Monthly Archives: December 2015

Book Announcement: Palgrave Macmillan’s Religion and Global Migrations book series

Palgrave Macmillan’s Religion and Global Migrations book series is off to a strong start with four titles published in the past year and one coming out in January. Information about these books is available here (https://www.palgrave.com/series/religion-and-global-migrations/RGM/) if you are interested in ordering or requesting a desk copy to consider using in one of your courses.

We are continuing to accept manuscript proposals for the series and invite you to submit proposals on any aspect of religion and migration directly to one or all of the co-editors. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me (Jennifer B. Saunders, jbsaund1@yahoo.com) or one of my co-editors (Susanna Snyder, susanna.snyder@roehampton.ac.uk or Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, e.fiddian-qasmiyeh@ucl.ac.uk). Information on how to submit a proposal is available on Palgrave Macmillan’s website: https://www.palgrave.com/page/submit-a-proposal/

Jennifer B. Saunders
Co-Editor, Religion and Global Migrations Series, Palgrave Macmillan

Book Announcement: “La migrazione dei simboli. Pubblicità e religione”

Carlo Nardella is pleased to announce his book, “La migrazione dei simboli. Pubblicità e religione” (Milano: Guerini, 2015), which explores the use of religious symbols in Italian advertising through the analysis of a large sample of print advertisements covering 50 years of Italian social history.

https://www.guerini.it/index.php/la-migrazione-dei-simboli.html

Visit the author’s homepage: https://www.carlonardella.com

Book Announcement - Faithfully Urban: Pious Muslims in a German City

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce my book FAITHFULLY URBAN: PIOUS MUSLIMS IN A GERMAN CITY (2015) published by Berghahn Books.

https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title.php?rowtag=KuppingerFaithfully

The book examines the lives of ordinary pious Muslims and their communities in Stuttgart, Germany. I illustrate how pious Muslims and their communities are active and engaged citizens and active participants in the urban public sphere, and have long since become integral parts of the cityscape.

Best,

Petra Kuppinger
Professor of Anthropology
President, SUNTA
Department of Sociology/Anthropology
Monmouth College

EASR 2016 CFP on Religious Change in the Lives of Young People Globally

The theme “Religious Change in the Lives of Young People Globally” at EASR 2016 in Helsinki,

Call for papers to Open Session on:
“I’d rather talk about human rights than speak in tongues” – Situating Religious Change in the Lives of Young People Globally

Chair: Peter Nynäs (Åbo Akademi University)

The development of modern communications technologies has altered not only our means of interaction but also the social organization of our lives. Similarly, emerging transnational economic structures and consumerism has had an immense effect on our everyday activities, whereas many global movements and networks have enabled and raised awareness of value-laden issues and mobilized people in new ways. Therefore, these processes also produce new religious spaces and agencies globally. They fuel contemporary religious change no matter we refer to the position of religious institutions and traditions, to the increasing religious inclusivism or individualism, or to the growing radicalization and polarization. Young people are relevant subjects in regard to this. They are called the ‘digital natives’, the first generation to grow up in a world saturated by new media, consumer culture and social movements. They are held to be fluent in the language of this change, but also at risk since these processes can also be forceful vehicles of marginalization and exclusion when distributed unevenly. How do young people today integrate, contest or reinvent religion and spirituality in the light of this global shift? In this panel we welcome presentations based on qualitative empirical studies of how religion/ spirituality is situated in novel ways in the lives of young people – in conjunction with the processes referred to here.

The call for papers form for individual papers opens on the 15 November 2015 and the deadline for individual papers is 31 December 2015

Job Opening: Luce Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations - Hartford Seminary

Hartford Seminary is seeking a scholar who is a recognized expert in the study of Islam and Christian-Muslim relations and will provide a Christian perspective to the newly established Ph.D. program in Islamic Studies & Christian-Muslim relations. The appointment begins in fall 2016.

As a scholar, the candidate should demonstrate experience and expertise in Christian-Muslim relations and may be grounded in one of a number of disciplines. The successful candidate must be able to teach both introductory and advanced levels and have the intellectual depth required to direct Ph.D. students.
The appointment is to the core faculty of the Seminary. It carries the full time teaching load of four courses per year, student advising load expected of all faculty, and regular faculty committee and administrative responsibilities to be determined in relation to the candidate’s gifts and the seminary’s needs. Scholarly research and productivity are priorities in light of the school’s history as a place of advanced learning and publication.

Rank is at the Associate level or above; Ph.D. or Th.D. is required. We especially encourage applications from women and historically underrepresented ethnic groups.

Review of applications will begin on 31 January 2016 and will continue until the position is filled. A complete application must be submitted electronically to Ms. Lorraine Browne at lbrowne@hartsem.edu and includes a letter of application, a current curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference submitted directly by the recommenders. For further information, please contact Dr. Timur Yuskaev, Chair of the Search Committee, at yuskaev@hartsem.edu.

