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Meetings and Calls For Papers Highlands Institute Conference, 2012 Metaphysical and Religious Naturalism: Present Forms and Future Prospects June 11-14, 2012 Manitou Springs, Colorado   Keynote Speakers Lawrence E. Cahoone, College of the Holy Cross Nancy K. Frankenberry, Dartmouth College Ursula Goodenough, Washington University in St. Louis Robert C. Neville, Boston University Intellectual Autobiography Nancy R. Howell, Saint Paul School of Theology Conference Chairs Donald A. Crosby , Colorado State University, donald.crosby@att.net Pamela C. Crosby, Florida State University, pcrosby@fsu.edu CALL FOR PAPERS Submission Deadline: January 15, 2012 Submit proposals to: pcrosby@fsu.edu. Proposals should contain a descriptive title and brief (no more than 500 words) but informative and readable description of the paper to be presented, with some indication of why the proposer considers the paper to be an important contribution. Proposals should also include a brief (150-word) biographical sketch of their authors. The theme of the 2012 HIARPT conference encompasses exploration, defense, and criticism of the various forms of metaphysical and/or religious naturalism that have been proposed in the past, are being argued for in the present, or are thought to be inviting possibilities for the future. Part of the task of the conference will be to address issues concerning the nature of naturalism itself as a metaphysical position or religious outlook and commitment. For example, was Aristotle a naturalist? Why or why not? Is panentheism a naturalistic position? Does adequate explanation of the present existence and character of the universe require the positing of an ultimate source or ground that is not itself a part of the existing universe—and if so, does this mean a departure from naturalism? Did the universe begin at some point, or has it always been, in some shape or form? Is natura naturans a part of nature, or does it transcend nature? What is the relationship of naturalism and materialism? Can an idealist be a naturalist? Does naturalism simply mean rejection of anything that could be termed supernatural? How are metaphysical and epistemological naturalism to be distinguished? Other questions to be considered might include the following: What are the specific merits or strong points of a naturalistic outlook? How can such an outlook be criticized? What is the relation of metaphysical or religious forms of naturalism to the findings of the natural sciences? What sort of case could be made in favor of some sort of transcendent theism or spiritualism as over against various forms of naturalism? Which, if either, is primordial or emergent, matter or mind? What is matter and how does an adequate metaphysical or religious definition of it relate to current physics? How does naturalism relate to scientism? How does it relate to the natural sciences in general? How does naturalism account for evil or provide resources with which to respond to and cope with the menace of evil? Does evil exist only among human beings or is it a feature of nature itself? How do humans relate to the natural order? What are their responsibilities to that order? These questions are only suggestive. Proposals relating to the history of naturalism or the future prospects of naturalism are welcome, as are constructive or critical attempts to come to terms with any aspect or aspects of a naturalistic metaphysics or religious naturalism. Proposals for panels on the theme are also invited. As in the past, proposals are also invited in areas different from the theme of the conference but relevant to HIARPT’s mission statement and will be considered on their merits. For a printable page containing the information above, click on this link: HIARPT 2012 Announcement.   Second International Congress on Ecstatic Naturalism April 13-14, 2012 (Note that these dates reflect a recent change.) Drew University Click on this link for more information. Recent Meetings   2011 meeting of the Highlands Institute “New Directions in Pragmatism” June 13-16, 2011 Keynoters William D. Hart (Professor of Religion, Ethics, Politics, UNC Greensboro) Michael L. Raposa (Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Lehigh University) Shannon Sullivan (Professor of Philosophy, Women’s Studies, and African and African American Studies, Penn State University) Victor Anderson (Professor of Christian Ethics, African American and Diaspora Studies and Religious Studies, Vanderbilt University) Personal Reminiscence Tom Byrnes (Professor Emeritus, Benedictine University): “20 Years with HIARPT: Looking Back and Looking Forward” Focus The 2011 HIARPT meeting was held in Highlands, North Carolina, June 13-16. The meeting focused on new ways of thinking about and through pragmatism, which William James once described as a “new name for some old ways of thinking.” Especially encouraged are papers developing or interpreting new work on: pragmatism and contemporary American religion (e.g. pluralism, polarization, inter-religiosity); pragmatism, political discourse and the fate of democracy; pragmatism and metaphysics; pragmatism and social ethics and social justice (esp. race, gender, class, environment); pragmatism, public intellectuals, public theology, and public philosophy; pragmatism and pedagogy (i.e., how to teach pragmatism); pragmatism and new social and religious movements; the “American” character of pragmatism; and analytic pragmatism.   HIARPT Meeting, 2010 New Directions in American Liberal Philosophical and Religious Thought June 14-17, 2010 Colorado Springs, Colorado Program Co-Chairs: Nancy Frankenberry, nkf@dartmouth.edu J. Harley Chapman, jhchapman@ameritech.net Local Host: Vaughan McTernan, mcternav@gmail.com   As the Highlands Institute for American Religious and Philosophical Thought enters a new era under the leadership of Prof. Robert C. Neville, its second President, it is a good time to ask how the four foci of the organization are currently understood. What is changing, and what new emphases do the members discern in thinking about: the interface between theology and philosophy, especially where theological efforts have utilized the American philosophical tradition, the history and development of liberal religious thought in America, themes of relevance to the Chicago School of theology, and naturalism in American theology and philosophy. Open an Official Program for the meeting.   PLENARY SPEAKERS: Gary Dorrien, Linell Cady, and Wesley Wildman INTELLECTUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Robert Neville

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