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Religions

Religions is an international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open access journal on religions and theology, published monthly online by MDPI.

Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, AHCI (Web of Science), ATLA Religion Database, Religious and Theological Abstracts, and other databases.
Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q1 (Religious Studies)
Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 22.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.

Impact Factor: 0.7 (2023)

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2077-1444

Latest Articles

16 pages, 260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Monk-Led Elderly Mental Health Counseling Program in Thai Buddhist Communities

by Saowalak Langgapin, Waraporn Boonchieng, Sineenart Chautrakarn, Narong Maneeton and Sunisa Senawan

Religions 2024, 15(8), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080998 (registering DOI) - 17 Aug 2024

The increasing mental health challenges among elders demand specialized interventions, especially within Thai communities where resources are limited and stigma persists. While monks offer spiritual support, there is a gap in addressing complex mental health needs. This research aims to develop a monk-led [...] Read more.

The increasing mental health challenges among elders demand specialized interventions, especially within Thai communities where resources are limited and stigma persists. While monks offer spiritual support, there is a gap in addressing complex mental health needs. This research aims to develop a monk-led elderly mental health counseling program in Thai Buddhist communities. From January 2023 to March 2024, this study underwent four phases. Initially, qualitative interviews with thirty-six monk and elder participants elucidated requirements. The program development integrated findings from the requirement study, the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy process, and Buddhist mindfulness principles to create a prototype. The quality assessment involved expert content validation, feasibility examination by stakeholders, and a small-scale pilot testing with five monks. Finally, the feasibility of the program was assessed with thirty-two monks. The study reveals three key components of the monk-led elderly counseling program focused on mental health: the counseling process known as MPS-MAV-PI (an Introduction to Mindfulness, Identifying Problems, Assessing the Severity, Mindfully Observing Thoughts and Emotions, Acceptance, Visualizing Success, Planning Strategies for Problem-solving, and Implementation and Subsequent Monitoring), the C-TIME strategy (Collaboration, Training Manual, Implementation, the Monitoring, and Evaluation), and the program manual. Moreover, feasibility assessments among monks show the high feasibility of the program for implementation. The monk-led counseling program holds promise in addressing these challenges, with high feasibility indicating potential effectiveness and scalability. Future research will prioritize evaluating its cost-effectiveness and overall effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Religion in the Public Sphere)

10 pages, 169 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given”: Lukan Table Practices in the Faith Formation of Christian Communities

by Timothy R. Gaines

Religions 2024, 15(8), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080997 (registering DOI) - 17 Aug 2024

Luke’s Eucharistic pattern not only serves as a Christological marker, but formative pattern for Christian faith communities. In this article, I appeal to Luke’s Eucharistic pattern to advance the claim that hospitable Eucharistic table practices are not only consistent with Luke’s Christology but [...] Read more.

Luke’s Eucharistic pattern not only serves as a Christological marker, but formative pattern for Christian faith communities. In this article, I appeal to Luke’s Eucharistic pattern to advance the claim that hospitable Eucharistic table practices are not only consistent with Luke’s Christology but also form faith that is capable of confronting and dismantling psychological disgust responses to outsiders. This motif is expanded in Luke–Acts, where acts of table fellowship become the places where socio-moral barriers are transgressed, signaling the good news of the gospel, especially for Gentiles. Drawing from biblical scholarship as well as recent work in psychology, I will advance the claim that hospitable Eucharistic practices not only expose disgust psychology in the faith formation of persons but also act as a potential balm, forming persons according to the good news proclaimed in Luke–Acts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worship and Faith Formation)

11 pages, 2136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prophet Elijah as a Weather God in Church Slavonic Apocryphal Works

by Enrique Santos Marinas

Religions 2024, 15(8), 996; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080996 - 16 Aug 2024

The prophet Elijah took over the role of the Slavic pre-Christian god Perun as a weather god among the East and South Slavs in the period of syncretism just after the Christianization. We can find several examples of this in the twelfth-century Primary [...] Read more.

