The 8^th Annual Conference of East Asian Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (EASSSR)

Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

July 1^st to 4^th, 2026

 

Religion and Digital Worlds:
Dynamics of Religious Adaptation, Resilience and Innovation

 

CALL FOR PAPERS

Across recent decades, modern society has undergone a series of transformative shifts—from industrial to post-industrial production, from the information society to the network society, and now into the emerging era of artificial intelligence. Each wave of modernization has not only reshaped the modes of production, but also continuously redefined how we communicate, form community, and understand ourselves. Religion—one of the most enduring institutions in human history—has journeyed alongside these transitions. Its forms, functions and meanings are continuously renegotiated. As we enter an age defined by digital connectivity and AI, key questions emerge: Does religion retain its traditional functions in digital modernity? How do religious communities adapt to networked environments and intelligent technologies? The persistence, reinvention, and even expansion of religion in modern contexts reveal striking patterns of resilience. The central theme of this conference is therefore the role of religion and digital worlds in contemporary society. Alongside this central theme, we also welcome contributions that explore any issue connected to religion in modern and contemporary contexts.

Asia, with its vast spectrum of religious traditions, offers diverse pathways for adaptation under conditions of rapid social change. Digital environments open new possibilities for religious communication, activism, knowledge dissemination, and cultural expression. Some traditions find renewed vitality; others face declining influence, fragmentation, or transformation. This diversity is further reflected in the contrasting configurations of religion–politics relations across Asia. East Asian societies often maintain loose or neutral religion–politics boundaries, while Southeast Asian countries may display more direct and institutionalized links. These contrasts invite comparative analysis and multi-sited research, encouraging scholars to examine resilience, negotiation, innovation, and tension within religious systems as they move into the networked and AI-expanded present. Paper submissions from, or about, all regions of Asia and beyond are welcome.

You are invited to submit your abstract to the 2026 EASSSR Annual Conference. Topics of interest for submission include, but are not limited to:

1. Digital Faith Communities
2. Religion in Social Media
3. Religious Identity in the Digital Age
4. Digital Evangelism
5. Interfaith Dialogue Online
6. Religious Resilience and Innovation in the Digital Age
7. Religion and Social Theory
8. Religion in Quantitative Focus
9. Religion in Comparative Scope
10. Religion and Social Welfare
11. Migration, Politics and Religion
12. Civil Religion and Religious Social Engagement
13. Ritual, Festival and Religion
14. New Religion in the Modern World
15. Religion, Social Conflict and War
16. Religion, Market and Economics
17. Religion, Gender and Sexuality
18. Religions in Southeast Asia
19. Religion and arts

 

Conference Venue

The conference will take place on the museum campus of the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Please note that the site is located in a relatively remote area, approximately 25 km from the city center, or about 35 minutes by public transportation. On-campus accommodation will be available with sufficient capacity for all participants; alternatively, you may choose to stay in a hotel in the city center. Dining options of different types and price ranges are provided on campus, though please note that meals served there are exclusively vegetarian.

Further details — including room reservation procedures and transportation information — will be announced in early 2026.

For preliminary information about the venue, please visit the museum’s official website: https://www.fgsbmc.org.tw/en/index.aspx

 

Deadlines

• Deadline for submission of paper presentation proposals: 15 February 2026
• Notification of acceptance: March 2026
• Registration and payment will open following the notification of acceptance.

 

Accommodation Information

Two types of accommodation are available at the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum Guest House:

• Twin room (two beds): NT$3,000 (approximately USD 100) per night
• Single room (one bed): NT$2,400 (approximately USD 80) per night

Payment: Credit card or cash (local currency), payable on site.

Reservation:

Participants who wish to stay at the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum Guest House are kindly requested to complete their booking via the provided link by March 15, 2026, by which time reservations are guaranteed.

Reservation Link: https://forms.gle/aNJtLuvqKherRt7YA

 

Additional Information

• The Fo Guang Shan Complex is located outside the downtown area of Kaohsiung. Please note that only vegetarian meals are available within the complex.
• The complex can be reached from Zuoying MRT Station (co-located with Zuoying High Speed Rail Station) by bus in approximately 35 minutes. Bus services operate every 30 minutes during peak hours and every hour during off-peak hours. The last bus departs from the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum at 19:00. Further transportation details will be provided in the section “Transportation.”
• To minimize commuting inconvenience, participants are strongly encouraged to stay at the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum Guest House during the conference period. Participants who choose to stay in downtown Kaohsiung are advised to plan their travel time accordingly.
• A short guided visit of the Fo Guang Shan Complex (approximately 1.5 hours) is planned after the official program each day.

 

Fees

EASSSR Membership Fee

• Regular Members: US$50 (one year) / $90 (two years) / $130 (three years)
• Student Members: US$30 (one year) / $50 (two years) / $70 (three years)

Conference Registration Fee:

• Regular Members: US$120 / Regular non-member US$170
  Student Members: US$70 / Student non-member US$100

 

Local Committee Member

• Chi, Wei-Hsian Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica ( Convenor)
• Fan, Gang-hua Department of Sociology, Soochow University ( Co-convenor)
• Chen, Teng-Hsiang Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism
• Chiou, Syuan-yuan Department of Sociology, National Chengchi University
• Chiou, Tzu-Lung Institute of Religious Studies, Nanhua University
• Lin, Yu-sheng Center for Asian-Pacific Area Studies, RCHSS, Academia Sinica
• Liu, Yining Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts

 

Enquiry

Chi, Wei-Hsian (email: whchi@as.edu.tw)