2nd International Religion and Society Conference

2nd International Religion and Society Conference  

“Who Cares? Society, Religions, and the Concern for the Other.”

Dates: 28–29 May 2026
Venue: Board Room, Faculty of Theology, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

Overview

The question “Why should I care?” points to a profound moral, spiritual, and social challenge in contemporary societies. Across the globe, communities shaped by religious traditions, cultural narratives, and ethical frameworks are confronted by polarization, indifference, social fragmentation, and humanitarian crises. Ongoing conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Israel–Palestine, political and social unrest in regions such as Iran and Venezuela, and deep societal divisions in countries including the United States underscore the urgency of rethinking care, responsibility, and moral imagination in complex and pluralistic contexts.

Religions have historically played a central role in shaping moral sensibilities through doctrine, ritual, and ethical praxis. They have inspired compassion, sustained practices of solidarity, and offered frameworks for responding to suffering and vulnerability. At the same time, secular philosophical, ethical, and social-theoretical perspectives provide indispensable insights into what it means to respond responsibly to the other in diverse societies.

This conference offers an interdisciplinary platform to explore the ethical, theological, philosophical, and social dimensions of care. It invites scholars to reflect critically on how religion, culture, and society intersect to cultivate—or hinder—concern for others at local, national, and global levels. Contributions drawing on philosophy, theology, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, and related disciplines are particularly welcome.

Conference Theme

At the heart of this conference lies the concept of care as a moral, relational, and socially embedded practice. Care raises questions about responsibility toward the vulnerable, the meaning of solidarity, and the cultivation of moral imagination in contexts marked by pluralism and conflict. By bringing religious and secular perspectives into dialogue, the conference seeks to illuminate how concern for the other can be articulated, sustained, and translated into concrete practices within contemporary societies.

Scope and Topics

We welcome papers that engage with the theme of care from conceptual, historical, theological, philosophical, and applied perspectives, including but not limited to the following areas:

1. Conceptual and Philosophical Foundations

• Care, responsibility, and moral imagination in philosophy and theology
• Philosophy of religion: the role of religious ideas, doctrines, and metaphysical frameworks in shaping ethical obligations toward the other
• Ethics of care, virtue ethics, and contemporary moral philosophy
• The self and the other: intersubjectivity, autonomy, dependency, and vulnerability
• Comparative approaches to moral reasoning across religious and secular traditions

2. Religion, Culture, and Society

• Theologies of compassion, charity, and neighbour-love
• Scriptural and doctrinal foundations of care in Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and other religious traditions
• Rituals and practices of care: liturgy, pilgrimage, and communal action
• Religion and culture: the impact of beliefs, practices, and institutions on moral norms and civic life
• Interreligious dialogue and cooperation for shared ethical and social goals

3. Society, Public Life, and Global Challenges

• Care in the public sphere: social justice, welfare, human rights, and civic responsibility
• Religion and humanitarian action in conflict-affected regions, and among migrants, refugees, and precarious or invisible workers
• Ethical responses to societal polarization, fragmentation, and moral uncertainty
• Faith-informed approaches to environmental stewardship, intergenerational responsibility, and global ethics

4. Interdisciplinary and Applied Perspectives

• Anthropological, sociological, and psychological approaches to religiously informed practices of care
• Pedagogies of care in education, formation, and community engagement
• Arts, literature, and cultural narratives shaping empathy and moral imagination
• Religion, care, and conflict transformation in local and global contexts

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts: Authors are invited to submit an abstract of 100–150 words outlining the paper’s argument, methodology, and significance.

Bio: Please include a brief biographical note of 50–100 words, indicating affiliation and research interests.

Format and Submission:

• All submissions must be in English.
• Abstracts should be sent by email to john.berry@um.edu.mt.
• Each presentation will be allotted 20 minutes, followed by discussion.

Deadline for Abstracts: 15 February 2026

Notification of Acceptance: 28 February 2026

Practical Information

• Conference Language: English
• Venue: Board Room, Faculty of Theology, University of Malta
• Attendance certificates will be provided on request.
• For participants travelling from abroad, further information about Malta is available at visitmalta.com.
• While Malta has a public transport system, the use of taxi services such as eCabs, Bolt, or Uber is recommended for convenience.

Contact

For further information, please contact:

Prof. John Berry