Call for papers: 'Faith in Fife - a history of religious disruption' symposium

The symposium will explore how religious change has been experienced in Fife across the centuries. Papers are welcomed from all disciplines and historical periods. The particular nature of Fife’s past means the event organisers expect a large proportion of the discussion to focus on Christianity, but papers on other belief systems (and indeed disbelief) are also encouraged.

Themes of particular interest include:

• the causes of religious change
• how change is experienced by individuals and communities
• evidence of resistance to change
• the role of central authorities in driving change
• grass-roots religious movements
• the relationship between religious upheavals and other alterations in society.

Discussion of a range of aspects of religion are welcomed including (but not limited to) theology, belief, worship, evangelism, administration, and material culture. Contributors are also invited to submit papers emphasising continuity across time where they feel that is significant.

In this context the organisers would particularly welcome papers which question the extent of religious change caused by events often assumed to form a major break, such as the Reformation or the Great Disruption.

To submit a proposal for a paper (about twenty minutes in length) please send an abstract of up to 300 words to Dr Bess Rhodes by e-mail by Monday 13 June.

Text originally published in the St Andrews ISHR newsletter