Religious Conversions Unit
The Religious Conversions Unit welcomes individual paper or full paper/panel session proposals on any topic related to religious conversion (with a preference for fully formed panel proposals). We are particularly interested in papers and panels that challenge established understandings of the category of “conversion” and push the study of conversion in new directions. We are especially, but not exclusively, interested in featuring panels on the following topics at the 2026 annual meeting.
- Africana religions and conversion (e.g. scholarly responses to Katherine Gerbner’s Archival Irruptions; authority, freedom and/or the material reasons for and consequences of conversion, etc.)
- Weaponizing conversion (e.g. using the act of or responses to religious conversion, deconversion, or “apostasy” as a political weapon)
- Mixing religions without conversion (e.g. examining the material, practical, ritual and other dimensions of multiple-religious participation among individuals and communities)
- Belonging without Believing/Believing without Belonging
Papers and panels may address any historical period or cultural context, and use any methodological approach.
Questions may be directed to the co-chairs: Eliza Kent (ekent@skidmore.edu) and Kathleen M. Self (kself@stlawu.edu).
This Unit studies the full spectrum of issues related to religious conversions, in any historical or geographic context, encompassing different forms of religious belief and practice. The scope of the issues we cover is broad and wide-ranging. We consider investigations into the reasons for various types of religious conversions including, but not limited to intellectual, theological, philosophical, historical, experiential, psychological, social, cultural, political, and economic causes. We also study the consequences of religious conversions, and deconversions, both individually and socially, and their implications. We encourage the methodologies of multiple disciplines, as well as interdisciplinary approaches.
Anonymity: Proposals are anonymous to chairs and steering committee members during review, but visible to chairs prior to final acceptance or rejection
Method of submission: PAPERS
Leadership:
Unit Co-Chair – Eliza F. Kent, Skidmore College, ekent@skidmore.edu
Unit Co-Chair – Kathleen Self, St. Lawrence University, kself@stlawu.edu