Comparative Theology Unit
The Comparative Theology Unit of the AAR seeks proposals on the following topics for its session at the November 2024 Annual Meetings.
We encourage panel or paper proposals on the bulleted themes listed below. We suggest that interested scholars reach out to the contact person connected to each theme. They may be able to connect you with others who are interested or otherwise answer any questions. However, you need not feel compelled to reach out.
Comparative Theology from a Buddhist perspective (co-sponsored with Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies)
Continuing our theme of seeking out how comparative theology is performed from non-Christian traditions, we are seeking proposals for constructive Buddhist comparative theology in conversation with other religious traditions, with a possible focus on the environment, environmental justice, and ecology. Contact Won-Jae Hur, hurw@xavier.edu (Comparative Theology Steering Committee Member) or Thomas Cattoi, tcattoi@scu.edu (Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies)
Comparative Theology and/with Dalit Traditions
We are seeking possible panels or papers that engage Dalit traditions in comparative theology. Contact Katie Mahowski Mylroi, mahowskm@bc.edu
Apologetics, Polemics, and Comparative Theology
Historically or contemporarily, how is apologetics and/or polemics entangled with the discipline of comparative theology? Apologetics may be a defense of one’s own faith, but alternatively it can also be imagined as defense of “religion” in general (transcendence, the sacred, Truth, the value of “religious accounts” or “comprehensive qualitative orientations”) in the context of modernity’s secularisms, positivisms, and so forth. Contact Joshua Ralston, Joshua.Ralston@ed.ac.uk
Global Indigenous Traditions and Comparative Theology
We are seeking proposals that engage the theme of indigenous traditions (from any region) and comparative theology: methodological approaches, critical interrogations, or constructive projects. Contact Axel Takacs, atakacs@molloy.edu
Role of Comparative Categories in Comparative Theology
One of the challenges for comparative theology is that of discerning proper and relevant comparative categories. This panel will focus on how those categories are determined and justified. Contact Helmut Zander, zander@unifr.ch
Comparative Theology and Interfaith Leadership
We seek proposals that attend to the limits and creative possibilities of practicing comparative theology as public theology and in the context of interfaith leadership. Contact Stephanie Wong, wong@villanova.edu or Alex Massad, alex.massad@wheaton.edu
These are proposed themes, but one need not feel restricted by them, so long as the proposal concerns comparative theology.
Proposal descriptions must be written in such a way as to allow for anonymity during the selection process. Panel proposals must include a diversity statement wherein the conveyor explains in what ways the panel is diverse or the rationale for a lack of diversity. Diversity here may include, but is not limited to, religion, gender, sexuality, race, nationality, disability, and/or academic status (graduate student, senior scholar, etc.).
Comparative (interreligious) theology tries to be seriously theological, interreligious, and consciously comparative — all at the same time. It is, like other forms of theology as familiarly understood, primarily a matter of “faith seeking understanding” (or, more broadly, perhaps “the practice of reflective meditative perception” or “insight”) and reflection on this faith as it has been enacted in doctrine, argument, meditation, ritual, and ethical behavior. Like other forms of theology, it is an academic discipline, but may also be about and for the sake of knowledge of God or, more broadly, the ultimate mystery toward which life points. In comparative theology, faith and practice are explored and transformed by attention to parallel theological dimensions of one or more religious or theological traditions, examined historically or in the contemporary context. As a discipline within the academy, this communal and intercommunal faith and practice are open to the analyses, comments, and questions of insiders to the involved traditions, and to scholars not necessarily defined by any such commitments who are nonetheless able and willing to explore the full range of dynamics of faith seeking understanding in a comparative perspective. Please contact any Steering Committee Member for further information on the Unit, including the most recent self-study and statement of purpose, or to be added to the Unit.
The Comparative Theology Unit runs a listserv (Google Group) that may also be used to connect with others in constructing a panel. To be added to the group, please contact Axel Takacs (atakacs@molloy.edu).
| Chair | Dates | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Cornille | cornille@bc.edu | - | View |
| Axel Marc Oaks Takacs, Seton Hall University | takacsax@shu.edu | - | View |