جامعة محمد بن زايد للعلوم الإنسانية

Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities is organizing its first international conference on religious studies in collaboration with the University of Padova and the University of Eastern Piedmont. This initiative reflects the university’s strong commitment to advancing scholarly research in the humanities and religious studies, with particular attention to shared values and dialogue among cultures and religions.

The conference seeks to examine religion through its historical, social, and cultural foundations using the analytical tools of the humanities and social sciences. It aims to promote critical and interdisciplinary research on religious traditions, practices, and institutions, while encouraging reflection on the intellectual and spiritual transformations shaping the contemporary world, with a focus on shared human values that foster dialogue and mutual understanding among cultures and religions. From this perspective, the conference at University of Padova also aims to strengthen interdisciplinary dialogue across fields such as philosophy, theology, kalam studies, sociology, anthropology, history, textual studies, and environmental studies linking religion with ecological and contemporary epistemological issues.

Themes

Theme 1

Philosophy and Epistemology in the Study of Religions

Theme 2

Theology, Kalam and Doctrinal Traditions

Theme 3

Anthropology, Sociology, History and Cultural Practices

Theme 4

Religion, Science and Contemporary Knowledge

Theme 5

Interdisciplinary Approaches in Religious Studies

Theme 6

Religious Diversity, Dialogue and Common Ground

Theme 7

Textual, Hermeneutic and Interpretive Studies

Objectives

Contribute to the development of Religious Studies as a multidisciplinary field grounded in analytical, historical, and critical inquiry.

Deepen the understanding of religions, texts, traditions, and practices, and explore their role in shaping societies and human consciousness.

Provide a platform for scholarly dialogue across philosophy, theology, textual studies, history, sociology, anthropology, and related academic fields.

Encourage research on religious diversity, coexistence, and the shared ethical and human questions emerging across religious traditions.

Support original and high-quality scholarship that contributes to the advancement of academic knowledge in Religious Studies.

Participation Requirements and Standards of Academic Excellence:

Submitted research papers must meet the following requirements:

The research must be relevant to one of the conference themes or topics.

The abstract must be approved by the Scientific Committee according to the specified rules and criteria.

The research must be original and must not have been previously submitted for publication or presentation in any journal, conference, or seminar. It must not be extracted from a previously published book or research, nor be part of a project proposal submitted to any entity prior to this conference

Papers and abstracts are accepted in both Arabic and English to support academic diversity and international openness.

The paper must not be less than 15 pages and must not exceed 30 pages.

The paper must be typed using Times New Roman, font size 14, with double line spacing.

Referencing must follow the APA style.

Notice

All submitted research papers will undergo a peer-review process conducted by specialists appointed by the Scientific Committee of the conference.

All accepted papers and scientific contributions presented at the conference shall be considered part of the intellectual property of the university. The university reserves the right to publish or academically utilize them in accordance with approved regulations and policies.

All travel and accommodation expenses will be covered for researchers whose scientific contributions are accepted for participation in the conference.

Abstract Guidelines and Criteria:

First:
Abstract Requirements

The abstract must be written in both Arabic and English, with a length ranging from (400–600 words) for each language.

Each language version must be prepared on a separate page using Times New Roman, font size 14.

The abstract must be accurate, clear, and comprehensively reflect the content of the research.

Second:
Scientific Abstract Content