Religion and Ecology Unit

The Religion and Ecology Unit seeks individual paper and complete panel proposals relating to a wide range of themes in religion and ecology, especially proposals that resonate with the 2026 thematic emphasis on “future/s.” As inspired by the Presidential theme, we consider that now is not a time for “business as usual.” From an organizational perspective, our gatherings are powerful opportunities for collective re-imagining and action, and papers that center this are most welcome.

As ecological crises intensify and communities worldwide grapple with climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental justice, religious traditions and spiritual practices are increasingly called upon to imagine, critique, and embody alternative futures. What might these alternative futures look like? What are some examples of already existing alternative futures, communities, places, and spaces. We are interested in cultivating spaces to have difficult conversations, as the reality of our environmental crisis calls us to have courage and make hard choices that consider the complex, interwoven, and intergenerational nature of this crisis.

Potential topics for papers include, but are not limited to, critical engagements with futuristic thinking (e.g. uncovering the implicit assumptions of linear transitions of time), or critiques of dominant progress narratives, including "structural evil that masquerades as good." Frameworks, case studies, and/or literature that considers transitioning into the future (in other words, analyzing the mess we’re in and imagining what it could be) are encouraged. Other topics and areas of analysis include: afrofuturistic and afropessimistic narratives; the future of farming, feeding, and food production; considerations of ways to interrupt or define religious eco-fascism; critiques of, or visions reimagining heteronormative reproductivity; religion and reproductive labor, including multispecies reproductive justice and labor. We are also interested in discourse surrounding, and case studies highlighting, sacred activism, religious communities partnering with farms, indigenous communities (especially including, but not limited to indigenous led governance, both politically and through land management practices), and environmental justice movements.

As the future remains uncertain, we welcome an all-hands-on-deck approach to address the multi-faceted ecological crisis and are open to creative engagement with these topics, issues, and frameworks.

We acknowledge the interdisciplinary nature of, and multifaceted approaches to, research on the connections between religion and ecology. We especially welcome new contributions to religion and ecology intended to develop and push the field in methodology, topics, themes, texts, authors, objectives, and/or audience. We are also interested in including the way religion and ecology intersects with other forms of identity (race, class, gender, etc.), and are particularly interested in decolonial approaches to religion and ecology. Regarding decoloniality: we are interested in unpacking the nuances and differences in approach between post-colonial, decolonial, and anti-colonial discourse, theory, research, and material exchanges.

In your abstract, please include the theorists, authors, frameworks, and research you are in dialogue with, along with citations from the field.