Religions

19 pages, 334 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Eclipse of the Common Good: How American Nationalism Overcame Catholic Social Teaching in the 20th Century and How the 21st Century Might Reclaim It

by Thomas M. Elbourn III

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101320 (registering DOI) - 18 Oct 2025

Abstract

This paper examines the theological, historical, and sociopolitical contours of American nationalism through a comparative study of Roman Catholics and Native Americans—two groups historically positioned as outsiders to the United States’ national self-conception, but into which Catholicism has successfully entered. It enquires into [...] Read more.

This paper examines the theological, historical, and sociopolitical contours of American nationalism through a comparative study of Roman Catholics and Native Americans—two groups historically positioned as outsiders to the United States’ national self-conception, but into which Catholicism has successfully entered. It enquires into this success by establishing that American nationalism possesses a tripartite logic: (1) selective racial and religious superiority, (2) economic and military success read as divine blessing; and (3) advancing a teleological mission of global salvation. While white Roman Catholics were once viewed as anti-messianic threats, they eventually achieved integration by finding common enemies and warring to protect the American project and hierarchies, while Native Americans, by contrast, remain largely excluded, their presence disrupting foundational myths of nationalism. To evaluate this phenomena, Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is deployed, using the principles of human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity to critique nationalism’s pillars of race, wealth, and militarism with a vision of the universal common good. In doing so, CST challenges any theological justification for exceptionalism, reclaims a global moral horizon, and refuses the role that Catholicism might play in US—or any—nationalisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catholic Social Thought in the Era of the Un-Common Good)

29 pages, 451 KB

Open AccessArticle

On Literary Miracles and Social Credibility: The Epistemology of an Islamic Argument

by Erkki V. R. Kojonen

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101319 (registering DOI) - 18 Oct 2025

Abstract

The idea that the Qur’an is miraculous is common in Islamic apologetics, but has received little attention in Western philosophy of religion. Despite the common claim that the supposed miracle of the Qur’an is distinct in not requiring testimonial support, testimonial considerations are [...] Read more.

The idea that the Qur’an is miraculous is common in Islamic apologetics, but has received little attention in Western philosophy of religion. Despite the common claim that the supposed miracle of the Qur’an is distinct in not requiring testimonial support, testimonial considerations are central for many claims about Qur’anic inimitability. This article clarifies and evaluates the logic of such arguments for the purpose of fostering inter-religious understanding and raising the intellectual level of discourse. The analysis focuses on three different versions of the literary miracle claim: (1) arguments from early Muslim history, (2) arguments from Muslim aesthetic experience, and (3) arguments from Qur’anic literary features. Using recent advances in social epistemology and critical Islamic studies, the article explores how religious testimonial inferences can be evaluated and the difficulties involved in arguing for a literary miracle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Islamic Colloquia of Edinburgh (ICE) Conference (7–9 July 2025): Miracles in Islam)

23 pages, 387 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Afterlife of Petrarch’s Liber sine nomine in Catholic and Protestant Contexts: The Case of Bernhard von Kraiburg’s Epistle on the Fall of Constantinople (1453)

by Péter Ertl

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1318; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101318 - 17 Oct 2025

Abstract

Petrarch’s Liber sine nomine is a collection of satirical letters against the Avignon Curia, remarkable for its stylistic refinement. It offered later readers multiple possibilities of interpretation and reuse, serving both as a rhetorical model and as a resource for anti-papal argumentation. While [...] Read more.

Petrarch’s Liber sine nomine is a collection of satirical letters against the Avignon Curia, remarkable for its stylistic refinement. It offered later readers multiple possibilities of interpretation and reuse, serving both as a rhetorical model and as a resource for anti-papal argumentation. While literary application predominated in the fifteenth century, the collection was later repurposed in religious debates between Protestants and Catholics. This paper examines a little-known episode in its afterlife, namely the epistle on the fall of Constantinople in 1453 by Bernhard von Kraiburg, chancellor of the Archbishop of Salzburg and later Bishop of Chiemsee. Close philological analysis shows that Bernhard adapted extensive passages from the Liber sine nomine and, along with a few other authors, established a distinct line of reception by reinterpreting selected letters as prayers. In the second half of the seventeenth century, however, Bernhard’s work met an analogous fate to that of its model. It was read and reframed from a Lutheran perspective by Johann Konrad Dieterich, professor of Greek and history at the University of Gießen, and was subsequently subjected to indirect censorship in the Index librorum prohibitorum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Peccata Lectionis)

22 pages, 381 KB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond Belief: Understanding the Demographics and Dynamics of South Korea’s Religious “Nones”

by Andrew Eungi Kim, Wang Mo Seo and Gisun Kang

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101317 - 17 Oct 2025

Abstract

Religious “nones” is currently used in academia as a category referring to individuals who do not have a specific religious belief or do not belong to a specific religious organization. The increase in the number of religious nones is a distinct religious, cultural, [...] Read more.

