Religious Studies Conference Schedule

Here is a tentative schedule for the Research in Religious Studies conference held here at the U. of Lethbridge April 30-May 1, 2011

This is the biggest meeting in the conference’s 9 year history with 52 papers!

The conference is for undergraduate and MA students  in any field of the academic study of religion.

We have not yet sorted out presiders from the sessions, and there are likely to be some typos in what follows, but people have been asking for the schedule.  A final schedule will be posted in a few days. I’m hoping there will be no substantial changes.

All sessions held in Anderson Hall, except the banquet.

Full schedule below the break

SATURDAY APRIL 30

Session 1  Religious P(r)opaganda          AH 117
John Harding, Chair, Dept. of Religious Studies, University of Lethbridge, presiding

9:00-9:30           The Forgiven: A Virtua-Biblical Community, P. Dawn Davis, Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, NS).

9:30-10:00          Hinduism Re-Envisioned: Hindu Narrative for a New Generation,  Dustin Thatcher, University of Calgary

10:00-10:30          Deliver Us from Evil: The Use and Abuse of Christian Symbolism in World War II Propaganda Posters,  Alexandra Bennett, Concordia University College of Alberta (Edmonton)

15 Minute Break

Session 2A          Crossing Philosophical Borders          AH 117 TBA presiding.

10:45-11:15          The Limits of Thought,   Campbell Peat, University of Lethbridge

11:15-11:45          Ibn-Al-Arabi’s Names of God,   Sara Kundrik, University of Alberta

11:45-12:15          The Kalam Cosmological Argument,   Peter Casurella, University of Lethbridge

Session 2B           Hebrew Bible I  AH 118 Scott Bailey, Trinity Western University (Langley BC) presiding

10:45-11:15          What Biblical Parallels Can Tell Us About Theological Development,   Jarrod Marks, Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA).

11:15-11:45           Negev Fortresses: Evidentiary Support for the Existence of the United Monarchy,   Jeff Werner, University of Lethbridge

11:45-12:15          Daughter Zion in the City of Chaos: Unpacking the Symbolic Geography of Isaiah 24-27,   David Cairns, University of Alberta (Edmonton)

Session 2 C          Methodology I          AH 176 Kathleen Barteaux, University of Lethbridge, presiding

10:45-11:15          The Problem of Shinto in the Study of Religion,   Brian Paulson, University of Lethbridge

11:15-11:45           To Dance or Not to Dance: How the Inclusion of Dance in the Study of Religion Strengthens Our Understanding of Religion,   Katherine Chung, University of Calgary

11:45-12:15          Renewing the Sacred: An Application of Eliade in Regards to the Catholic Sacraments,   Jessica Swann, University of the Lethbridge

Session 2 D          Christian History          AH 177 TBA presiding

10:45-11:15          Celtic Christianity and Catholicism,   Graham Ruttan, University of Lethbridge

11:15-11:45           Francis of Assisi, The Fool of Christ: Franciscan Idealism Meets Corporate Reality,   Bart West, Concordia University of Alberta (Edmonton)

11:45-12:15          Christianity and Witchcraft Under King James VI,   Cheyenne Johnson, University of Lethbridge

LUNCH 12:15-1:00

Session 3A          Philosophy and Religion           AH 117 presiding: TBA

1:00-1:30          Literary License? The Controversies of Language in the Philosophies of Whitehead and Nagarjuna,  Emily Kotow, University of Calgary

1:30-2:00          Husserl and the Beginnings of Phenomenology: Back to the Things Themselves,   Leslie Sawchenko, University of Calgary

Session 3B          Hebrew Bible 2          AH 118 presiding: TBA

1:00-1:30           The Holy Seed Has Mixed Itself: The Judgement of God Concerning Exogamous Marriages in Genesis, Ezra, and Nehemiah,   Scott Bailey, Trinity Western University (Langley, BC)

1:30-2:00          A God in Our Image: Identity in Genesis 1,   Lauren Chomyn

Session 3C           Methodology II            AH 176 presiding: TBA

1:00-1:30           The Ongoing Battle: An Evaluation of Randi Warne’s Gender-Critical Approach to the Study of Religion,   Christie Mellan, University of Calgary

1:30-2:00          Presenting Fragments: A Feminist Critique of the Picture Presented by Early Religious Studies within Academia,   Charity Phillips, University of Lethbridge

Session 3D           Hinduism          AH 177, Nicole Hembroff, University of Lethbridge presiding

1:00-1:30           Holi Rules,   Campbell Peat, University of Lethbridge

1:30-2:00          Forest Exiles and Violence in the Sanskrit Epics,   Jasveen Puri, University of Toronto

Break: 10 Minutes

Session 4A          Authentic and Appropriate(d) Religion AH 117, presiding: TBA

2:10-2:40          Keroac’s Buddhism,   Stacy Hill, University of Lethbridge

2:40-3:10           Encountering Kali: The Consequences of Studying Western Appropriations of Kali,   Kaitlin Taves, St. Francis Xavier University

Session 4 B  Religions of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean AH 118, presiding: TBA

2:10-2:40          A Study of the Nature of Homoeroticism in the Ancient Eastern Mediterranean Through the Lens of a Socially Constructed Theory of Religion,   Zak Stinson, University of Lethbridge

2:40-3:10          Evolution and the Greek Gods,   C.M.L. Fry, University of Calgary.

