The Dialogue Between Science &
Religion
Deadline: December 12, 2016
Science and religion, despite their rich,
interwoven history, are too often portrayed as opposites in nearly every way. As
part of
a larger
effort to facilitate dialogue between these two ways of knowing the
world,
Creative Nonfiction and
Issues in Science and
Technologyare seeking original narratives illustrating and exploring the
relationships, tensions, and harmonies between science and religion—the ways
these two forces productively challenge each other as well as the ways in which
they can work together and strengthen one another. We welcome personal stories
of scientists, religious figures, or (just as important) everyday people seeking
to explore or reconcile their own spiritual and scientific beliefs.
We also welcome research-based narratives
about historical moments in scientific and/or religious discovery; stories by or
about contemporary scientists wrestling with the ethical quandaries their work
entails; or essays by religious, legal, humanistic, or other experts who have
encountered interesting and revealing instances of science-religion dialogue and
harmonies. Above all, we are looking for narratives—true stories, rich with
scene, character, detail, and a distinctive voice—that provide a nuanced,
thoughtful consideration of the complex interplay and unexplored
interdependencies and synergies between science and religion.
Please note that while our interests are
broad and inclusive, narratives should focus strongly on science and religion.
We discourage submissions that focus on secondary issues such as bioethics;
ecology, the environment, and sustainability; and pseudoscience.
Creative
Nonfiction and Issues in Science and Technology editors will award
two prizes—a best essay prize of $10,000, and a $5,000 runner-up
prize—and up to five honorable mentions, each with a $500 prize. The
two winning essays will be published in the fall 2017 issues of both magazines;
honorable mentions will also be considered for publication in one or both
magazines and/or online.
Guidelines: Essays must
be previously unpublished and no longer than 5,000 words. There is a $20 reading
fee, waived for current Creative Nonfiction subscribers. You can also
submit and become a subscriber, extend your subscription, or give a gift
subscription by submitting $25 to include a 4-issue subscription to Creative
Nonfiction (US addresses only). Multiple entries are welcome ($20/essay) as
are entries from outside the United States (though due to shipping costs we
cannot offer the subscription deal).
A note about fact-checking: Essays
accepted for publication in Creative Nonfictionundergo a rigorous
fact-checking process. To the extent your essay draws on research and/or
reportage (and it should, at least to some degree), editors will ask you to send
documentation of your sources and to help with the fact-checking process. We do
not require that citations be submitted with essays, but you may find it helpful
to keep a file of your essay that includes footnotes and/or a
bibliography.
To submit by regular
mail:
Postmark deadline: Monday, December 12, 2016.
Mail essay plus a cover letter and reading fee to:
Science & Religion
c/o Creative
Nonfiction
5119 Coral Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
To submit online:
Deadline
to upload files: 11:59 pm Eastern Time, Monday, December 12,
2016
.