Religious “nones” is currently used in academia as a category referring to individuals who do not have a specific religious belief or do not belong to a specific religious organization. The increase in the number of religious nones is a distinct religious, cultural, and social trend not only in the West but also around the world, and South Korea is no exception. The following questions arise: What are the trends of religious nones in South Korea? What are their characteristics? What are the historical, cultural and social factors for the large number of the irreligious in the country? This paper shows that South Korea boasts one of the highest percentages of the population with no religious affiliation in the world. The paper also finds that religious nones in the country tend to be “spiritual but not religious”, i.e., they have the characteristic of pursuing spirituality by practicing their faith in their own way outside of the institutional system. As for the factors for the high rate of religious nones, the paper argues that the phenomenon of irreligion in South Korea has a long history, e.g., suppression of shamanism and Buddhism during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), and that the popularity of shamanism and Confucianism, which are often seen more as spiritual practice and a philosophical system, respectively, has also been a contributing attribute. The rapid economic development, improved living standard, high education attainment level, and the rise of leisure culture are other factors for the rise in religious nones in Korea. The paper closes by reflecting on the implications of increasing religious nones for the concept of secularization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Humanities/Philosophies)

16 pages, 282 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mosques and the Second Generation: Pathways of Demarginalization in Bologna, Italy

by Giammarco Mancinelli

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1316; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101316 - 17 Oct 2025

Abstract

This article is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Bologna between 2022 and 2023, including anonymized interviews and participant observation, and examines the role of Islamic religious spaces in fostering civic participation and identity among second-generation Muslims in Italy. Focusing on the experience [...] Read more.

This article is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Bologna between 2022 and 2023, including anonymized interviews and participant observation, and examines the role of Islamic religious spaces in fostering civic participation and identity among second-generation Muslims in Italy. Focusing on the experience of the Islamic Community of Bologna—and particularly on the engagement of young Muslims born or raised in the city—the study addresses how mosques, often perceived as marginal or insular, can become spaces of urban integration. The analysis shows that the religiosity expressed by the youth diverges from that of the first generation and serves as a resource for building social capital and legitimising new forms of public citizenship. Particular attention is devoted to the collective experience of the Iftar street, which constitutes a moment of institutional recognition and symbolic co-construction of belonging: no longer “immigrant Muslims,” but “Muslims of Bologna.” In the absence of a national integration model, the article concludes that local dynamics can generate implicit forms of inclusion, enabling new generations to emerge as civic actors capable of redefining the boundaries of urban belonging and articulating a post-ethnic, citizen-oriented Islam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Islam and Citizenship: Intersecting Experiences among Migrants and Their Descendants in Europe)

19 pages, 237 KB

Open AccessArticle

Wittgenstein and Christianity: 1914–1938

by Marie McGinn

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101315 - 16 Oct 2025

Viewed by 88

Abstract

In “Notes on Talks with Wittgenstein”, Waismann reports Wittgenstein saying that in speaking about ethics “I can only appear as a person speaking for myself.” If we combine this with another remark, “What is Good is Divine too. That, strangely enough, sums up [...] Read more.

In “Notes on Talks with Wittgenstein”, Waismann reports Wittgenstein saying that in speaking about ethics “I can only appear as a person speaking for myself.” If we combine this with another remark, “What is Good is Divine too. That, strangely enough, sums up my ethics”, it suggests that an understanding of Wittgenstein’s personal involvement with the teachings of Christianity is fundamental for an interpretation of his “Lecture on Ethics” (1929) and “Lectures on Religious Belief” (1938). From the evidence of his personal writings, in particular the coded notebooks of 1914–16 and MS183, which record remarks made in 1930–32, 1936–37, Wittgenstein’s relationship to the teaching of Christianity is complex. During WW1, Wittgenstein found a form of Christian teaching immensely helpful, it seemed to him the only sure way to happiness. This influence is still apparent in “Lecture on Ethics”. Remarks made in 1936–37 show Wittgenstein’s relationship with Christianity becoming more troubled, as his critical self-consciousness arising from thoughts about the teaching of the New Testament become increasingly debilitating. He begins to find that the Christian teaching is becoming a source of madness rather than one of happiness. He accepts that a life of faith would require him to live a completely different life from the one that suits him. He begins to think that an ordinary life and his philosophical work might be the solution to his state of unhappiness. In “Lectures on Religious Belief”, Wittgenstein’s remarks are made from a position which is more personally disengaged. Wittgenstein is now investigating religious belief as a human phenomenon and not as something with which he is any longer personally involved, but his personal experience, particularly his experience of loss of faith, is still fundamental to how he understands the phenomenon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Work on Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion)

10 pages, 237 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ecumenism of a Convert: John Henry Newman’s Desire for Unity and His View of Other Christian Communities

by Pavol Hrabovecký and Ján Kotlarčík

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1314; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101314 - 15 Oct 2025

Viewed by 140

Abstract

Although St. John Henry Newman lived before the official birth of the ecumenical movement, he already carried, even as an Anglican, a deep desire for the unity of the Church, which he promoted through prayer and dialogue. After his conversion, he defended the [...] Read more.

