ISHLR 2025 : International Symposium on Human, Loneliness, and Religion organized by the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye
- The symposium offers the flexibility of both in-person and virtual participation.
- In our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, we are pleased to offer free registration for all accepted presenters.
- For any questions or concerns, please contact the symposium organizers at [email protected]
IMPORTANT DATES
Abstract Submissions Due
March 7, 2025
Notification of Acceptance
March 14, 2025
Full Paper Submissions Due
April 15, 2025
Announcement of Symposium Program
April 18, 2025
Symposium Date
April 28–29, 2025
Publication of Symposium Proceedings
2025
Please submit your abstracts to [email protected]
OVERVIEW
It is a well-known fact that loneliness has become one of the fundamental problems of our era. As an emotion embedded in human existence, loneliness has found its space throughout history through various experiences. In this regard, it is an external reflection of the psychological dimension of human beings. This is because humans are multidimensional beings, and this characteristic provides a broad framework for examining them from different perspectives. However, the visibility of the relationship between humans and loneliness is a relatively recent phenomenon, and at no other time in history has loneliness emerged as a problem to be managed as significantly as it has in recent years. On the other hand, in terms of prophets or ordinary individuals being the addressees of divine revelation, the process of attaining full maturity and grasping the meaning of life for them has taken place through various dimensions of loneliness, such as being alone with oneself or consciously isolating oneself from society. One of the most remarkable examples of this is the first revelation received by Prophet Muhammad in the Cave of Hira. The state of being alone or consciously withdrawing from society to engage in self-reflection and life assessment yields positive outcomes of loneliness. This kind of loneliness ultimately enables individuals to discover their inner potential, engage with life more consciously, and foster interaction by sharing their insights with others. This represents the consciously chosen and sometimes necessary aspect of loneliness. Thus, with the modernization process, traditional societies dominated by collective lifestyles have increasingly turned into more individualized societies. Individualization has shifted a person's focus from the environment around them to their own self and has transformed the effort to make sense of life into an effort to sustain their own existence. However, determining moral, legal, and social values and transferring them from generation to generation are the basic dynamics that keep both individuals and society standing and ensure the continuation of the culture of living together within social groups and structures.
The technological advancements accompanying the transition from modern society to postmodern society have further accentuated a state of isolation that can be described as “loneliness in crowds.” In a digitized world, the perception of virtual reality surpassing real reality has rendered human relationships increasingly artificial. The lonely individual is often unaware of being alone or of having succumbed to the ailment of loneliness. This dangerous and pathological dimension of loneliness has recently led researchers to question the influence of religion on strategies for coping with loneliness. In this regard, loneliness has not only been the subject of various discussions as a contemporary problem but has also become a matter of state policy. So much so that the "Ministry of Loneliness" has been established in the United Kingdom and Japan to combat loneliness. These ministries carry out their work in cooperation with various institutions and organizations. The issue continues to gain attention in Türkiye as well. In fact, in 2024, the Turkish Language Institution declared the word of the year as "crowded loneliness." Within this framework, the High Board of Religious Affairs of the Presidency of Religious Affairs will organize an "International Symposium on Human, Loneliness, and Religion" to examine the issue of loneliness from a multidimensional perspective through the lenses of various disciplines.
OBJECTIVE of the SYMPOSIUM
The aim of the symposium is to analyze the dimensions of the relationship between human, loneliness, and religion from an interdisciplinary perspective and to reveal the interaction between these three phenomena. The symposium also seeks to examine examples of loneliness brought about by increasing individualization in the digitalizing world and to discuss the explanatory, interpretive, and problem-solving potential offered by religion in an academic setting. Another objective of the symposium is to question the role of religion in coping with loneliness and to discuss the findings of studies in this field.
SYMPOSIUM TOPICS
Potential topics include, but are not limited to;
- Religion and dimensions of loneliness
- Religion and sources of the feeling of loneliness
- Religion and theories of loneliness
- Loneliness, sociology of emotions, and religion
- Loneliness and religion in childhood
- Loneliness and religion in adolescence
- Loneliness and religion in youth
- Loneliness and religion in adulthood
- Loneliness and religion in old age and advanced aging
- The role of religion in coping strategies for loneliness
- Loneliness, aggression, and religion
- Loneliness, addiction, and religion
- Loneliness, individualization, and religion
- The new human, the new society, loneliness, and religion
- Digital loneliness and religion
- Digital fatigue, loneliness, and religion
- Loneliness, life satisfaction, and religion
- Loneliness, religion, and fear of death
- Loneliness and religion in the family
- Loneliness and religion in marriage
- Loneliness, parent-child relationship, and religion
- Loneliness in religious life
- Social media, loneliness, and religion
- Alienation and the relationship between loneliness and religiosity
- "Crowded loneliness" and religion
- Loneliness, hope/hopelessness, and religiosity
- Religion and the psychopathology of loneliness
- Loneliness and religion from a psychosocial perspective
- Religion and psychological determinants and triggers of loneliness
- The relationship between loneliness and religiosity
- The dimensions of loneliness and religiosity
- Loneliness in the context of prayer
- Religion, identity, and loneliness
- Popular culture, loneliness, and religion
- The effects of worship on loneliness
- Secular loneliness and spiritual loneliness;similarities and differences
- Religious perspectives on loneliness
- Islamic perspectives on loneliness
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Abstracts should be submitted via email to [email protected]
- Abstracts should be written in Turkish or English (for international participants).
