ACHEA2021: Australian Christian Higher Education Alliance 2021 Conference Excelsia College and online (hybrid) Sydney, Australia, September 9-10, 2021 |
Conference website | https://excelsia.edu.au/research/achea-conference/ |
Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=achea2021 |
Submission deadline | July 30, 2021 |
AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION ALLIANCE CONFERENCE
CALL FOR PAPERS
Changing Worlds: Purposive formation, pluralism and paradigm clash – past and present
9-10 September 2021
EXCELSIA COLLEGE CAMPUS AND ONLINE
69-71 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Australia
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
DR STAN ROSENBERG CCCU & Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford
DR PERRY GLANZER Baylor University, Texas
DR BETH GREEN Tyndale University College, Toronto
Description
Purposive formation is central to the functioning of social institutions, including the family, church and education. Yet the goals and processes of formation are contested, particularly under conditions of social plurality and when incommensurate paradigms are in focus. In particular, Christian higher education institutions face challenges relating to the development of students in the context of post-modern society. There is often a clash of worldviews and ‘social imaginaries’ between traditional Christian and secular members of western cultures (Charles Taylor, 2004; James K.A. Smith, 2012)1, 2. Such contrasting ways of life have been described as ‘cultural paradigm clashes’ (Calabrese, 2013)3. In practice these clashes pose questions about living distinctively as Christians whilst maintaining genuine relationships ‘in the world’; about engaging in social discourse whilst refraining from both arrogance and unthinking submission; about remaining true to one’s Christian faith whilst learning deeply about the beliefs and practices of others.
When the social world is pluralistic and ‘others’ are themselves sharply differentiated by cultural background, religion, ideology, sexuality and other ways of being inthe world, then the work of Christian formation includes locating oneself within such diversity. Yet the context of formation, within the family, church, college or other institutions, will inevitably emphasize different foci of formation from the dimensions of personal, spiritual and professional formation and the domains of cognitive, affective and conative formation. Purposive formation, then, also raises questions about identity, wholes, and the integration of multiple selves for living in the world. These questions about formation are relevant for practitioners and also for researchers who work within an empirical paradigm that may itself clash with assumptions of the everyday world.
In this conference we will discuss the nature, goals and processes of formation, challenges to formation in pluralistic contexts, and problems of formation at times of paradigm clashes. The legitimacy of individually focused formation through higher education is not immune to question,given the social inequalities evident in access to enrolment and between graduates and non-graduates. The ethical implications of intentional formation of people in a social context that privileges autonomy are also worthy of close scrutiny. Some ethical questions include: Who has the right to attempt the formation of others? What legitimates formation activities? What are the benefits and harms of purposive individual formation in situations of pluralism? In considering these and related questions about purposive formation we reflect on the present and consider lessons that can be learned from the past.
- Charles Taylor, Modern Social Imaginaries (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2004).
- James K.A. Smith, Beyond Integration: Re-Narrating Christian Scholarship in Postmodernity, Chapter 1 in Beyond Integration: Inter/Disciplinary Possibilities for the Future of Christian Higher Education, Todd C. Ream, Jerry Pattengale , and David L. Riggs (Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 2012), 19-48.
- Joseph D. Calabrese, Peyote, Cultural Paradigm Clash, and the Multiplicity of the Normal (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013).
INFORMATION FOR PRESENTERSPapers are invited within the following themes: |
Theme 1. Christian Higher Education How can Christian higher education balance Christian formation and academic freedom? Can new technologies and pedagogies diminish paradigm clashes or mediate pluralisms in higher education? Which paradigms are clashing in contemporary Christian higher education? Theme 2. Applied Theology and Ethics What are some lessons from Christianity for formative endeavours? Can Christian theology give insights into contemporary paradigm clashes? Who has the rightto attempt the formation of others? What legitimates formation activities? What are the benefits and harms of purposive individual formation in situations of pluralism? Theme 3. Arts and Social Sciences What are some contemporary challenges in the formation of performing arts students? Are there ways of embracing pluralism through the arts and performing arts? What insights can be gained from the social sciences into process of identity formation and social identifications? How can healthy identities and identifications be fostered? Theme 4. Business Can studies of organizations and leadership help us understand processes of formation? How do businesses negotiate pluralisms and paradigm clashes? Is there a place for Christian businesses in Christian formation? In this conference we will discuss the nature, goals and processes of formation, challenges to formation in pluralistic contexts, and problems of formation at times of paradigm clashes. The legitimacy of individually focused formation through higher education is not immune to question,given the social inequalities evident in access to enrolment and between graduates and non-graduates. The ethical implications of intentional formation of people in a social context that privileges autonomy are also worthy of close scrutiny. Some ethical questions include: Who has theright to attempt the formation of others? What legitimates formation activities? What are the benefits and harms of purposive individual formation in situations of pluralism?In considering these and related questions about purposive formation we reflect on the present and consider lessons that can be learned from the past. Theme 5. Education What are the dominant pluralisms in Christian schoolsand colleges? How are pluralisms negotiated? Which theories and perspectives help Christian schools negotiate our changing socio-political worlds? What is the place of Christian informed curricula and pedagogies in the wholistic formation of students? Proposals for papers should include:
Presentations will be 20 minutes in length plus 10 minutes allowed for discussion. Prizes will be awarded for best theoretical, empirical and student papers. Closing date for proposals: 15 December 2020 Papers to be presented at the conference may be submitted in writing for peer review and potential inclusion in publications arising out of the Conference such as a themed monograph or journal issue in addition to electronic proceedings. These written papers will be approx. 5000 words in length. Papers will be selected for external publication by independent, blind peer reviewers. Closing date for written papers for peer review: 15 March 2021 |
Please direct any queries to Dr Maureen Miner Bridges, Director of Research, at Maureen.minerbridges@excelsia.edu.au |