Comparative Studies in Religion Unit
We invite papers on the topics below. Submissions for panels or roundtables not listed here are also welcome.
Serpents and Eagles, Ivette Vargas-O'Bryan, IVargas@austincollege.edu
In keeping with the 2026 AAR conference theme, this panel aims to explore how freedom is symbolized in different cultures and religions through the images of serpents and eagles. Particular topics may include the conflict between spirit and matter, good and evil, or power, freedom, and the divine.
Astroculture and Science Fiction, Ben Overmeire, ben.van.overmeire@dukekunshan.edu.cn
Astroculture is the cultural study of humanity's relationship with outer space. This panel will explore how astroculture has been understood in different religious traditions as they relate to works of science fiction. Potential topics include space as a site of exploration, the construction of ideas regarding embodiment, and the evolution of human identity.
Maps: Fantastical, Acquisitive, and Religious, Chris Parr, parrch@webster.edu
This session explores instructive and vivid examples of maps. Some of these maps may include utopian 'places' or depict fantastic 'other worlds'; some re-order the known cosmos to represent a religious perception of this world or reality (allegorical maps, for instance); while others are used acquisitively to claim territory or populations in the interest of an expanding religion. The session will not focus on the 'maps of reality' idea — rather, it looks for a larger contextual discussion of the uses of maps in religious systems.
Comparison in AI, David Schones, dschones@austincollege.edu
Artificial intelligence has a growing presence in many cultural contexts, including the field of Religious Studies. This panel will explore how AI impacts the study of religious texts, traditions, and the comparisons made between different religious communities. By exploring how scholars analyze different traditions using AI, understand or conceptualize AI within these traditions, or even incorporate AI in classroom learning, this panel hopes to explore how comparative study of religion can deepen our understanding of the complexities surrounding AI, both as a focus of scholarly analysis and as a pedagogical tool.
This Unit provides the opportunity for significant cross-traditional and cross-cultural inquiry. We traditionally solicit paper sessions that provide occasions for comparative inquiry seriously engaging two or more religious traditions around a common topic and we ensure that critical reflection is given to the conceptual tools therein employed. We welcome co-sponsorship opportunities with other AAR units. This Unit has a listserv (CompRel), which is used primarily for announcements, calls for papers, and discussions about panel proposals. If you wish to subscribe, please send a request to of@austin.utexas.edu.
| Chair | Dates | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| David Schones | dschones@austincollege… | - | View |
| Yudit K. Greenberg, Rollins College | ygreenberg@rollins.edu | - | View |