North American Association for the Study of Religion

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Co-Sponsored Round-Table

NAASR and the Critical Theory and Discourses in Religion Group of the American Association of Religion are organizing a joint session at the AAR Conference in Montréal, the general purpose of which is the consideration of theoretical-critical issues surrounding the study of religion. The specific intention of the session is to reflect on the current state of methodological and theoretical activity with a regard to (i) reconciling our fields’ origins with contemporary practices; (ii) diversifying the people engaged in and the perspectives brought to bear upon the analysis of religious phenomena; and (iii) identifying potential new modes of collaboration between the academic Study of Religion and other disciplines. A significant element in our collective goal is to begin an initial conversation that will exert some influence on how future research in religion is conducted.

Rather than asking each contributor to deal with all of these issues we are asking contributors to focus more narrowly on an area that is of particular interest to them. With this intention we are organizing a round-table discussion to which we are inviting several significant scholars in the field.

The Round Table itself will take the form of a 5-7 minute position statement from each participant, with the assumption that all other panelists and some of the audience will have read their pre-circulated papers, but that some audience members will not (c. 45 minutes). Following this there will be a discussion among panelists moderated by Gustavo. Panelists will be requested to submit questions and talking points ahead of time to Gustavo to allow him to conduct the discussion smoothly. We may also consider pre-submitted questions from audience members at this time if the Round Table discussion will be improved by this (c. 45 minutes). This will leave approximately one hour for Q&A and open discussion among the panelists and the audience. There will also be pre-submitted questions from some of the audience members.

Panelists, Titles and Topics (Abstracts are available to participants and invited guests at a secure site:

  • Gustavo Benavides (Moderator), Villanova University
  • Hans Kippenberg, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany
    "Reflections on the Link between Religion and Violence: neither Necessary, nor Impossible but Contingent."
  • Nancy Levene, Indiana University, Bloomington
    "Courses and Canons in the Study of Religion"
  • Bryan Rennie, Westminster College, PA (substituting for Kevin Schilbrack)
    "Method and Theory and the Philosophy of Religion(s)."
  • Ivan Strenski, University of California, Riverside
    "Talal Asad’s ‘Religion’ Trouble."
  • Kocku von Stuckrad, University of Groningen, Netherlands
    "Scholarly Concepts as Discursive Formations: Reflections on the Limits of Reflection"
  • Ann Taves, University of California, Santa Barbara
    "Fostering Collaboration between the Academic Study of Religion and the Sciences"
  • Robert Yelle, University of Memphis
    "Theology, Metanarratives, and the History of Religions"

There will be a NAASR Working Group Session immediately following the Round Table to further discussion themes arising from the Roundtable and any possible implementation.

The Proceedings of this joint session are expected to be published as a special issue of Method and Theory in the Study of Religion.

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