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Religion and Memory Unit

Call for Proposals for November Meeting

Religion, Memory, and Activism

The Religion and Memory Unit invites paper, panel, or roundtable proposals on the intersections of religion, memory, and activism. We are interested in explorations of these intersections across religious traditions, geographic contexts, and time (both contemporary and/or historical). How have memories of religious histories inspired activist work? How do memories of religious activism in the past propel religious actors in the present? How have activists sought to change collective religious memory? How have religious activists been remembered within and outside of their communities?

 

The Costs of Memory

The Religion and Memory Unit and Religion and Economy Unit invite paper or panel proposals on the “costs of memory.” Inspired by the metaphor for things that are painful and costly for victims to remember and articulate, we invite proposals studying religion and the capital costs of remembering and the ways that the economies of religion and memory are tied to power. We invite proposals focusing on examples in any time period or geographic location.

 

We also welcome papers, panels, and roundtables on other issues of religion and memory in any time period and any geographic context.

Call for Proposals for Online June Meeting

Queerness, religion, and memory

The Religion and Memory Unit and Religion and Queer Studies in Religion invite papers and proposals on the intersections of queerness, memory, and religion. How do queer and trans religious individuals or communities make memories? What resources do queer and trans studies in religion offer to the study of religion and memory? How have traditional religious pasts been queered in memory and memorials? We are interested in explorations of these intersections across religious traditions, geographic contexts, and time (both contemporary and/or historical).

 

We also welcome papers, panels, and roundtables on other issues of religion and memory in any time period and any geographic context.

Statement of Purpose

This unit considers memory’s role in the making of religions and the ways in which religions make memories. It explores the construction and representation of narratives of the past as memory in relation to religious practices, ideologies, and experiences. We encourage critical reflection on religion in relation to ideas of memory, heritage, and public history. We are interested in examining these topics across broad geographical areas, religious traditions, methodological practices, and historical eras.

Chairs

  • Christopher Cantwell, Loyola University Chicago
    1/1/2021 - 12/31/2026
  • Rachel Gross, San Francisco State University
    1/1/2019 - 12/31/2024

Steering Committee Members

Method

Review Process

Proposer names are visible to chairs but anonymous to steering committee members