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Apologies- I didn't realise that attachments wouldn't work on the mailing list. Here are the details and CFP _______________________________________________________ EMERGING GEOGRAPHIES OF BELIEF Thursday 14th- Friday 15th September 2006 The Cultural and Historical Geography Research Group School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources The University of Exeter Convenors Dr. Adrian R. Bailey, Dr. Catherine Brace, Dr. Sean Carter, Dr. David C. Harvey, Dr. Jude Hill, Dr. Pau Obrador Pons, Dr. Nicola Thomas. Keynote Speaker: Professor Lily Kong, University of Singapore. Themes: This interdisciplinary symposium seeks to bring together new research that explores questions of knowledge, belief, ethos and religion. Participants will include researchers and practioners whose work focuses on theoretically informed cultural and historical analyses of religion, society and space. The aim is to create a forum for the presentation of work in progress, focusing on new or revised theoretical approaches and methodologies. Recent research into religious faith and practice has focused on the complex interactions of the political and poetic dimensions of sacredness in contemporary societies. Taking this research agenda forward, the aim of the conference is to understand how religious and secular beliefs inform and construct social identities, public knowledge and modes of governance. In particular, there is an urgent need for a critical understanding of how terms such as 'religion', 'faith', 'fundamentalism' and 'secularism', for example, inform public debates and foster constructive engagements with faith groups. Moreover, we welcome research that explores the mediation and articulation of beliefs, religious identities and instutional frameworks, through a specific focus on narrative forms, theological doctrines, material practices, forms of embodiment, performance and affectivity. With reference to these general aims, we invite contributions that address the following themes: · Citizenship and religious education; · Geopolitics and religious belief; · The body, affect, and performance; · Participatory research with religious groups & faith based organisations · Materialities of belief; · Landscapes, belief and credulity; Papers in the first instance, should take the form of an abstract of no more than 250 words. These should be emailed to Dr. Adrian R. Bailey ([log in to unmask]). The Deadline for submission is 12th June 2006. The selection committee will inform authors of the decision by 1st July 2006. This conference is FREE to all participants. Please also note that we will pay reasonable travel costs for all speakers. For further information, contact Dr Adrian R. Bailey ([log in to unmask]).