
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Each year, the MTN holds a conference at one of its partner institutions.
The latest Annual Conference was scheduled for 4-6 June 2025 and
took place at the Ruusbroec Institute at the University of Antwerp.

Annual Conference 2027:
Mysticism and the Everyday
St John's College Oxford
Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th July 2027

The Mystical Theology Network invites abstracts for Mysticism and the Everyday, the annual conference of the Mystical Theology Network. The conference seeks to engage scholars and creative practitioners in a multi-disciplinary examination of the ways in which mysticism and everyday interact and interrelate. The conference will also include a mini-symposium: 'Mysticism in the Classroom', with a particular focus on Medieval Scholarly engagement with Mysticism across Religious Traditions.
This interdisciplinary and interreligious conference will highlight a plurality of approaches to mysticism and the everyday. We welcome proposals for papers, panel discussions, and creative presentations in a variety of styles from diverse traditions and disciplines including: theology, philosophy, art history, history, contemporary art practice, cultural theory, material culture studies, feminist theory, literature, poetry, music, and other creative and contemplative practices. Proposals should explore the domain of the everyday within one or more mystical traditions. We also encourage interdisciplinary and interreligious approaches that engage both historical and contemporary conversations.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
John Arblaster (Ruusbroec Institute, University of Antwerp.
Ayelet Even-Ezra (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Paul Franks (Yale University)
Seema Golestaneh (Cornell University)
Richard King (SOAS)
Mark Mclnroy (Oxford University)
Jane Shaw (Oxford University)
Arjun Nair (University of Southern California)

Call for Papers
Deadline for Abstracts: 31st January 2027
Possible themes may include:
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The Arts as a mode of mystical expression
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The relationship between “making” practices and contemplative practices
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Mysticism in the classroom/teaching mysticism.
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Everyday reception of mystical texts and teaching
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mystical lineages/transmission of mystical heritage
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Reflections on Medieval Scholarly/Scholastic engagement with mysticism across religious traditions
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Secular engagement with mysticism
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Mysticism and politics
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Mysticism in action
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Mysticism and exegesis
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The relationship between the unsayable and the everyday
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Mysticism and transformation
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Mysticism, I/incarnation and O/otherness
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Mysticism, gender and race
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Mysticism, technology, tools, techiques and artificial intelligence
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Mysticism and healthcare
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Mysticism and the media and social media
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Mysticism and the sciences
Proposal (up to 350 words).
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Paper proposal — A proposal for presenting a short (20 minute) original paper
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Session proposal — A proposal for a session or roundtable where different papers are presented on a common theme/project and emphasis is placed on shared discourse. Session proposals should include abstracts, name of presider, list of panelists or respondents.
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Project proposal — A proposal for a presentation, event, exhibition, performance or screening. Project proposals should include description of media and venue/technology requirements.
All proposals should include:
1. Full name
2. E-mail
3. Current institution and/or academic affiliation
4. Academic degree / year of study
5. Title of the paper or project
6. Technical equipment needs

