LATEST UPDATES (NOVEMBER 3, 2009):
Plenary session speakers updated.
Registration is now open! Click Registration and Fees to select either online registration or to download and print a .pdf form to mail in.
**On-campus accommodations are limited so registering early is encouraged.**
Early registration discount is valid until January 31, 2010.
WELCOME:
… to the 2010 International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR) World Congress website. You will find here information about the IAHR, the Congress venue, the general organizational structure for the Congress and the Congress Secretariat, the hosts and supporting societies, the structure of the academic program, and the patrons and sponsors of the Congress. The Congress Secretariat now announces the "Call for Papers" and you will find in the following pages information about the structure of the academic program for the Congress as well as details regarding the submission of proposals for papers and panels and about registration and payment of fees.
The World Congresses constitute the primary public event sponsored by the International Association of the History of Religions. Originally held every four years, World Congresses are now organized quinquennially and bring together scholars interested in the academic and scientific study of religions to share the results of their research and to engage in discussion and debate of the major issues and concerns in the field. Workshops, panels, and symposia, as well as the presentation of individual papers, will provide ample opportunity for this kind of engagement of various new developments in the study of religion in diverse venues around the world.
Religion: A Human Phenomenon - the theme for the Congress has been chosen to encourage discussion of religions and religious phenomena across traditional geographical and temporal boundaries. Its broad scope is an invitation to scholars in various fields with diverse interests to present the results of their research on religion in history, society, and the life of the individual. Although broad in scope, the theme is nevertheless also meant to place constraints on the discussion by focusing attention on religions insofar as they are "publicly available" to the research tools and techniques of the historical, social, and natural sciences; this will allow for the emergence of a common scholarly/scientific framework within which discussion, debate, and testing of scholarly claims and scientific hypotheses can take place. The structure of the academic program has been devised to complement the objectives of the Congress theme. Although participants will be free to submit proposals for working groups, seminars, and colloquia, we seek to avoid the traditional program structures of sections on particular traditions, a regional classification of religions, a historical periodization of religions, or some combination of such sections. The structure adopted here, we believe, will facilitate a bridging of traditional specializations in the field by encouraging scholars to present their research in an academic framework of well-defined methodological approaches (see Academic Program).
We invite you to explore the 2010 IAHR World Congress website and to consider participation in the Congress. (Please see the IAHR promotional brochure and Max Müller on "What is the Good of an International Congress?")
IMPORTANT NOTICES
*Confirmation of acceptance of your paper or panel will normally be sent within two weeks of the submission of your proposal. All enquiries with respect to your proposal and to the academic program in general should be sent directly to the program Co-Chairs; all other concerns and queries should be sent to the Director of the Congress (see Contacts).
*For participants requiring visas to enter Canada we recommend early submission of your paper and panel proposals. We remind our American colleagues that passports will be required to enter Canada.
*FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Although the IAHR, the Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion (Toronto), and the Congress Secretariat are seeking external funds to help support wide international participation in the XXth IAHR Congress, such funding will likely be seriously limited because of the current economic climate. All scholars and participants are therefore urged to seek significant funding from their own academic institutions and governement granting agencies before applying to the Secretariat for additional funding. Requests for assistance should be sent to the Director (see Contacts) but should not be made until other sources of support have been approached and notice of acceptance of your proposal has been received.
*Please note that the 7th International Conference on Media, Religion and Culture will be hosted at the School of Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto from August 9–13, 2010.