SSMR 1999 Regional Conference

The Society for the Study of Metaphysical Religion is pleased to announce its Fifth Annual Regional Conference. The Conference will be held at the Emma Curtis Hopkins College located on the campus of Unity Church of Clearwater (see address above). The college and the church are co-hosting the conference. The theme of the conference is "What Do We Mean By 'Metaphysical' Religious Tradition and What Does this Tradition Mean to Modern and Postmodern Culture?" Primary issues and questions we seek to address are: "What is the 'Metaphysical' Tradition?"; "Was Judah Right?: How Do We Define the 'Metaphysical' Tradition?"; and "How Do the 'Metaphysical' Movements Relate to Other Religions and Culture as a Whole?" Papers addressing other issues and questions are welcome.

Several speakers are confirmed and the conference schedule allows for a few more. Proposals are welcome on any topic related to "metaphysical" religion. Submissions are encouraged from members and academically engaged non-members in any area related to the "Metaphysical" tradition; including: popular mysticism, Theosophy and related groups, New Age religions, and Popular Religious Idealism (New Thought, Christian Science, and related groups). Papers on other topics and other religious groups also will be considered. Proposals (no more than 1500 words) should be accompanied by an abstract (no more than 50 words). Submit four copies (each) of the proposal and the abstract; with your name and institutional affiliation on one copy and only the title on the other three. Please be sure to include your return address on a separate sheet. Divineline ("deadline") for submissions is September 1, 1999.

Members of the Society are encouraged to attend and participate in this important gathering. See the Call for Papers, Conference Schedule, geographical directions, and Registration form on this site.

The conference is open to the public, with special attention given SSMR members and interested scholars who desire to comment on the papers presented. No fees or registration/ application costs will be assessed. Participants have an opportunity for support of the conference and SSMR through voluntary ("love offering") contributions, which will be received during the conference. Light refreshments will be available at the conference site, and we will dine together at a local restaurant on Saturday evening. Further details will be sent to persons who register to attend the conference.

Tentative Schedule

Friday, October 22

3:00-3:25 p.m. Registration

3:30-4:30 Paper I (open)

5:00-5:55 Registration

6:00-7:00 "Christian Science and its Cultural Context: Pentecostalism, New Thought, and the Leadership of Women in Religion" by Huda Ajlani, Terry Ely, and Christina Hendrick, University of South Florida, Department of Religious Studies
7:00-7:15 Respondent: Gage Chapel, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Greenspun School of Communication

7:30-8:30 "But Which Metaphysics?: The Nagging Myth That New Thought is Fundamentally Idealistic" by Paul Alan Laughilin, Otterbein College

Saturday, October 23

7:30-8:30 Paper III (open)

10:00-10:25 a.m. Registration

10:30-11:30 "Lost Threads in New Thought: Influence of Other Metaphysical Groups Carrying New Thought Off Course" by Deb Whitehouse, Curry College

12:00-12:55 p.m. Registration

1:00-2:00 "Issues and Questions Regarding the Concept of Contemporary Gnosticism" by Dawn Hutchinson, University of South Florida, Department of Religious Studies

2:30-3:30 "Epistemological Excursions: Pragmatism and the American Metaphysical Religions" by Gage Chapel, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Greenspun School of Communication

4:00-4:30 SSMR regional meeting

5:00-6:30 SSMR Regional Conference Annual Meal (location to be determined)

Possible Paper VII (open)

7:00-8:00 Plenary Address: "Metaphysics in the Metaphysical Movement" by C. Alan Anderson, Curry College

Once we have received your registration, we will keep you posted on additions to the program, location for the Annual Meal, and local accommodations. As available, brochures for local accommodations will be sent.

Directions

Emma Curtis Hopkins College, located on the campus of Unity Church of Clearwater, is easy to reach from anywhere in the Tampa Bay Region. It is about one-half mile east of U.S. 19 on Nursery Road in the city of Clearwater.

