Engaging Sacred Practices: Explorations in Practical Theology
A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 August 2024 | Viewed by 111
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Our forthcoming Special Issue will highlight the relevance of Practical Theology with regard to complex areas of concern for the church in relation to spiritual practices, and its relation to the broader trends in religious studies. We invite scholars to connect spiritual practices through practical theology methodology to explore the issues faced by the modern Christian church.
This Special Issue aims to engage contemporary issues (immigration, opoid addiction, gun control, etc.) with both historic and contemporary Christian spiritual practices. Intersectional lenses on contemporary issues such as mass incarceration, policing, racism, gender equality, and others are also welcome. Accepted articles will pair scientific research with theological reflection. We desire to amplify underrepresented voices and encourage forward-thinking research. Both original research articles and reviews are welcome.
Research areas may include (but are not limited to):
- Contemporary Issues in Practical Theology.
- New Movements in Sacred Practices (digital or embodiment, for example).
- Intersectionality in Practical Theology Methodology (postcolonial, feminist/womanist, etc.).
We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors submit a proposed title and a 200–300-word abstract summarizing their intended contribution to the Guest Editor of Religions, or to the Assistant Editor, Ms. Violet Li ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors to ensure proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Jennifer M. Buck
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- practical theology
- Christian spirituality
- spiritual practices
- intersectionality
- religious practices
- reflection
Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
Title: ‘It Never Ends’: Disability Advocacy and the Practice of Resilient Hope
Abstract: Individuals involved in social and political advocacy can become discouraged since it never ends and progress is slow. In this paper I use insights from virtue ethics, positive psychology and spiritual formation to highlight the importance of resilient hope to people advocating for social change. Part 1 explains one pressing social justice issue internationally and in the United States—public services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Part 2 defines the nature of public advocacy aimed at social reform and outlines a theology of advocacy. Part 3 analyzes the vice of despair and virtue of hope. Where despair breeds helplessness, hope—a sense of confidence in the future—restores morale and fortitude. Part 4 identifies individual spiritual practices (like prayer, meditation, journaling and relaxation exercises) and relational practices (like conversation, corporate worship and celebration) that sustain hope in the face of hardship. While I reference disability advocacy, the paper’s lessons apply to all advocacy efforts—and while I reference the Christian faith, the analysis is relevant to other spiritual traditions. I draw throughout on personal experience of disability advocacy in Illinois.
