Call for Proposals

This Consultation welcomes paper or panel proposals on all topics related to animals and religion. We especially seek proposals on the following topics:

• The significance of Donna Haraway’s critical thinking about animals, science, and technology for religious studies (for a possible cosponsored session with the Science, Technology, and Religion Group)
• Animals beyond sacrifice in Hindu and/or Jewish traditions (for a possible cosponsored session with the Comparative Studies in Hinduisms and Judaisms Group)
• Womanist approaches to animals and religion
• Animals in classical traditions
• Animals, religion, and literature
• Animal-assisted therapy and religion
• Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities-approach to animals
• Critical theory and pragmatic engagement with animals
• Death and dying, animals, and religion
• How attention to animals can address environmental crises

Mission

The purpose of this Consultation is to advance scholarship by providing a forum for scholars whose work addresses relevant issues in the study of animals and religion, and to engage religious studies scholars within the emergent field of animal studies. We emphasize the theoretical implications of attention to animals for the study of religion using a diversity of approaches, including but not limited to the following:

• Cultural and comparative history of religions
• Critical theory
• Ethnography and anthropology of religion
• Descriptions of the role(s) religious/theological traditions have played in mediating images of nonhuman animals
• Assessments of relationships between religious constructions of animals and those animals’ daily lives or historicities
• Analyzing pedagogical approaches to animals and religion
• Theological, ethical, and other normative inquires into animals and religion
• Integrating ethological and other scientific findings into the study of religion

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?

David Aftandilian
Texas Christian University
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Aaron Gross
University of San Diego
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Method of Submission