CFP: Humans and Other Animals: Multifaith Responses to the Significance and Symbolism of Animals in Science and Religion Dialogue

**UPDATED DEADLINES AND CFP**

• Deadline for abstract submission MIDNIGHT 16th June 2023
• Deadline for RESIDENTIAL conference registration MIDNIGHT 6th August 2023
• Deadline for NON-RESIDENTIAL conference registration 23rd August 2023

The committee invites submission of papers under TWO categories (1) those that address the SIGNIFICANCE AND SYMBOLISM OF NON-HUMAN ANIMALS within the science and religion dialogue. (2) OPEN CALL for papers relating to any area of SCIENCE AND RELIGION dialogue - (preference given to those addressing matters related to creation, identity, and biological sciences).

The committee welcome submissions from all faith perspectives and authors are invited to address the theme from a range of perspectives. For more details see https://www.srforum.org/srf-conference-2023-cambridge

The animal and religions dialogue has been growing over the last 25 years, the aim of this conference is to bring this broadening area of scholarship to dialogue with the science-religion arena through two broad strands:

Strand 1: Perhaps viewed as the most prevalent interaction of science, religion and human-animal interactions, this strand focuses on ethical and environmental issues raised by anthropocentric views of the relationship. Thus includes but is not limited to matters of ecology, stewardship, and animal ethics (broadly construed and may relate to matters of urbanisation and conservation as well as animal-human relations).

Strand 2: The second strand recognises the broader implications of scientific and interdisciplinary approaches to non-human animals on wider areas of theological enquiry. This strand examines the new perspectives that can be bought to the science-religion conversation through critical engagement with “the animal” adding further depth, theory, or methodology to our theological discussion. This includes bestiaries, mythology, and fables, the relationship(s) between humans and animals, Incarnation and embodiment, Ritual / proto-religious behaviour in animals and textual and ritual meanings of animal bodies.

Strand 3 : OPEN CALL - papers relating to any area of SCIENCE AND RELIGION dialogue - (preference given to those addressing matters related to creation, identity, and biological sciences).

ABSTRACTS should be between 150- 500 words and submitted by email (see website for details). Subject to sufficient submissions the committee will aim to have even representation across the three strands. Please note in your submission which strand you are submitting under.

Keynote Speakers and Titles

31st August 2023: The Gowland Public Lecture 2023 by Dr Suzanna Millar (responder tbc) From larvae to Leviathan: Living with animals in the book of Job

1st September 2023: Conference Dinner with Speaker TBC

Confirmed Keynote Speakers:

• Opening Keynote by SRF Vice President Dr Celia Deane-Drummond: We See in a Glass Darkly: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Virtue and Vice Beyond the Species Boundary
• Dr Margaret B. Adam: Should Commodities Flourish? Farmed Animals, Christian Ethics, and Veterinary Behavioural Science
• Dr Louis Caruana SJ: Future togetherness: drawing inspiration from Teilhard de Chardin
• Dr Alexander Hall: Explorations of the non-human in global histories of evolution and religion
• Dr Anne Solomon: Animals and ancient religion: What can prehistoric art tell us?
• Dr Peter Altmann: Title TBC