November 20-22 // Boston, MA

The intersection of religion and trauma raises profound questions about the role of faith, hope, and healing in the human experience of suffering and recovery. While religion may offer comfort, promote resilience, provide hope, and foster healing, religious systems and people have also inflicted harm. Spiritual, physical, and emotional abuse, toxic beliefs, unhealthy relationship dynamics, and coercive tactics have all played a role in human suffering. This dual reality invites an interdisciplinary exploration of how religion interacts with trauma—both as a source of wounding and as a framework for healing and restoration.

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This conference seeks to examine these complexities and their implications for individuals, communities, and societies. How do religious frameworks influence the processing of trauma? In what ways do theology, rituals, and faith practices address or exacerbate suffering? How can religious traditions offer pathways to resilience, hope, and healing for those impacted by trauma?

 

We welcome papers addressing topics such as:

• Impact of trauma on religious belief, practice, and identity.

• The role of religious communities in addressing trauma: supportive or harmful?

• Theological and pastoral responses to trauma, resilience, and healing.

• Biblical and historical insights on trauma and restoration.

• The dynamics of spiritual abuse and pathways to recovery.

• Intersections of trauma, religion, and identity (e.g., race, gender, culture).

• Case studies of trauma-informed ministry or faith-based mental health interventions.

• Rituals, liturgies, and other religious practices as sources of healing.

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Submission Guidelines

Abstracts: Proposals should not exceed 300 words and include a working title, clear objectives, and the relevance of the topic to the conference theme.

Abstract Submission: Use the button "Abstract Submission" to submit your abstracts by March 2, 2025. Presenters must be members of the society. Send queries to Tihomir Lazic at asrspapers@gmail.com

Format: If you choose to submit via email, submissions should be sent in MS Word or PDF format to Tihomir Lazic at asrspapers@gmail.com

Notification: Authors will be notified of acceptance by May 19, 2025.

Paper Submission: Accepted presenters must submit a complete draft of their papers by November 1, 2025, to Oleg Kostyuk at asrspapers@gmail.com

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Presentations will be allotted 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for discussion. Selected papers may be considered for publication in a post-conference volume.

 

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