The 27th conference of the Nordic Association for the Sociology of Religion (NCSR), will be organized in Arken, during the days of August 12-14. The conference theme focuses on: research approaches, design and methodology in the sociology of religion by 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 like 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, 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?
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.
The open sessions include topics from Nordic non-religion to gender, migration and politics. In addition, they tap on topics such as art-related methodologies, joy and safety in religious spaces, and challenges in studies of minorities. Please note that the deadline for the call for papers is February 1st, 2026.
To find out more about the conference, visit the website at this link. On the website, you can also read our call for papers and view the open sessions. If you are interested in volunteering at the conference, please send an email to this address.
We look forward to hosting you in Åbo later this year!