- Abstracts should provide a concise overview of the topic and be between 200–400 words.
- Page layout: Submissions should be formatted on A4-sized paper with 2.5 cm margins on all sides (top, bottom, right, and left).
- The abstract title should be in Times New Roman, 12-point font, bold, and centered.
- The abstract text should be in Times New Roman, 11-point font, with 1.15 line spacing.
- If an ethical statement is required (e.g., if the study is derived from a thesis or supported by an institution), it should be indicated with a footnote marked by an (*) next to the abstract title.
- Citations, references, and formatting should follow the Chicago citation system (17th edition). See: https://www.mvcc.edu/learning-commons/pdf/Chicago_Manual_of_Style_17_Notes_and_Bibliography.pdf
FULL PAPER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Full papers should be submitted via email to [email protected].
- Papers should be written in English
- Papers should be scholarly, original, and between 5,000–8,000 words in length.
- Page layout: The page size should be A4, with 2.5 cm margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).
- The paper title should be centered on the page.
- Following the title, the author(s)’ academic title, full name, institutional affiliation, email address, and ORCID number should be written in 10-point font size.
- Papers must include: A title, an abstract, keywords (minimum 5, maximum 8), and a "references" section listing the sources used
- The main text should be written in Times New Roman, 11-point font size, with 1.15 line spacing.
- Headings within the main text should be in the same font (Times New Roman), bold, and 12-point font size.
- Arabic texts should be written in Traditional Arabic font.
- The "Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi" should be used as a reference for the spelling of names and concepts.
- Citations, references, and formatting should follow the Chicago citation style (17th edition). Please see: https://www.mvcc.edu/learning-commons/pdf/Chicago_Manual_of_Style_17_Notes_and_Bibliography.pdf
- In our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, we are pleased to offer free registration for all accepted presenters.
- For any questions or concerns, please contact the symposium organizers at [email protected]
IMPORTANT DATES
Abstract Submissions Due
March 7, 2025
Notification of Acceptance
March 14, 2025
Full Paper Submissions Due
April 15, 2025
Announcement of Symposium Program
April 18, 2025
Symposium Date
April 28–29, 2025
Publication of Symposium Proceedings
2025
Please submit your abstracts to [email protected]
OVERVIEW
It is a well-known fact that loneliness has become one of the fundamental problems of our era. As an emotion embedded in human existence, loneliness has found its space throughout history through various experiences. In this regard, it is an external reflection of the psychological dimension of human beings. This is because humans are multidimensional beings, and this characteristic provides a broad framework for examining them from different perspectives. However, the visibility of the relationship between humans and loneliness is a relatively recent phenomenon, and at no other time in history has loneliness emerged as a problem to be managed as significantly as it has in recent years. On the other hand, in terms of prophets or ordinary individuals being the addressees of divine revelation, the process of attaining full maturity and grasping the meaning of life for them has taken place through various dimensions of loneliness, such as being alone with oneself or consciously isolating oneself from society. One of the most remarkable examples of this is the first revelation received by Prophet Muhammad in the Cave of Hira. The state of being alone or consciously withdrawing from society to engage in self-reflection and life assessment yields positive outcomes of loneliness. This kind of loneliness ultimately enables individuals to discover their inner potential, engage with life more consciously, and foster interaction by sharing their insights with others. This represents the consciously chosen and sometimes necessary aspect of loneliness. Thus, with the modernization process, traditional societies dominated by collective lifestyles have increasingly turned into more individualized societies. Individualization has shifted a person's focus from the environment around them to their own self and has transformed the effort to make sense of life into an effort to sustain their own existence. However, determining moral, legal, and social values and transferring them from generation to generation are the basic dynamics that keep both individuals and society standing and ensure the continuation of the culture of living together within social groups and structures.
