In-person November Annual Meeting 2025 Program Book

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"Artificial Intelligence" is only the most recent (and most disruptive) example of digital technology that has and will transform how religious communities function. Digital technology has also changed how scholars teach and conduct research on religion. If you are interested in how technology is changing and will change our work, we invite you to THATCamp. 

THATCamp is an unconference. This means learning and building occurs in hands-on workshops proposed by participants rather than formal presentations. Topics could include how to use AI in research or the classroom, digital research methods, web-based class assignments, etc. What are the implications of technology on our fields? How does digital scholarship fit into our domain of study? What are its professional implications? THATCamp is an open, welcoming environment for sharing and learning.

The cost for attending the unconference is $15, which includes the entire day of sessions and a coffee break.

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This pre-conference workshop will explore the potential for resistance within certain media forms, specifically exploring how religious and spiritual communities engage with media as a way to counter dominant discourses. These counter-voices may be speaking against injustices within religious institutions or working to dismantle larger systems of oppression in society. The structure of the workshop will include 2-3 keynote presentations from scholars who are working on research in the area of counter-media, resistance, and religion. Following the keynote presentations, participants will engage in roundtable discussions about the presentations, their own research interests, and theories discussed in a selection of assigned readings. This workshop will be ideal for participants interested in activism within religious communities, alternative media forms, and theories around resistance and media.

This workshop brings together contingent faculty, administrators, and department leaders to explore ethical and equitable practices in hiring, evaluating, and supporting non-tenure-track faculty in the study of religion. As academic institutions increasingly rely on contingent labor, this session addresses urgent questions around fair treatment, transparency, and inclusion — especially for minoritized scholars and marginalized scholarship.

Participants will examine existing guidelines, share experiences, and collaboratively draft recommendations on topics such as equitable hiring, minimum standards of support, transparent communication, and inclusive peer review. Outcomes from the workshop will help inform a set of guidelines for consideration by the AAR Board, with the goal of promoting more just and sustainable academic structures.

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