Call for Papers: Nonconformist Responses to the First World War

Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, Birmingham UK

15-16 September 2015

Only in 1871, with the repeal of the Test Acts, were nonconformists allowed to attend universities in England and Wales and join the medical and legal professions. This ushered in a period, for some groups, of a closer relationship with the State where nonconformists could play their part in civic society as full citizens. The First World War fractured that relationship for those groups with issues surrounding the boundaries of State power, or opposed to war. Quakers, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists are all known, amongst other nonconformist groups, for refusing to bear arms; their attitudes to Government changed particularly after the introduction of conscription in 1916.

However, while in terms of faith and belief, the stance seemed clear, religious organisations could be pragmatic and individual members took divergent paths. One third of eligible Quaker men joined the armed forces during the First World War, some served as non-combatants; others were imprisoned for their conscientious objection.  Nonconformist families were often divided over their responses to the War.

This conference is jointly organised by the Centre for Postgraduate Quaker Studies at Woodbrooke and the Quaker Studies Research Association, but we hope the conference will consider a wide range of nonconformist experience and thought. We welcome proposals for papers on any aspect of individual or corporate nonconformist responses to the War and its aftermath.

Suggested topics for consideration include, but are not restricted to:

–          The collisions and co-operations between faith and the political world, from arguments around conscription to networks with the Labour and Women’s movements

–          Relations between and within dissenting religions

–          Nonconformist chaplains and servicemen

–          The impact of war and loss on faith

–          War and the growth and depletion of nonconformist groups

–          Personal deliberations of conscience

–          Tribunals and local attitudes to nonconformists

–          Absolutists’ experiences in prison and after release

–          Philanthropic efforts at home and abroad

–          Religion and the illness and debility caused by war or imprisonment

–          Impact of war on nonconformist attitudes towards science, business, gender, race and nation

–          The League of Nations and peace work

–          Remembrance, pilgrimage, commemoration and legacy

We welcome individual and panel proposals, the latter with three speakers and one chair. Abstracts should be a maximum of 250 words long and be submitted by 13 March 2015.  Proposals for and enquiries about the event should be e-mailed to Ben Pink Dandelion (b.p.dandelion@bham.ac.uk).