Religion and Violence in Africa: Special volume of Religions
As elsewhere, in Africa religion and violence take many forms, and often intersect on many levels, from the micro to the macro. Micro forms of such intersections include animal sacrifice and domestic violence, whereas macro forms include national and inter-state warfare and the religious legitimization of social and political oppression. Violence itself is more often structural and/or symbolic than overt and physical, meanwhile, and this is of keen scholarly interest. Yet, for its part, religion sometimes also serves as an important prophylaxis against violence, as a source of healing for victims of violence, and as an instrument of reconciliation and justice. We seek studies that examine the relationship between religion and violence throughout Africa and welcome articles that explore the impact of extra-continental actors on religion’s role in either alleviating or exacerbating violence in African societies. Also of interest is the relative absence of violence between and within various religious communities in Africa, as well as violence related to sorcery and witchcraft and religion’s negotiation thereof. All historical periods and geographic regions are welcome as foci, as are any methodological approaches and theoretical orientations that produce new knowledge about the relationship between religion and violence in Africa.
This volume of Religions is co-edited by Dr. Terry Rey, Professor and Chair of Religion at Temple University and Dr. John F. Clark, Professor and Chair of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University. Articles, proposals, and inquiries may be emailed to them at trey@temple.edu and clarkj@fiu.edu. The editors request that such items be submitted by March 15, 2019. Final drafts of accepted papers will be due by July 1, 2019.