Deadline Extended to Oct. 6 for Abstracts for Pagan Studies Conference

According to an email received from the organizers of the Conference on Current Pagan Studies to be held January 23-24, 2016 at Claremont Graduate University, the deadline for "paper abstracts" has been extended to October 6. The theme of the Conference is Social Justice. Quoting from the email, with words of particular interest to readers of this blog italicized by me, and with the addition of the bracketed phrase at the end ):

"We face issues of social justice everywhere we look, from something as overwhelming as #blacklivesmatter to the seeming trivial Wiccanate privilege.  Like the innumerable heads of the Lernaean Hydra, it seems that every time we manage to quell an issue involving racism, sexism, or privilege, two more such issues appear.  Add to this the poisonous breath of the hate rhetoric that surrounds these issues, and virulent ichor of the rigid beliefs from which such transgressions emerge, the task of those on the side of social justice does appears quite Herculean. How do we as Pagans, Wiccans, Druids, Witches, Heathens and the many other paths that have arisen incorporate these concerns into our research, our outlook, our activism, etc.? We are using this idea in its broadest terms. We are hoping to encompass issues concerning racism, feminism, womanism, eco-justice, food security, gender justice, classism, neo-colonialism, etc. seen through the eyes of our scholars/activists.

"We are looking for papers from all disciplines. A community needs artists, teachers, scientists, healers, historians, philosophers, educators, thinkers, activists, etc. As usual, we are using Pagan in its most inclusive form, covering pagans, wiccans, witches and the numerous hybrids that have sprung up as well as any indigenous groups that feel akin to or want to be in conversation with Pagans. Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words. . . Go to our website www.paganconference.com for advice on presenting papers..." [and for the email address to which you can send papers].