This is a call for papers for the Network Religion of the next European Social Science History Conference, which will take place at the beautiful Bijloke Site in Ghent, Belgium, from 13 to 16 April 2010. The aim of the ESSHC is bringing together scholars interested in explaining historical phenomena using the methods of the social sciences. The conference is characterized by a lively exchange in many small groups, rather than by formal plenary sessions. The conference welcomes papers and sessions on any historical topic and any historical period. It is organized in 28 networks, which cover a certain topic, on of these being Religion.

This is a call for papers for the Network Religion of the next European Social Science History Conference, which will take place at the beautiful Bijloke Site in Ghent, Belgium, from 13 to 16 April 2010.

The aim of the ESSHC is bringing together scholars interested in explaining historical phenomena using the methods of the social sciences. The conference is characterized by a lively exchange in many small groups, rather than by formal plenary sessions. The conference welcomes papers and sessions on any historical topic and any historical period. It is organized in 28 networks, which cover a certain topic, on of these being Religion.

During the 2008 ESSHC in Lisbon the Religion network took a thrilling new start, with no less than 13 sessions organized within the network, several of which in co-operation with other networks, involving more than 60 scholars from around the world. They engaged in particularly lively discussions, and many papers are in the process of being published. We want to pursue in that direction, creating crossovers and exchanges that cut trough traditional divisions between disciplines, denominations, periods and regions. Hence we call upon you to formulate proposals for sessions, papers or themes that can deal with any historical era and any religious expression or denomination, inviting others to join. Please, do not hesitate to formulate bold proposals, and do not hold back from suggesting ‘incomplete’ sessions of only two presentations. We will help you to find suitable participants. Just to help you to formulate your thoughts but without any intention of limitation we would particularly welcome paper and session proposals on:

- Religions in comparative perspective
- Effects of globalization on European religious identities
- Religion and modernity
- Secularism as religion
- Religion in ethnically mixed areas
- Cultures of martyrdom
- Religious interactions with, between and within migrant communities
- Gender and religion: beyond the ‘Feminization Thesis’
- Religion and material culture
- Religion and non-textual evidence: viewing, listening, touching and performing
- Papers on methodological, conceptual and theoretical issues.

Apart from discussion sessions we intend to organize some sessions in a different format, around recently published major publications (‘meet the author’) or topical questions, e.g. on the ‘religious’ perspectives of Europe and its boundaries. Suggestions are most welcome.

For more information on the ESSHC see http://www.iisg.nl/esshc/. The final deadline for paper and session proposals is 1 May 2009, but please send your proposals first to the network chairs Silvia Evangelisti (s.evangelisti@uea.ac.uk) and Patrick Pasture (Patrick.Pasture@arts.kuleuven.be), preferably by February 28, 2009. We both will also be most happy to respond to any of your queries.

Patrick Pasture and Sylvia Evangelisti, ESSHC Religion Network Chairs