Call for Papers: Religion - A Human Phenomenon

If you study sociology, history, or origins of religion, the 2010 International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR) World Congress looks like a good gathering. It will take place in Toronto from Aug 15-21, 2010. Here are the details:

The World Congresses constitute the primary public event sponsored by the International Association of the History of Religions. Originally held every four years, World Congresses are now organized quinquennially and bring together scholars interested in the academic and scientific study of religions to share the results of their research and to engage in discussion and debate of the major issues and concerns in the field. Workshops, panels, and symposia, as well as the presentation of individual papers, will provide ample opportunity for this kind of engagement of various new developments in the study of religion in diverse venues around the world.

Religion: A Human Phenomenon - the theme for the Congress has been chosen to encourage discussion of religions and religious phenomena across traditional geographical and temporal boundaries. Its broad scope is an invitation to scholars in various fields with diverse interests to present the results of their research on religion in history, society, and the life of the individual. Although broad in scope, the theme is nevertheless also meant to place constraints on the discussion by focusing attention on religions insofar as they are "publicly available" to the research tools and techniques of the historical, social, and natural sciences; this will allow for the emergence of a common scholarly/scientific framework within which discussion, debate, and testing of scholarly claims and scientific hypotheses can take place. The structure of the academic program has been devised to complement the objectives of the Congress theme. Although participants will be free to submit proposals for working groups, seminars, and colloquia, we seek to avoid the traditional program structures of sections on particular traditions, a regional classification of religions, a historical periodization of religions, or some combination of such sections. The structure adopted here, we believe, will facilitate a bridging of traditional specializations in the field by encouraging scholars to present their research in an academic framework of well-defined methodological approaches (see Academic Program).

And here is the Call for Papers:

CALL FOR PAPERS/SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

The International Association for the History of Religions invites scholars of religion to respond to the call for papers to be delivered at its XXth Quinquennial World Congress to be held at the University of Toronto from 15 to 21 August, 2010.

Scholars are invited to focus attention on religion and religions insofar as they are publicly available to the research tools and techniques of the historical, social, and natural sciences. The structure of the Academic Program of the Congress is designed to facilitate a bridging of traditional specializations in the field by encouraging scholars to present their research in an academic framework of well-defined methodological approaches in the study of religions. (See Congress Theme.)

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Abstracts should have a maximum of 250 words.

NOTE: If your paper proposal is part of a panel or other working group please submit your abstract to the section or subsection in which the panel proposal was accepted. Please check this with the organizer(s) of your panel or working group session.

• To propose individual papers click on INDIVIDUAL PAPERS below and then the section/sub-section of the list that is most appropriate. (Individual papers will be matched so as to provide some thematic unity to the section in which it will be presented.)
  
• Proposals for working groups (panels, symposia, workshops) click on WORKING GROUPS below and then fill out the information requested.
• If unsure as to where your paper is most appropriate click on UNSURE and follow the directions.

Deadline for submissions is April 30, 2010.

1. Paper/panel proposals and abstracts accepted after this date may not appear in the printed volume of abstracts.
2. Please note that the early registration discount is valid until January 31, 2010.
3. If a proposal is not accepted and the decision is made not to attend the Congress, the registration fee will be refunded without penalty.

For more details see the Congress website.