Call for Papers

One-day Conference: “Future Religions / Religious Futures”, 23rd June 2025

The University of Sheffield's School of Architecture and Landscape,  Urban Institute and Muses Mind Machine Research Centre, in partnership with the Sheffield Diocese of the Church of England, The Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements (CenSAMM) and The British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) invites contributions for a one-day conference to explore the evolving roles of religious spaces as places of social innovation, cultural interaction, and community resilience.

We invite academics, practitioners and activists to discuss how religious organisations respond to societal challenges, (re)creating spaces where faith inspires social, cultural, economic and environmental advancements.

The conference will also reflect on the first ten months of the project “Future Faith: Religions, Spaces, and Innovations in Yorkshire” (2024 - 2026), funded by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust.

Conference Objectives

This event aims to serve as a collaborative platform to:

1. Present Preliminary Findings: Share early insights from the “Future Faith: Religions, Spaces, and Innovations in Yorkshire” project, examining how religious institutions are re-imagining their spaces and practices to support community well-being while maintaining their core values.
2. Encourage Interdisciplinary Exchange: Foster discussions that connect architecture, religious studies, and social innovation, encouraging fresh perspectives and collaborative approaches to address contemporary challenges.
3. Engage with Community Voices: Involve community leaders, religious representatives, and local stakeholders to gather valuable feedback and refine the direction of ongoing research and future collaborations.

Themes for Submission

We welcome papers that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Innovative Uses of Religious Spaces: How can faith communities reimagine their spaces to address social needs such as food security, youth engagement, and cultural dialogue?
• Faith-Based Community Engagement: Examining case studies, projects, and initiatives where religious spaces have become hubs of creativity and social support, bridging cultural and generational divides.
• Future Directions for Religious Spaces: Proposals and visions for the ongoing evolution of religious sites, from interfaith collaborations to partnerships in urban sustainability.
• Religious Futures: Theoretical reflections on the role of faith and religious institutions in contemporary Britain.

Conference Format

The conference will include presentations, roundtable discussions, and interactive sessions, allowing academics and community participants to contribute their perspectives on the role of religious spaces in fostering social innovation.

Invited Speakers

Professor Henrietta Grönlund, University of Helsinki, Finland

Professor Chris Baker, William Temple Foundation / Goldsmiths, University of London

Professor James Crossley, CenSAMM / MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society (MF)

Dr Alastair Lockhart, University of Cambridge / King's College London.

Submission Details

Please submit a 300-word abstract and a brief biography to k.nawratek@sheffield.ac.uk by 30th January 2025. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 28th February 2025.