CFP: Advancing the Demographic Study of Religion

Advancing the Demographic Study of Religion

Wednesday, March 30, 2016
1615 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Click here to register
Religion influences the demographic processes that shape society, including decisions about union formation, childbearing and migration, as well as behaviors that affect mortality patterns. Likewise, demographic forces are reshaping the global religious landscape. For example, the primary reason Muslims are the fastest growing religious group in the world is that they have more children per woman than any other major religious group. (Islam is projected to become the world’s largest religion during this century).
While demographers have always been aware that religion is important, the study of religion by demographers is incommensurate with religion’s influence on populations. On March 30, 2016, Pew Research Center will host a special one-day conference for scholars interested in the intersection of demography and religion. This conference will allow scholars to assess the state of this field, hear about new research and plot the field’s future research agenda.
Proposals are welcome for 10-minute presentations of current research, potential research and/or reflections about our field. This format is inspired by the longstanding Psychosocial Workshop, a Population Association of America pre-conference that features signature five-minute presentations. With limited time, presenters are encouraged to get straight to the most interesting kernel of their work. This efficient format permits more presentations than would otherwise be possible and creates opportunity for follow-up conversations during breaks. Presentations will be selected from submissions received by Feb. 1, 2016.
There will be opportunity for informal discussion and networking during our lunch break and afternoon cocktail hour. During the conference, there will be an opportunity to learn about how the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project is using demographic analysis to describe global religion trends.
The highlight of the conference will be an afternoon discussion with leading scholars Christopher Ellison, David Voas and Melissa Wilde about the most important unanswered research questions demographers of religion can answer.
This inaugural demography of religion gathering will be held at Pew Research Center headquarters, located at 1615 L Street NW, just a few blocks from the White House and a short Metro ride from the Marriott Wardman Park, which is the PAA conference hotel (The red line connects these locations via the Woodley Park Zoo and Farragut North Metro stations).
Schedule
9:00 Registration
10:00 Research presentations session
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Research presentations session
3:00 Panel discussion: “What are the most important unanswered questions demographers of religion can answer?”
Panelists: Christopher Ellison, David Voas, Melissa Wilde
Moderator: Alan Cooperman
4:30 Cocktail hour
Deadlines:
Attendees interested in making a presentation should register and submit a 300-word summary of their proposal here by Feb. 1. The program will be finalized and available on the conference websitein mid-February. All participants must register by March 1. Thanks to the generous support of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, there is no cost to attend this event.
About the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project:
The Global Religious Futures project — supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John Templeton Foundation — analyzes religious change and its impact on societies around the world through original survey data collection measuring religious beliefs and practices; coding and analysis of religious restrictions and analysis of the demographic characteristics of religious groups.
Recent publications:
We’re hiring:
Pew Research Center is looking for a Research Associate in Global Religious Demography.
Contacts:

CFP: Islam and Peaceful Relations, Coventry University (5th April 2016)

Islam and Peaceful Relations, 5th April 2016, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), Coventry University

· Plenary address by Professor Jørgen S. Nielsen

· Last date for submission of abstracts: 15th February 2016

· Co-hosted by the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), Coventry University and the Muslims in Britain Research Network (MBRN)

For further information read below or visit: https://www.mbrn.org.uk/cfp-islam-and-peaceful-relations/

Islam has been an important force for peace in the world historically and now. Peace is integral to Islamic theology and Muslim ethos, either as part of the individual’s personal experience or the wider context of maintaining peaceful relations in society. Yet terrorism undermines this discourse around peace and Islam. Recent attacks in France, Lebanon and Bangladesh have once again put Islam at the fore of debates around religiously-motivated conflict. Terrorists constitute a very small proportion of the global Muslim population and their ideology at best represents only a fringe, yet the narratives they propound have a dominating influence in shaping how Islam and Muslims are perceived. This has resulted in an increased focus on radicalisation and preventing violent extremism in policy, media discourse and some academic research around Islam and Muslims in Britain and beyond, subverting most other narratives of Islam and Muslims.

This conference will ‘radically’ depart from this trend. Instead it will focus its discussion about Islam on dialogue, peace and peaceful relations. In doing so it will uncover Islamic theological traditions around peacebuilding, historical precedents of peaceful existence with Muslims and contemporary lived experiences of intra-faith and inter-cultural dialogue, improved societal understanding of difference and peaceful relations. The conference will move the debate beyond simplistic ‘good and bad’, ‘us and them’ binaries to more complex discussions that consider the impact of diverse social factors including, gender, class, economy and geography.

The Faith and Peaceful Relations Research Group at CTPSR explores the role religion can play in achieving more peaceful and just societies. Faith can be a driver of peace, reconciliation and social justice, yet it can also be a source of violence, exclusion and misunderstanding. This conference will build on our research expertise and will explore the positive difference faith and belief, in this case Islam, can make in today’s world and how conflicts relating to Islam can be overcome.

