Mysticism in Comparative Perpective
The next conference will be held at Glasgow University 14th-16th December 2016.
Speakers to include:
Ahmet T. Karamustafa (Maryland tbc)
Rob Faesen (Leuven)
William Franke (Vanderbilt)
Bernard McGinn (Chicago)
George Pattison (Glasgow)
Ada Rapoport-Albert (King’s College, London)
Jane Shaw (Stanford)
Mia Spiro (Glasgow).
At the start of the 20th century, it was widely believed that there was some unitary ‘mystical experience’ underlying the varieties of religious and doctrinal expression. On this view, a Christian, a Buddhist, a Hindu, or a Sufi all had the ‘same’ experience and only differed in their manner of expressing it. By the end of the century this kind of comparativism had fallen into disrepute. Nevertheless, dialogue between faiths would seem to be significantly imperilled if no shared experiential or practical points of unity can be identified. Drawing on recent research, the conference seeks to renew the project of a comparative study of mysticism and in doing so to offer resources for both teaching and research in theology and religious studies.
The conference will include both panels on themed topics (20 minute presentations) as well as communications on any topic falling within the range of the conference (15-20 minute presentations). Proposals under the following headings are especially welcome: Methodology, Annihilation, Love/Union, Material Culture, and Syncretism.
Proposals for Papers must be sent by August 15th to comparativemysticism@glasgow.ac.uk.Acceptances will be notified by mid-September.
The conference will run from 2.00 p.m. on 14th December to 13.30 p.m. on 16th December at Glasgow’s Gilmorehill Campus. The conference will incorporate the Astaire Seminar in Jewish Studies ‘Wandering Souls’ with papers by Ada Rapoport-Albert and Mia Spiro, 5.00-7.00 p.m. on Thursday 15th December.
Conference fee £95 waged/ £85 unwaged (inclusive of tea/ coffee). Further details of payment and costs to be circulated nearer the time.
Although the aim of our conferences is to promote multidisciplinary academic discussion, conferences are open to everyone, regardless of academic affiliation.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~rege0676/Glasgow%20Conference.html