Call for Papers: Case Studies on Religious Contact and Transfer

Entangled Religions is an interdisciplinary academic journal published by the Center for Religious Studies at Ruhr-Universität Bochum. The journal is edited by an international board of renowned scholars from Religious Studies, History, Sociology, Philosophy, Islamic studies, Jewish Studies, Buddhist Studies, and Sinology.

Thematically, Entangled Religions deals with encounters between different religious traditions and processes of transfer in past and present times. Inter- and intra-religious processes initiated by religious encounters are focal points of research on religion, enabling researchers from various academic backgrounds to share their research. The broader goal of Entangled Religions is to enable larger-scale comparisons of individual case studies.

Against this backdrop, we welcome papers that address the overarching theme of religious contact and transfer. This can include but is not limited to, case studies on occasions, themes, modes, conditions, and consequences of contact between religious groups and the way religious ideas and practices developed within and as a result of religious contact.

Authors should incorporate an analytical perspective to substantiate their case studies and enable comparability. They are invited to engage with the guiding ideas of Entangled Religions as they see fit—whether as a source of inspiration or a reason for critique. Alternatively, authors are welcome to introduce other analytical concepts allowing abstraction and comparability.

Contributions to Entangled Religions can address research questions such as:

• How have situations of contact between religious groups influenced the development of religious thought?
• How can obvious parallels between different religions, such as similarities in rituals or figures of thought, be identified, traced in history, and explained? How have rituals and concepts traveled from one religion to another?
• How do followers of different religious strands interact, argue, and articulate their respective positions about each other?
• How have new religious ideas and practices been integrated into existing traditions?
• Where can we trace moments of ruptures in religious traditions, and how can such ruptures be explained?
• How have intra-religious conflicts and schisms developed?
• How have religious minorities positioned themselves vis-à-vis religious majorities?
• What does the analysis of religious polemics reveal about issues of contention between representatives of different religions?
• What do historical manuscripts and artifacts tell us about the development of religions and the role of religious contact and transfer in this development?
• How do contemporary new religious groups relate to and draw from existing religious traditions, thoughts, and practices?

Entangled Religions does not operate according to pre-established publication deadlines. Therefore, we offer our authors publication throughout the year.

Please read our detailed author guidelines and the submissions page for further information about the submission process. We are looking forward to your submissions!