Comparative Theology

2022 Call for Papers

Katie Mahowski Mylroie, Boston College (MA)

mahowskm@bc.edu

Axel M. Oaks Takacs, Seton Hall University (NJ)

takacsax@shu.edu

The Comparative Theology Section invites papers that explore the 2022 College Theology Society conference theme of ““Why We Can’t Wait”: Racism and the Church.” This section is particularly interested in proposals on the following questions and topics

 

●       Interreligious and comparative theology in the context of the racialization of religion. How does comparative or interreligious theology contend with the sociological process of the racialization of religion?

●       Racism remains deeply connected to (neo)colonialism and (neo)imperialism; comparative theology remains imbricated with these systems and ideologies; How then does comparative theology contend with its 1492/1619/2022 genealogy?

●       What does comparative theology as a discipline offer that can be uniquely anti-racist? What does it mean/look like to be an ally as a comparative theologian?

●       Pedagogical themes around comparative and interreligious theology and experiential learning, embodied pedagogy, critical reflection, and more.

●       A recent publication may merit a roundtable discussion: Christine Hong’s Decolonial Futures: Intercultural and Interreligious Intelligence for Theological Education (details here). We would gladly accept a panel discussion of this book as it relates to comparative theology and pedagogy.

 

We are excited to invite modes of conference presentations besides the typical 20-minute paper-reading, such as one or a combination of the following:

 

●       Sending out articles, texts, or other sources ahead of time for discussion in the session

●       Recording a video presentation to be viewed by participants ahead of time (connected to other source texts, discussion, etc.)

●       Connecting with local artists, activists, interreligious or interfaith groups, parishes, churches, non-Christian places of worship and their communities, colleges, schools, etc., for a collaborative proposal, with special emphasis on Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and religiously minoritized communities

●       Engaging and collaborating with Native American activists, scholars, communities and more

●       Or any other alternative mode of conference presentations you may suggest

 

As always, this section invites papers that consider the implications of the conference theme for college teaching. Proposals outside of the conference theme but still related to comparative or interreligious theology, theology of religions, or interreligious dialogue are welcome.

 

Proposals should be 250-500 words in length and include one’s current institutional affiliation and position. Proposals should be emailed to both conveners by December 15, 2021. Scholars will be notified of the status of their proposals by mid-January.