Call for Papers - "The Spirit of Peace" Conference 2026

Multi-disciplinary Conference to be held March 21, 2026

Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio

Call for Papers: Due December 20, 2025

In order to foster interdisciplinary conversations around peace and nonviolence, the Ashland Center for Nonviolence invites proposals for the 2026 John D. Stratton Conference, centered on the theme: “The Spirit of Peace.”

This conference will explore how spiritual, religious, and contemplative traditions understand, articulate, and display peace commitments. While many contributions to peacemaking arise from political, legal, and scientific efforts, enduring global movements have often drawn their deepest strength from spiritual sources: practices of prayer and meditation, prophetic traditions, rituals of healing and forgiveness, and visions of interconnectedness and beloved community.

We welcome proposals from across disciplines—including religious studies, theology, ethics, history, literature, philosophy, psychology, education, the arts, and peace studies—as well as from practitioners working in interfaith dialogue, religious education, activism, and other peace-related fields. Together, we seek to better understand the spiritual dimensions of peace and how they can be nurtured in today’s world.

Question to explore might include:

• How do spiritual and religious traditions define and pursue peace?
• What roles do inner transformation, mysticism, and contemplative practice play in peacemaking?
• How have faith-based movements contributed to nonviolent resistance or reconciliation?
• What are ethical, theological, and other related roots of nonviolence across religious traditions?
• How do religious and spiritual art, music, and ritual help to cultivate a culture of peace?
• How can and have spiritualities been linked to resilience and hope amid violence and injustice?
• How can spiritual formation be integrated into peace education?

Both theoretical and practical approaches are encouraged.

Submission Guidelines:

Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted using the online submission form no later than December 20, 2025. Individual presentations should plan for 35 minutes with 10 additional minutes for discussion. Panel proposals are also encouraged.

Presenters are welcome to engage in academic or practical debates but should avoid unnecessary jargon and be mindful that our audience includes scholars, students, community members, and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds.

For more information on the Ashland Center for Nonviolence or for questions related to the conference, please contact Elizabeth Buttil at ebuttil@ashland.edu or (419) 289-5313.