Religious Studies Panel (Alana Vincent)

In our contemporary moment of global upheaval, religious communities and traditions worldwide have emerged as both sites of rupture and sources of healing. This panel seeks to examine how religious actors, institutions, and practices respond to and participate in the complex dynamics of social, political, and ecological crisis that define our time. We invite contributions that explore the multifaceted ways religion both fractures and mends in periods of profound disruption.

Religious traditions have historically served as repositories of wisdom for navigating uncertainty, yet they are simultaneously implicated in the very ruptures that characterise our present moment. From the rise of religious nationalism to the displacement of sacred communities, from environmental activism rooted in indigenous spiritualities to the digital transformation of ritual practice, religious phenomena offer crucial insights into both the causes and potential remedies for our fractured world.

This panel welcomes empirical, theoretical, and ethnographic contributions that examine how religious communities across traditions—Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, indigenous, African traditional religions, new religious movements, and others—are grappling with contemporary crises. We are particularly interested in work that employs literary, performance-based, material, historical, ethnographic, or ritual approaches to understand religion's role in processes of rupture and repair.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

·       Religious responses to climate change and environmental degradation across non-Western traditions

·       The role of ritual and embodied practice in community healing and resilience

·       Digital ruptures and the transformation of religious authority and practice

·       Migration, displacement, and the reconstitution of religious communities

·       Indigenous religious movements and resistance to colonial disruption

·       Women's religious leadership and the disruption of patriarchal structures

·       Economic crisis and religious mutual aid networks

·       Interfaith collaboration in contexts of political polarization

·       Sacred space and place in contexts of urban development and gentrification

·       Literary or artistic imaginings of any of the above, particularly in speculative fiction, film, or television

We seek contributions that move beyond Christian-centric analyses to centre the voices and experiences of diverse religious communities. Papers employing decolonial methodologies, community-based participatory research, or other approaches that privilege insider perspectives are especially welcome. We encourage submissions that bridge scholarly analysis with practical engagement, examining how academic religious studies can contribute to understanding and addressing the ruptures of our time.

Queries and abstract proposals of no more than 350 words should be sent to Alana Vincent (Umeå University) at alana.vincent@umu.se no later than 31st January, 2026.