Call for papers
Understanding Generation Z’s Religious and Spiritual Role Models
European Academy of Religion 2025
Eighth Annual Conference in Vienna
July 8-12, 2025
Deadline for submissions: April 4, 2025
This panel invites submissions for papers exploring Generation Z’s engagement with religion and spirituality, focusing on their role models and the frameworks shaping their spiritual narratives. As digital natives, Gen Zers encounter unprecedented challenges and opportunities in a postmodern, pluralistic world marked by the decline of institutional authority and the rise of individualized spiritual practices. The panel seeks to illuminate how this generation negotiates spiritual identity and authority, providing fresh insights into their search for meaning, authenticity, and mentorship in both traditional and nontraditional religious/spiritual contexts.
We aim to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue that unpacks the cultural, social, and technological influences shaping the religious and spiritual lives of Gen Z. Contributions will enrich understanding of the generational dynamics influencing the future of faith communities, mentorship, and spiritual leadership.
Potential areas for submissions include (but are not limited to):
- Digital influences on Gen Z’s spiritual formation and role modeling.
- Comparative studies of religious mentorship across cultural contexts.
- Psychological or sociological approaches to Gen Z’s spirituality.
- The role of narrative frameworks in shaping spiritual identity.
- Interfaith and intercultural perspectives on Gen Z’s religious engagement.
Submissions guidelines: we will accept for consideration both
- Full text papers of approximately 3000 words, including references and footnotes
- Abstracts of planned papers (if accepted, full text papers should be submitted around three weeks before the conference)
Applications should include a short CV (including current academic affiliation, research topics and, if applicable, recent major publications). Please submit papers/abstracts as Microsoft Word documents. Submissions must be in English and previously unpublished.
Submission process: email submissions as attachments to edward.david@kcl.ac.uk. Please direct any questions to the same email address.
Deadline for submissions: April 4, 2025
We look forward to your contributions to this timely and significant discussion.
