Call for Papers:  Christians and the Middle East Conflict
Sponsored by the Religion, Culture and Conflict Research Group
in Partnership with S-Vox
Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada
24-26 March 2011

 
Over the past few years, increasing scrutiny has been applied to the ways in which Christians and Christianity relate to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.  The topic relates generally to the various debates about civilizational and cultural interaction and dialogue.  More specifically, the influence of Christianity has been discussed in critical texts covering the relationship of the modern Christian Zionist movement with Western attitudes and foreign policies toward the region in both historical and modern dimensions.  At the same time there has been an increasing interest in the historic and modern churches of the Middle East, though much of this emphasizes the inexorable decline of the influence of Christians in this part of the world.  Do Christians have a role to play in the ongoing conflicts in the region, for good or ill?
 
This symposium will be a deliberate attempt to bring to light the relationship of Christians to the modern Middle East conflict, both within the region and at the global level.  It is particularly geared toward bringing together a mixture of scholarly perspectives from the disciplines of theology and contemporary history, politics, sociology, and philosophy.  The aim is to create an objective telling of the ways in which Christians have engaged the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and continue to contribute to its perpetuation and/or amelioration.  Papers that reflect contextualized research and consideration of the position of indigenous Middle Eastern Christians and movements are particularly encouraged.  Topics may include but are not limited to:

• Christian efforts in building peace in Middle Eastern societies.
• Theologies of land, justice, and the future in the context of the Middle East.
• Jewish/Christian and Muslim/Christian relations in the context of the Middle East.
• The history of Christian attitudes toward the region.

Papers will be chosen to ensure an array of perspectives and based upon their academic merit.  It is our hope to have a set of papers that will balance the theological and social aspects of the topic.  Invited panelists will be expected to have a completed draft of their paper upon delivery at the symposium.  It is anticipated that the proceedings will later be prepared for publication with an academic publisher.  Participants should be prepared to finance the costs of travel and accommodation for the symposium.
 
Those interested in presenting a paper should send an e-mail including a 500-600 word abstract of their paper.  The abstract should provide an indication of the direction of the research and should describe the methodology and sources to be used.  Please include also a current curriculum vitae of the author(s), a listing of professional affiliation, and an address for correspondence.
 
Deadline for submission of abstracts:  30 November 2010
Conference Organizer:  Paul S. Rowe
Conference E-mail contact: cmec2011@gmail.com <mailto:cmec2011@gmail.com>
www.twu.ca/rcc