Jew named John — not the Apostle John, nor the same person as the anonymous author of what we call the Gospel of John. But we have no reason to doubt that his name was really John. It wasn’t an unusual name for a Jew. More… Citing Chapter and Verse: Which Scripture Is the Right One? By Stanley Fish via The New York Times The topic this past Sunday on the show “Up w/ Chris Hayes” (MSNBC) was the statistical correlation between deniers of global warming and religious believers. Participants included such luminaries as Richard Dawkins, author of “The God Delusion,” and Steven Pinker, author of “The Better Angels of Our Nature,” a new book arguing that the world has gotten less violent as the tide of fundamentalist faith has receded and given way to the dictates of reason. It was no surprise that the panel’s default position, stated almost explicitly by Susan Jacoby, was that religion clouds the mind of those who, if they were only sufficiently educated, would arrive at the conclusion supported by the overwhelming preponderance of scientific evidence and reject the blind adherence to revealed or ecclesiastical authority that characterizes religious belief. The self-congratulatory unanimity that presided over the discussion was challenged at one point by Hayes, who posed the following question: If you hold to the general skepticism that informs scientific inquiry — that is, if you refuse either to anoint a viewpoint in advance because it is widely held or to send viewpoints away because they are regarded as fanciful or preposterous — how do you respond to global-warming deniers or Holocaust deniers or creationists when they invoke the same principle of open inquiry to argue that they should be given a fair hearing and be represented in departments of history, biology and environmental science? What do you do, Hayes asked, when, in an act of jujitsu, the enemies of liberal, scientific skepticism wield it as a weapon against its adherents? More… Simon Critchley – Interview By Jonny Gordon-Farleigh via STIR With the publication of his new book The Faith of the Faithless, I spoke to philosopher Simon Critchley about why a counterfactual faith is so important to modern politics, why it offers an “archive of possibilities” for those involved in political transformation, why there is still an obsession with “big men”, and what the the true political terrain is today… STIR: It has been reasoned that the recent theological revival is because of a “theoretical deficit, not a theological need” (Alberto Toscano). Are there more reasons for this unexpected if not unusual upturn in interest in political theology than the catastrophic failure of the communist projects of the previous century? Simon Critchley: The interest in political theology comes out of a dissatisfaction with liberalism. The notion of political theology as a category or term actually originates in Bakunin. So, it originates in Italian thought in the mid-nineteenth century and is also first used as an abusive term. And when Carl Schmitt picks it up in the 1920s he gives it a different valence but the object of attack for both Bakunin and Schmitt, on the left and on the right, is the same liberalism. Periodising that, you have the aftermath of the collapse of the Warsaw pact and the Soviet Union, and the period in the early 90s when there is a lot of optimism about the potential within democracy for emancipatory energies that then quickly exhausts itself. Then, there is a return to the theological concerns at that moment, which isn’t so much a return to communist ideas as an attempt to find something at the level of the deep motivational structure of what it means to be a human self and what selves might be together. If you are interested in that question then the history of religious thought is really a place to look — maybe the place to look. More…

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Publishing News

Religion and Spirituality in Society Journal Submissions Open We are accepting submissions for The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society. The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society aims to create an intellectual frame of reference for the academic study of religion and spirituality, and to create an interdisciplinary conversation on the role of religion and spirituality in society. It is intended as a place for critical engagement, examination, and experimentation of ideas that connect religious philosophies to their contexts throughout history in the world, places of worship, on the streets, and in communities. The journal addresses the need for critical discussion on religious issues – specifically as they are situated in the present-day contexts of ethics, warfare, politics, anthropology, sociology, education, leadership, artistic engagement, and the dissonance or resonance between religious tradition and modern trends. Papers published in the journal range from the expansive and philosophical to finely grained analysis based on deep familiarity and understanding of a particular area of religious knowledge. They bring into dialogue philosophers, theologians, policymakers, and educators, to name a few of the stakeholders in this conversation. Refereeing of submitted papers will commence shortly so start the submission process early by submitting your proposal. Paper submission guidelines and timelines are available online.

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