The prophet Elijah took over the role of the Slavic pre-Christian god Perun as a weather god among the East and South Slavs in the period of syncretism just after the Christianization. We can find several examples of this in the twelfth-century Primary Chronicle or Tale of Bygone Years. However, unlike other characters from the Old Testament, Elijah was not honored with extensive translations of full apocryphal works, except for a group of Church Slavonic apocryphal fragments. Nonetheless, some original works devoted to the prophet Elijah were composed, such as the encomium attributed to St. Clement of Ohrid (9th–10th c.) or the Chants from the Orthodox Soul devoted to the Apocalyptic role of the prophet (15th c.). Along these lines, we will compare the latter with the extant apocryphal fragments in order to establish the possible influence of the apocryphal works, as well as identify original Slavic motifs that could date back to the pre-Christian period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Divine Encounters: Exploring Religious Themes in Literature)

18 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“The Voice of the Universe”: Cosmic Immanence in John Elof Boodin’s Process Thought, What It Is and Why It Matters

by Michael A. Flannery

Religions 2024, 15(8), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080995 - 16 Aug 2024

For most, the way to process thought has been through mathematician-turned-philosopher Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947). However, his contemporary, Swedish–American philosopher John Elof Boodin (1869–1950), offers another path. While both clearly exposit a process-based philosophy/theology, there are important differences. The main purpose of this [...] Read more.

For most, the way to process thought has been through mathematician-turned-philosopher Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947). However, his contemporary, Swedish–American philosopher John Elof Boodin (1869–1950), offers another path. While both clearly exposit a process-based philosophy/theology, there are important differences. The main purpose of this essay is to delineate those differences and highlight Boodin’s concept of cosmic immanence (CI) as a key feature separating him from Whitehead’s metaphysic. It is argued that CI can provide the heavy lifting for developing a coherent and satisfying process theology without the baggage attached to Whitehead’s difficult intricate interconnections and enigmatic neologisms. In other words, Boodin’s criticisms of Whitehead (of which there were several) do not amount to an abandonment of process-based thinking or even Whitehead’s larger project of developing a coherent process theology. However, the addition of a new synthesis—merging Boodin’s CI with Joseph A. Bracken’s trinitarian God/world thesis and Ludwig von Bertalanffy’s general systems theory (GST)—is necessary for completion. This new CI synthesis suggests that the same process-based destination can be arrived at by an easier and clearer route. Full article

12 pages, 248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scotus, Aquinas, & Radical Orthodoxy: Using the Law of Non-Contradiction to Reframe the Univocalist Debate

by Jonathan David Lyonhart

Religions 2024, 15(8), 994; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080994 - 16 Aug 2024

In this paper, I shall argue that the law of non-contradiction can be used to constructively reframe the univocalist debate. Duns Scotus argued famously that a term is univocal in two statements if its unity is sufficient for a contradiction. This logical definition [...] Read more.

In this paper, I shall argue that the law of non-contradiction can be used to constructively reframe the univocalist debate. Duns Scotus argued famously that a term is univocal in two statements if its unity is sufficient for a contradiction. This logical definition was woven into his arguments against Henry of Ghent’s (and indirectly Thomas Aquinas’) view of analogy, arguing that all successful analogies must be built upon a univocal core. As early as the 1960s, this Scotist univocity had been singled out by French scholars and, by the turn of the century, had become the cherished whipping boy of Radical Orthodoxy, which claims that Scotus was the progenitor of modern onto-theology, nihilism, and secular immanence. While the genealogical critique in its fullness is beyond this paper’s scope, it illustrates the gravity of the question. If the doctrine of analogy is coherent—i.e., if Scotus turned to univocity without cause—then perhaps his condemnation is justified. However—in line with the principle quod est necessarium est licitum (that which is necessary is permissible)—if univocity is necessary for successful theological reference, then perhaps the doctrine of univocity can be defended regardless of its historical usage. This paper will argue that univocity is latent in all successful analogies, commencing with a fairly standard analysis of Scotus’ Ordinatio, then moving beyond Scotus to more constructively suggest that an expanded version of the argument from non-contradiction can help reframe the univocalist debate for today. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Theologies)

8 pages, 184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Liturgical Narrative and the Imagination

by Michelle L. Whitlock

Religions 2024, 15(8), 993; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080993 - 16 Aug 2024

Paul Ricœur’s narrative hermeneutic provides a unique lens for interpreting liturgy as narrative. Liturgy begins with the collective, prefigured knowledge of the assembly and configures symbols, music, prayers, scriptures, and actions into an interpretive narrative. This process engages the liturgical assembly’s imagination to [...] Read more.

