International Conference on "Metaphors of Religion" October 27–29, 2025 | Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

The Collaborative Research Center 1475 (CRC 1475) at Ruhr University Bochum invites submissions for its International Conference on “Metaphors of Religion: Comparative Perspectives, Theoretical Potential, and Methodic Innovation”, to be held October 27–29th, 2025.

This interdisciplinary conference will explore the critical role of metaphors in shaping religious meaning across traditions, texts, and contexts. With contributions from diverse disciplines, the event aims to foster innovative discussions on how metaphors function as foundational elements in religious language.

Keynote Speakers

• Eve Sweetser (University of California, Berkeley)
• Gerard Steen (University of Amsterdam)

Key Topics and Questions
We welcome submissions on themes that engage with, but are not limited to, the following topics:

1. Religious Metaphor and Meaning-Making: What role do metaphors play in the emergence of religious language? How is metaphor connected to notions such as ‘holy languages?’
2. Comparative Metaphor Studies: How do different religious traditions (e.g., Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Islam, Zoroastrianism) utilize similar or divergent metaphors to address themes of salvation, conduct of life, or imaginaries of the divine? For example, to what extent do we find metaphors of Light, Way, or the Human Body across different traditions?
3. Cognitive (and) Linguistic Approaches to Religious Metaphor: How do cognitive linguistic theories of metaphor (e.g., mapping and blending theories) illuminate the unique challenges of religious language?
4. Historical and Cultural Shifts in Religious Metaphors: What historical and, in particular, interreligious factors shape the development and transformation of specific religious metaphors? How do metaphors adapt or reconfigure in response to cross-cultural encounters?
5. Digital and Computational Approaches to Metaphor Analysis: Which new methods can be employed to analyze religious metaphors at scale, particularly across languages and cultures? How can digital humanities tools enhance our understanding of metaphor in religious contexts?
6. Materiality and Visuality in Metaphors: How do metaphors extend beyond language to religious artifacts, images, and other media? What are the methodological challenges in analyzing metaphors in non-verbal religious contexts?

Submission Guidelines
We invite contributions across a range of disciplines including religious studies, linguistics, area studies, philologies, sociology, anthropology, digital humanities, and beyond, to engage in a comprehensive dialogue on the role and impact of metaphor in religion. We invite proposals for the following formats:

• Individual Papers: Please submit a 300–400-word abstract detailing your research question, methodology, and anticipated findings.
• Panels: Organized panels with 3–4 presentations centered on a cohesive theme. Panel proposals should include an overview (300 words) and abstracts for each paper (300–400 words).
• Roundtable Discussions: Proposals for roundtable sessions should outline the central theme, key questions, and expected contributions (300–400 words).

Submit your Proposal

Submissions are due 28 February 2025, and should include:

• Title of the paper, panel, or roundtable discussion
• Author(s) name(s), affiliation(s), and contact information
• Abstracts (300-400 words as specified above)

Send your submissions to: sfb1475-coordination@rub.de

For the full Call for Papers, download the PDF here: https://static.ceres.rub.de/media/filer_public/6e/9a/6e9a8d30-9e9f-47bd-b4f7-59cae5e57ff6/cfp_conference_metaphors_of_religion_2025.pdf