19th Joint Postgraduate Conference on Religion and Theology, Spiritual Exercises, 7-8 March 2014, Bristol

Call for papers and panels

7-8 March 2014, Bristol
19th Joint Postgraduate Conference on Religion and Theology
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

Keynote speaker: Professor Rupert Gethin

We invite submissions of abstracts from postgraduate students and early career academics for the 19th Postgraduate Conference on Religious Studies and Theology, which will take place at the University of Bristol on the 7th and 8th of March, 2014.

We encourage contributions on this year’s theme: ‘Spiritual Exercises’, which is to be understood broadly as including asceticism, mysticism, soteriology, religious experience, and contemplative practices. Proposed papers, however, need not be limited to this theme alone, as the conference seeks to provide a forum for young academics to share their research on various aspects of the study of religion.

The conference has grown from a rather small local event into an international gathering with over sixty papers given over two days by young scholars from nineteen Universities. We plan to keep the format of the event the same. Presentations will be grouped in panels, each consisting of three 20-minute papers followed by a period for questions and discussion. Panels will be chaired by lecturers from Bristol and our partner institutions. Optional social events will be held on both evenings of the conference.

Please submit abstracts for papers (approx. 150 words) through the link at the conference website:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/conferences/thrs/

The deadline for submission is 13 January 2014. Those interested in organising a panel or suggesting a topic for a round table should contact the organizing committee directly throughpg.rt.conf@gmail.com.

Registration for the conference will open on 20 January 2014. Early registration is free for members of partner institutions and £10 for participants from other institutions or for those who are unaffiliated. Please note that all registrations received after 17 February will incur a £15 late registration fee. Currently our partners are the Universities of Cardiff, Exeter, Gloucestershire, the Trinity College Bristol, Redcliffe College and Downside Abbey.

A limited amount of financial assistance may be available to presenters of papers. The assistance may be used towards defraying travel or accommodation expenses, or the early registration fee. We will inform you about the acceptance of your abstract and funding opportunities in January. Kindly note that the organisers are not in a position to assist anyone with visas.