Chapters are being sought for an edited volume which seeks to map the study of religion in relation to digital games and gaming environments. The book will focus on how video games can be read as religious texts or experiences, as well as investigations of religious narratives/themes employed in video games and the implications of video games created for religious markets. This book will fill an important gap in the field of game studies by providing and overview of current work in the study of religion and digital gaming, and highlight key questions emerging within this area of inquiry.

Chapters in this collection should explore issues in one of the following areas:

(1) Analysis of dominant narratives, characterizations or symbols appearing in religiously-themed games and the implications of these for our understanding of religious community, identity and/or authority.

(2) Investigation of the extent to which popular, mainstream games rely on religious strategies, narratives and rituals in game play and implication this has for gamers and the gaming enterprise.

(3) Critical reflection on the way digital games and virtual world gaming environments facilitate or encourage forms of implicit religion (by which secular activities, such as gaming, take on a sacred role or meaning for individuals).

Chapters should also respond in some way to the book’s central research question: How do video/digital games inform or reform our understanding of religion within digital and gaming culture?

This book is aimed at Indiana University Press’s new Digital Gaming Series and is edited by Heidi Campbell, Associate Professor of Communication at Texas A&M University.

Prospective contributors are invited to submit their initial proposals (500-800 word abstracts) and a biography statement highlighting previous research and writings to the editor by 10 August 2011. Selected authors will be notified by early to mid September 2011. The intent is for invited chapters (of 6000-8000 words) to be submitted to the editor by 15 December 2011. For more details or questions please contact the editor (heidic@tamu.edu).