[Commlist] Call for Papers: “Metaphor & Misinformation: Religion in Media-Driven Worlds”

Call for Papers: “Metaphor & Misinformation: Religion in Media-Driven 
Worlds”

*2023 Conference of the International Society for Media, Religion and 
Culture*

Conference location: CERES Bochum (Germany)

Conference dates: 2-5 of August 2023

Deadline for Paper proposals: 14 January 2023

Notification of acceptances: End of February 2023


The history of religion, and current debates regarding spirituality, are 
full of diverse metaphors that are used to communicate complex ideas. 
Deities are often described as animals or objects that take on human 
characteristics. Believers are envisioned as a flock or a ship’s crew. 
The religious lives of individuals are explained as a journey, an 
apprenticeship, a struggle, or a path. These metaphors are woven into 
myths that help make the intangible accessible and create personal 
worldviews. Yet in an age of fake news and post-truth, the use of images 
and narratives can complicate already complex discussions of religion in 
the mediated public sphere.


In light of this, we invite papers that explore the concepts of 
metaphors and the communication of religious information within media 
cultures throughout history. We believe these analyses offer an 
opportunity to explore metaphorical differences and similarities across 
cultural perspectives. It will also enable a theoretical reflection on 
the ways in which we use metaphors to conceive of the relationship 
between media, technology, and religion and the structural implications 
of the metaphors we use in our scholarly work.


Media, for example, has been described by Birgit Meyer and others as 
devices that bridge the gap between the immanent and transcendent 
spheres. Other examples include Christian Nationalism, which often 
envisions political leaders in “messianic” roles working “miracles” 
using God Talk. Or corporate marketers who create “brand cults” that 
rely on mythologies, imagery, and indoctrination strategies similar to 
new religious movements.


The historical roots and evolution of these metaphors can bring clarity 
to the social consequences that we face today. Legacy media created and 
conceptualized different eras as media “worlds.” “Miscommunication” 
becomes the narrative for explaining fake news, religion-like conspiracy 
theories, or filter bubbles. Importantly, metaphors form the elementary 
parts of our linguistic communication, which evoke religious beliefs and 
ethos for different groups. Religious concepts such as conversion or 
redemption, which are linked to religious experiences, carry with them 
mixed messages that can be easily skewed or weaponized when transitioned 
into secular media discourses.


We are also interested in papers from religious communicators, and 
encourage collaborations with those in the fields of history, theology, 
semiotics, linguistics, philosophy, and popular culture to reflect on 
these themes. For example, how do media outlets and influencers use 
metaphors to teach or discuss meaning, purpose, or influence? What is 
the outcome of these framings?


With the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions, this conference will serve 
as the biennial meeting of the International Society for Media, 
Religion, and Culture, with the aim of exploring these issues from a 
range of disciplinary perspectives. Since its first meeting back in 
1996, the conference has become the leading international gathering for 
the discussion of research in religion, media, and culture.


The conference invites proposals for panels and roundtable sessions as 
well as individual papers. of up to 350 words. Panel and roundtable 
proposals should also include paper titles, 150-word abstracts for each 
paper, and names and titles of up to four participants (in addition a 
panel moderator or respondent can also be included).


Please note that conference attendees are not allowed to be included in 
more than two presentations (i.e., present on a panel and offer a paper, 
take part in a panel and a roundtable, or have their names listed on two 
papers).


Paper and panel sessions conducted in other languages than English 
(German-Spanish-French) will be considered, however, abstracts should be 
provided both in English and the proposed language for such submissions.


Potential panel, workshop, and paper proposals may address, but are not 
limited to, the following themes:

• Information and misinformation in religious communication

• Religious metaphors in past and present times

• Humor and religion

• Religious freedom and blasphemy

• Sacred texts and metaphors

• Religion and conspiracy theories

• Media and the contested visibility of religion

• Gender and metaphors

• Social media and religious metaphors

• Media and the politicization of metaphors

• Metaphor and religious nationalism

• Metaphor & misinformation: Religion in media-driven worlds in public 
theology

• Media and varieties of non-religion

• Media, religion and metaphors in a global perspective

• Historical media, material religion and metaphors

• Religions as landscapes, cities, objects

• Truth, filter bubbles and fake news


The conference will take place in Bochum, Germany, in conjunction with 
the Center for Religious Studies at Ruhr University-Bochum: 
https://ceres.rub.de/en/ <https://ceres.rub.de/en/>

For information about the venue, housing and transportation see the 
conference page: https://www.ismrc.org/conferences/2023-conference/ 
<https://www.ismrc.org/conferences/2023-conference/>


Heidi A Campbell, Professor, Texas A&M University, President, 
International Society for Media, Religion, and Culture President, 
International Society for Media, Religion, and Culture: (heidic /at/ tamu.edu) 
<mailto:(heidic /at/ tamu.edu)>

Miriam Diez Bosch, Director. Blanquerna Observatory on Media, Religion 
and Culture (Ramon Llull University), Conference Program Planner and 
Vice President, International Society for Media, Religion, and Culture: 
(miriamdb /at/ blanquerna.url.edu) <mailto:(miriamdb /at/ blanquerna.url.edu)>

Local Host: Tim Karis, Managing Director, Center for Religious Studies 
(CERES), Ruhr University Bochum: (tim.karis /at/ rub.de) <mailto:(tim.karis /at/ rub.de)>


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