Although St. John Henry Newman lived before the official birth of the ecumenical movement, he already carried, even as an Anglican, a deep desire for the unity of the Church, which he promoted through prayer and dialogue. After his conversion, he defended the authenticity of the Catholic Church but also recognized the work of God’s grace in other Christian communities. Based on his teaching on freedom of conscience, he did not press others to convert but instead called for better education and a more sincere life according to the Gospel. This article presents Newman’s legacy and the relevance of his ideas for contemporary ecumenism, not only within the Catholic Church. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Theologies)

18 pages, 444 KB

Open AccessArticle

Periodization, Functions and Impacts: Nineteenth-Century Chinese Periodicals by Protestant Missionaries

by Shuqin Han and Dongsheng Ren

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101313 - 15 Oct 2025

Viewed by 168

Abstract

The 19th century witnessed an upsurge of periodicals in China, among which the Chinese newspapers and periodicals by Protestant missionaries were of profound impact. This paper begins with a chronological division of Protestant missionary Chinese periodicals, highlighting the most memorable and influential titles, [...] Read more.

The 19th century witnessed an upsurge of periodicals in China, among which the Chinese newspapers and periodicals by Protestant missionaries were of profound impact. This paper begins with a chronological division of Protestant missionary Chinese periodicals, highlighting the most memorable and influential titles, and analyzes the three-phase development of initiation, development and transformation within the broader sociohistorical context. Additionally, the study explores their evolutionary instrumental functions in terms of content and readership, ranging from the handmaid of religion, the bridge of eastern–western cultures to the carrier of diverse knowledge and the manipulator of politics. This shows that the knowledge selected and translated by Protestant missionaries functioned as a dynamic tool in adaptation to historicized requirements. Ultimately, the study argues that these periodicals served as an enlightener of Chinese minds, a promoter of Chinese press and a facilitator of China’s sociopolitical revolution, advancing religious communication, knowledge dissemination and political reform in China during the contemporary and subsequent eras. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chinese Christianity and Knowledge Development)

19 pages, 619 KB

Open AccessArticle

Through the Face of the Dead: Constructing Totemic Identity in Early Neolithic Egypt and the Near East

by Antonio Muñoz Herrera

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101312 - 15 Oct 2025

Viewed by 196

Abstract

This study examines the construction of individual and collective identity in pre-Neolithic Egypt and the Levant through the post mortem manipulation of human remains. Focusing on funerary rituals and skull reuse, interpreted using recent anthropological theory frameworks, we propose a totemic framework of [...] Read more.

This study examines the construction of individual and collective identity in pre-Neolithic Egypt and the Levant through the post mortem manipulation of human remains. Focusing on funerary rituals and skull reuse, interpreted using recent anthropological theory frameworks, we propose a totemic framework of ontological identity, in which clans associated with specific animals structured their ritual and spatial practices. Based on archaeological, taphonomic, and ethnohistorical evidence, it is possible to identify how these practices reflect clan-based social units, seasonal mobility, and a reciprocal relationship with the environment, integrating corporeal and mental continuity. Plastered skulls in the Levant acted as intergenerational anchors of communal memory, while early Egyptian dismemberment practices predate the standardization of mummification and reveal the function of some structures of pre-Neolithic sanctuaries. By interpreting these mortuary rituals, we argue that selective body treatment served as a deliberate mechanism to reinforce totemic identity, transmit ancestry, and mediate ontological transitions in response to sedentarization and environmental change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anthropology and Religion: Rethinking Identity in a Fragmented Cultural Landscape)

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6 pages, 183 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Editorial: Mysticism Reloaded

by Ali Qadir

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1311; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101311 - 15 Oct 2025

Viewed by 127

Abstract

Studies of mysticism have been in a state of turmoil for years [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mysticism Reloaded: Innovative Approaches, Methods, and Theories to Study Mysticism)

17 pages, 361 KB

Open AccessArticle

Celibacy, Chastity and Self-Cultivation in the Thought of Jesuits and Chinese Catholics in Late Ming and Early Qing China

by Biyun Dai

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101310 - 15 Oct 2025

Viewed by 184

Abstract

This article examines Catholic celibacy from the late Ming to early Qing dynasty, revealing how Jesuit missionaries and Chinese Catholics interpreted and advocated for chastity. It highlights how missionaries such as Matteo Ricci and Giulio Aleni connected chastity with the ethical knowledge of [...] Read more.

This article examines Catholic celibacy from the late Ming to early Qing dynasty, revealing how Jesuit missionaries and Chinese Catholics interpreted and advocated for chastity. It highlights how missionaries such as Matteo Ricci and Giulio Aleni connected chastity with the ethical knowledge of self-cultivation and the doctrine of salvation, while adapting it to Chinese culture through Confucian concepts like subduing one’s self. The article also explores the conflicts and integrations of chastity ideals among different intellectual traditions, such as the critiques by Buddhist monk Yunqi Zhuhong and Confucian scholar Xu Dashou, as well as how supporters like Yang Tingyun and Zhu Zongyuan reconciled Christian chastity with Confucian ideals of self-restraint and virtuous conduct. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chinese Christianity and Knowledge Development)

18 pages, 273 KB

Open AccessArticle

Kant on the Ontological Argument for the Existence of God: Why Conceivability Does Not Entail Real Possibility

by Lucas Thorpe and Zübeyde Karadağ Thorpe

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101309 - 15 Oct 2025

Viewed by 184

Abstract

In the ontological argument for the existence of God, Descartes famously argues that the idea of God is the idea of a perfect being. As such, the idea of God must combine all of the perfections. Now, as (necessary) existence is a perfection, [...] Read more.

