International Network for the Study of Spirituality

Tell me more …

When the British Association for the Study of Spirituality (now the International Network for the Study of Spirituality) was launched in January 2010, the then President, John Swinton, asked:

Why is it that everyone talks about spirituality in such different terms? Why is it that everyone seems to know what it is, yet no one seems to be able to offer a definitive description? Sometimes it is perceived as the manifestation of love; sometimes it is the search for hope, meaning and purpose; for some people it is about religion and God; others clearly and self-consciously want to exclude God and religion. How can we claim to have a coherent field of enquiry if those who are participating in the field appear to have no coherent understanding of what the central concept is?

Part of the ‘problem’ of spirituality is that it straddles different cultures, academic disciplines and professional contexts. Studies in and of the field draw on scientific and literary concepts, on quantitative and qualitative data, and on objective measures as well as subjective experiences. BASS came into being with the expressed intention of providing a forum where studies shaped by the diverse approaches and priorities of different cultures, perspectives and professional obligations might be brought together in the context of what Swinton referred to as ‘hospitable conversation’ in both ‘physical and conceptual’ spaces.

This conference will be interdisciplinary and inter-professional, bringing together a broad range of scholars and practitioners from around the world who have interests in the theory and practice of spirituality. Its purpose is to provide opportunity for conversations and syntheses across international, academic and professional boundaries that sometimes pose their own challenges to the development of a 'joined-up' field of spirituality studies.

The conference title reflects the three key elements in the study of spirituality that underpin the work of INSS: Research, Education, Practice.

Four internationally-renowned Keynote Speakers will each highlight what they see as significant aspects of spirituality within their own disciplinary/professional context, including particular challenges to, and opportunities for, the development of research, professional practice and/or education in the field.

Participants’ presentations will be arranged in breakout rooms in parallel sessions.

Abstracts are now invited for:

These may present accounts and findings from theoretical research and reflection, studies in professional settings and/or in contexts involving learning, teaching or facilitation in the field of spirituality. They may be from any academic, professional or community setting in which the study and practice of spirituality plays a part.

Doctoral students and new researchers in the field are warmly invited to participate and will have an opportunity to join the INSS Spirituality Scholars Network.

Process

Each accepted oral presentation and dialogue pair will be allocated a total of 40 minutes (20 minutes for presentation + 20 minutes for discussion)

Poster presentations will be available for conference participants to view in their own time in advance of a scheduled discussion with presenters in breakout rooms.

All presenters will have the opportunity to submit a full paper (maximum 6,000 words) based on their presentation for consideration for inclusion in the Journal for the Study of Spirituality.

Preparing your Abstract for Submission

Your Abstract will serve two purposes:

1. It will be reviewed anonymously by the conference committee to select presentations for inclusion in the conference.

2. If your presentation is accepted, your Abstract will be published in the conference booklet.* This will help to inform conference participants' choices of which sessions to attend.

Your Abstract should be of no more than 300 words. It should be anonymous throughout.

The Abstract should be preceded (on the same page) by:

(i)   Detail of the nature of your presentation (i.e. Oral, Dialogue Pair, Poster)

(ii)  The title of your presentation (see note on titles, below)

* Please note that Abstracts will only be published after the conference fee has been paid.

In addition to your Abstract, please supply the following information, on a separate sheet.

1. Author information (primary presenter*)

• First Name
• Middle Initial (if appropriate)
• Last Name/Surname
• Email address
• Postal address
• Contact telephone number(s)
• Affiliation (institution/company etc)
• Names and affiliations of any additional authors*

* One author must be designated as the primary presenter.

  Correspondence will be by email and will be sent to the primary presenter only.

2. Presentation title

Capitalise only the first letter of the first word and any proper nouns. The title is strictly limited to no more than 12 words. Registered names and trademarks are not permitted in the title.

Submitting your Abstract

Please check that you have completed your Abstract and additional information in the format outlined above.

The Abstract and all additional information should be contained in a single Word document.

The document should be sent in a virus-free email attachment to Dr Joan Walton 

Please write ‘INSS Conference Abstract’ in the email header line.

We look forward to hearing from you!