Call for Submissions - ARC Journal - Vol. 21, No. 2 (2023)

Call for Submissions

ARC Journal

Religion and Social Communication, Vol. 21, No. 2 (2023)

Theme

Religious Communication and the Technological Future: Prospects, Concerns, and Responses

The world is expecting in the coming years numerous technological advancements that promise to revolutionize human society on multiple levels and in every area of life. Further development and propagation of technologies such as Web 5.0, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), Extended Reality (XR), Metaverse, and Artificial Intelligence are expected to fundamentally change the process of information production and dissemination and the nature of knowledge acquisition. These changes promise to also impel humanity towards decentralization of existing social, political and religious structures in unprecedented ways. There are many signs that both the nature and perception of truth – religious and otherwise – will be enormously impacted by these developments. In addition, there are many other ethical, moral, and social implications which arise in this new technological future.

In the face of these prospects, the Asian Research Center would like to call for submissions in the form of research papers and essays related to the said theme. Pertinent research matters that can be explored include but not limited to:

- impact on religion, religiosity, and religious practices;

- expected religious trends;

- religious ontologies and the nature of religious thought;

- ramifications for religious communication;

- the status, perception, establishment, and communication of religious truth(s);

- religious prophetic voices to affect the course of technological development;

- the role of religious leaders and communicators in anticipating these developments;

- challenges and opportunities for religion;

- religion’s preparation and religious formation in anticipation of the technological future.

Papers appropriate to this theme are expected to go beyond past and present realities by delving into future prospects by examining present trends in technological development and anticipated realities. Investigations can be carried out from a variety of approaches – philosophical, theological, anthropological, sociological, psychological, etc.  We encourage submissions from multiple religious perspectives that would present a range of thought and ideas sparked by this common concern. Authors of papers selected for publication may also be invited to participate in ARC’s 14th International Roundtable in 2023 with the same theme.

Deadline for submission is 15 July 2023 (Expected publication date is December 2023). Please refer to our submission guidelines (https://asianresearchcenter.org/about/submission-guidelines) for details on how to prepare the manuscript. For further details, please email: arcstjohns.bkk@gmail.com.