[Final CFP] Socio-Historical Study of Religion in Greater Khorasan

Socio-Historical Study of Religion in Greater Khorasan

Special Section in

Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion (RSSR)

BRILL – Volume 33 – 2022

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Greater Khorasan, once the crossroad of various religions, historically extended from northeast Iran to some central Asian countries, Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan, and northwest India. Regardless of the historical significance of this region in pre-, early, and post-Islam periods, Greater Khorasan is of great contemporary importance because it influenced—and continues to do so—the foundations for religiosity and spirituality in a vast area that (re)produces current religious thoughts and movements.

Although previous studies documented religion and society in this area from historical lenses, the literature remains semi-silent on the contemporary sociological and psychological developments of religion(s) in Greater Khorasan.

This call intends to cover a number of questions: Broadly framed, will historical roots find contemporary religious resonance in modern-day Greater Khorasan? Does attachment to a common historical background provide room for frameworks of understanding religion and religiosity in this region? How will narratives of the past shape the future of religion in this area?

In Socio-Historical Study of Religion in Greater Khorasan, we like to discover how historical understanding of Greater Khorasan finds contemporary relevance in religion and religiosity. Comparative studies, new models and approaches, and multidisciplinary investigations are highly encouraged.

Potential themes in the special section will include, (but not necessarily limited to),

·         Revivalism of pre-Islamic traditions and denominations in Greater Khorasan

·         Greater Khorasan, rationalism and anti-rationalism

·         Others and otherism in socio-cultural interactions of Greater Khorasan

·         Pre- and/or post-Mongol Sufism in Greater Khorasan

·         (Trans-)National identities and modern self in Greater Khorasan

·         Christian and Jewish narratives in Greater Khorasan

·         Muslim and non-Muslim relations in Greater Khorasan

We invite scholars, researchers, and academics to send an abstract of their proposed papers (max. 200 words), a short bio-note (150 words), institutional affiliation/s (if relevant), and contact details to the guest editors, Morteza Daneshyar, Vali Abdi, and Abbas Aghdassi before October 15, 2021.

Abstracts and subsequent papers should be submitted in English.

Notification of abstract acceptance will be communicated by November 1, 2021. Following the notification, authors will be invited to submit their full paper by March 1, 2022. Papers would then undergo peer-reviews, at which point authors will be notified if papers are accepted for inclusion and if revisions are required.

We plan to publish the accepted papers in Brill's Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion (RSSR), volume 33, Special Section 1—tentatively planned for November 2022. Please, note that COIVD might affect this date.

Please, circulate this call. You may download the CALL or the FLYER. For any general queries, please contact Abbas Aghdassi (aghdassi@um.ac.ir).

Guest editors                     Morteza Daneshyar, Vali Abdi and Abbas Aghdassi

IMPORTANT DATES

Abstract submission       Oct. 15, 2021

Acceptance note              Nov. 01, 2021

Full Paper submission    Mar. 01, 2022

Initial reviews                   Apr. 01, 2022

Revisions due                  Apr. 15, 2022

Section submission        May 15, 2022

CHAPTER FORMATA

The following format will help ensure coherence. Please, visit the RSSR website and read the Author Guidelines (link). A full paper should be 5000-7000 words plus reference, tables, figures, etc. Longer papers will be considered upon an approval from the editors.