Sociology of religion: miscellania

Scholars have repeatedly noted the religious elements of efforts to establish and support international human rights in the post-WWII world. Some cite the 1948 Universal Declaration’s lack of philosophical foundations, which makes that document a statement of faith in secular clothing. Others note that Declaration’s (and later documents’) similarities to Western Protestantism, in their emphasis on individual rights vis-à-vis the state. Others focus on the quasi-religious nature of human rights movements. Still others focus on how and why some religious groups have taken up human rights activism while others have not — and how those groups have chosen which human rights efforts to champion. And a few seek to apply sociological insights about the dynamics of religious organizations to understand the recent fragile situation in which human rights organizations find themselves.

This session invites papers that explore these and other topics that draw connections between religion and human rights in the contemporary world. It especially welcomes contributions that break new ground for understanding the present human rights crisis.

This will be a regular session open to paper submissions.