Australian Association for the Study of Religion and the New Zealand Association for the Study of Religion
November 29, 2018 – November 30, 2018
at: University of Auckland – visit site: http://www.nzasr.ac.nz/conference/index.php/annual/2018
Theme: Ngā Wāhi Tapu/Sacred Place: Continuity and Change
Due date for proposals: July 15, 2018
The third Joint Conference of the New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions (NZASR) and the Australian Association for the Study of Religions (AASR) will be hosted by the University of Auckland 29-30 November 2018. The plenary sessions of the conference this year will be held in the Waipapa Marae and the Maclaurin Chapel, two sacred sites on the University of Auckland campus, which reveal both continuity and change in this particular context.
The study of sacred place has been receiving renewed attention in the interdisciplinary study of religion. It includes a consideration of familiar institutions—temples, shrines, and churches—but also extends to less visible sites that ground everyday life in ritual practices in the home or in public spaces that are outside the boundaries of “official” religion. In spite of the evidence for secularization, the renewal and revitalization of sacred places is occurring in contemporary societies and transforming many urban areas such as Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne. This is due in part to recent patterns of immigration and the growth in religious diversity with the arrival of new religious traditions and the flourishing of diaspora communities. The movement of peoples and the increase in interreligious encounters is creating a dynamic situation of mutual transformation and contributing to both de/re-territorialization of religion as some sacred sites are appropriated by new actors and groups representing alternatives to established religious institutions.
Paper and panel proposals are invited to address a number of questions and issues surrounding the conference theme. How do demographic trends—both domestic and international migration—impact the religious landscape? How is sacred place being represented materially in new ways? What consequences do these new expressions of the sacred have for shaping human values and civil society? How is gender and sexuality regulated in these places? What role do governments play in the protection of traditional sacred sites and in the construction of new ones? Papers addressing these concerns and their relevance for the academic study of religion in the Antipodes are particularly welcome. In addition to proposals related to the conference theme, we also invite submissions on the full range of topics and issues that reflect the diverse fields of specialization, disciplinary approaches, and research interests of our members.
The programme this year will include several keynotes and plenary sessions. Associate Professor Cristina Rocha (Western Sydney University) will give the AASR Presidential Address and Associate Professor Jay Johnston will give the Penny Magee lecture. The NZASR keynote and plenary session will be announced shortly.
Guidelines for Paper and Panel Proposals:
- Paper proposals should be submitted online at the link below and include the following information: Title, Author, Abstract (maximum 200 words), and University affiliation.
- For panel proposals, the convener should submit one document that includes the abstracts and author information of each presenter, here: http://www.nzasr.ac.nz/conference/index.php/annual/2018/schedConf/cfp
Bursaries:
The AASR will be offering 6 bursaries of AUD $500 each for postgraduate students to attend the Auckland conference. We invite students to submit abstracts and their CVs by 30 of August in order to apply for these bursaries. Please email A/Professor Cristina Rocha (Western Sydney University / President, AASR): C.Rocha@westernsydney.edu.au
Key information and dates to remember:
- Deadline for paper proposals: April 4, 2018 – July 15, 2018.
- An early-bird registration rate (NZ$250) is available to members who register on or before 30 September 2018.
- An early-bird registration rate (NZ$125) is available to students or other unwaged attendees who register on or before 30 September 2018.
- The NZASR site will be updated in July with a link to the University of Auckland’s Events Centre, which will manage conference registration and payment, and provide information on accommodations, including both nearby hotels and on-campus options.
- Principal Conference Contact: Professor Mark Mullins (University of Auckland): m.mullins@auckland.ac.nz