Dear all,
This e-mail outlines the details for our 2008 conference on religion and youth. It
promises to be a dynamic and fruitful conference on a burgeoning topic area.
Postgraduate students are warmly encouraged to submit - the study group really does
welcome and support new academics. Postgraduate participation has been an integral
feature at previous conferences, and it would be wonderful to continue this
tradition. If anyone has any postgraduate queries regarding this, please don't
hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
Sarah
----- Original Message -----
From: 'Collins-Mayo, Sylvia' <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri Aug 24 11:32
Subject: Fwd: RELIGION AND YOUTH Study Group Conference 2008
Dear Colleagues
The Study Group's Annual Conference 2008 is on the theme of Religion and Youth.
Ben Pink Dandelion and I are organising it - please see the call for papers below.
We look forward to hearing from you with abstracts and registration forms; please
pass on this email to anybody you think would be interested. If you have any
queries, please email me direct ([log in to unmask]).
Best wishes
Sylvie Collins-Mayo
British Sociological Association
Sociology of Religion Study Group
Religion and Youth
Annual Conference – Call for Papers
8th – 10th April, 2008.
Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, Selly Oak, Birmingham, UK
If we are to understand religion in contemporary society, and glimpse its future,
we need to turn our attention to young people. Young people are the generation at
the forefront of cultural and social change. It is their engagement with religion,
religious ideas and institutions that tells us how resilient beliefs and practices
are, whether faith has a future, and how religions adapt, transform and innovate in
relation to wider social and cultural trends. Equally, if we are to understand
young people, we need to consider their spirituality as a core dimension of
personhood: What forms does youth spirituality take? How, if at all, does religion
shape their values and sense of purpose, their actions, identity and social
integration? The aim of this conference is to bring together scholars interested
in religion, spirituality and young people in order to open up a wide ranging
sociological debate on Religion and Youth. We welcome papers on any subject around
this theme - suggested areas for sociological reflection include the following
(please note this list is not exhaustive nor in any order of preference):
Youth Spirituality – The nature of young people’s personal beliefs, practices and
faith. Spirituality and its role in decision-making and life choices. Individual
spirituality in relation to collective expressions of religion. Young people’s
understanding of ‘spirituality’, ‘religion’ and ‘faith’.
Youth Religion and Social Capital – The role of faith communities in supporting
young people in society. Religion and social integration. Faith, volunteering and
civic responsibility amongst young people.
Religion, Young People and Families – Religious socialisation within families.
Home as a site of religious practice and ritual for young people. Religion and its
influence on parenting practices and parent-child relations.
Religion and Youth Cultures, Subcultures and Lifestyle – Religious and spiritual
expressions within youth culture. Implicit religion and youth subculture.
Religion as a lifestyle choice for young people.
Radical Youth Religion – Religious fundamentalism and extremism amongst young
people. Youth and religion as a force for social change.
Alternative Youth Religions – Growing up in New Religious Movements. Pagan youth
and teenage witches. Eco-spirituality and young people. Religious innovation
amongst young people.
Religion and Marginalised Youth – Religion as a source of empowerment. Religion
and young asylum seekers. Religion as a cause of marginalisation for young
people. Marginalised youth within religious institutions.
Researching Youth Religion – Methodological and ethical issues in researching young
people and their faith. The relationship between research and practitioner
involvement with young people.
Religion and Young People’s Health – Religion as a factor in health related
practices. Religion and young people’s mental health. Religion, well being and
young people’s ‘spiritual health’.
Religious and Spiritual Development – The role of schools, youth work and education
in religious and spiritual development. Conversion and apostasy amongst young
people. Measuring spiritual development.
Young People and Institutional Religion – Young people’s relationship with, and
attitude towards, institutional religion. Youth conferences, gatherings,
pilgrimages and para-church events. Youth and secularization.
Generational Religious Differences – How do generations differ in young people’s
religious beliefs and practices? Influences on generational differences.
Gender, Ethnicity and Young People’s Religious Identity – Gender differences and
young people’s religious beliefs and practices. Religious patriarchy and young
women. Religious engagement amongst minority ethnic groups. Negotiating religious
and ethnic identities.
In addition to papers on the Religion and Youth theme, the conference will also
have space for ‘work in progress’ on all topics concerned with the sociology of
religion. The Study Group has a vibrant postgraduate network and papers are very
welcome from postgraduates as well as more established academics. Key note and
panel speakers will be confirmed on the Study Group website in due course
(www.socrel.org.uk).
If you would like to present a paper at this conference, please submit a title and
200 word abstract (preferably by email) to Dr Sylvie Collins-Mayo on or before the
7th January, 2008. One of the conference organisers will normally respond within
two weeks so if you need a response before January in order to arrange or apply for
funding, please send your abstract in earlier.
Any general questions about the conference can be addressed to either of the
organisers - Dr Sylvie Collins-Mayo or Dr Ben Pink Dandelion.
Contact details:
Dr Sylvie Collins-Mayo, Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Kingston University,
Penrhyn Road,
Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE , United Kingdom,. Tel: +44 (0) 208 547 2000
ext 62371.
Email: [log in to unmask]
Dr Ben Pink Dandelion, Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, 1046 Bristol Road, Selly
Oak, Birmingham, B29 6LJ United Kingdom,. Tel : +44 (0) 121 415 6782, Email:
[log in to unmask]
Details of the conference venue can be found on Woodbrooke’s web page
(www.woodbrooke.org.uk), but please address all conference correspondence to Sylvie
Collins-Mayo or Ben Pink Dandelion.
From mid-September, a registration form can be downloaded from the Study Group’s
web page (www.socrel.org.uk) or obtained from Sylvie Collins-Mayo by email.
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