Call for Session Proposals: 3rd Forum of Sociology in Vienna, July 2016. Research Committee on the Sociology of Religion

RC 22: Research Committee for the Sociology of Religion Call for Sessions:
“Religion, Secularity and Post-Secularity: Crafting Meaningful Futures”

The Third ISA Forum of Sociology “The Futures we want: Global Sociology and the struggles for a better world’’ to be held in Vienna, 10-14 July, 2016. (International Sociological Association)

Programme Co-ordinator: Vineeta Sinha (socvs@nus.edu.sg)

PROGRAM THEME: The world’s current socio-economic and political turmoil has a profound impact on religious expressions, sensibilities and worldviews. Religious expressions and worldviews also affect the surrounding socio-economic and political spheres. Such dramatic changes produce disquiet, tumult and agitation but also open opportunities to question the status and create novel social possibilities.
Sociologists of religion face a number of challenges in understanding these interactions. Among these is the need to develop new theoretical and empirical approaches to our subject. Sociologists have long argued about the continuing place and value of religions in a secularizing and globalizing world . Although the notion of ‘post-secularity’ is hardly new, it has recently emerged forcefully (and somewhat fashionably) in attempts to theorise the visibility and relevance of religiosity in the world today. This raises serious questions that deserve sociological attention. Among these:

  • Do recent developments signal to some extent the passing of a ‘secularist’ moment?
  • What is meant by ‘post-secularity’?
  • Are we living in a post-secular age? Or are we merely looking forward to one?
  • If so, what would religion look like is such a context?
  • What effect religion could religion have in a rapidly changing world?

The objective of these thematic sessions is to theorise the complex religious landscapes in the present and to contemplate if, where, how and with what effect religions will manifest and organize themselves in a rapidly changing socio-political landscape.

CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS: We invite RC 22 members to propose sessions that deal with these complex issues. We especially welcome sessions that include cross-cultural and cross-national comparisons. Besides the thematic topics above, we also seek sessions that contribute to other recent debates within the field. Here are some ideas:

  • any of the thematic ideas listed above
  • religion in the public sphere
  • popular religion
  • religion, gender and feminism
  • urban forms of religiosity
  • material religion
  • religious commodification and consumption
  • religious revivalism and religious innovation in a global context
  • other topics of interest.

Both thematic proposals and non-thematic proposals should address the multiple, complex and sometimes opposing strands and arguments on their topics in the social-scientific study of religion.

HOW TO PROPOSE A SESSION:

  • If you wish to propose a session before February 2nd, please send an abstract (no more than 300 words), your full name, institutional affiliation, e-mail and a short bio to Vineeta Sinha (socvs@nus.edu.sg)
  • Starting 2 February, 2015, you can submit your proposals online at the International Sociological Association’s website. A link will appear at https://www.isa-sociology.org/forum-2016/
  • Session proposals must be in English, French, or Spanish.

Please also note that you must become an RC22 member to have your session proposal accepted; you can join the Research Committee through the ISA website at https://www.isa-sociology.org/memb_i/index.htm

In order to be included in the programme, all participants (presenters, chairs, discussants, etc.) must join the ISA and register for the Forum by the early registration deadline of 1 April, 2016. Without early registration and membership, presenters, chairs, etc. will not appear in the Programme Book or in the Abstracts Book.

The Research Committee on the Sociology of Religion (RC22) is the section of the International Sociological Association tasked with advancing theory and research in the sociology of religion, in the context of world sociology. Please visit our website at www.ISA-RC22.org for information about us and about our programs. Visit the ISA’s website at www.isa-sociology.org for information about our parent organization. Information about the Third Forum of Sociology can be found at https://www.isa-sociology.org/vienna-2016/