CALL FOR PAPERS

for a topical issue of Open Theology

Phenomenology of Religious Experience V: (Ir)Rationality and Religiosity During Pandemics

Edited by:
Olga Louchakova-Schwartz (UC Davis and Graduate Theological Union)
Jason Alvis (University of Vienna)
Michael Staudigl (University of Vienna)

Flyer:https://www.degruyter.com/publication/journal_key/OPTH/downloadAsset/OPTH_CFP%20Phenomenology%20of%20Religious%20Experience%20V.pdf

DESCRIPTION

“Open Theology” (https://www.degruyter.com/view/journals/opth/opth-overview.xml) invites submissions for the topical issue “Phenomenology of Religious Experience V: (Ir)Rationality and Religiosity During Pandemics”, prepared in collaboration with the Society for the Phenomenology of Religious Experience (www.sophere.org).


In the context of the current COVID 19-crisis, the vexed relationship between religion, intuition, discursive reason, and instrumental rationality has become ever more complicated. Given resurgent appeals to the transformative (purifying, redemptive, liberating, etc.) force of religious resources in times of crisis–both manipulating and hopeful—we invite papers which explicate the involved aspects of (ir)rationality, on a societal, social, communal, and personal scale. Our working hypothesis is that the by now apparent lapses and discontents of secular reason contributed, if not lead to, the COVID19 pandemics. With the toll of deaths exceeding 286,000 in mid-May 2020, and industrial countries such as the United States leading the numbers, what does it tell us about the status of knowledge, consciousness, and their relationships with the power networks? Given the astounding denials of both trivial-ontic-empirical and scientific facts of epidemics and the gripping realities of global misinformation, the relationship between the reason—in action, politics, press, local decision-making—and the subjective dimension of religiosity stand out in this new light, calling for phenomenological reporting and reflection, which must precede the care and the cure. While religious experience has been shown to have emancipatory value and enhance resilience and decrease stress, we’d like to clarify if this assessment still stands in this new situation.


Authors publishing their articles in the topical issue will benefit from:
– transparent, comprehensive and fast peer review,
– efficient route to fast-track publication and full advantage of De Gruyter’s e-technology,
– free language assistance for authors from non-English speaking regions,
– complementary membership in the Society for Phenomenology of Religious Experience.


As a rule, publication costs should be covered by so called Article Publishing Charges (APC), paid by authors, their affiliated institutions, funders or sponsors. To view funding opportunities to cover APC please visit https://www.degruyter.com/page/1097
Authors without access to publishing funds are encouraged to discuss potential discounts or waivers with Managing Editor of the journal Dr. Katarzyna Tempczyk (katarzyna.tempczyk@degruyter.com) before submitting their manuscript.


HOW TO SUBMIT

Submissions will be collected from September 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, via the on-line submission system at http://www.editorialmanager.com/openth/
Choose as article type: “Topical Issue Article: Pandemics”.
Before submission the authors should carefully read over the Instruction for Authors, available at:
https://www.degruyter.com/publication/journal_key/OPTH/downloadAsset/OPTH_Instruction%20for%20Authors.pdf

All contributions will undergo critical peer-review before being accepted for publication.


Further questions about this thematic issue can be addressed to Olga Louchakova-Schwartz at olouchakova@gmail.com. In case of technical or financial questions, please contact journal Managing Editor Katarzyna Tempczyk at katarzyna.tempczyk@degruyter.com

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