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Dec. 15, 2021

​​​"​​​Borderlines in Religion"

The Fifth Annual Conference of the Israeli Association for the Study of Religions

In Cooperation with: The J.R. Elyacher Center for Studies in Sephardic Heritage, the Center for the Study of Conversion and Inter-Religious Encounters, and the Chaim Herzog Center for Middle East Studies and Diplomacy

 

The fifth annual conference of the Israeli Association for the Study of Religions focuses on the theme of 'Borderlines in Religion'. It will take place at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev on 25 May 2022, in cooperation with the J.R. Elyacher Center for Studies in Sephardic Heritage, the Center for the Study of Conversion and Inter-Religious Encounters, and the Chaim Herzog Center for Middle East Studies and Diplomacy.

 

The experience of religion and of the holy has always centered on questions of transitions, borders and intermediary, liminal states. It has taken on a myriad of forms as it traveled between eras and cultures. In the postmodern age in general – and in light of the Covid-19 in particular – questions of the home, space, boundaries and their reestablishment have become more urgent than ever before. Among the contemporary challenges we may mention the destabilization of relations between center and periphery, the status of migrants and refugees, religious terrorism, the climate crisis and the extinction of animal species. All these intensify the sense of threat, the yearning for grace of miracle, as well as the fear of the apocalyptic. In addition, we witness an increased consumption of mind-altering drugs in the attempt to break through the boundaries of consciousness, and a widespread search for mystical and supersensual secular experience. An understanding of these phenomena builds on – and expands – classical frames of discussion.

 

The conference theme encompasses varied areas of research, such as the establishment and crossing of boundaries, questions of places, place or identity; the animal and human; climate; travel and avoidance of travel; pilgrimage; religious conversion and dissemination; center vs. periphery, minorities and subcultures vs. hegemonic culture, etc. These issues may be engaged from a purely religious and mystical phenomenological perspective, or introduce distinctly contemporary historical, theological, psychoanalytic, sociological and political viewpoints, which pertain to the fundamental problem of religion and its varied and different estates across the globe. 

 

​We encourage proposals for sessions of 3-4 speakers, as well as individual lectures, which correspond with the conference's theme from a range of subject areas and disciplinary approaches. Scholars who wish to present their work at the conference – in English or Hebrew – are invited to email their proposals (up to 300 words) to israel.iasr.2015@gmail.com by 15 January 2022. The Conference Board will respond to the proposals by 15 February 2022. Each speaker will have 20 minutes for their presentation, followed by 10 minutes for Q&A.  

 

Scholars who wish to submit their proposals should join or renew their membership in the IASR prior to the submission deadline. Overseas scholars can choose to pay their membership dues at the conference itself.​ For membership queries please email the IASR's Secretary, Dr. Shai Feraro, at israel.iasr.2015@gmail.com .      

 

Conference Academic Board:

Irit Averbuch, Jackie Feldman, Shai Feraro, Haviva Pedaya, Uri Shahar, Daniella Talmon-Heller, Orit Vaknin​-Yekutieli.