The organizers of the conference invite papers and panel proposals on the topic of Religion and Rebellion as understood in this broad sense. The focus hereby is on European Christianity in the late medieval and early modern times. However, contributions dealing with other periods or providing comparative perspectives on other religions are also welcome.

2025, May 22-24

Argument

The potential for rebellion has been inherent in Christianity from the beginning, if rebellion is not merely understood as violent uprising. Rebellion also means the creation of alternative communities in opposition to the prevailing power structures. This, after all, is how the Christian church came into being. Throughout history, Christian communities and movements actualized this rebellious potential, not only in the time of the Reformation. 

In its early days, the German Reformation presented itself as a colorful diversity of ecclesiological visions. Even Martin Luther’s closest followers in Wittenberg drafted the design of a “Christian City,” though Luther himself soon became a fierce opponent of such projects, including the revolutionary endeavors of his chief opponent Thomas Müntzer. Soon after, the Anabaptists fought for new conceptions of community, sometimes peacefully, sometimes with the sword, and later still the English “Puritan Revolution” opened a wide spectrum of alternative Christian community projects, ranging from armed revolt to uncompromising pacificism. 

The organizers of the conference invite papers and panel proposals on the topic of Religion and Rebellion as understood in this broad sense. The focus hereby is on European Christianity in the late medieval and early modern times. However, contributions dealing with other periods or providing comparative perspectives on other religions are also welcome.

The conference is open to individual short paper presentations and to thematic sessions of two or three short papers. Presentations will last 20 minutes and are followed by 10 minutes for questions and answers.

In addition to the more specific topic mentioned above, the conference is open to proposals focusing on other topics or disciplines related to Early Modern Christianity, ca. 1400-1700, such as philosophy, law, history, theology, etc., independent of the theme of the plenary papers.

Panels and General Attendance

In case of a thematic session (panel) all panelists must register separately, indicating the panel in the registration form.

It is also possible to attend the conference without giving a paper. In that case, you can register for the conference via the registration form, indicating that you do not want to submit a short paper proposal.

Submission guidelines

The call for papers and registration are open. You can submit your short paper proposal through the registration form.

We encourage early applications and we will notify applicants from 16 September 2024 onwards, on a rolling basis.

The deadline for short paper submissions is March 1, 2025.

Preferred language for papers is English, but papers in French and German are also welcome. Presenters who prefer to give their paper in French or German are invited to provide the audience with an English summary of about 150-200 words.

Conference Proceedings

The conference volume will be published by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht in the series Refo500 Academic Studies (R5AS) and will contain plenary papers and a selection of short papers. Another publication venue is the Journal of Early Modern Christianity (JEMC).

Manuscripts for the conference volume can be submitted to the editors (to be announced). All other manuscripts can be submitted to editor-in-chief of the JEMC, Wim François.

Editors will decide on publication.

Scientific Committee

• Matthias Riedl, Central European University, Vienna
• Martin Pjecha, Central European University, Vienna