Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q: Do I have to be a graduate student/academic to submit a piece?
A: No! If you’ve taken the time to craft a piece of writing that’s related to religion in the public sphere, then this is the place for you. Religion Beat strives to provide a space for you to publish in a sophisticated online venue that allows you to write for public consumption while maintaining a commitment to intellectual writing.

Q: Are submissions peer reviewed?
A: Yes, your submission is subject to a blind peer review. Religion Beat combines aspects of journalistic and academic peer review processes. In addition to style and copy editing, your piece will be refereed in terms of originality of argument and quality of content. The research interests of our reviewers span a broad range of topics under the umbrella of the study of religion. While we cannot guarantee a specialist in your area will referee your piece, your article will be directed to reviewers whose area of specialization is closest to yours.

Q: Can I submit a paper I’ve written for a course, as is?
A: No. Religion Beat publishes articles that employ a journalistic tone, which usually means course papers won’t fit the bill. However, if you’ve written a paper for a course and you think the topic fits the RB mandate, we encourage you to rework it into an article for submission. If you’re not sure how to do that, send us an email and we’ll help you get started.

Q: What should I write about?
A: You can write about anything related to religion in the public sphere. Do you want to debate definitions of secularism? Were you fascinated by this year’s Diwali celebrations in your city? Do you have something to say about your recent travels? Are you concerned about the well-being of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar? Write about it! Any religion, any time period, any geographical location.

Q: Can I submit a book or film review that I’ve written?
A: Yes, absolutely.

Q: I hear you will be hosting a podcast series. Can I take part in a round table or suggest an idea or a panel?
A: Absolutely! The podcast series will launch in 2015 and you can email us at religionbeat@gmail.com for information about participating in or organizing a round table.

Q: How long should my article be?
A: Your article can be as short as 500 words or as long as 2500 words.

Q: Which format is best for submissions?
A: Please attach your submission to an email (religionbeat@gmail.com) as a Word document or any other format that allows edits. Please do not send PDFs.


Q: How will I know if my submission has been accepted to the blog?
A: If your submission has been selected, you will receive an email prior to publication.

Q: Why do I have to submit a (max) 50 word description of myself with my article?
A: We will put your author description next to your article so readers know a little bit about who you are and can follow your work in other places, should your article resonate with their own interests. Example: “Jan Stereo is a graduate student at the University of Example. Her research addresses religion in online spaces and she has published and presented poetry on the same subject in Example Newspaper at the University of Example.”

Q: How formal does the writing have to be?
A: Even though many of the people who submit to Religion Beat are academics, this blog is intended for public consumption. We’re looking for thoughtful and accessible content.

Q: What if I have an idea for a post, but I’m not sure how to go about putting it together?
A: Someone from our editorial team would be happy to help you workshop your idea for a future post on Religion Beat. Email religionbeat@gmail.com with a brief overview of your idea, and you’ll be put in touch with a member of the editorial team.

Q: If I don’t have an article to submit, what are some other ways I can contribute?
A: There are a many ways to contribute:
1. Send us links to great articles you’ve read. Religion Beat hosts a series called Link Roundup, where we post links to new articles about religion in the public sphere. Did you read a fascinating article on Slate this morning over a cup of coffee? Did you see a video that sparked a debate amongst you and your peers? Shoot the link over to religionbeat@gmail.com with a subject line of “Link Roundup” and it will be considered for the series.
2. Contribute your voice to the comments section. Be sure to keep things respectful, though. Discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate comments will be removed.
3. Submit photographs to be featured on the website. Religion Beat features the photography of Canadian artists (so far!) and we would be proud to display yours. A photo credit will accompany your photo.
4. Apply to take part in a round table for our podcast series. Our podcast series will launch in 2015 and in addition to recruiting panelists to engage in debate, we’re happy to hear from you if you’d like to take part or suggest a topic.