Bioethics and Religion Unit
The Bioethics and Religion Unit invites proposals for the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Boston. We welcome submissions that explore the intersection of bioethics, religion, and society through diverse methodological and disciplinary approaches. Proposals addressing the following themes are particularly encouraged. We also welcome proposals that address innovative or emerging topics related to religion and bioethics not explicitly listed below:
- AI and Bioethics:
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and other domains raises complex ethical and religious questions. How does AI challenge traditional conceptions of autonomy, dignity, and the physician-patient relationship? What theological or ethical insights might guide the use of AI in decision-making, predictive medicine, or healthcare resource allocation? We seek papers that address these issues, as well as broader concerns such as bias in AI algorithms, the ethical implications of AI replacing human roles, and the role of religion in shaping AI ethics.
- Revisiting Principlism in Bioethics:
The principles of biomedical ethics laid out by Beauchamp and Childress have long been foundational in bioethics. We invite proposals that critically evaluate these principles in light of contemporary challenges, such as health inequities, cultural differences, and evolving technologies. How do these principles interact with religious perspectives or moral traditions? Are there alternative frameworks emerging that challenge the dominance of principle-based ethics in bioethics?
- Medicine and Christian Nationalism:
The intersection of medicine and White Christian nationalism is a growing area of concern, particularly regarding public health policy, vaccine hesitancy, and reproductive healthcare. How does the ideology of White Christian nationalism influence bioethical decision-making or healthcare access? We invite papers that explore the impact of religious nationalism on medical ethics, public health policies, and the lived experiences of healthcare providers and patients.
- Genetic Testing:
The rise of publicly traded DNA and genetic testing companies raises critical questions about the ethics of identity, privacy, and the commercialization of genetic data. How do these companies shape understandings of race, ethnicity, and community through their work? What are the implications for social justice, especially regarding the formation of racial "groups" or the potential misuse of genetic information? Submissions may address ethical and theological perspectives on the commodification of genetic data and its impact on individual and collective identities.
- Digital Twins and Bioethics:
The development of "digital twins"—virtual replicas of human beings created for medical or technological purposes—introduces new ethical and theological challenges. How might digital twins influence medical diagnostics, treatment planning, or patient autonomy? Are there moral or spiritual implications for creating a digital counterpart of a person? Papers exploring the ethical, theological, and societal ramifications of digital twins in healthcare and other settings are encouraged.
- Healthcare for the Incarcerated:
Incarcerated individuals face significant barriers to adequate healthcare, raising critical questions about justice, dignity, and human rights. How do religious and ethical frameworks address the healthcare needs of the incarcerated, particularly in the context of systemic inequities and punitive practices? We welcome proposals that examine the ethics of medical care for the incarcerated, the role of chaplaincy, and broader issues of health justice within the carceral system.
Public Policy, Religion, and Healing:
This panel will examine the dynamic relationships between individual freedom and collective responsibility in the context of public health and health policy. We invite paper proposals that explore the intersections of religion, healing, and public policy, with a particular focus on the tensions between government interventions and individual autonomy. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, we particularly welcome papers that examine the complex dynamics between individual reproductive justice and government interventions, exploring the broader implications for autonomy and public policy. We also invite contributions that investigate how religious beliefs and practices shape sexual and reproductive health policies, including their impacts on intimate partner violence and harm. We are especially interested in work that explores collective efforts to advocate for freedom in the face of structural barriers. Additionally, this panel seeks papers that critically analyze theories of health promotion and autonomy within public health initiatives, as well as religious exemptions to public health mandates (e.g. religious vaccine exemptions). We encourage submissions from diverse methodological approaches, including public health, theology, religious studies, sociology, political science, and bioethics.
This Unit offers a unique venue within the AAR for addressing the intersections of religion, bioethics, and health/healthcare related matters. It encourages creative and scholarly examinations of these intersections, drawing on such disciplines as religious and philosophical ethical theory, theology, ethnography, clinical ethics, history, and law. It seeks to undertake this scholarly work by drawing on a variety of perspectives (e.g., Feminist/Womanist/Mujerista, cross-cultural, and interreligious) and to demonstrate the contributions that religious and ethical scholarship can offer to the critical exploration of contemporary bioethical issues.