Call for Papers — NCSR 2026

Research Approaches, Design and Methodology in the Sociology of Religion: Centering the Marginalized, Vulnerable and Socially Excluded

The methodological repertoire of the sociology of religion is rich and expanding—encompassing both quantitative and qualitative approaches: large-scale surveys, ethnographic fieldwork, mixed-methods designs, participatory and arts-based approaches, and legal-ethical frameworks for working with sensitive data. Yet, when it comes to marginalized and socially excluded populations—such as indigenous groups, LGBTQI+ communities, migrants, or those experiencing homelessness to mention a few—new questions arise: How can we ensure inclusive and sustainable research practices? How do we achieve higher quality, validity and reliability? What legal and ethical constraints must we navigate? How do our methods shape whose voices are heard and how those voices are interpreted? 

The 2026 conference of the Nordic Association for the Sociology of Religion (NCSR) invites scholars to critically engage with how we research religion and worldviews in contemporary social and cultural contexts. We particularly welcome contributions focusing on contexts marked by marginalization, vulnerability, and social exclusion. These contexts often challenge conventional methods and assumptions, calling for a reconsideration of the ways we conceptualize and investigate the variety of contemporary religious, spiritual and non-religious  views, meaning-making practices, the communal contexts they are embedded in, etc. Contributions may address a range of issues, ranging from practical challenges, interdisciplinary strategies, methodological limitations and possibilities, or broader questions relating to adequate representation, access, and epistemic justice.

By focusing on these critical issues, NCSR 2026 aims to foster a deeper, more inclusive sociology of religion that not only observes but actively engages with the complexity and diversity of contemporary lived realities.

Call for Papers: To be published in December 2025.
Deadline: 1 February 2026.

For more information please contact NCSR2026@abo.fi