‘Consumers’ can seem at the mercy of late-modern global markets, caught up in the commodification of resources and manipulation of desire. Nevertheless, it appears that creatures are 'made' to consume the good provisions of the earth, an act sacralised in religious rituals such as the Eucharist. In either account, complex moral reasoning is required on a number of topics including:

• Corporate and consumer responsibilities in food sourcing and purchase
• Theological anthropology with respect to creation and human ‘dominion’
• Medical ethics in relation to eating disorders, obesity, and addiction
• Historical perspectives on ascetic practice, particularly fasting
• The dignity and treatment of (other) animals in religious traditions
• Ritual and performance studies of religious eating, particularly the Eucharist
• Biblical depictions of animals, sacrifice, and the sustenance of creation
• The politics of abstinence, as shown in hunger strikes

In light of these questions, we are proud to announce our 2015 Postgraduate Conference, featuring plenary speaker Professor David Clough. We invite paper abstracts on our theme from postgraduate students in Ethics, Systematic or Practical Theology, Moral Philosophy, Biblical or Religious Studies, Economics, and other disciplines.

Abstracts of up to 300 words will be accepted until January 31st. To submit a proposal visit http://www.ssce.org.uk/pg-conference-paper-proposal

David Clough is Professor of Theological Ethics at the University of Chester, pursuing research related to animals, war and peace, and the theology of Karl Barth. He has recently published On Animals: Volume 1 Systematic Theology (T&T Clark, 2012) and co-edited Animals as Religious Subjects: Transdisciplinary Perspectives (T&T Clark, 2013). Prof. Clough is President of the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics, Co-Chair of the Animals and Religion Group at the AAR, and has worked with church advisory groups on issues such as investment, warfare, and climate change.