RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Scope & Guideline

Engaging with Diverse Religious Perspectives

Introduction

Delve into the academic richness of RELIGIOUS STUDIES with our guidelines, detailing its aims and scope. Our resource identifies emerging and trending topics paving the way for new academic progress. We also provide insights into declining or waning topics, helping you stay informed about changing research landscapes. Evaluate highly cited topics and recent publications within these guidelines to align your work with influential scholarly trends.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0034-4125
PublisherCAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1965 to 2024
AbbreviationRELIG STUD / Relig. Stud.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressEDINBURGH BLDG, SHAFTESBURY RD, CB2 8RU CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The journal 'RELIGIOUS STUDIES' serves as a vital platform for scholarly discourse on the multifaceted nature of religion, particularly within the context of Japan. It encompasses a range of methodologies, including historical analysis, ethnography, and comparative studies, making significant contributions to the understanding of religious practices, beliefs, and their socio-political implications.
  1. Japanese Religious Practices and Traditions:
    The journal focuses on various religious practices within Japan, exploring historical and contemporary expressions of Buddhism, Shinto, and new religious movements.
  2. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Religion:
    It employs interdisciplinary methodologies, integrating perspectives from sociology, anthropology, and history to analyze the interplay between religion and society.
  3. Religion and Identity:
    A consistent theme is the examination of how religious beliefs and practices shape individual and collective identities, particularly in the context of modernity and globalization.
  4. Religion and Politics:
    The journal addresses the interactions between religious institutions and political structures, including state-religion relationships and the role of religion in socio-political movements.
  5. Historical Contextualization:
    There is a strong emphasis on historical contexts, particularly in relation to medieval and early modern Japan, highlighting how historical narratives influence contemporary religious practices.
Recent publications in 'RELIGIOUS STUDIES' highlight emerging themes that reflect broader societal changes and scholarly interests, indicating a dynamic evolution in the field of religious studies, particularly in relation to Japan.
  1. Modernity and Religion:
    There is an increasing focus on how modernity impacts religious beliefs and practices, with recent papers examining the intersection of contemporary issues such as identity, politics, and spirituality.
  2. Gender and Religion:
    Emerging themes include the exploration of gender roles within religious contexts, particularly in relation to motherhood and female corporeality, reflecting a growing interest in feminist perspectives on religion.
  3. Religious Responses to Societal Issues:
    Recent studies are delving into how religious groups respond to contemporary societal challenges, such as war and political upheaval, indicating a trend towards applied religious studies.
  4. Cultural Intersections:
    There is a rising interest in the interactions between religion and popular culture, as seen in studies that connect religious narratives with contemporary media and societal trends.
  5. Environmental and Spiritual Connections:
    Emerging research is also focusing on the relationship between spirituality and environmental issues, exploring how religious practices relate to ecological concerns.

Declining or Waning

While the journal has maintained a robust focus on various aspects of religion in Japan, certain themes appear to be declining in prominence, suggesting a shift in scholarly interest or relevance.
  1. Premodern Religious Practices:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in papers focusing exclusively on premodern religious practices, indicating a potential shift towards contemporary issues and modern interpretations of religion.
  2. Comparative Religion Studies:
    Although comparative studies have been a part of the journal's offerings, fewer recent papers engage in cross-cultural comparisons, suggesting a narrowing of focus to more localized studies.
  3. Theological Exegesis:
    Theological discussions and exegesis of classical texts seem to be waning, possibly as scholars prioritize historical and sociopolitical analyses over traditional theological debates.

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