SOCIAL COMPASS

Scope & Guideline

Bridging Disciplines to Uncover Social Truths

Introduction

Welcome to the SOCIAL COMPASS information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of SOCIAL COMPASS, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageMulti-Language
ISSN0037-7686
PublisherSAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1953 to 1957, from 1959 to 1960, 1962, 1965, 1967, from 1969 to 1970, from 1972 to 1974, from 1985 to 2024
AbbreviationSOC COMPASS / Soc. Compass
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The journal 'Social Compass' is dedicated to the interdisciplinary exploration of social aspects of religion, spirituality, and secularism. Its aim is to foster dialogue across various fields, including sociology, anthropology, and religious studies, while focusing on contemporary issues and global contexts.
  1. Interdisciplinary Studies of Religion:
    The journal emphasizes the intersection of religion with other social phenomena, encouraging contributions that analyze religious practices, beliefs, and identities through various disciplinary lenses.
  2. Global Perspectives on Religiosity:
    It seeks to understand and document diverse religious experiences and transformations across different cultural and geographical contexts, reflecting on how globalization affects local religious practices.
  3. Exploration of Secularism and Non-Religion:
    A significant focus is placed on secularism and the experiences of non-religious individuals and groups, examining how these identities interact with traditional religious frameworks.
  4. Methodological Innovations:
    'Social Compass' promotes the use of innovative and reflexive methodologies in studying religion, spirituality, and secularism, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches.
  5. Engagement with Contemporary Social Issues:
    The journal addresses pressing social issues such as gender, sexuality, environmentalism, and political movements, exploring how these intersect with religious beliefs and practices.
  6. Youth and Religion:
    A notable emphasis is placed on the exploration of youth engagement with religion and spirituality, particularly how younger generations navigate their identities in a changing social landscape.
  7. Religious Diversity and Pluralism:
    The journal examines the dynamics of religious pluralism and the coexistence of multiple faiths within societies, focusing on interfaith dialogues and conflicts.
In recent years, 'Social Compass' has seen a rise in interest in several innovative and timely themes that reflect the changing landscape of religion and spirituality in contemporary society. These emerging areas are indicative of the journal's responsiveness to global trends and social issues.
  1. Environmental Spirituality:
    Recent publications increasingly explore the intersection of spirituality and environmental issues, reflecting a growing recognition of the role that religious beliefs play in environmental activism and eco-theology.
  2. Intersectionality in Religious Studies:
    There is a marked trend towards examining intersectional identities within religious contexts, particularly how gender, sexuality, and race influence religious experiences and practices.
  3. Youth Activism and Religion:
    The journal is witnessing an upsurge in research focused on young people's activism within religious contexts, highlighting how youth engage with social justice issues, including climate change and LGBTQ+ rights.
  4. Transnational Religious Movements:
    Emerging themes include the study of transnational religious movements and their impact on local cultures, reflecting the globalized nature of contemporary religious practice.
  5. Spirituality in Crisis Contexts:
    There is an increasing focus on how spirituality manifests in crisis situations (e.g., pandemics, migration), examining the role of faith in coping mechanisms and community resilience.
  6. Digital Religion:
    The exploration of how digital technologies affect religious practice and community formation is gaining traction, with studies examining online religious communities and digital expressions of faith.

Declining or Waning

While 'Social Compass' continues to explore a broad range of themes, certain topics have shown signs of declining prominence in recent publications. These waning areas reflect shifts in the focus of the journal's contributors and the evolving landscape of religious studies.
  1. Traditional Religious Authority:
    There has been a noticeable decline in papers that focus on established religious authorities and institutions. The journal's recent issues have shifted towards more grassroots and lived experiences of religion, moving away from traditional hierarchical structures.
  2. Historical Analysis of Religions:
    Themes centered around historical analysis of specific religions, particularly those that do not connect to contemporary issues, are less frequently represented. The focus has shifted towards current social dynamics and their implications for religious practices.
  3. Exclusively Theoretical Discussions:
    Papers that solely engage in theoretical discourse without empirical grounding are becoming less common. The journal is increasingly favoring research that combines theory with practical case studies and real-world implications.
  4. Static Views of Secularism:
    Contributions that depict secularism as a fixed or unchanging phenomenon are declining. Instead, the journal is increasingly interested in the dynamic and fluid nature of secular identities and practices.
  5. Focus on Major World Religions:
    There is a waning interest in studies that focus exclusively on major world religions (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Judaism) without considering the broader context of syncretism and emerging spiritual movements.

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