JOURNAL OF RELIGION
Scope & Guideline
Bridging Disciplines through Religious Inquiry
Introduction
Aims and Scopes
- Interdisciplinary Studies of Religion:
The journal publishes works that integrate various academic disciplines, providing a comprehensive view of how religion interacts with philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and history. - Cultural and Historical Contextualization:
A significant focus on the historical development and cultural manifestations of religions, examining how context shapes belief systems and practices. - Theological Reflections and Debates:
The journal encourages theological explorations, fostering discussions around contemporary and classical theological issues, including ethics, law, and spirituality. - Phenomenological and Existential Approaches:
Research often employs phenomenological methods to understand the lived experiences of believers, exploring the existential dimensions of faith and spirituality. - Engagement with Contemporary Issues:
The journal addresses current societal challenges through a religious lens, often exploring the intersections of religion with politics, environment, and social justice.
Trending and Emerging
- Intersections of Religion and Environmentalism:
A growing trend is the exploration of how religious beliefs intersect with environmental ethics and activism, highlighting the role of faith in addressing climate change and ecological crises. - Post-Secularism and Pluralism:
There is an increasing focus on post-secular perspectives that examine the resurgence of religious discourse in public life and the challenges posed by pluralistic societies. - Global and Transnational Religious Dynamics:
Emerging studies emphasize the global interconnectedness of religions, examining transnational movements and their cultural implications in a globalized world. - Religious Identity and Politics:
Recent themes explore how religious identities shape political behavior and social movements, reflecting a heightened interest in the relationship between faith and political activism. - Material and Visual Cultures of Religion:
There is an increasing emphasis on the material and visual dimensions of religious practices, including the role of art, media, and technology in shaping contemporary spirituality.
Declining or Waning
- Traditional Doctrinal Studies:
There has been a noticeable decrease in articles focused solely on doctrinal or dogmatic studies, as scholars increasingly seek to contextualize religious beliefs within broader cultural and societal frameworks. - Exclusively Western Perspectives:
The emphasis on Western religious traditions is waning, as the journal increasingly prioritizes global and pluralistic approaches to religion, reflecting a more inclusive understanding of spirituality. - Static Historical Narratives:
Research that presents static narratives of religious history without engaging with contemporary implications or interdisciplinary connections is becoming less common. - Reductionist Analyses of Religion:
The journal is moving away from overly simplistic or reductionist views of religion that do not account for the complexities and nuances of faith experiences.
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