The main goal of the conference is to provide an interdisciplinary reflection on the nature of transgression, moral decline, guilt, and responsibility, considered in legal, philosophical, theological, religious, cultural, psychological, pedagogical, political, and social contexts.

The conference raises questions such as what constitutes transgression and sin, how guilt arises, and what role conscience plays in shaping human decisions, social norms, and moral identity.

The issue of transgression and sin touches the deepest layers of human existence—it concerns not only the violation of law or social norms, but also spiritual and psychological experience. The conference aims to analyze how different cultures, religions, legal systems, and ideologies define transgression and sin, and what mechanisms of social condemnation, forgiveness, or redemption are constructed around these concepts.

Example research areas:

• philosophical theories of guilt, responsibility, conscience, and moral agency
• law and offense – crime, punishment, justice, rehabilitation
• psychological dimensions of guilt, shame, remorse, and the troubled conscience
• theological understandings of sin, repentance, salvation, and grace
• transgression as a driver of cultural evolution and social change
• conscience as a moral, psychological, or spiritual faculty
• representations of sin and wrongdoing in literature, art, and popular culture
• the social dynamics of judgment, exclusion, punishment, and forgiveness
• cross-religious perspectives on sin and moral transgression
• modern forms of wrongdoing: symbolic violence, cybercrime, • ethical misconduct in technology and science
• the crisis of conscience in the age of moral relativism and global value pluralism
• and many more!

The thematic areas indicated above are only exemplary.

We strongly encourage you to go beyond them.

In addition, the speeches may be interdisciplinary, combining various fields of science.

We believe in academic freedom and do not censor speakers. Original presentations will always gain interest from the Conference Committee.

• Students, Ph.D. students, experienced researchers, practitioners, and all others interested in the above-indicated fields of research can actively participate in the conference as speakers.
• Passive participants (audience) do not need to possess any prior academic knowledge or background.

Presentations may be delivered in the following languages:

– English

– Polish

Panels (sessions) during the conference will be arranged accordingly.

• Prof. Alvin Wang (University of Central Florida) – Chair of the Conference Committee.
• Prof. Aleksandra Rogowska (University of Opole) – Vice-Chair of the Conference Committee.
• Prof. Jutta Street (Campbell University) – Member of the Conference Committee.
• Prof. Krzysztof Mudyń (University of Rzeszów) – Member of the Conference Committee.
• Dr. Jagoda Dzida (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan) – Member of the Conference Committee.
• Dr. Valery Loumber (Gavrilov & Brooks Law Firm, Sacramento/Los Angeles; Director of Academic Affairs) – Member of the Conference Committee.
• Luke Darby Bartosik, LL.M. (President of the Center for American & European Studies) – Secretary of the Conference Committee.

➤ ACTIVE PARTICIPATION (INFORMATION FOR CONFERENCE SPEAKERS)

Steps necessary to register for the conference as an active participant (conference speaker):

1️⃣Submit an abstract (200-300 words) and register via the Speaker Application Form at: https://forms.gle/ueS23GrHfkEZo56K6

2️⃣Registration should be performed by 23.59 on November 10, 2026 (we will not extend this deadline).

🔒 We reserve the right to select abstracts.

📣 The results of the abstract selection process will be announced by November 11, 2026.

3️⃣Pay the conference fee to the bank account number that will be provided to the qualified speakers via email. The fee must be paid by November 13, 2026 at the latest.

➤ PASSIVE PARTICIPATION (CONFERENCE AUDIENCE)

Steps necessary to register for the conference by a passive participant (audience):

1️⃣Register via the Audience Registration Form at:

https://forms.gle/mkro4aVvJCnoRqKA9

2️⃣Register using the above-mentioned Audience Registration Form by 23.59 on November 14, 2026 (we will not extend this deadline). Failure to register using the form will result in the inability to passively participate in the conference (and thus the inability to receive a conference audience certificate).

3️⃣Pay the audience fee to the bank account number that will be provided to the audience via email. The fee must be paid by November 16, 2026, at the latest.

Audience will have a chance to see the conference schedule before paying the fee. The schedule with a full list of speakers and their presentation titles will be delivered via email.

➤ SPEAKERS – 2 options:

• 239 PLN / 65 EUR – participation as a speaker + PDF electronic certificate sent via email (the electronic certificate bears the digital signatures of the members of the Conference Committee and the qualified Szafir electronic signature – the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature – of the President of the Board).

– OR –

• 269 PLN / 75 EUR – participation as a speaker + digital certificate + traditional certificate with a handwritten signature sent via post.

➤ AUDIENCE – 2 options:

• 139 PLN / 45 EUR – audience participation + PDF electronic certificate sent via email (the electronic certificate bears the digital signatures of the members of the Conference Committee and the qualified Szafir electronic signature – the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature – of the President of the Board).

– OR –

• 169 PLN / 50 EUR – audience participation + digital PDF certificate + traditional certificate with a handwritten signature sent via post.

Important! Please use the following pattern when filling in the transfer title field when making the payment of your conference fee*:

"First name and last name – fee for active / passive participation (select the appropriate one) – Academic Conference Offence, transgression"

* Failure to do so may result in delays in posting the fee on the appropriate account and, consequently, even exclude your participation in the conference.

In the case of a co-authorship of a presentation by two or more speakers, please pay the fee for each of the co-speakers separately.

The organizers anticipate the possibility of publication in the form of a monograph. However, such possibility will depend on the number of authors willing to publish their text (chapter) in a monograph. The price for participation in the conference does not include the publication fee.

• It is possible to receive a VAT invoice (please request it in the registration form – requests made later may not be satisfied).
• If your participation in the conference is to be financed by the university (institution/company), we suggest that you pay for your participation from your personal funds and then obtain reimbursement from the university (institution/company) on the basis of an invoice issued by the Center to your university (institution/company).
• The fee is non-refundable (since it grants you the right of entry to the conference).
• The link to the online conference room will be made available to registered participants within 24 hours before the start of the conference.
• It is possible to deliver a conference presentation by two or more speakers (the fee should be multiplied by the number of speakers).
• The presentation time is 15-25 minutes (depending on the fact of giving a solo or duet presentation and the total number of presentations during the conference).
• Certificates are usually sent via traditional post within 2 months after the conference.
• Digital certificates are sent to *all* participants within one week from the conference.
• Every participant will receive an affidavit confirming the composition of the Academic Committee.
• All Participants will receive a certificate of the status of the Center for American Studies scientific society as an entity conducting primarily scientific activities in an independent and continuous manner, along with a full list of members of the Academic Council.
• The Center For American Studies arranges the order of presentations. The exact time of speaking at the conference is pre-determined by CFAS (it will be not possible to change the time of your conference presentation set in the conference schedule).
• Terms of Service (Conference Rules and Regulations): https://www.cfasofficial.com/en/terms-of-use