In the ontological argument for the existence of God, Descartes famously argues that the idea of God is the idea of a perfect being. As such, the idea of God must combine all of the perfections. Now, as (necessary) existence is a perfection, God must exist. Leibniz criticized Descartes’ argument, pointing out that it rests upon the hidden assumption that God is possible. Leibniz argues, however, that God is really possible because realities cannot oppose one another, and so there could be no real opposition between the perfections. So, at least in the case of God, conceivability entails real possibility. Kant rejects this assumption and insists that the non-contradictoriness of an idea is not an adequate criterion for the real possibility of the object of the idea, for although predicates may be combined in thought to form a concept, this does not entail the properties they indicate may be so combined in reality. For this reason, Kant believes that it is impossible to prove the real possibility of God, and so the ontological argument is not sound. In this paper, I examine Kant’s reasons for reaching this conclusion. I pay particular attention to Kant’s argument in the Amphiboly, which deals with the concepts of agreement and opposition, and where Kant stresses the importance of the distinction between logical and real opposition. I will argue that this distinction plays a crucial role in Kant’s rejection of the ontological argument and rationalist Leibnizian–Wolffian metaphysics in general. I also show how Kant’s rejection of the possibility of what he calls the complete determination of a concept in the Ideal of Pure Reason, plays a role in his rejection of the conceivability entails real possibility principle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Kant’s Critique of Rational Theology and His Project of Moral Religion)

18 pages, 492 KB

Open AccessArticle

Liquid Spirituality in Post-Secular Societies: A Mental Health Perspective on the Transformation of Faith

by Pavel Eder and Petr Činčala

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1308; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101308 - 14 Oct 2025

Viewed by 243

Abstract

What happens when the church no longer speaks to the soul, yet the soul keeps searching? Across post-religious Europe, a new kind of spirituality is rising: fluid, fragmented, and deeply personal. It offers comfort where doctrine no longer resonates, and healing where institutions [...] Read more.

What happens when the church no longer speaks to the soul, yet the soul keeps searching? Across post-religious Europe, a new kind of spirituality is rising: fluid, fragmented, and deeply personal. It offers comfort where doctrine no longer resonates, and healing where institutions feel distant. As mental health struggles grow, these alternative spiritualities flourish, reflecting the emotional landscape of late modernity, while institutional religion struggles to respond in meaningful, preventive ways. This article first explores the philosophical and cultural shifts that have led from church pews to yoga mats and mindfulness apps. Then it presents new data from some of Europe’s most secular countries, examining the relationship between faith, spirituality, and psychological well-being. Finally, it proposes a renewed form of Christian spirituality—one that is emotionally attuned, Spirit-led, and culturally rooted in the liquid realities of our time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Approaches to Spirituality and Mental Health in Secular Societies)

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31 pages, 350 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Diaconia and Christian Social Practice in a Global Perspective: Concluding Synthesis of Emerging Topical Issues and Themes

by Johannes Eurich and Ignatius Swart

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1307; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101307 - 14 Oct 2025

Viewed by 211

Abstract

Trust in politics and institutions, as well as the upholding of social cohesion, is presently under pressure globally [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diaconia and Christian Social Practice in a Global Perspective)

18 pages, 301 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Institutionalization of Religious Minorities in Spain: The Recognition of the Bahá’í Community’s Notorio Arraigo

by Óscar Salguero Montaño

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101306 - 14 Oct 2025

Viewed by 283

Abstract

On 18 September 2023, the Spanish State recognised the Notorio Arraigo (firmly established, or literally, notorious deep rootedness) of the Bahá’í Community of Spain through a Ministerial Order, integrating it into the group of recognised religious denominations, albeit without any signed cooperation agreements. [...] Read more.

On 18 September 2023, the Spanish State recognised the Notorio Arraigo (firmly established, or literally, notorious deep rootedness) of the Bahá’í Community of Spain through a Ministerial Order, integrating it into the group of recognised religious denominations, albeit without any signed cooperation agreements. This milestone reflects the evolving legal–political frameworks of religious freedom since the arrival of the Bahá’í Faith in Spain in the mid-20th century, as well as the strategies employed to consolidate and institutionalise itself as a religious denomination, influenced by Bahá’í principles. This paper examines how these principles have inspired the Community’s secular strategies throughout different historical phases: from a restrictive Catholic confessional framework to the current non-confessional state, which guarantees religious freedom. It also analyses the actions undertaken to obtain recognition of Notorio Arraigo and considers the challenges and needs faced by the Bahá’í Community at this new level of recognition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Health/Psychology/Social Sciences)

7 pages, 143 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Christian Missions and the Environment

by David Onnekink

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101305 - 14 Oct 2025

Viewed by 191

Abstract

The spiny babbler is a bird species that only lives in Nepal, mainly among scrubs and small trees [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Christian Missions and the Environment)

14 pages, 289 KB

Open AccessArticle

Injustice in Contemporary Islamic Theology: Explanation, Punishment and the Hereafter

by Abdessamad Belhaj

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101304 - 14 Oct 2025

Viewed by 213

Abstract

Since the 1980s, a theology of injustice has gained prominence in Islamic thought as a large body of literature has been written on the subject. One of the main tenets of this theology is the punishment of injustice in the afterlife, which emphasizes [...] Read more.

