2018 Volume 4 Theme: Spirituality in the Modern Western World
The editorial board of Cutting Edge: The Journal of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program (ISGP) is excited to announce the call for papers for the upcoming 2018 (Vol.4) issue. We would like to invite students and scholars to explore and examine the roles and implications of spirituality in the modern age. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the journal, we welcome all academic disciplines, theoretical frameworks and research methodologies to engage in a wide variety of topics related to the theme of interest.
The subject of spirituality reflects an important dimension in both public and personal spaces in the modern Western world. For many of us, spirituality represents a foundational source of meaning and identity. Whether from the therapeutic concerns for mental wellbeing, the religious longing for meaningful beliefs and ethics, or the political spirit to bolster cultural identities, spirituality remains to be a prevalent and important theme that is continuously explored. Yet the modern age in the West in its secularity, scientific epistemology, humanism, religious diversity, and pop-culture interact with the subject of spirituality where its roles and implications perpetually entail an undefined conclusion. Despite its acknowledged significance, it nevertheless maintains an eclectic and ambiguous nature, situating its discourse within the tension of interdisciplinary exchange. For Cutting Edge, the topic of spirituality, therefore, represents a welcoming source of rich dialogical possibilities in its important relevance yet inspiring ambiguity.
Authors are encouraged to explore spirituality in connection with topics including, but not limited to:
- Cultivation of personal identity and meaning/purpose, nihilism, philosophical anthropology
- Postmodernism
- Integrations into pedagogy, curriculum, general educational culture, Bildung/formation, contemplative and holistic education, humanism in education
- Relationship/tension with science, rationalism/empiricism, determinism, materialism, etc.
- Physical and mental health/illness, therapeutic applications and interventional models/frameworks
- Clinical phenomenology, psychoanalysis, existential-humanistic psychotherapy
- Spiritual, religious and mystical experiences, their implications and significance
- Popular culture, commodification, technology
- Social justice, political ideology, intersectionality, critical consciousness, social action/revolution, social work, human rights
- Religious diversity, interfaith processes, religious education
- Artistic expressions and experimentation
- Moral frameworks, ethical actions and responsibility
- Ancient philosophy/culture in relation to modern philosophy/culture
Instructions for Authors
We welcome submissions from multiple styles; authors may submit philosophical/theoretical positions, qualitative/quantitative research, or experimental/art-based presentations. Submissions should be author’s original work and not previously submitted to any other academic sources. Any references provided in the paper should conform to APA. The general format of the paper should have size 12 Times New Roman and 1-inch margin on all sides.
Authors should conform to the required range of word count that is 2,500-4,000.
The deadline is March 15th; authors can expect up to 2-3 weeks for the notification of the status of their submissions.
Although we understand the challenges for authors whose native language is not English, we will encourage authors to have a native English speaker to review and edit their papers before the formal submission.
For more information, please visit cuttingedge.isgp.ubc.ca or contact isgpjournal@gmail.com.
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief: Steven Zhao (ISGP M.A. Student)
nevets.oahz@gmail.com
Assistant Editor: Rena Del Pieve Gobbi (ISGP Ph.D. Student)
delpievegobbi.rena@yahoo.ca
Reviewers: TBA
Advisory Board
Dr. Barbara Weber (Chair of ISGP, Associate Professor)
barweber@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Walter Kohan (Visiting Scholar, Professor of State University of Rio de Janeiro)
wokohan@gmail.com
Contact
Cutting Edge, Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program (ISGP)
270-2357 Main Mall
H. R. MacMillan Building,
Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
Tel: 604.822.0954
Fax: 604.822.0470
Email: isgp.office@ubc.ca