Comparative Theology Unit

The Comparative Theology Unit of the AAR seeks proposals on the following topics for its session at the 2022 Annual Meeting. 

We encourage panel or paper proposals on the following themes that were offered at the business meeting. Interested scholars should feel free to avail themselves of the contact person when provided below, if needed: 

• 2022 is the 60th anniversary of the death of the famed French orientalist Louis Massignon and the 100th anniversary of the publication of his monumental work, The Passion of al-Hallaj and the 1100th anniversary of the death of Hallaj himself. Contact: Jason Welle, OFM, jason.welle@pisai.it. 

• 2022 is the 100th anniversary of Martin Buber’s I and Thou. We invite papers investigating Buber’s influence on comparative theology. 

• Comparative Theology from a Hindu perspective. We hope that this will be the first in a series of panels that invites scholars to practice comparative theology in their own religious position. Contact: Francis X. Clooney, SJ, fclooney@hds.harvard.edu 

• The Concept of Home in Comparative Theology and Theology Without Walls. Contact: Catherine Cornille, cornille@bc.edu 

• Political implications of comparative theology. Contact: Axel Marc Oaks Takacs, takacsax@shu.edu 

• Comparative theology and the Metaverse. Contact: Mark Edwards, markmythoughts@gmail.com 
   

These are proposed themes, but one need not feel restricted by them, so long as the proposal concerns comparative theology. 

Proposal descriptions must be written in such a way as to allow for anonymity during the selection process. Panel proposals must include a diversity statement wherein the conveyor explains in what ways the panel is diverse or the rationale for a lack of diversity.