Call for Papers: Religion on the Move

Stanford University's Department of Religious Studies is excited to announce its interdisciplinary graduate student conference “Religion on the Move,” taking place on May 9 and 10, 2024. We look forward to receiving proposals from doctoral candidates in religious studies, history, anthropology, political science, and adjacent fields whose work investigates the ways religion moves through time, communities, bodies, and borders. We are interested in papers that explore the themes of religion, mobility, and movement using a variety of methodological, theoretical, and disciplinary approaches. Submissions are open to studies from all geographical locations and historical periods. 

We are honored to have Dr. David Aiona Chang, Professor of History at the University of Minnesota, join us as keynote speaker. 

This event is co-sponsored by Stanford University's Department of History. 

Possible areas of inquiry include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Diaspora 
  • Transnationalism 
  • Exile 
  • Lived Religion 
  • Artistic Expression 
  • Performance 
  • Time and Temporality 
  • Empire and Colonialism 
  • Physical Movement 
  • Political Ecology 
  • Ecology and Spirituality 
  • Emotion and Affect 
  • Voluntary and Involuntary Migration 
  • Pilgrimage and Sacred Journeys 
  • Ritualism and Rituality 
  • Missionaries and Missions 
  • Climate Change and Crisis 
  • Borders and Borderlands 

On the day of the conference, selected participants will have 15 minutes to present their paper in an interactive and supportive setting, followed by discussions with expert respondents and audience members. We envision this conference as both an avenue of scholarly conversation and a platform for collaborative learning to help doctoral students hone teaching and presentation skills broadly related to the study of religion. 

Submission Process and Participation: 

Selected panelists are expected to present engaging and well-crafted arguments, shared with panel members in advance to facilitate a thorough and informed discussion during the conference. To be considered for participation, please submit the following by February 15, 2024 via Google Forms (https://forms.gle/F4FbkLXfqLou9tXdA)

A 250-word abstract, a paper title, and up to five relevant keywords 

Your contact information, institutional affiliation, and graduate program 

Accepted participants will be notified by March 15, 2024. Submission deadlines for drafts and panel organization details will be provided upon selection. 

Logistics: 

The conference will take place in person at Stanford University. We will provide accommodation for one night between May 9-10, 2024 in guest housing near campus. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from Stanford. 

Please reach out with any questions: stanfordreligionconference [at] gmail.com (stanfordreligionconference[at]gmail[dot]com)