Since the 1980s, a theology of injustice has gained prominence in Islamic thought as a large body of literature has been written on the subject. One of the main tenets of this theology is the punishment of injustice in the afterlife, which emphasizes how unjust individuals will endure different punishments, including suffering in darkness on the Day of Resurrection. Some theologians use the divine punishment of unjust individuals in the hereafter as a rhetorical method of dissuasion from injustice in conjunction with warnings against the injustices that Muslims are currently facing or committing. Taking an ethical and normative stand, other theologians prohibit injustice, including violence against innocent people. Other Muslim theologians adopt an analytical perspective, developing concepts to understand the causes, effects, and ways to prevent injustice, including via God’s love. All theologians agree that God will punish the unjust on Earth and in the hereafter. This article discusses how injustice is explained in modern Muslim theology and closely examines and critically analyzes twelve contemporary theological Muslim texts in Arabic that have been produced in recent decades. In addition, I will place these modern theological discussions within the context of the development of modern Islamic thought and in relation to the ongoing discussions about theodicy, ethics, and the imagery of (after) death in modern society. This article argues that the theology of injustice has two purposes: it calls the unjust to accept responsibility and promises the victim delayed justice and retribution. I conclude that the punitive stance on injustice can be explained by the ongoing political and social struggles in the Muslim world as well as the spreading of traditionalist Islamic theology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Question of “Theodicy” in Contemporary Society: The Imagery of (after) Death in Religion and New Forms of Spirituality)

42 pages, 13705 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanisms of Creativity: Interpretive Malleability in Guan Di Worship on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

by Xiang Li, Siew Kian Ong and Danny Tze Ken Wong

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1303; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101303 - 14 Oct 2025

Viewed by 257

Abstract

This multidisciplinary study investigates the enduring vitality of Guan Di worship on Peninsular Malaysia’s West Coast by proposing and systematically testing ‘Interpretive Malleability’ as a core explanatory mechanism. This is achieved through an integrated methodology combining historical anthropology, GIS spatial data, and a [...] Read more.

This multidisciplinary study investigates the enduring vitality of Guan Di worship on Peninsular Malaysia’s West Coast by proposing and systematically testing ‘Interpretive Malleability’ as a core explanatory mechanism. This is achieved through an integrated methodology combining historical anthropology, GIS spatial data, and a dual comparative analysis. By examining cases across different regions and historical periods, this analysis, both synchronic and diachronic, assesses how the mechanism operates in varied contexts. The study defines ‘Interpretive Malleability’ as a two-part process: an ‘Inherent Potential’ within the symbol, rooted in the ‘Persistence of the Human Prototype’, and a ‘Local Generative Process’ activated by local actors. Findings reveal that the uniqueness and vitality of Guan Di’s cult are forged in practice-oriented domains through the creative agency of its followers. Ultimately, this study offers a mechanism-based, agency-centered framework for understanding religious resilience, highlighting the dynamic interplay between a symbol’s intrinsic structure and local creative engagement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religion and Creativity)

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2 pages, 124 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Epilogue: After Sixty Years—An Eastern Catholic “Pope Leo Moment”

by Ines Angeli Murzaku and Ana Victoria Sima

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1302; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101302 - 14 Oct 2025

Viewed by 136

Abstract

When Dr [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light from the East: The Catholic Eastern Churches Sixty Years After Vatican II)

33 pages, 1303 KB

Open AccessArticle

Doomed Power and Eternal Wisdom in Late Antiquity: Intertwining Representations of Luqmān in Light of the Qurʾānic Tradition

by Maxim Yosefi

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1301; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101301 - 13 Oct 2025

Viewed by 175

Abstract

This article explores the underlying ideas conveyed by the literary representations associated with Luqmān b. ʿĀd and Luqmān the Sage in classical Arabic sources. It avoids conflating them or collapsing all portrayals of Luqmān b. ʿĀd into a single composite figure. At the [...] Read more.