Proposals for papers, panel discussions, workshops and poster presentations that focus on one, or more, of the above themes are invited from scholars, community activists and policy makers. For the purposes of the conference, we do not define the term ‘Islam and Peaceful Relations’, but rather envisage that contributions will broaden our understanding of what this can mean in contemporary plural society.

The conference will explore themes including:

- Theological and sociological constructs and definitions of Islam and peace

- Contemporary debates, including the role of the digital world

- Interfaith and Inter-cultural dialogue

- Intra-faith dialogue across diverse Muslim denominations and traditions

- Local ramifications of international events and initiatives

- Develop a narrative of Islam and peace

Abstracts & Proposals:

To submit a proposal:

- Please submit a title and abstract of no more than 300 words, indicating whether it is a paper / panel / workshop / poster presentation.

- Please include names and short biographies (150 words maximum) of the presenter/s, institutional affiliation/s (if relevant), and contact details.

- Proposals should be sent to the conference administrator Charlotte Martin via email ac1894@coventry.ac.uk

- Deadline: 5pm on Monday 15th February 2016.

- Successful participants will be notified by 29th February 2016.

Registration:

A registration fee of £20 will apply for all speakers and delegates.

A reduced fee of £15 will apply for students, representatives of voluntary organisations and those not in paid employment.

Further details about the registration process will be circulated and posted on this website in February 2016.

Conference Organisers:

CTPSR, Coventry University

Dr Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor (ac0967@coventry.ac.uk)

Dr Kristin Aune (ab8574@coventry.ac.uk)

Dilwar Hussain (ab9522@coventry.ac.uk)

Charlotte Martin (ac1894@coventry.ac.uk)

MBRN

Prof Sophie Gilliat-Ray

Dr Carl Morris

Mobeen Butt

Chris Moses

Contact the MBRN team via muslimsinbritainrn@gmail.com

CFP: The Eurel Conference, Luxembourg

The Eurel Conference will be held in Luxembourg in September 2016.

The topic of the conference is Governance and Religion in Europe and there will be four different thematic panels:

1. Religion, Party Discourse, and Policy-Making

2. Religious Engagement and Political Mobilization of Minority Religious Groups

3. Religious Groups as Actors and Objects of Local Governance

4. Religion in Legislation and Law Enforcement.

The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 31 January 2016.

Please, feel free to circulate the call among colleagues.

 

Book Announcement: Muslim Fashion - Contemporary Style Cultures

Muslim Fashion

Contemporary Style Cultures

Reina Lewis

“Reina Lewis discusses Muslim dress as fashion in the United Kingdom and its networks elsewhere, eschewing its reception in mainstream media as a sign of ahistorical and unmodern identity. Lewis’ previous scholarship on gendered Orientalism and academic post in fashion studies situates her in the best position to handle this delicate topic, and she admirably achieves to maintain both a critical distance and emphatic proximity to her subject. This is a must read for anyone interested in the visual and politico-economic analyses of Muslim fashion in relation to multiple fashion systems, as well as an ethnographic study of young women who live in Britain among a minority Muslim population.”—Esra Ackan, author of Architecture in Translation

“Gracefully interweaving hijab and veiling into historical, political, legal, and cultural contexts, Reina Lewis delves deeply into the everyday style, fashion, and dress of young Muslim women. Lewis captures a dynamic moment in time—transnationally and comparatively—and offers keen insights into the variations and intersectionalities of religion, ethnicity, class, gender, generation, and nation. Muslim Fashion is an extraordinary book and an exemplary model of a feminist cultural studies approach to fashion.”—Susan B. Kaiser, author of Fashion and Cultural Studies

Read an interview with Reina Lewis at Times Higher Education: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/people/interview-reina-lewis-london-college-of-fashion-university-of-the-arts-london

In the shops of London’s Oxford Street, girls wear patterned scarves over their hair as they cluster around makeup counters. Alongside them, hip twenty-somethings style their head-wraps in high black topknots to match their black boot-cut trousers. Participating in the world of popular mainstream fashion—often thought to be the domain of the West—these young Muslim women are part of an emergent cross-faith transnational youth subculture of modest fashion. In treating hijab and other forms of modest clothing as fashion, Reina Lewis counters the overuse of images of veiled women as “evidence” in the prevalent suggestion that Muslims and Islam are incompatible with Western modernity. Muslim Fashion contextualizes modest wardrobe styling within Islamic and global consumer cultures, interviewing key players including designers, bloggers, shoppers, store clerks, and shop owners. Focusing on Britain, North America, and Turkey, Lewis provides insights into the ways young Muslim women use multiple fashion systems to negotiate religion, identity, and ethnicity.

Reina Lewis is Professor of Cultural Studies at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, and the author of Rethinking Orientalism: Women, Travel and the Ottoman Harem.

Duke University Press

September 2015 400pp 87 photographs, incl. 17 in color 9780822359340 PB £19.99 now only = £19.99 *0.80 £15.99* when you quote CSL1215MSF when you order

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