International Congress on Psychology, Religion and Culture

(Tehran, 14-16  May 2011)

Web Site: http://psyrelcul.ut.ac.ir/

 Purpose

The purpose of the Congress is to contribute to the establishment of the field of Psychology, Religion and Culture, and to provide an opportunity for interreligious, intercultural and interdisciplinary conversation.

This conference is an attempt to explore the progresses and challenges concerning the studies of relations between the domains of religion, culture and psychology.

We expect creative and critical presentations and discussions and welcome scholars and students from all related scientific disciplines, religious and cultural backgrounds to participate at the congress and exchange their views.

Sincerely

  Dr. G. Ali Afrooz

Congress  Chair

  Dr. Shiva Khalili

Head of the scientific committee 

Call for Papers

A) Basic Issues

I) Origins: interdisciplinary studies with the aim of describing and explaining the principles, domains and relations of the fields of psychology, culture and religion

• Origins of religion, cultures, and modern psychology

• Science-religion-culture domains and relations

II) Issues in methodology: Considerations about historical-scientific development of the cultural and religious studies and the methodological issues in interdisciplinary research

• The role of philosophical research in the inter- and multidisciplinary studies of psychology, religion and culture

• Methodological problems in the inter- and multidisciplinary research

• Perspectives on interdiscilplinary research

III) Main concepts: studies related to description and explanation of important concepts in the fields of psychology, religion and culture   

• Meaning, symbolic systems and cognition

• Meaning of being human

• Consciousness

• Social interactions

• Morality

• Human development

• Psychological Health and disorder

• Concept of death

• Mental/psychological processes

• Religious/mystical/spiritual experience

B) Theories/ empirical research/work in progress

     IV) Scientific approaches to religion, spirituality and culture: interdisciplinary studies with the aim to gain information about the system of belief, behavior, individual, group and institution, in one or many cultures or religious tradition , or in a historical stage.

• The effect of religion and culture on different stages of life, tasks and the developmental features of each stage (marriage, family, child rearing, cognitive style, identity and personality, life style, etc.)

• Social/ cultural/ cross-cultural psychology

• Evolutionary psychology and the phenomena related to religion and culture

• Approaches of Cognitive and neurosciences to religion and culture

• Mental health and studies of religion and culture

• Approaches of Anthropology, ethno-sciences, and linguistics to culture and religion

• Academic sciences of religion (Sociology of religion, religious studies, etc.)

• Assessment of religion/ religiosity/ spirituality

• Gender issues in studies of culture and religion

• The effect of religion and culture in family, youth and moral issues

• Other approaches and disciplines

V) Religious, theistic and philosophical approaches to human mental processes and behavior (incl. religion and spirituality)/ description and explanation of psychological processes, religion and spirituality in the view of religions, comparative studies

• Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrian

• Shamanism, Hindu, Buddhism, Shintuism, Confucianism,

• Other schools and traditions

• Cross-cultural and cross-religious approaches to behavior and mental processes

Submission Guidelines

Submissions may be submitted in the following categories:

·         Abstract / Full Length Submissions

Those individuals interested may submit an abstract (maximum 800 words) [Deadline: Jan 7, 2011] of original conceptual or empirical research manuscript for review and decision.

     The authors of the selected abstracts are asked to send the full length paper (not to exceed 7000 words) [Deadline February 20, 2011].

·         Poster Submission

Max. 6 A4 Pages, [Deadline February 20, 2011]

·         Panel, workshop, tutorial, and symposium submissions

Individuals interested in conducting a panel, workshop, symposium or tutorial dealing with the main topics of the congress are invited to submit a 1500-2000 word proposal covering the objectives, issues to be covered, and the names/addresses of any other panel, workshop, tutorial/symposium members (max. 4 members). Deadline: December 1, 2010

Method of presentation is at the submitter's discretion, however the submitter has the responsibility for providing his/her own participants (such as panel members). All accepted proposals will appear in the conference proceedings. (Note: All panel, workshop, tutorial/symposium members must register for the conference.)

Submissions in all categories must follow the following Guidelines:

Deadline for abstracts: Deadline: Jan 7, 2011; Deadline for full length Papers: FEBRUARY 20, 2011

1. The manuscripts must be accompanied by a short CV (not more than one page), the Submission form and Submission Details (see below).  All correspondence will be sent to the first author unless otherwise specified.

