Imagining the Last things: Eschatology and Apocalypticism, 1500-Present

Debate about the "last things" has engaged philosophers and theologians for thousands of years. Whether discussions of the process of death and entry into the afterlife, or speculation on apocalypse and millennial renewal, eschatology has played an important role in the development of Western thought, theology, and literature. This interdisciplinary conference aims to examine the nature of these debates from the early modern period up to the present day. In particular, it aims to explore the historical, philosophical and cultural development of eschatological thinking in the western imaginary. Proposals are invited for 45-minute papers on one of four broad themes: "Apocalypse," "Resurrection," "Purgatory," and "Heaven and Hell."

Abstracts for papers falling under any of the above themes, broadly construed, are welcomed. Abstracts should be no more than 500 words in length (those that exceed the word limit will not be considered) and prepared for blind review. Abstracts in Microsoft Word or PDF format should be emailed to both Lloyd Strickland and Andrew Crome by midnight on 18 February 2018. In the body of your email, please indicate clearly which of the four themes your paper relates to and include your name, affiliation, and contact details. Decisions on submissions will be relayed no later than 18 March 2018.