Religion and Spirituality in Society Newsletter, May 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

Hitler’s Mein Kampf Book To Be Republished In Germany; Jewish Groups, Holocaust Groups React Via Huffington Post News that Adolf Hitler’s racist manifesto, Mein Kampf (My Struggle) would be republished in Germany was met with mixed reactions from Jewish groups. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that many German Jews welcomed the news. “If it is going to be released, then I prefer seeing a competent annotated version from the Bavarian state than profit-seekers trying to make money with Nazis,” head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Dieter Graumann said. He also called the reprinting a “good idea.” The new version of Mein Kampfwill include commentaries condemning Hitler’s arguments. Even so, some Jewish groups are not happy about this latest development. “Holocaust survivors are appalled at the insensitivity and crass commercialism that would motivate the publication of Hitler’s hate-filled book in the historic cradle of the Nazi terror regime,” Elan Steinberg of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, told AFP. More… Galatians 3:23-29: The Law Was Our Teacher ByReverend William E. Flippin, Jr. via Huffington Post Some criminals today are doing more than sitting sullenly in a cell block. They’re accepting the challenge to repent, make restitution, restore relationships and change their ways. Are we ready to shift our focus from revenge to reconciliation? I have just read the draft that outlines the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the church that I am ordained commitment to being an advocate for Restorative Justice. For me this affirmation by our church follows very closely our understanding of Lutheran theology and the reality of our concupiscent sinful in need of grace and restoration. Fact is, you can go straight to Scripture if you are looking for support for tougher justice. If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise (Exodus 21:23-25). “Life for life” — that sounds like crystal-clear justification for capital punishment, if not raw, naked revenge. More… Do Atheists Have Anything to Learn From Religion? By Kimberly Winston via USA Today Stripped of its supernatural elements, does religion have anything to offer atheists? What can nonbelievers borrow from the organizations, practices and rituals of believers — without borrowing a belief in God? According to Swiss philosopher Alain de Botton, a lot. In his new book, Religion For Atheists: A Non-believer’s Guide to the Uses of Religion he outlines an array of things he contends religions get right and that atheists can adopt to create a better, richer secular society. “The starting point of all religions is that humans are weak and vulnerable and needing direction,” de Botton said shortly after arriving in the U.S. from his home in England to promote the book. “But as I look at secular society, I see how we’ve been abandoned to make our own way through life and how challenging that is.” Religion, de Botton writes, has a lot to say about how to live and love, caring for others, handling suffering, dealing with death and all the other universal experiences that make us human. More…

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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