Guiding Principles

The intention of the Caribbean Religions Project is to document the breadth of the Caribbean religious experience for publication in The Encyclopaedia of Caribbean Religions.  The editorial committee will work with consulting editors, researchers and practitioners to ensure that contributions are guided by the following principles:

1) a scholarly commitment to empathy, integrity and accuracy

2) the inclusion of the plurality of religious expressions in the region, paying close attention to geographical, historical and cultural similarities and differences

3) the analysis and presentation of these religious expressions from a Caribbean perspective, thus emphasizing the unique Caribbean contributions to religious experience

4) the situating of religious phenomena in relation to the struggles of subordinated groups engaged in challenging discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and/or sexuality

5) the inclusion of the inner, experiential component of the religious thought and practice ofindividuals and groups

6) the participation of Caribbean-based scholars and practitioners in the research and publication process wherever possible
 

Classes and Lengths of Entries

Encyclopaedia entries will be listed in alphabetical order but have been grouped under the following categories and suggested lengths for organizational purposes:

1) General Entries  e.g. African Religions, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Indigenous/Aboriginal Religions etc.

- short, introductory overviews of the general areas of religious experience specific to the region (750 words, 3 pages)

2) Geographical Entries e.g.. Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, Cuba, Suriname etc.

- short, introductory overviews of the religious traditions and tendencies peculiar to particular islands or regions (750 words, 3 pages)

3) Religious Traditions e.g. Vodu, Rastafari, Santeria, Palo Monte, Orisha, Myal, Revival and Caribbeanized transformations of other religious traditions--Arya Samaj, Sanatan Dharma, Sunni,Shi’ah, Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Pentecostal etc.

- major, detailed studies of specific religious traditions, including a selected bibliography (up to7,500 words, 30 pages)
- each entry will include both the perspective of the practitioners and a broader historical and comparative perspective thereby addressing the following overlapping dimensions of religious experience:
- historical origins or transformations in the Caribbean context
- concepts of divinity, myths and doctrines
- rituals and sacred practices
- aesthetic forms, including drawings, sculpture, music, song, dance, language and gesture
- holy days, festivals, sacred sites and pilgrimages
- leadership and organizational structure, including role of women
- significance for understanding the Caribbean religious experience
- impact on Caribbean culture and society

4) Specific Religious Phenomena e.g. notable sacred texts, festivals, shrines, divinities

- short to medium length, independent studies of significant religious phenomena which may or may not be related to one or more religious tradition with short bibliography (250-1250 words, 1-5 pages)

5) Spiritual/Cultural Beliefs and Practices e.g. jumbie, duppy, Carnival

-short to medium length, independent studies of religious-related phenomena with short bibliography (250-1250 words, 1-5 pages)

Ethical Guidelines

The Caribbean Religions Project is governed by the Research Ethics policies and Informed Consent Procedures of York University and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada governing human subjects in research.  Informed consent forms must be used by researchers relying on formal interviews or field recordings.  Forms are available from the Project leaders.
 

Languages Acceptable for Submissions

Submissions will be accepted in English, French and Spanish.   Where submissions from practitioners are to be included and translations from other languages are not immediately available, these submissions may be accepted in the original language.
 

Format

Sources for direct quotations must be provided (in text citations with appended bibliography) but excessive use of secondary sources should be avoided.  All contributions should be submitted in hard-copy and, where possible, on computer diskette (Word or WordPerfect) or by e-mail attachment.
 

Procedures for Submission

All submissions will be reviewed by consulting editors and by the editorial committee to determine suitability for publication.  Proposals should be submitted in advance to the editor-in-chief and should include 1) a brief abstract 2) length of entry (number of words) 3) qualifications of contributor.  Where possible, contributors should first contact the appropriate consulting editor to discuss the proposal.
 

Copyright

The editorial team is currently negotiating terms of publication, including copyright terms, with publishers.
 

Payment to Contributors

The Caribbean Religions Project will provide an honorarium for contributions to the Project,based on the extent of the contribution.