Hope - Society for the Study of Theology Postgraduate Conference

The place of hope in theology raises compelling questions, to which this year’s SST Postgraduate Conference welcomes papers which broadly address hope in the study of theology, ecclesiology, sociology of religion, psychology of religion, and the related disciplines. The SST PG Committee encourage submissions within the broad scope of the theme. Possible areas that papers might address include, but are not limited to:

  • What role does hope play in response to threats against this world?
  • How significant is the idea of hope in the study of theology, and to what end is this justified?
  • What are the implications for our relationship with God when hope goes missing?
  • Does time and space play a significant role in the idea of hope in theology?
  • What does the complex experience of hope in religious believers contribute to the study of theology?
  • How is hope expressed in various cultural contexts? What sustains it and makes it thrive?
  • Is hope better understood as an aspiration for something or the result of inspiration by something?
  • To what extent does the idea of hope rely upon eschatology?
  • What role does hope play in the progress towards interreligious dialogue?
  • In what way does hope guide current/future relationships between God, human beings and nonhuman creation?
  • What is the place of hope in the face of ecological crisis and climate change?
  • How can hope enable personal or collective self-reflection?
  • Can hope ever be truly lost?

Call for Papers

Deadline: 31 May 2023

Postgraduate students are invited to submit a title, 300-word abstract and a 100-word biography by 31st May to hopesst23@gmail.com. You will be notified no later than 16th June by email if your paper has been accepted. The selected papers will be presented in 15-20 minute slots with 10-15 minutes of questions/discussion to follow.

Conference Information

This year’s PG conference will include plenaries from James Eglinton; Katherine Hockey; and Selina Stone; alongside paper presentations from PG students in any discipline related to theology. The conference will open with a public forum, featuring the Right Reverend John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh; Anupama Ranawana; and Rachel Muers, Chair of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, who will give a welcome address. A panel discussion will close the conference: plenary speakers will be invited to join either the public forum or closing panel, with further participants and details TBC.

Please note that this conference is an in-person event only. We are unfortunately unable to accept papers which cannot be presented physically at the conference, nor will there be a virtual component to the conference.

Bookings for the conference will open in June; registration details will be circulated in due course, including volunteer, responder, and chairing opportunities.

If you have any queries, kindly send a message to hopesst23@gmail.com or contact one of the postgraduate representatives personally:

Ruby R. Alemu: r.alemu.22@abdn.ac.uk

Elilo Ezung: elilo.ezung@ed.ac.uk