Sociology of Religion Unit

The purpose of the Sociology of Religion Unit of the American Academy of Religion is to generate cross-fertilization between the Sociology of Religion and Religious Studies. We are open to papers in all areas and therefore encourage submissions of any topic relevant to the sociology of religion. This year, we are particularly interested in the following topics:

Topics related to the AAR presidential theme of “Future/s”

• We invite proposals regarding possible futures for the sociology of religion, new theories or methods, future of research design, future trends in religion analyzed sociologically, religious social movements working to shape the future, utopian or dystopian futures, secular or ethnonationalist futures, emergent spiritualities or secularities, and more.

Emergent Technologies and Religion

• We invite proposals that explore the relationship between emergent technologies and religion, spirituality, and secularity, including sociological research on artificial intelligence (AI) and religion, digital religion, religion and social media, religion online, online religions, religious media, parasocial religions, and more. 

Sociology of Religion and Human Rights (Co-sponsored with the Religion and Human Rights Unit)

• For a possible co-sponsored session with the Religion and Human Rights Unit, we invite papers on the future of the relationship between religion and human rights as examined through sociological methods or theories. Proposals may address the possibilities and pitfalls of studying and promoting human rights; ways that religious or secular communities are approaching human rights at a time of global upheaval; how religious groups are reshaping human rights in utopian or dystopian directions; how religious groups are rethinking the “human” in human rights, and more. Proposals may also consider the role of grassroots movements versus national or global institutions as sites for human rights mobilization, especially questions of what it means for human rights protections to arise “from below,” through the work and struggle of marginalized or minoritized communities. In this co-sponsorship, we welcome proposals that lie at the intersection of conceptual analysis of "religion and human rights" and forms of qualitative, quantitative, or social theoretical analysis that build knowledge about how religious or secular groups are navigating a changing world of religious and human rights claims and practices.

Sociology and the Study of New Religious Movements (Co-sponsored with the New Religious Movements Unit)

• The Sociology of Religion and New Religious Movements Program Units invite proposals dealing with new religions and sociological theory and methods. We encourage proposals that examine how sociological theory and methods have shaped the study of new religions, studies of new religions informed by sociological theory and methods, and proposals for new approaches to the study of new religions informed by sociological theory and methods. 

Hartmut Rosa and the Study of Religion (Co-sponsored with Critical Theory and Discourses on Religion Unit)

• German sociologist Hartmut Rosa’s theories of resonance and social acceleration in modernity have begun to influence the study of religion, and his recent writings that “democracy needs religion” offer a timely moment to consider his work for the sociology of religion. Rosa has written primarily in German, but his work has begun to be translated into English more recently, including key works like Social Acceleration: A New Theory of Modernity (2013) and Resonance: A Sociology of Our Relationship to the World (2021). This possible co-sponsored session invites proposals that examine Rosa’s theories for the study of religion or employ his theories for original research. 

Civil Religion and Its Discontents

• How is the concept of “civil religion” useful and what are the shortcomings in using it to anchor discussions of religion in public life today? We invite proposals that examine either or both of these themes, or examine the concept in novel directions, using social theory or sociological methods.

Measuring Asian and Asian American Religions

• Measuring the religious membership and religiosity of Asians and Asian Americans using traditional survey questions is very difficult. A few recent major new surveys are changing the existing paradigm, with fascinating findings that could offer innovations to the theories and methods of the sociological study of Asian religions and beyond. We invite proposals that forge new models for measuring Asian and Asian American religions.

Quantitative and Computational Research

• We invite research utilizing quantitative and computational methods, including surveys, data and text mining, statistical analyses, geospatial studies, experimental methods, and original mixed-methods research. Results must be complete and analyzed by the time the annual meeting begins.

  Global and Transnational Religions

• We invite sociological research of religion across nation-states within continents and across continents, such as Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and more.

Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are core values of the Sociology of Religion Unit. For this reason, we encourage organizers of pre-formed panels to invite participants that are diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, age, religion, region, discipline, methodology, professional status, and type of institution. In addition, we especially welcome proposals that focus on communities that have been historically underrepresented, including African, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, and non-Christian communities, as well as on regions outside North America and Europe. In panel and paper proposals, we also welcome a diversity of methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, historical, and theoretical. When preparing your panel or roundtable proposal, please include the demographic data you provide to the AAR and explain how your panel’s participants instantiate diversity.

Review Process
All proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria: a descriptive title; a clearly formulated argument; clearly identified methodology and sources; engagement with relevant secondary literature; explicit articulation of an original contribution to the field; relevance to our unit’s CFP; potential for co-sponsorships with other units. Further suggestions for AAR proposal writers can be found in Kecia Ali’s “Writing a Successful Annual Meeting Proposal.” Anonymity: Proposals are anonymous to chairs and steering committee members during initial review, but visible prior to final acceptance or rejection.

Publication 
The Sociology of Religion Unit regularly co-sponsors panels with the peer-reviewed journal Critical Research on Religion (http://crr.sagepub.com), published by SAGE Publications. Presenters of promising papers in Sociology of Religion Unit panels may be invited to turn their papers into articles and submit them for peer review to Critical Research on Religion.