Call for Papers -- AAR Western Region, Pagan Studies Unit
Religion, Technology, and Innovation

See the full conference Call for Papers here: https://www.aarwr.com/

The Pagan Studies Unit invites submissions addressing any dimension of Religion, Technology, and Innovation for presentation at the AAR Western Region annual meetingon March 13-15, 2026 at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The Pagan Studies field offers many avenues of exploration – from the BBSes of the 1980s, to the alt.pagan and related UseNet groups and the birth of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s; to cyber-rituals on IRC channels and Skype, to the Zoom rituals of COVID pandemic quarantine. In the 21st century we find #WitchTok and pop culture witches transforming fundamental aspects of Paganism. In material culture, we find matches replaced with electric igniters, and continuing differences of opinion about photographing altars, videos of rituals, and music playback devices, computers, and mobile phones in ritual spaces. 

We look forward to gathering and continuing our tradition of critical inquiry, creative expression, and communal learning. On behalf of the AAR-WR leadership, we invite you to join us in exploring the rich and complex terrain where religion, technology, and innovation meet. Please note that applicants need not be AAR members, but must become AAR members before presenting at the Annual Meeting. Chosen presenters will also have the opportunity to share their papers at the Spirit Northwest conference in Portland, OR on April 23-26, 2026.

Download the proposal form here (Word version or PDF version), and submit to the co-chairs below by October 31, 2025. 

Sincerely,

Candace Kant (candacekant@gmail.com) and Polly Springhorn (polly.springhorn@gmail.com), Co-Chairs, AARWR Pagan Studies Unit