The technological advancements accompanying the transition from modern society to postmodern society have further accentuated a state of isolation that can be described as “loneliness in crowds.” In a digitized world, the perception of virtual reality surpassing real reality has rendered human relationships increasingly artificial. The lonely individual is often unaware of being alone or of having succumbed to the ailment of loneliness. This dangerous and pathological dimension of loneliness has recently led researchers to question the influence of religion on strategies for coping with loneliness. In this regard, loneliness has not only been the subject of various discussions as a contemporary problem but has also become a matter of state policy. So much so that the "Ministry of Loneliness" has been established in the United Kingdom and Japan to combat loneliness. These ministries carry out their work in cooperation with various institutions and organizations. The issue continues to gain attention in Türkiye as well. In fact, in 2024, the Turkish Language Institution declared the word of the year as "crowded loneliness." Within this framework, the High Board of Religious Affairs of the Presidency of Religious Affairs will organize an "International Symposium on Human, Loneliness, and Religion" to examine the issue of loneliness from a multidimensional perspective through the lenses of various disciplines.
OBJECTIVE of the SYMPOSIUM
The aim of the symposium is to analyze the dimensions of the relationship between human, loneliness, and religion from an interdisciplinary perspective and to reveal the interaction between these three phenomena. The symposium also seeks to examine examples of loneliness brought about by increasing individualization in the digitalizing world and to discuss the explanatory, interpretive, and problem-solving potential offered by religion in an academic setting. Another objective of the symposium is to question the role of religion in coping with loneliness and to discuss the findings of studies in this field.
SYMPOSIUM TOPICS
Potential topics include, but are not limited to;
- Religion and dimensions of loneliness
- Religion and sources of the feeling of loneliness
- Religion and theories of loneliness
- Loneliness, sociology of emotions, and religion
- Loneliness and religion in childhood
- Loneliness and religion in adolescence
- Loneliness and religion in youth
- Loneliness and religion in adulthood
- Loneliness and religion in old age and advanced aging
- The role of religion in coping strategies for loneliness
- Loneliness, aggression, and religion
- Loneliness, addiction, and religion
- Loneliness, individualization, and religion
- The new human, the new society, loneliness, and religion
- Digital loneliness and religion
- Digital fatigue, loneliness, and religion
- Loneliness, life satisfaction, and religion
- Loneliness, religion, and fear of death
- Loneliness and religion in the family
- Loneliness and religion in marriage
- Loneliness, parent-child relationship, and religion
- Loneliness in religious life
- Social media, loneliness, and religion
- Alienation and the relationship between loneliness and religiosity
- "Crowded loneliness" and religion
- Loneliness, hope/hopelessness, and religiosity
- Religion and the psychopathology of loneliness
- Loneliness and religion from a psychosocial perspective
- Religion and psychological determinants and triggers of loneliness
- The relationship between loneliness and religiosity
- The dimensions of loneliness and religiosity
- Loneliness in the context of prayer
- Religion, identity, and loneliness
- Popular culture, loneliness, and religion
- The effects of worship on loneliness
- Secular loneliness and spiritual loneliness;similarities and differences
- Religious perspectives on loneliness
- Islamic perspectives on loneliness
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Abstracts should be submitted via email to [email protected]
- Abstracts should be written in Turkish or English (for international participants).
- Abstracts should provide a concise overview of the topic and be between 200–400 words.
- Page layout: Submissions should be formatted on A4-sized paper with 2.5 cm margins on all sides (top, bottom, right, and left).
- The abstract title should be in Times New Roman, 12-point font, bold, and centered.
- The abstract text should be in Times New Roman, 11-point font, with 1.15 line spacing.
- If an ethical statement is required (e.g., if the study is derived from a thesis or supported by an institution), it should be indicated with a footnote marked by an (*) next to the abstract title.
- Citations, references, and formatting should follow the Chicago citation system (17th edition). See: https://www.mvcc.edu/learning-commons/pdf/Chicago_Manual_of_Style_17_Notes_and_Bibliography.pdf
FULL PAPER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Full papers should be submitted via email to [email protected].
- Papers should be written in English
- Papers should be scholarly, original, and between 5,000–8,000 words in length.
- Page layout: The page size should be A4, with 2.5 cm margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).
- The paper title should be centered on the page.
- Following the title, the author(s)’ academic title, full name, institutional affiliation, email address, and ORCID number should be written in 10-point font size.
- Papers must include: A title, an abstract, keywords (minimum 5, maximum 8), and a "references" section listing the sources used
- The main text should be written in Times New Roman, 11-point font size, with 1.15 line spacing.
- Headings within the main text should be in the same font (Times New Roman), bold, and 12-point font size.
- Arabic texts should be written in Traditional Arabic font.
- The "Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi" should be used as a reference for the spelling of names and concepts.
- Citations, references, and formatting should follow the Chicago citation style (17th edition). Please see: https://www.mvcc.edu/learning-commons/pdf/Chicago_Manual_of_Style_17_Notes_and_Bibliography.pdf