If coming from the North (from Tampa International Airport) (and/or using Highway 60/Gulf to Bay): Turn left on U.S. 19 off of Hwy. 60/Gulf to Bay and proceed south about one mile to Nursery Road (see over-road signs and look for McDonald's on the south and gas station on the north [both to your right] of the intersection). Turn right on Nursery Road, Unity Church is on the left.

If coming from the South (from St.Petersburg/Clearwater Airport) (or using Howard Franklin Bridge and other southern routes): Take Ulmerton Road north to U.S. 19. Turn right on U.S. 19 and proceed north about three miles to Nursery Road (see over-road signs and look for McDonald's on the south and gas station on the north [both to your left] of the intersection). Turn left on Nursery Road, Unity Church is on the left.

If coming from the North (following U.S. Hwy. 19) (crossing Hwy. 60/Gulf to Bay): Following U.S. 19 south, after crossing Hwy. 60/Gulf to Bay, proceed about one mile to Nursery Road (see over-road signs and look for McDonald's on the south and gas station on the north [both to your right] of the intersection). Turn right on Nursery Road; Unity Church is on the left.

If coming from the South (crossing Ulmerton Road): Following U.S. 19 north, after crossing Bay to Bay (686) and Belleair Road, Nursery Road will be the next intersection (see over-road signs and look for McDonald¹s on the south and gas station on the north [both to your left] of the intersection). Turn left on Nursery Road; Unity Church is on the left.

Accommodations

Clearwater is just north of St. Petersburg and just west of Tampa, on Florida's beautiful Gulf coast. This area of Florida is a popular destination for U.S.A. and international vacationers, and October is wonderful time to visit. The temperature is milder than most other locales in the industrialized world at this time of the year and the delightful beaches are less crowded than during the tourist season (summer and winter). Room rates are generally "off peak" at this time and there are a number of reasonable accommodations close to the conference site -- including many on the Florida "Gulf Beaches." In addition to their academic and professional interests, attendees will find the Tampa Bay Region a lively place to satisfy and expand social, entertainment, and scholarly horizons, ranging from the most conservative to the most progressive. Attendees will discover many restaurants, entertainment venues, and academic institutions near by -- theaters, "clubs," movie complexes, dance venues, world-class dining (such as "Bern's" in Tampa), museums (such as the "Dali" in St. Petersburg), Busch Gardens, and prestigious schools of higher learning (such as the University of South Florida [2nd largest in the Southeast] and the University of Tampa). If you are planning to stay overnight when attending the conference, we suggest contacting ECHC at (727) 535-1271 or Unity Church of Clearwater at (727) 531-0992 for suggestions on local accommodations. If/when you register, we will stand ready to work with you regarding directions to restaurants, entertainment venues, and academic institutions.

Please register as soon as possible, if you plan to attend. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADVANCE REGISTRATION FORM

Please print and return this form if you plan to attend the conference. If you are submitting a proposal and abstract for a paper, please include the proposal and abstract with this form.

Name _________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________

City __________________________ State _____ Zip ___________

Telephone ____________________

____I (We) plan to attend the conference, but will not be submitting a proposal (number________)

____I plan to attend the conference and will submit a proposal at a later date.

____I plan to attend and I am enclosing a proposal and abstract for consideration on the program.

We encourage advanced voluntary ("love offering") contributions with advanced registrations

Voluntary ("love offering") contribution enclosed ($_____________)

SEND TO: SSMR: c/o ECHC / P.O. Box 7753 / Clearwater, FL 33758-7753
Make checks payable to: SSMR/U-P.C.
telephone (727) 535-1271; other phone number for information on the conference: (727) 531-0992

URL of this site: http://websyte.com/alan/ssmrrg99.htm

URL of this site: http://websyte.com/alan/ssmrrg99.htm

Entered, on behalf of Society for the Study of Metaphysical Religion, July 20, 1999, by

Alan Anderson, caa@gis.net

Latest update Aug. 8, 1999

Visits since July 20, 1999.
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