This article explores the underlying ideas conveyed by the literary representations associated with Luqmān b. ʿĀd and Luqmān the Sage in classical Arabic sources. It avoids conflating them or collapsing all portrayals of Luqmān b. ʿĀd into a single composite figure. At the same time, it resists imposing a rigid dichotomy between these representations, instead examining possible mutual influences and conceptual continuities. To assess the range of divergent Luqmān images in light of the Qurʾānic tradition, the article treats them as manifestations of diverse local and regional narrative currents, woven together within a broader pan-Arabic reservoir of motifs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Classical Arabic Texts and the Pre-Modern Islamic Rhetorical Tradition: Rethinking the Qur’an and Early Arabic Poetry as Cultural Foundations)

19 pages, 279 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Journey into African Spirituality: An Exploration of Its Key Values, Traditions, and Healing Methodologies

by Nokwanda Mthethwa and Raisuyah Bhagwan

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1300; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101300 - 13 Oct 2025

Viewed by 279

Abstract

This paper explores African spirituality by examining its core values, traditions, and healing methodologies. Employing a qualitative research design and ethnographic method, data were collected through individual interviews with twelve parents (Sample 1) and a focus group discussion with fifteen community members and [...] Read more.

This paper explores African spirituality by examining its core values, traditions, and healing methodologies. Employing a qualitative research design and ethnographic method, data were collected through individual interviews with twelve parents (Sample 1) and a focus group discussion with fifteen community members and traditional leaders (Sample 2) in a deeply rural African community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants were recruited with the assistance of community elders for their in-depth knowledge of this faith tradition. Thematic analysis generated three overarching themes: understanding African spirituality; spiritual beliefs and practices within African spirituality; and healing methodologies. The findings reveal a complex system of interconnected beliefs and practices that shape African communal life, highlighting the role of spiritual rituals in sustaining the well-being of families and communities. Full article

15 pages, 279 KB

Open AccessArticle

«Bishops & Priests Are Truly Gods on Earth»: John of Kronstadt’s Theology of the Orthodox Priesthood

by Alexey Iv. Černyi

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101299 - 13 Oct 2025

Viewed by 301

Abstract

Challenges caused by secularization, ideological pluralism and the transformation of religious institutions in the modern world have raised the question of what role the Christian priesthood plays in a changing society. The focus of this study is the Orthodox priesthood in Russia in [...] Read more.

Challenges caused by secularization, ideological pluralism and the transformation of religious institutions in the modern world have raised the question of what role the Christian priesthood plays in a changing society. The focus of this study is the Orthodox priesthood in Russia in the context of its historical development and theological conception. The article analyzes the position of the parish clergy, which, despite its theoretically exalted and sacred status in the Russian Empire, remained socially vulnerable and dependent on both the state and the community of believers. Particular attention is paid to St. John of Kronstadt, whose ministry became a model for a new type of pastoral care. This combined ascetic strictness, Eucharistic revival, and deep involvement in the lives of the laity. An analysis of Fr. John’s diaries reveals the following: in contrast to the Western tradition, where the crisis of the priesthood is often associated with its excessive sacralization and separation from the laity, in Russian Orthodoxy the response to the challenges of modernity was the sacralization of both the clergy and the entire parish community. This author suggests that, under the circumstances of revolution and persecution, the ideal of the ascetic priest and spiritual father contributed to the formation of stable church communities, which remains relevant in the context of contemporary discussions on the place of religion in the secular world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Theologies)

13 pages, 305 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sorcery and Speculation: On Deceit and Dignity in the Economy

by Stuart Patrick Chalmers

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101298 - 13 Oct 2025

Viewed by 207

Abstract

In combination with recent Catholic social teaching, this paper will explore the thought of the philosopher Emmanuel Levinas on the role of ethics in the economy to challenge forms of aggressive profiteering by illusion, deceit or exploitation. Levinas draws upon the Talmud and [...] Read more.

In combination with recent Catholic social teaching, this paper will explore the thought of the philosopher Emmanuel Levinas on the role of ethics in the economy to challenge forms of aggressive profiteering by illusion, deceit or exploitation. Levinas draws upon the Talmud and its teaching on sorcery and on profiting from falsehood as a starting point for his reflections on modern society, reckless market speculation and on the need for the members of society to grow in their mutual responsibility and respect for each other’s unique and incomparable dignity. Levinas’s ethic of generosity calls us to move away from the self-interested model of “greed is good” and to strive for ever-greater justice in our monetary society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continental Philosophy and Catholic Theology)

19 pages, 281 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Religious Socialization on the Crisis of Faith: The Case of Young Turks in Türkiye

by Muhammed Babacan

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1297; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101297 - 13 Oct 2025

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Abstract

This study examines the influence of religious socialization on the crises of faith among Turkish youth in Türkiye. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 20 participants, it adopts a process-oriented approach, conceptualizing a crisis of faith not merely as an abrupt disruption but as [...] Read more.

This study examines the influence of religious socialization on the crises of faith among Turkish youth in Türkiye. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 20 participants, it adopts a process-oriented approach, conceptualizing a crisis of faith not merely as an abrupt disruption but as a gradual process shaped by the complex and sometimes conflicting dynamics within religious socialization. Young individuals are not simply passive agents in the traditionally one-way transmission of faith; instead, they become more autonomous and dynamic as they encounter negative attitudes and behaviors, often leading to a crisis of faith. The analysis highlights the roles of authoritarian parenting, perceived inconsistencies in religious teachings, peer and social media influence, and gender inequalities within patriarchal contexts. The findings suggest that while religious socialization provides an initial framework for faith, it also poses challenges that prompt Turkish youth to re-evaluate or distance themselves critically from traditional religion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religious Transmission Across Generations: Challenges, Continuities, and Changes)

10 pages, 200 KB

Open AccessArticle

Solidarity with the Marginalized: The Spiritual Implications of Liberation Theology Within a Christian Context

by Ishraq Ali and Mahdi Ganjvar

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1296; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101296 - 11 Oct 2025

Viewed by 265

Abstract

Christian Liberation Theology highlights a spirituality that is deeply tied to the fight for socio-political freedom. This perspective argues that spirituality, when practiced as a way of life, is essential for meaningful liberation. It represents a fresh take on Christian faith and discipleship, [...] Read more.

