Sixteenth Annual REFORC Conference on Early Modern Christianity

The Sixteenth Annual REFORC Conference on Early Modern Christianity will be hosted by the Swiss Institute for Reformation History, June 7-9, 2027.

Topic Plenary Papers: Defining, Demonstrating and Defending Identity and Alterity in the Reformation Era

Identity in the early modern era was shaped by sundry factors – both, religious, social, and, increasingly, national – which also determined how people conceived of others as well as of themselves. Religious identity, however, was less a self-evident preconception than an issue-at-stake during the 16^th century. 500 years ago, in the second half of the 1520s, religious and political parties had to re-conceptualise their “new” identity.

The 16^th Annual REFORC Congress on Early Modern Christianity will focus on the question of early modern Christian identity in the context of the Reformation. We envision to stimulate debate amongst diverse facets of how identity was shaped, perceived of, and presented in the Reformation era:

• How did concepts of religious or social identity (or alterity) develop after the Reformation took hold in an area or amongst certain individuals or groups?
• How were such identities positively established by (e.g.) the formulation of doctrinally normative texts and other integrative processes, and how were they defended by (e.g.) the means of confessional polemics and mechanisms of inclusion?
• What role did pamphlets, disputations, letters, and other genres play in establishing, demonstrating, questioning, and defending one’s own identity?
• How can conflicts and tensions between different parties be understood with regards to the question of identity (and/or alterity)?
• How did religious identity (and/or alterity) translate into religious, social, and political practice – and vice versa?
• How was (religious) identity staged by the means of liturgy, art, music, and architecture – and (how) did it manifest itself in the (urban or rural) space?

In good REFORC tradition, this congress shall draw on the rich potential of interdisciplinary discourse and multidisciplinary, transnational approaches: Comparing different reformation identities, protagonists and geographical areas will, we hope, shed new light on the issues at stake.

Short Paper Presentations

The conference welcomes proposals for individual short papers as well as thematic sessions of two or three short papers. Presentations should be 20 minutes in length and followed by 10 minutes for discussion.

In addition to the more specific topic mentioned above, the conference is open to proposals focusing on any other topics or disciplines related to Early Modern Christianity, ca. 1400-1700, such as philosophy, law, history, theology, etc., independent of the theme of the plenary papers.

Panels and General Attendance

In case of a thematic session (panel) all panelists must register separately, indicating the panel in the registration form.

It is also possible to attend the conference without giving a paper. In that case, you can register for the conference via the registration form, indicating that you do not want to submit a short paper proposal.

Call for Papers

The call for papers will open around June 2026. Short paper proposals of max. 2000 characters can be submitted until February 15, 2027, while registering via the registration form. The scholarly committee will inform you on the acceptance of your paper within ca. two weeks of receipt of your proposal.

Language

Preferred language for short papers is English, but papers in French and German are also welcome. Presenters who prefer to give their paper in French or German must provide the audience with an English summary of about 150-200 words.

Conference Proceedings

The conference volume will be published by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht in the series Refo500 Academic Studies (R5AS) and will contain plenary papers and a selection of short papers. Another publication venue is the Journal of Early Modern Christianity (JEMC).

Manuscripts for the conference volume can be submitted after the conference to the editors: Tobias Jammerthal and Judith Engeler. Presenters will receive an email invitation and the R5AS stylesheet after the conference. All other manuscripts can be submitted to editor-in-chief of the JEMC, Wim François.

Editors will decide on publication.

Scholarly Committee

Judith Engeler (Zurich) and Tobias Jammerthal (Zurich).

Member