Call for proposals for papers

for the 2012 conference presented by

the Laboratory for Experimental Research of Religion (LEVYNA),

the Department for the Study of Religions, Masaryk University

and the Czech Association for the Study of Religions (CASR),

Homo Experimentalis
Experimental Approaches in the Study of Religion

October 25th-27th, 2012

Plenary and Invited Speakers Include
Professor Andreas Roepstorff (Aarhus University)
Dr. Joseph Bulbulia (University of Wellington / LEVYNA)
Dr. Emma Cohen (Max Planck Institute and University of Oxford)
Dr. Pierre Liénard (University of Nevada – Las Vegas)
Dr. Jesper Sørensen (Aarhus University)

The Cognitive Science of Religion (CSR) has introduced a new paradigm in the study of religious belief and behaviour, arguably constituting the most important theoretical and methodological innovation in the field in recent decades. Following its gradual establishment among the academic community, the field has experienced exponential growth during the past two decades, and today boasts several research centres, hundreds of high impact publications per year, and the International Association for the Cognitive Science of Religion. Over these two decades, CSR has evolved significantly, moving from (much needed) theoretical and conceptual applications to more rigorous methodological exploration and experimental testing. Following these developments, LEVYNA is the first institute in the world to be exclusively dedicated to the experimental study of religion. This conference is the first of a series of academic events focusing on the role of experimental methods in the study of religion.

We invite interested scholars and students to submit proposals for papers (lasting no more than 20 minutes) and/or posters for possible inclusion in the program of its upcoming conference taking place between October 25th-27th, 2012, at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. All proposals must be related to the theme of the conference. We recognize that the experimental study of religion encompasses a wide array of disciplines and methods, including, among others, laboratory and field based experimental and quasi-experimental paradigms and survey techniques from the social sciences. Primarily, we welcome experimental data and analysis; however, presentations advancing theoretical insights designed to advance new experimental approaches to the scientific study of religion (and by extension culture) are welcome. We also welcome submissions from advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students. The conference will consist of at least four panels grouped together by thematic and/or methodological criteria.

The language of the conference will be English only. Selected papers will be published in a special issue of the Journal for the Cognitive Science of Religion.

All prospective participants (those who wish to present a paper/poster as well as those who do not) are kindly asked to register at http://www.phil.muni.cz/relig/levyna2012/ and submit their paper/poster proposals via this registration platform. The deadline for submission is August 31st, 2012.

All enquires concerning the conference program or organizational matters should be addressed to the conference email: levynaconference2012@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing everyone in Brno this fall,

Dr. William W. McCorkle Jr., Director (LEVYNA)

Dr. Dimitris Xygalatas, Director (LEVYNA)

Dr. Aleš Chalupa, Chair (Department for the Study of Religions, Masaryk University)

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