Session 4C  Textualization of Women’s Bodies          AH 176, presiding: TBA

2:10-2:40          Understanding Menstruation and the Child-Bearing Process: A Comparison of 17th-19th Century Tkhine Literature and Rabbinic Midrash,    Gina Carroll, University of Calgary

2:40-3:10          Orthodox Attitudes to Menstruation,   Nicole Hembroff, University of Lethbridge

Session 4D          Ethical Issues and the Modern Church          AH 177 presiding: TBA

2:10-2:40          The Fundamental right: The Exploration of Uganda’s Battle Against Homosexuality,   Lindsey Skakum, University of Lethbridge

2:40-3:10          Brain Death and the Catholic Church,   Bryan Evans, John Carroll University

Break 10 Minutes

Session 5A          Canadian Hybrid Catholicism          AH 117 presiding: TBA

3:20-3:50          The Development, Writings and Thought of the Religions of St. Louis Reil The Metis: A Brief Survey,   Quinn C. Moerike, Concordia University-College of Alberta (Edmonton)

3:50-4:20          Violence and the Grotesque of Sacred Bodies: Iconography of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha,   Orenda Boucher, Concordia University (Montreal)

Session 5B          Losing my Religion? AH 118 Ron McTavish, University of Lethbridge, presiding

3:20-3:50          Sola Scriptura and Private Judgment: Protestantism’s Contribution to Secular Thought,    James Forbes, University of the Lethbridge

3:50-4:20          Mr. Deity: Father, Son and Holy Guffah,   Kathleen Barteaux, University of Lethbridge

Session 5C          Feminism, Religion and Empowerment           AH 176 presiding: TBA

3:20-3:50          Who Says Malevolence and Benevolence Can’t Be Empowering? How the Artistic Portrayals of Kali and Parvati Potentially Aid in the Empowering of Women,    Katherine Chung, University of Calgary

3:50-4:20          The “Queendom” Within: Exploration and Critical Reflection of Joan Norton and Margarte Starbird’s Mary Magdalene Circle,   Christie Mellan, University of Calgary

 

BANQUET, COULEE JUNCTION, UNIVERSITY HALL

Keynote Speaker,

Marko Hilgersom: Religious Studies Rules!

Are you tired of responding to “What are you going to do with that?” or “Are you going to become a pastor?” when you tell people you are a Religious Studies Major? There is a simple reason for devoting your life to a religious studies ma-jor. Religious Studies Rules! Religious studies will not only make you a fantastic dinner guest and more attractive to the opposite sex but it provides the key to a successful life. Where else can you find such a varied approach to knowl-edge? Religious Studies is parts history, philosophy, anthro-pology, psychology, literature, sociology, and fine arts. It is truly the most liberal of the Liberal Arts and the most human of the Humanities. Religious studies majors of the world, unite! All you have to lose is your shame.

SUNDAY MAY 1

Session 6 A          Sects and Money           AH 117 presiding: TBA

8:45-9:15          Mother Ann Lee and the Second Coming of Christ,  Stephanie Racicot, University of Calgary

9:15-9:45          The Prosperity Gospel: A Catalyst For the Explosive Growth of Pentecostalism in the Developing World,   Ron McTavish, University of Lethbridge

9:45-10:15          Mormons and Masons: The Impact of Joseph Smith’s Membership with the Freemasons on the Development of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,   Jessica Swann, University of Lethbridge

Session 6B           Women and the Early Church          AH 118 presiding: TBA

8:45-9:15          Priscilla: An Active and Equal Wife,   Dana M. Young, University of Calgary

9:15-9:45          Women, Funerary Ritual, and Christian Identity in Late Antiquity,   Sharon Murphy Mogen, University of Calgary

9:45-10:15          Empresses and Icons: The Quest for Continuity,   Danielle Baillargeon, University of Calgary

Session 6C  Many Paths Up Many Mountains: Exiles, Pilgrims and the Tourists AH 176 presiding: TBA

8:45-9:15          Sacred No More: Understanding the Impact of Forced Removal of the Cherokee Nation from Traditional Land and Subsequent Relocation Pertaining to Issues of Land, Identity and Sacred Space,   Charity Phillips, University of Lethbridge

9:15-9:45          Authenticity in Volunteer Tourism: A Motive for Self Healing,   Thabit Alomari, University of Lethbridge

9:45-10:15          Neo-shamanism, Ayahuasca Narrative and Victor Turner’s Theory of Liminality: New Perspectives on Contemporary Pilgrimage,   Mathew Koczkur, University of Calgary

Session 6D          Why People Believe                    AH 177 presiding: TBA

8:45-9:15          Great Ideas, Religion, and the Democratic State,   Courtney Lockhart, University of Lethbridge

9:15-9:45          Pragmatic Reasons for Religious Belief?,   Andrew Richmond, University of Lethbridge

9:45-10:15          The Social Psychology of Conversion: Why and How,   Ola Mohajer, University of Calgary

Break, 15 minutes.

Session 7          The End of the World AH 117 Hillary Rodrigues, University of Lethbridge, presiding

10:00-11:00          Where is Our King? Revelation and Environmental DIscourse in Context,   Jesse Bailey, University of Regina

11:00-11:30          The Planet with a Thousand Faces,   Matt Walker, University of Lethbridge

11:30-12:00          Fear Factories: Apocalyptic Themes within the Book of Revelation and the Tea Party’s Discourse,   Allan Wright, University of Regina

For more information, go here.