Supporting Philosophy, Theology,
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Courting Controversy? Teaching Theology and Religious Studies in the 21st Century 
The Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies is organising a two-day conference to explore issues around the policy and practice of teaching Theology and Religious Studies (TRS) in higher education (HE) in a multi-faith and multi-cultural society. The conference is aimed at TRS academics, diversity officers, staff developers and students.
Event type: Conference
Organiser: Rebecca O'Loughlin
Location: University of Leeds, Leeds
Country: Great Britain
Date: 8th July 2010
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 26th March 2010
Contact name: Rebecca O'Loughlin
Contact email: rebecca@prs.heacademy.ac.uk
Details:
Please note that online booking is unavailable, due to a system upgrade, until further notice. We hope that it will be restored soon. In the meantime, please contact Emma Tsoneva on enquiries@prs.heacademy.ac.uk to book.
Keynote speakers: Anthony Reddie (The Queen's Foundation) and Dan Cohn-Sherbok (St Mary's University College, Twickenham)
The Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies is organising a two-day conference to explore issues around the policy and practice of teaching Theology and Religious Studies (TRS) in higher education (HE) in a multi-faith and multi-cultural society. The conference is aimed at TRS academics, diversity officers, staff developers and students.
The conference will have two key strands, which aim to provide space for discussion and reflection on:
Policy
The profile of religion in UK society is higher than it has been for many years. How can we, as TRS academics and Cultural and Religious Diversity (CRD) experts, feed into growing public and corporate interest in such issues as CRD, identity, citizenship and community cohesion, and the interrelation of religion, society, politics, law and the media?
Practice
How can we best approach the practicalities of teaching TRS in a multi-faith and multi-cultural society, which includes managing the sensitivities involved in teaching controversial topics, such as gender and sexuality, moral decision-making, and the relationship between religion and terrorism? What responsibilities are involved in teaching students to interpret sacred texts, especially when they belong to students' own religious traditions? How should we engage students in the critical analysis of issues of belief that go to the heart of personal, political and religious identity? Are there ways we can manage the emotive discussions, and the fall-out from them, which can ensue? What if this fall-out includes the destabilisation of students' previously-held beliefs?
Call for papers
Proposals are invited for papers/workshops/presentations/discussion groups related to one or more of the following:
- The contribution of TRS to discourses and debates about: CRD; identity; citizenship; community cohesion; media portrayals of religion; the interrelation of religion, society, politics, law and the media;
- Learning and teaching TRS in the 21st century:
- Cultural and religious diversity in the classroom;
- Teaching controversial subjects / critical analysis of sacred texts: methods, successes, challenges;
- Managing emotion and destabilisation in the classroom;
- Student experiences: how do students respond to opportunities to explore controversial subjects and/or their personal beliefs?
This list is not exhaustive and contributions on other relevant topics related to the theme of the conference are invited. Presentations should be 45 minutes in length (including 10-15 minutes for questions).
Please submit your proposal - including your name, email address, institutional/organisational affiliation, a 150-200 word description of your proposal, your preferred session format (e.g. paper presentation, workshop) and details of any audiovisual equipment needs - via email to: Dr. Rebecca O'Loughlin at rebecca@prs.heacademy.ac.uk Those submitting proposals are also asked to register via the link below.
Conference contributions of a publishable standard may be also considered for inclusion in a future issue of Discourse: Learning and Teaching in Philosophical and Religious Studies - please indicate if you would be interested in this opportunity.
The deadline for proposals is 26 March 2010. The deadline for registration is 18 June 2010.
Registration and conference rates
Conference rates are as follows:
| Full delegate rate (£) | Concessionary delegate rate (£) | |
| Full conference package | 195.00 | 117.00 |
| Day delegate - both days | 130.00 | 78.00 |
| Day delegate - 8th July 2010 | 75.00 | 45.00 |
| Day delegate - 9th July 2010 | 75.00 | 45.00 |
| Conference dinner | 32.00 | |
| Bed and breakfast - night of 8th July | 37.00 |
Please note: the full conference package includes dinner and accommodation on the night of 8th July. Day delegate rates do not include dinner, and accommodation should be booked separately if required. If you would like to attend dinner or book accommodation as a day delegate, please make sure that you select these options on the registration form. All delegates should note that the Subject Centre can make bookings for accommodation on other nights on your behalf - please contact us for further information.
A £25 fee will be charged for non-attendance and for cancellations made after 29 June 2010.
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