Call for Proposals

This Group accepts proposals for individual papers, papers sessions, and roundtables on the following topics:

• Rudolph Otto and his notions of the Numinous and the “Mysterium Tremendum”


• Shamanism, Neo-Shamanism, and/or healing, visions, or rituals


• Mystical journeys, travel to other worlds, and heavens or hells


• Epistemology and/or the transmission of mysticism, particularly in response to the questions: What is an authentic mystical experience? How can we evaluate it? How can the insights gained through mystical truth be taught to others?


• Mysticism and transpersonal psychology


• Pietism


• Centering prayer

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 — the Group has grown and changed over time, paralleling the change and growth in the AAR itself. Today, our conversations cut across boundaries that characterize many of the Program Units within the AAR — boundaries of discipline, tradition, temporality, and region. Members of our Group use different methodologies and work across a variety of disciplines, among which are the 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, a selection of past papers, as well as links in the field of mysticism to our Website at www.aarmysticism.org. We have also started a listserv, and those interested may write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or sign up through the Website.

Anonymity of Review Process

Proposer names are anonymous to Chairs and Steering Committee members until after final acceptance or rejection.

Questions?

Thomas Cattoi
Graduate Theological Union
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Stuart R. Sarbacker
Oregon State University
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Method of Submission