2009 CALL FOR PAPERS

Upper Midwest Regional Meeting
American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature
Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota , 27-28 March 2009

 

The program for the 2009 Regional meeting will be announced in January 2009.

 

 

SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL: To submit a proposal to one of the AAR or SBL sessions, please send a proposal of 250 words or less to AARSBLProposals@gmail.com. Indicate in the email the session for which you are proposing a paper, your name, institution and role (if applicable), email address, any AV needs, and include the proposal within the body of the email. The deadline for submission is December 15, 2008.

 

 

JOINT AAR/SBL SESSIONS:

 

MULTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON THEOLOGY, RELIGION, AND BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
This section seeks papers that address theology, religion, or the Bible from diverse racial, ethnic, and demographic perspectives in conversation with analysis of other forms of difference.

Priscilla Eppinger, Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

 

 

 

 

TEACHING THE BIBLE AND RELIGION

This session welcomes proposals on topics that explore pedagogical issues specific to the teaching of the Bible or religion in undergraduate, graduate, or seminary settings. Analyses of educational theory, teaching practices, and the ways values affect teaching and learning are encouraged. In addition to papers, presentations may include opportunities to engage participants in activities or discussion.
Matthew Skinner, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN

 

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

The Upper Midwest regional meeting includes undergraduate papers, reflecting the preponderance of undergraduate institutions in the region. Members nominate outstanding papers. Each institution is allowed up to two submissions.

Lori Brandt Hale, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN

Bruce Forbes, Morningside College, Sioux City, IA

 

AAR SESSIONS:

 

NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGIONS

Our region has received a regional development grant for "Native American Religions in the Upper Midwest: Making Connections." We therefore extend a new call for proposals from Native American presenters as well as from others with an interest in/commitment to Native American traditions.

Dennis Kelley, Iowa State  

 

ETHICS

This section welcomes papers from both practical and analytical perspectives on the effect of faith in the lives of individuals (agent ethics) and the impact of religion on the common good (social ethics).

Mary Gaebler, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN

 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON RELIGION

This section seeks papers dealing with the social, cultural, intellectual, and institutional history of all religious traditions. Submissions using traditional historical or interdisciplinary methods are equally welcome.

Jim Kroemer, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

 

RELIGIONS IN NORTH AMERICA

This section seeks proposals analyzing religious traditions, practices, and communities in North America from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives.

Murphy Pizza, UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

 

RELIGION AND SCIENCE

This section welcomes papers that analyze the various ways that science and religion intersect; topics may include (but are not limited to) historical analyses, theological/religious reflection on the implications of scientific theories and methods, scientific theories of religion, and examinations of social and political forces that shape the intersection of science and religion in contemporary culture.

Greg Peterson, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD

 

RELIGION AND ECOLOGY
Submissions are welcome on any aspect of religion and ecology study, including the role of politics, globalization, war, or legal decisions in the creation of and/or resistance to environmental degradation. Other topics within the field are encouraged.

Nancy Vitorin-Vangerud, United Theological Seminary, Minneapolis, MN

 

RELIGION, ART AND CULTURE

Submissions are welcome on all topics that examine the relationships between religion and cultural ideas, including, but not limited to, music, literature, and all forms of art, as well as the ways in which religion shapes and is shaped by culture.

Phil Stoltzfus, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

 

RELIGION, GENDER AND SEXUALITY

Submissions are welcome on all topics that explore the intersections between religious ideas and constructions of gender and/or sexuality.This section consolidates the Women & Religion and Religion & Sexuality sections.

C. Neal Keye, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN

 

PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

This section invites papers that examine the interface between philosophy and religion, including both philosophical positions within religion and philosophy of religion more generally, as well as constructive theological work in dialogue with both historical traditions and aspects of the contemporary context.

