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Sociology of Religion Unit

Call for Proposals

The purpose of the Sociology of Religion program Unit of the American Academy of Religion is to bridge the gap and 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 Boston (and the contributions of prominent sociologists in the region)
• Links between capitalism, consumerism, neoliberalism and climate change issues
• Conflicting identities (intersectional identities in conflict)
• Disciplinary boundaries between sociology of religion and religious studies
• Sociology of knowledge – especially an exploration of the relationship between religion and STEM
• In anticipation of the 2020 US Election, we are interested in panels that are NOT about Trump and do not perpetrate a narrative of American exceptionalism (i.e. panels that explore religion alongside politics, elections, national identity, race, and populism in a global context)

We are also in the process of planning sessions on the following topics:
• Revisiting Religion and the Public Sphere (prearranged session on Habermas’ new work)
• Co-sponsored with the Critical Theory and Discourses on Religion Program Unit: Putting the social back into the sociology of religion (and religious studies in general): a round table with Veronique Altglas (invited panel discussion)

Publication:
The Sociology of Religion Group of AAR regularly co-sponsors panels with the peer-reviewed print and online journal Critical Research on Religion (CRR) (http://crr.sagepub.com). Published by SAGE Publications, the journal is ranked as first tier by Scopus and has over 10,000 subscriptions worldwide. Presenters of promising papers in SOR panels will be invited to turn their papers into articles and submit them for peer review to CRR.

Statement of Purpose

The Sociology of Religion Unit of the American Academy of Religion serves as a bridge between religious studies and the subdiscipline of sociology of religion. It functions as a two-way conduit not only to import sociological research into religious studies but also to export the research of religious studies into both the subdiscipline and the broader field of sociology. Only through a cross-fertilization transgressing departmental boundaries can there be breakthroughs in research in both fields. The unit has a wide conception of sociology of religion. It is open to a multiplicity of paradigms and methodologies utilized in the subfield and sociology more broadly: theoretical as well as empirical, quantitative, qualitative, and comparative-historical. By liaising with other Program Units, the Sociology of Religion Unit is able to bring the rich diversity of critical and analytical perspectives that are housed in the American Academy of Religion into mainstream sociology of religion. Conversely, it aims to provide scholars of the study of religion with a deeper understanding of the landscape of sociology of religion.

Co-Sponsoring

Chairs

Steering Committee Members

Method

PAPERS

Review Process

Proposals are anonymous to chairs and steering committee members during review, but visible to chairs prior to final acceptance or rejection