The 38th Annual Conference of the Association of
Muslim Social Scientists of North America (AMSS)
Islamic Traditions and Comparative Modernities
Cosponsored by
The University of Virginia
Department of Religious Studies
&
Department of Middle Eastern
and South Asian Languages and Cultures
Charlottesville, VA
September 25-26, 2009
In light of contemporary debates between religion and secularism, this year’s theme encourages a re-examination of some perennial challenges between Islamic doctrine and practice, between text and culture, between the individual and society and between theology and human history. A re-appraisal of these interpretations may help us better understand the relations between different sects and/or orientations within the Islamic faith and traditions across the Muslim world. The AMSS 38th Annual Conference hopes to explore this topic in relation to Islam and Muslims in a globalized world. AMSS encourages dialogue between generations of junior and senior scholars.
To this end, papers are solicited from Muslim and Non-Muslim scholars and researchers on Islam, Muslim societies, and Muslim minorities that speak to the following sub-themes, either generally or in a geographical context:
• Religion Between the Universal & the Particular
• Reconciling Ancient Text with Changing Circumstances
• Modern Scholarship & the Legacy of Ibn Khaldun
• Conflict & Dialogue Between Civilizations: Islam, the West & Indigenous Cultures
• Issues of War & Peace in the Middle East
• Issues of War & Peace in South Asia
• The Gender Question Between Settled Doctrine & Democratic Change
• Family Law in a Developing Muslim World
• Islamic Law Between Tradition & Modernity
• Economics: Liberal, Radical & Islamic
• Is Human History a Form of Divine Revelation?
• Islam Between Science & Theology
• Politics of Religious Identity
Abstracts (300 words) are due by May 15, 2009. Abstracts will be evaluated according to the following categories: originality of theme, clear methodology, clarity and relevance of the proposal to the conference theme. Accepted proposals will be announced within 15 days. Final papers must be submitted by September 1, 2009 to be included in the conference program.
Send abstracts and papers to Conference Coordinator, Ms. Layla Sein, at conferences@amss.org
Program Chair: Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina
University of Virginia, VA
The AMSS is open to Muslims and non-Muslims. For information on AMSS events, and conference updates, visit http://www.amss.org