Historians have long charted the relationship between evolution and religion, designating its interactions as conflict or cooperation, casting the religious reading of evolutionary theory in terms of reaction and response. Recent studies have introduced different ways of thinking about this area of historical study: the spatial turn in history has shown the power of local circumstances to determine the way meanings of evolution are interpreted and appropriated; studies informed by book history have shown the significance of the means in which statements on science and religion were produced and read; and the way in which the popular understandings of evolution and faith shaped each other is emphasized in recent histories which reveal "appropriation" rather than "reaction."

This conference will contribute to the growing understanding of the diverse relations of evolutionary and religious thinking in America and beyond, add to the historiographical richness of our understanding of science and religion, and map the localities and trends of a dynamic field. While the meeting will be of particular interest to historians and philosophers of science and of religion, we welcome contributions from diverse perspectives.

Confirmed speakers include Edward J. Larson (University of Georgia) and Joe Cain (University College, London).

We encourage contributions that address the conference theme, and in particular
1. studies of interactions between evolutionary and relgious ideas, individuals, or communities.
2. comparative studies of interactions within different communities.
3. reflections on episodes of thematic inquiries in which religion and science play a significant role, such as design, human evolution, altruism and social behaviours, mechanisms, etc.
4. analyses of evolving issues within communities, such as the changing views of evolution at religious universities, or within specific denominations, or changing views on religion amongst scientists.
5. the shifting role of science in religious apologetic, or in the formation of non-religious metaphysical positions.

Please submit abstracts of 200-250 words along with a brief (one-page) biography to Dawn M. Digrius, ddigriu@clemson.edu.

Deadline for submissions is November 20, 2008. Conference acceptance notifications will be sent via e-mail by November 30, 2008.