2. All submissions should be submitted electronically in either MS Word, rich text format (RTF) or PDF. (Note: If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgment two weeks after your electronic submissions, please contact the program chair: shivakhalili@yahoo.com

3. Accepted papers and posters may be scheduled for presentation at roundtables due to the Congress program. All papers should be presented in Persian, or English.

Ø  Abstract Submission Form

I) Presenter's Information

Title:

Abstract:

Please complete all information on this form and send it as Email to shivakhalili@yahoo.com

Presenter’s Name

   First Name:

   Middle Name:

   Family Name:

   Suffix (please highlight):           Dr.      Miss      Ms.      Mrs.      Mr.

Institutional Affiliation

   Department:

   University (Institute):

   Graduate Degree:

Contact Information

   Address Line 1:

   Address Line 2:

   Address Line 3:

   City:

   State/Province: 

   Zip Code:

   Country:

   Phone/Fax Number:

   Email Address:

II) Submission Details

  Main Topic(s) addressed (e.g.  A- Basic issues I- origins; B- evolutionary psychology):

   Type of Presentation (please highlight):                    Paper                    Poster

                                                  Workshop/panel/ etc.

   Title of Presentation:

4-8 Keywords:

ABSTRACT

III) Please provide the following information according to the topic of your paper, attached to your abstract form (max. 1000 words):

The information will be mainly used to clarify the presumptions of the research/ guiding the Q&As in discussions and roundtables

·         Please clarify your own presumptions: theory of person

Monism□    dualism□       other:

Your view on mind-body problem:

Your view on the debate on determinism and indeterminism:

Your definition for religion (in general):

Your view on religion’s claim of truth (in general):

The truth claim of the studied religion in the research :

(maximum of 120 words)

·          The underlying theory or theories (name of the theorist; scientific discipline, etc.)

·         Basic presumptions of the theory

naturalistic, materialist □   dualist□    reductive physicalist view towards person□  

other:

main ideas about psychological processes:

definition of religion in the underlying theory:

(maximum 120 words)

·         usefulness of your research (explanation range, application, etc.) and limitations

·         What kinds of data support the theory?

·         What kind of empirical data may be inconsistent with the theory?

·         How important is the identification of the historical-cultural background of the person or the population in your study?

Not at all □        very little□       a little □    moderate □        very much□ 

·         Have you required any identification and/or differentiation between cultural and religious elements and their interactions in your study?

Yes □     no□       explanation:

Send all inquiries and submissions to:

Shiva Khalili (shivakhalili@yahoo.com)

Visa Information

Dear Colleagues

Thank you for your interest in taking part at the Tehran International Congress on Psychology, Religion and Culture, May, 2011.

Please note that all non Iranian passport holders require a visa to enter Iran. We strongly recommend that you apply for your visa not less than (3) months prior to your intended travel date.

A Letter of Invitation to the Congress may be required with your visa application. These letters will only be provided to persons who have registered for the Congress.

To assure that you will be able to join us in May it is advisable to begin the process of visa application as soon as possible. In order that we may prepare letters of invitation in support of your application for Iran visitor's Visa we request the following information (in addition to your CV) please:

Guest Personal Data

Guest Personal Data

Name:                             Surname:                       Father’s Name: 

Name of Institute you work in: 

Occupation:   

Nationality: 

passport number

date and place of issue

date of expiration

issuing authority


 

Mailing address:

Email:

phone:

date and place of birth:


 

date of arrival in Iran:

date of departure:

Please scan and send us the passport pages, if possible.

Registration Fee Table

Registration includes name badge, congress folder, handbook and abstracts book as well as refreshment, breaks and lunches during the congress days.

Congress Registration Desk

On arrival at the Congress, please register your attendance at the Registration Desk. Your name badge must be worn at all times, as this is your entry into sessions and functions.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellations for registration and accommodation will only be accepted in writing. Registration cancellations made prior to 10 April 2011 will be refunded less 10% to cover administration costs.

No registration refunds will be made after this date. Alternatively, your registration may be transferred to another person without penalty. This transfer must be advised to the Congress Manager in writing.

Venue

The conference will be held in Iran Summit Hall that is situated at the beautiful foot-hills of Alborz mountain range.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be in hotels or student–style residences. Details about hotels and prices will be available here in March 2011.

New Deadline (for abstract submission):

 Jan 7, 2011

Web Site: http://psyrelcul.ut.ac.ir/