CFP: Holy Waters: An Interdisciplinary Examination of Religion and Alcohol

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With an increase in academic programs related to viniculture and brewing science, the time is ripe for contributions from the humanities and social sciences. A group of scholars believes the theories and methods of religious studies have important contributions to offer studies of alcohol. Thus, they seek to bring together scholars from across disciplines to examine the historical, social, ritual, economic, political and cultural relationship between religion and alcohol across time periods and around the world. The goal of the workshop is to create an edited volume with broad appeal that will advance research on religion and alcohol.

To submit a proposal for consideration, please email an abstract of approximately 250 words and a brief C.V. (2 pages) to [email protected]. The title of your abstract should be your last name and be sent as a PDF. The subject line of the email should appear as follows “Holy Waters.” The deadline to submit is October 1, 2021. Those selected for inclusion will be notified by the organizing committee by October 11, 2021.

Manuscript drafts will be pre-circulated to all participants. Each presenter will be allowed 10 minutes to introduce their work (with the expectation that all participants will have pre-read the full paper). This will be followed by a 10-minute response from the respondent. Following the response, the floor will be opened for 30 minutes of discussion. Participants will be asked to revise their manuscripts based on workshop feedback and to submit a revised manuscript to the editors by July 1, 2022 with the goal of submitting the book manuscript to the publisher by spring 2023.

The project will be overseen by Dr. Stephen Covell, Chair and Mary Meader Professor of Comparative Religion, WMU and Dr. Zachary Smith, Assistant Teaching Professor, Kinesiology, School of Behavioral Sciences & Education, Penn State Harrisburg.

Please send all inquiries to Ryan Lemasters, Conference Planning and Research Assistant, Department of Comparative Religion, Western Michigan University: [email protected].