CFP: Cognitive science of religion, philosophy and theology

Plenary speakers

Deborah Kelemen (Boston University) 
Stewart Guthrie (Fordham University) 
John Teehan (Hofstra University) 
Richard Sosis (University of Connecticut) 
Helen De Cruz (University of Oxford)
Kelly James Clark (Grand Valley State University)  

This interdisciplinary conference brings together cognitive scientists and philosophers to examine the dynamic relationship between empirical and conceptual work in CSR and philosophical and theological reflection. It will feature presentations both of empirical work that is informed by, or relevant for, philosophy or theology, and philosophical or theological reflection on the empirical findings of CSR.  

Call for abstracts: This conference will have 10 slots for contributed speakers. Contributions will be selected by anonymous peer-review. To be considered, please send a 500-word abstract to Helen De Cruz by 15 January 2014. Prepare two documents in rtf, doc or pdf format (not as a body of the e-mail), one containing the abstract and title with all identifying information removed, a second document containing your name, contact details, title and abstract. Notification of acceptance will take place by 15 February 2014.  

Possible themes and approaches:

We will consider any work, empirical or conceptual, that highlights connections between philosophy of religion, theology and cognitive science of religion. Here follows a non-exhaustive list of examples:

* Can CSR only explain ordinary religious beliefs and practices, or also theological and philosophical thought?
* Examination or review of specific themes in philosophy and theology that are relevant for CSR, e.g., intuitive concepts of personhood, theological views on the afterlife Empirical or conceptual work in CSR that can illuminate the cognitive origins of non-western theological concepts, such as reincarnation, karma, enlightenment, no-self views of persons
* Can theological concepts like atonement, sin, and grace, be translated in CSR terms?
* The relevance of practices like prayer, dance and communal gatherings for theology and philosophy
*CSR, atheism and agnosticism: causes of non-belief and their relevance for philosophy of religion and theology  

Scientific committee for the contributed papers:

Helen De Cruz (University of Oxford), Natalie Emmons (Boston University), Kelly James Clark (Grand Valley State University), Johan De Smedt (Ghent University)  

This conference is supported by the Philosophy Faculty, University of Oxford, the Institute of Philosophy at the KU Leuven, and a grant from the John Templeton Foundation