Christian Liberation Theology highlights a spirituality that is deeply tied to the fight for socio-political freedom. This perspective argues that spirituality, when practiced as a way of life, is essential for meaningful liberation. It represents a fresh take on Christian faith and discipleship, one that arises from the lived realities of the poor and oppressed. This approach has significantly influenced both Catholic and evangelical communities, blending spiritual and political elements into a unique theological framework. The research underscores that within this context, Liberation Theology redefines faith and spirituality as active, lived experiences that contribute to tangible social change. Spiritual people are not detached or indifferent to the struggles of others. They express their love for God by caring deeply for His creation. Just as God aligns with and supports the oppressed, spiritual individuals take a stand against injustice and those who perpetuate it. In this way, spirituality and the struggle for socio-political justice are inseparably connected to the message of Liberation Theology. The present article intends to refute the erroneous claim that Christian liberation theology is unrelated to spirituality and faith. The article highlights the intrinsic connection between spirituality and faith within this theological framework and subsequently analyzes the spiritual outcomes it produces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Health/Psychology/Social Sciences)

14 pages, 235 KB

Open AccessArticle

Looking Under the Religion–Family Nexus: Syrian Christian Articulations in India

by Nidhin Donald

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101295 - 11 Oct 2025

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Abstract

What does one learn about religion through a study of Syrian Christian family cultures? How do religion and family—both as historically shaped ideological frames and social classifiers—inflect each other in Syrian Christian articulations about their past and present? What do these inflections tell [...] Read more.

What does one learn about religion through a study of Syrian Christian family cultures? How do religion and family—both as historically shaped ideological frames and social classifiers—inflect each other in Syrian Christian articulations about their past and present? What do these inflections tell us about being Christian in Kerala and beyond? Does it offer a critique of religion and family as sui generis categories? Based on select examples of Syrian Christian articulations from digital family displays produced by family associations (or kudumbayogam), I will argue that the religion–family node (or more appropriately nexus) hovers over the muddle of social relations. On one hand, the triumph of religion as a state-cushioned, universal category separated from the realm of the social and the historical (or religion with a capital ‘R’) has meant a neat tucking away of Syrian Christian households under the rubric of a reified Christianity. Similarly, the invocation of the patrilineal, patriarchal family as a universal category bereft of specificities works in tandem with this ironed-out Christianity in Syrian Christian family cultures. On the other hand, beyond their function as easy explainers, the religion–family nexus includes particular details which complicate the universality of the categories. These details recover family and religion in their heterogeneous elements expressed in place-sensitive caste idioms. I argue that the ‘universal’ in family and religion is sustained by the ‘particular’. A dialectical process of differentiation and homogenisation is critical to the Syrian Christian embrace of the religion–family nexus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Health/Psychology/Social Sciences)

17 pages, 293 KB

Open AccessArticle

Psychedelic Mystical Experiences Are Authentic

by Hans Van Eyghen

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101294 - 11 Oct 2025

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Abstract

The paper critically discusses whether mystical experiences induced by psychedelics should be considered inauthentic or counterfeit forms of mystical experiences. It examines three arguments against the authenticity of these experiences: pimes are too easy; pimes do not have lasting spiritual or moral effects; [...] Read more.

The paper critically discusses whether mystical experiences induced by psychedelics should be considered inauthentic or counterfeit forms of mystical experiences. It examines three arguments against the authenticity of these experiences: pimes are too easy; pimes do not have lasting spiritual or moral effects; pimes do not involve divine grace. Positive arguments for the authenticity of pimes discussed are as follows: pimes rely on similar neural mechanisms as other mystical experiences; pimes are phenomenologically similar to other mystical experiences. The paper argues that the positive arguments are more convincing than the negative ones. It thereby presents a case in favor of the authenticity of psychedelically induced mystical experiences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychedelics and Religion)

28 pages, 348 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transmission and Transformation of Religion Among Muslims in Canada and West Germany

by Alyshea Cummins and Linda Hennig

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101293 - 11 Oct 2025

Viewed by 433

Abstract

In many countries across the Western world, religion is in decline, with public secular environments increasingly outweighing family-based religious socialization. Canada and West Germany exemplify this trend, where younger generations often perceive religion as something to be justified within predominantly nonreligious peer groups. [...] Read more.