Paul Capetz, United Theological Seminary, Saint Paul, MN

 

WORLD RELIGIONS

Submissions are welcomed on any topics related to religious traditions other than Judaism and Christianity, or topics that involve comparative reflection on more than one religious tradition. This year, we particularly encourage papers that address pedagogical issues in world religions or comparative religion courses; approaches to ritual, sacred texts and/or mysticism in Asian religions and/or Islam; and the relationship between globalization, politics and world religions.

Mark Berkson, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN

 

 

SBL SESSIONS:

OLD TESTAMENT/HEBREW BIBLE

Exegetical studies of specific texts, theological or thematic examinations, and methodological proposals are welcome.

Paul Niskanen, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

 

NEW TESTAMENT

Exegetical studies of specific texts, theological or thematic examinations, and methodological proposals are welcome.

Daniel Scholz, Cardinal Stritch University, Wauwatosa, WI

Juan Hernandez , Bethel University, Saint Paul, MN

 

CHRISTIAN APOCRYPHA

Welcomes papers on extra-canonical texts, as subjects of literary and philological investigation; as evidence for the history of religion, theology, and cult practice; and as documents of the socio-symbolic construction of religious communities.

Casey Elledge, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN

 

RELIGION IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
General or specific studies of the practice of religion in the Levant from Canaanite through the Byzantine periods.

Glen Menzies, North Central University, Minneapolis, MN

 

GREEK AND ROMAN RELIGIONS

Proposals for papers on any aspect of the history of religions in Greek and Roman antiquity are welcome.

Philip Sellew, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

 

EARLY JUDAISM AND JUDAIC STUDIES

The Early Judaism and Judaic Studies section concerns itself with the literatures, histories and cultures of ancient Judaism. The breadth of the section's desciption is intentional, an invitation to those in collateral fields to join in interdisciplinary interaction and scholarship regarding virtually any aspect of ancient Judaism.

Michael Wise, Northwestern College, Saint Paul, MN

 

ARCHAEOLOGY AND EXCAVATION REPORTS
(sessions co-sponsored by ASOR)

All topics pertaining to the archaeology of the ancient Near East including excavation updates and summaries of work in progress.

Mark Schuler, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN

 

  

 

 

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS

(New policy) Scholars may submit only one paper proposal to one session of the Upper Midwest regional meeting. Subsequent submissions will be declined.

 

QUESTIONS AND OTHER TOPICS

Questions about the upcoming meeting or the appropriate section for proposals should be directed to Deanna A. Thompson , Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104 , dthompson@gw.hamline.edu. Proposals for papers or topics not listed in the call for papers are to be brought to her attention.

 

NOTICE TO GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Upper Midwest region is pleased to announce the availability of travel scholarships in the amount of $100 and $250 for graduate students whose papers are accepted for presentation at the regional meeting. A limited number of these scholarships are available and they will be awarded on a competitive basis. Details may be requested at the time of making a paper proposal.

 

NOTICE TO SBL MEMBERS

This year the Upper Midwest Region will again participate in the Regional Scholar Program of the Society of Biblical Literature. At the time of proposing a paper, beginning scholars (less than four years from receiving a terminal degree) may request information on this program.

  

Upper Midwest Regional Officers:

 

SBL

President: Elna K. Solvang, Concordia College , Moorhead, MN

Vice-President: Dan Scholz, Cardinal Stritch University , Wauwatosa , WI

Program Committee: Karoline M. Lewis, Luther Seminary, St. Paul , MN

Regional Coordinator: Jeannine K. Brown, Bethel Seminary , 3949 Bethel Drive , Saint Paul , MN 55112 , j-brown@bethel.edu

 

AAR

President: Bruce Forbes , Morningside College , Sioux City, IA

Vice-President and Regional Director Elect: Susan Hill, University of Northern Iowa , Cedar Falls , IA

Program Committee: Amy Marga, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN and Phil Stoltzfus, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

Regional Director: Deanna A. Thompson , Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104, dthompson@gw.hamline.edu.