‘Folk religion’ is a contested category within both the study of religions and folklore. The semantic loading of the term differs depending on national and historical context. Some European countries have produced rich literatures that discuss the specific meanings attached to the category and the contextual historical, social and intellectual factors that gave rise to these meanings. In the UK, Europe and America, ‘vernacular religion’ has become the term and concept of choice for a growing number of scholars working at the interstices of ethnology and religious studies.

This round table panel consists of short 10 minute position papers that critique, problematize or explore the categories of ‘folk religion’ and ‘vernacular religion’ in relation to the study of religions today. Papers will be either empirical or theoretical, and will contribute to our understanding of ‘folk religion’ and ‘vernacular religion’ as categories of analysis or as ‘field of practice.’