Call for Proposals

This Group takes a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach to the study of religious experience. We welcome paper and panel proposals on any topic in the study of mysticism, including papers on methodological approaches. We are especially interested in the following topics:

• Mystical ways of knowing (for a possible cosponsored session with the Pragmatism and Empiricism in American Religious Thought Group)
• Mysticism and ritual — rite, mantra, mudra, mandala (for a possible cosponsored session with the Journal of Interreligious Dialogue)
• Mysticism, music, and trance (for a possible cosponsored session with the Music and Religion Consultation)
• Mysticism and Zohar
• Mysticism and language, or literature
• Mysticism and personality formation

Mission

This Group began as a Consultation within the AAR in 1987, and achieved formal Group status in 1989. While its early focus was primarily Christianity and Western religions, and the study of experience and textual interpretation within those areas, we have grown and changed over time, paralleling the change and growth in the AAR itself. Today, our conversations cut across the areas that characterize many of the Program Units within the boundaries of discipline, tradition, temporality, and region. Members of our Group use different methodologies and work across a variety of disciplines, among which are psychology of religion, sociology of religion, history of religions, hermeneutics and textual analysis, biographical analysis, feminist studies, film studies, philosophy of religion, mysticism and science, art criticism, postmodern theory, cultural studies, and anthropology of consciousness, among others. This interdisciplinarity has importance not only to our work as scholars, but also to our work as teachers and public educators. We post our current call, past sessions and a selection of past papers, as well as links in the field of mysticism, on our website at www.aarmysticism.org. We have also started a listserv, and those interested in joining may write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or sign on through the website.

Anonymity of Review Process

Proposals are anonymous to Chairs and Steering Committee Members during review, but visible to Chairs prior to final acceptance or rejection.

Questions?

Thomas Cattoi
Graduate Theological Union
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Laura Weed
College of Saint Rose
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Method of Submission