Charting Challenges and Change: The Past, Present and Future of the Sociology of Religion
BSA Sociology of Religion Study Group (SocRel) 50th Anniversary Annual Conference 2025
14–16 July 2025
Durham University, UK
About the Event
After a vibrant meeting at Northumbria University in 2024, the SocRel Study Group is thrilled to announce its 50th anniversary conference, which will be held at Durham University from 14–16 July 2025.
We look forward to expanding our research community and reconnecting with our current members and colleagues. In honour of the study group’s 50th anniversary, an increased number of conference bursaries will be available for the 2025 annual conference, prioritising postgraduates, early career researchers, those on precarious contracts, and those without recourse to institutional funding or research budgets.
Among the exciting contributions confirmed are:
- keynote lecture by Professor Linda Woodhead and Professor Gordon Lynch
- insights from the ongoing Race and Class in UK Religious Studies and Theology project
- exploration of SocRel’s history led by Dr Sarah Harvey.
Call for Papers
As we reach this landmark anniversary for the Study Group, the conference encourages papers which explore both the history of, and new directions within, the sociology of religion. The last fifty years have been transformative not only for the academic study of religion, but for religion itself in national and global contexts. The shifting position of religion in society over the last 50 years reflects and is inseparably intertwined with, broader changes to social phenomena and institutions.
At this juncture, we wish to bolster dialogue on these changing landscapes and think about the ways in which we may further the study of religion, encouraging scholarship that is meaningful and socially significant.
We particularly invite papers that address the following areas:
- The changing status of the Sociology of Religion
- Learning from our past to navigate the future
- Inspirational thinkers addressing 21st century challenges
- Sociology of Religion’s achievements and missteps
- Doing sociology of religion ethically in the 21st century
- Achieving social impact through sociology of religion research
Other themes of interest might include (but are not limited to):
- Methodological trends, past, present and future
- Teaching the Sociology of Religion
- Religion and digital cultures
- Emotion, belief and practice
- Intersectional considerations within and without religion: gender, race and disability
- Conflict, peace and religion’s role in reconciliation
- Ecological crisis and engagement
- Queering Sociology of Religion
- New worldviews, movements and horizons within the Sociology of Religion and spirituality
- Contention and tension within the Sociology of Religion
- Feminisms, Religion and Spirituality
Formats
In addition to traditional oral papers (20 minutes each, with an additional 10 minutes for questions) we also warmly invite proposals for alternative formats, including but not limited to:
- Roundtable including panel discussions
- Workshops
- ‘Author meets critics’ sessions discussing published work
Early Career and Postgraduate Researchers
Following 2024’s rich inclusion of early career and postgraduate researchers, the conference includes opportunities specifically for those newer to presenting.
If you wish to be considered for this stream, please select the Postgraduate, Early Career and First-time Presenters option when submitting. (You can submit to the Open stream if you prefer).
How to Submit
Abstracts of 250 words should be submitted no later than 7 February 2025. We will notify you if your abstract is accepted by 21 March 2025. Registration opens in January 2025.
We look forward to seeing you in July!
With warmest wishes,
The SocRel Committee