JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF RELIGION
Scope & Guideline
Charting New Territories in Religious Research
Introduction
Aims and Scopes
- Empirical Research on Religion:
The journal prioritizes empirical studies that provide quantitative and qualitative insights into religious behaviors, beliefs, and institutions. - Interdisciplinary Approaches:
Research published in the journal often intersects with sociology, psychology, political science, and cultural studies, fostering a comprehensive understanding of religious phenomena. - Social and Political Contexts of Religion:
A significant focus is placed on how religion interacts with social movements, political ideologies, and cultural dynamics, particularly in the context of contemporary issues such as nationalism, race, and gender. - Diversity of Religious Experiences:
The journal explores a wide range of religious expressions, including mainstream, minority, and non-religious identities, highlighting the complex landscape of belief systems. - Impact of Religion on Social Issues:
There is a consistent examination of how religion influences social issues such as health, well-being, morality, and community engagement, providing valuable insights for policy and practice.
Trending and Emerging
- Intersectionality in Religion:
There is a growing focus on how intersecting identities—such as race, gender, and sexuality—shape religious experiences and practices, highlighting the complexity of personal faith in diverse contexts. - Religion and Social Justice Movements:
Recent studies emphasize the role of religion in social justice initiatives, particularly regarding racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental activism, indicating a trend towards activism within religious communities. - Impact of COVID-19 on Religious Life:
The pandemic has sparked a surge of research on how COVID-19 has affected religious practices, community engagement, and individual beliefs, revealing significant shifts in how faith is experienced. - Digital Religion and Technology:
An increasing number of studies explore the intersections of religion and technology, including how digital platforms are reshaping religious practices and community engagement in the modern age. - Religious Disaffiliation and Secularization Trends:
Emerging themes focus on the dynamics of religious disaffiliation, particularly among younger generations, and the implications of these trends for traditional religious institutions.
Declining or Waning
- Traditional Doctrinal Studies:
Research focused solely on doctrinal or theological aspects of specific religions has decreased, as the journal increasingly emphasizes empirical and sociological perspectives. - Historical Analysis of Religion:
There appears to be a waning interest in purely historical analyses of religious traditions, with a shift towards contemporary applications and implications of religious beliefs and practices. - Religious Exclusivism:
Themes centered around the exclusivity of particular religious beliefs or practices are less frequently addressed, as the journal increasingly highlights pluralism and interreligious dialogue. - Static Models of Religiosity:
There is a decline in studies that utilize static models of religiosity, with a growing interest in dynamic and contextual approaches that account for changes in religious identity over time. - Conventional Religious Practices:
Research exploring conventional religious practices without considering their broader social implications is becoming less common, as the journal seeks to connect religion with contemporary societal issues.
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