In many countries across the Western world, religion is in decline, with public secular environments increasingly outweighing family-based religious socialization. Canada and West Germany exemplify this trend, where younger generations often perceive religion as something to be justified within predominantly nonreligious peer groups. Muslims, as a religious minority, display greater resilience to secularization, yet their religiosity is also subject to transformation. Drawing on narrative family interviews spanning two to three generations, this study examines the conditions shaping religious continuity and discontinuity within Muslim families in Canada and West Germany. Focusing on second- and third-generation Muslims, we find that practicing religion with children is the most significant factor in successful transmission, especially when rituals are woven into daily life. Yet family practice alone is insufficient: embedding children in faith-based community networks and fostering open dialogue about religion prove crucial for sustaining confidence, belonging, and adaptability. Religious transmission also intersects with ethnic and cultural identity, though ethnic ties alone do not guarantee continuity. Ultimately, we observe that transmission involves transformation: parents are changing the way they approach religion, placing a greater emphasis on their children making their own choices. Muslim families, like other faith communities, shift toward more individualized and reflective forms of religiosity, negotiating their identities within secular and often critical societal contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religious Transmission Across Generations: Challenges, Continuities, and Changes)

16 pages, 297 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Heritage of Priests Between Religion, Culture and Politics in an Italian Peripheral Area: The Collections of Romolo Putelli (1880–1939) and Alessandro Sina (1878–1953)

by Simone Lonati

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1292; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101292 - 11 Oct 2025

Viewed by 316

Abstract

Romolo Putelli and Alessandro Sina were two politically active priests in Italy in the first decades of the twentieth century. Their work, as well as their heritage, is culturally and socially representative of a peripheral area of Northern Italy, the Valcamonica. However, the [...] Read more.

Romolo Putelli and Alessandro Sina were two politically active priests in Italy in the first decades of the twentieth century. Their work, as well as their heritage, is culturally and socially representative of a peripheral area of Northern Italy, the Valcamonica. However, the two figures stood out by supporting two different political factions during the fascist period, generating alternative ways to acquire or donate their assets. By examining the archival documentation and bibliographical materials in their collections, this article aims to understand the processes, individuals involved, and the role of priests in assembling collections that remain accessible today. To accomplish this goal, it is essential to trace the biographical profiles of Romolo Putelli and Alessandro Sina, emphasising their prominent traits, as well as reconstructing the bureaucratic stages of the donations and acquisitions by identifying those aspects—whether socio-political, religious, or cultural—that would have significantly influenced the course of events. In doing so, this article aims to highlight how political–religious interference and public interest influence the development of a bibliographic cluster. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religion and Politics: Interactions and Boundaries)

17 pages, 283 KB

Open AccessArticle

Christians and Muslims of Sicily Under Aghlabid and Fāṭimid Rule: A Cultural and Historical Perspective

by Nuha Alshaar

Religions 2025, 16(10), 1291; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101291 - 11 Oct 2025

Viewed by 368

Abstract

Looking into early Christian–Muslim relations seems to be the outcome of greater interest in Islam transcultural encounters due to current issues of mass migration. Sicily presents an informative example of the interaction between different ethnic and religious groups over centuries. Several scholars, including [...] Read more.

Looking into early Christian–Muslim relations seems to be the outcome of greater interest in Islam transcultural encounters due to current issues of mass migration. Sicily presents an informative example of the interaction between different ethnic and religious groups over centuries. Several scholars, including Jeremy Johns, Alex Metcalfe and Julie Taylor, have explored the social and administrative position of Christians and Muslims within the complex society of Sicily, although their contributions were largely from the umbrella of Norman Sicily from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries. Thus, there is a need to shift away from the Normans’ experience to exploring Christian–Muslim relations in Sicily during the ninth through eleventh centuries, especially the expansion, society and activities during the rule of the Fāṭimids of Ifrīqiya (909–965) and their Kalbid allies (948–1053). These forms of relationships are not only important for Sicily but for the whole region of the central Mediterranean. This paper will build on the works of Umberto Rizzitano and other scholars to explore the relations between the Arabs and Muslims and the Christians in Sicily during the Muslim rule of the Island. Using Arabic and Islamic sources, including travel accounts by the Muslim geographer Ibn Ḥawqal (d. 988), this paper aims to discuss the lives of Christians and their dynamic exchanges with Muslims within the social and political complexities of Aghlabid and Fāṭimid Sicily as well as Sicily’s link to North Africa (Ifrīqiya). Sicily’s proximity to North Africa and to Europe has been an essential aspect of its history, which facilitated movement of communities between these regions. The paper will also compare the policies of the Fāṭimids towards Christians in Sicily with their relations towards their Christian subjects in Cairo, Egypt. It will show the pragmatic aspects of this relationship concerning marriage, legal status, the movement of people, and cultural and intellectual exchange. Christians and Muslims practised cultural hybridisation that brought changes in Sicily with respect to language, religion, and social habits, resulting in a distinctive Sicilian multicultural identity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue University of Konstanz, International Conference (25 October, 31 October, 8 November 2024): Emerging Historical Perspectives on Christian-Muslim Interactions in and Around the Mediterranean (c. 630–1614))

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Religions, Volume 16, Issue 10 (October 2025) – 104 articles

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