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Australian Religion Studies Review
The Australian Religion Studies Review is the leading journal of the Pacific region dealing with all aspects of the academic study of religion. The journal is fully refereed and published by Equinox Press three times a year (April, September and December). Australian Religion Studies Review is committed to publishing cutting edge academic papers dealing with all aspects of religion/s, both specialist papers and those directed to a general academic audience, and from both established and new scholars (with the exception of theological or confessional papers). For further information about the journal, tables of contents of current and previous issues, and guidelines for contributors, please proceed to the home page for the Australian Religion Studies Review at Equinox Press. Every second issue of the Australian Religion Studies Review is thematic. Below you will find calls for papers for upcoming issues: 21(3) Religion and Popular Film Guest edited by Anton Kozlovic (Flinders University) In this second century of the age of Hollywood, popular films have evolved from toy to tool to become a universal form of entertainment and education. Although a primary vehicle for the interpretation and construction of religious meaning, and a fundamental part of the contemporary religious quest, movies are an often-overlooked pedagogical tool within secular, educational and ecclesiastical institutions. This special issue will explore some of the exciting possibilities inherent in the emerging field of religion and film, such as cinematic theology, celluloid religion, theo-film, film-faith dialogue, and religious representations of the sacred and the religious in all its forms, for example, prophets, saints, martyrs, spiritual leaders, religious symbols, sacred places, images or icons, new religious movements, religious epics. Completed articles should not exceed 8,000 words. Submission deadline is April 2008. Early submissions are welcome. Please contact Anton Kozlovic (Anton.Kozlovic@flinders.edu.au or antonkozlovic@hotmail.com) for further details. 22 (2) Religion, Spirituality and Birthing Guest edited by Alphia Possamai-Inesedy (University of Western Sydney) In any society the way a woman experiences pregnancy, gives birth and the form of care she and her baby receive points directly to the key values of that culture. There is little wonder, therefore, that pregnancy and childbirth are argued to be significant physiologic, cognitive, social, cultural and spiritual events. Religious/spiritual beliefs have been argued to help women define the meaning of childbirth as well as provide coping mechanisms for the intensity of the birth. Regardless of this and despite the decades of research carried out within various academic fields, very little research is occurring within the social sciences and humanities on the relationship between religion/spirituality and reproductive health practices which is the focus of this special issue. Furthermore, this special issue will address recent social changes and social theory debates (e.g. globalisation and multiculturalism; risk society; new religious movements, social and cultural impact of new technologies) that might bring to light this relationship between birth and religion/spirituality. Completed articles should not exceed 8,000 words. Submission deadline is September 2008. Early submissions are welcome. Please contact Alphia Possamai-Inesedy (alphia.possamai@uws.edu.au) for further details. 23 (1) Religion and Buildings Guest edited by Jennifer Clark (University of New England) This issue will explore the relationship between buildings and religious expression. Topics may include, for example, architecture, design and interior decoration of buildings used for religious purpose; disputes over property; theological argument tied to place; the symbolic representation of religious buildings; renovation for liturgical renewal; church planning and church planting; renovation and reuse of religious buildings; shared space; religious expression in the absence of a building; local church history; religious buildings and multi-culturalism; and preserving the heritage of religious buildings. Completed articles should not exceed 8,000 words. Submission deadline is July 2009. Early submissions are welcome. Please contact Jennifer Clark (jclark1@une.edu.au)for further details. 23 (3) Religion and Spirituality in Cyberspace Guest edited by Roxanne D Marcotte (University of Queensland) The Internet provides a medium for the novel construction of religious meaning, such that religion online and online religion are now an integral part of Cyberspace. The intersection of religion and spirituality and the Internet is a new area of study (1990s onward) and will certainly become even more important in the future. The Internet will undoubtedly promote the emergence of new forms of spiritualities, religious expressions, experiences, identities, communities, and authorities. This thematic issue will explore some of the methodological and theoretical issues raised with the coming together of Internet with religion and spirituality and, hopefully, provide interesting case studies. Possible topics include cyber-theology, cyber-rituals, online religions, cyber-proselytization and cyber-polemics, cyber-pilgrimages, cyber-covens and sanghas, religious blogs, etc. Completed articles should not exceed 7,000 words. Submission deadline is February 2010. Early submissions are most welcomed. Please contact Roxanne Marcotte (r.marcotte@uq.edu.au) for further details. 24(2) Religion and Celebrity Guest edited by Carole Cusack (University of Sydney) Traditional religions proposed models of the perfected life for their adherents; medieval Christians sought to emulate the saints and martyrs, tales of the compassionate bodhisattvas enthralled Mahayana Buddhists and the wandering holy teachers of the Hindu tradition exemplified renunciation and holiness for Hindus. The prominence of celebrities in contemporary Western culture is undeniable and it may be argued that celebrities function in Western consumer society as icons to be worshipped, role models to be emulated, and, most importantly, as exemplars of the perfected life (through their wealth, beauty, larger than life profile, and the fact that their existence is |
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Copyright © 2008
Australian Association for the Study of Religion
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