Philosophy of Religion

2024 Call for Papers

Michael McGravey, Elms College (MA)
mcgraveym@elms.edu  

Ethan Vander Leek, Marquette University (WI)

ethan.vanderleek@marquette.edu

The Philosophy of Religion section welcomes all proposals concerning issues in the philosophy of religion or in philosophical theology.  Preference will be given to proposals related to the conference theme, “The Locus of the Theological Vocation.” Topics could include (but are no means limited to):

• The promise of interdisciplinary discussion, teaching, and cooperation between philosophers and theologians. How might philosophy and theology work together in university settings? Promotion and defense of the humanities? Defending the importance of "speculative," contemplative, or non-functional research and reflection?
• Is reason a "locus" or "place" for the theological vocation? What roles do reason and/or philosophy play in theological education and writing? Necessary? Optional? Antagonistic?
• What resources might philosophy or philosophers provide to theologians to help navigate our current cultural and political locus: secularism, religious pluralism, political antagonism, ecological crises, war and violence, technological advancement, etc.?
• What philosophical trends or insights shape and constitute the present locus of the theological vocation? How might theologians respond to current trends in postmodernism, hermeneutics, Marxism, pragmatism, and others? How might theologians respond to philosophical critiques of metaphysics, religion, or Christianity?
• Assessing theological appropriations of various philosophies: e.g. Liberation theology (Marxism), Girardian Theology (Girard and Mimetic Theory), Russian Sophiology (German Idealism), Postmodern Theology (Phenomenology and Hermeneutics)
• Philosophical reflections on place, time, space, society, culture, economics, etc. as a resource for describing and assessing the current locus of the theological vocation.

Please submit a proposal of 300 words in the body of an e-mail message directed to both conveners by Dec. 15, 2024. Include your institutional affiliation (if any), contact information, and current status in academia along with your proposal.