Paul Ricœur’s narrative hermeneutic provides a unique lens for interpreting liturgy as narrative. Liturgy begins with the collective, prefigured knowledge of the assembly and configures symbols, music, prayers, scriptures, and actions into an interpretive narrative. This process engages the liturgical assembly’s imagination to synthesize its unique narrative of God’s divine story. This paper explores the function of imagination in the formative process of liturgical narrative arguing that imagination shapes human knowing and being through liturgical narrative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worship and Faith Formation)

14 pages, 3435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Setting a Pedagogical Course: Four Modes Clarifying the Dynamics of Shared Religious Education

by Karlo Meyer

Religions 2024, 15(8), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080992 - 16 Aug 2024

On the level of fundamental didactic decisions and hermeneutic clarifications, this article examines the possible orientations of Shared Religious Education. The prerequisite for this is the assumption that in such lessons, the opportunity should be used to empower children and young people to [...] Read more.

On the level of fundamental didactic decisions and hermeneutic clarifications, this article examines the possible orientations of Shared Religious Education. The prerequisite for this is the assumption that in such lessons, the opportunity should be used to empower children and young people to become personally and creatively involved in teaching and learning when different denominations, religions, and worldviews come together in education. Against this background, four modes of possible activation are proposed as a structuring aid for didactic decisions: Pupils can (a) plan appropriate forms of encounter themselves and develop ways of dealing with mutually experienced foreignness and with bridges and gaps between traditions; (b) they can be activated to engage in existential discussions about ultimate questions, (c) they can carry out small-scale “research” projects into each other’s religious practices and concepts; and (d) they can get involved in joint (ethical, ecological, neighbourly) projects that have an impact on the region around the school that may also have global applications. The model of these four modes can be represented graphically and this helps to analyse and locate existing concepts and approaches to RE. The article concludes with a closer look at the underlying concept of religion and current research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Religious Education)

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16 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Breathe! The Experience of the Body in Passive Contemplation

by Michael D. Barber

Religions 2024, 15(8), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080991 - 16 Aug 2024

Phenomenological research has focused on embodiment. This paper examines how the body is experienced in passive contemplation, understood as a finite province of meaning in Alfred Schutz’s sense. The six features characteristic of any province of meaning (epoché, form of spontaneity, [...] Read more.

Phenomenological research has focused on embodiment. This paper examines how the body is experienced in passive contemplation, understood as a finite province of meaning in Alfred Schutz’s sense. The six features characteristic of any province of meaning (epoché, form of spontaneity, tension of consciousness, sense of self, temporality, and sociality) function distinctively in each province of meaning and alter one’s experience of one’s body. In the foundational province of pragmatic everyday life, one transforms deliberately and bodily the surrounding world, but this experience undergoes modifications in the religious/spiritual contemplative province. To clarify passive contemplation, the paper develops, as a contrast, active contemplation, the active, restless pursuit of chains of appresentational symbols and images. In passive contemplation, one separates from everyday life, orients toward unity rather than dialogue with God, refrains from following appresentative chains, and relaxes one’s tension of the consciousness/body (e.g., through breathing), single-mindedly attending to God’s presence. One can trace passive contemplation genetically to a primordial entwinement with one’s mother’s body, in which subjective/objective boundaries are blurred (as in Merleau-Ponty’s “flesh”). In passive contemplation, one assumes an often-wordless social role (child, lover) toward God and abides tranquilly in the present rather than moving distractedly toward any future. Full article

12 pages, 231 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Straw-Saint, Martyr, Most-Barbarous Archtraitor: Anti-Hagiographies of Henry Garnet in Seventeenth-Century London

by Caroline K. Barraco

Religions 2024, 15(8), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080990 - 15 Aug 2024

In 1606 Henry Garnet, provincial of the English Jesuits and purported co-conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot against James I, was executed at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Following his death, accounts of miracles occurring at his execution began to spread throughout England, including [...] Read more.

In 1606 Henry Garnet, provincial of the English Jesuits and purported co-conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot against James I, was executed at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Following his death, accounts of miracles occurring at his execution began to spread throughout England, including an account of a relic bearing his miraculous image. While Catholic writers promoted these accounts as evidence of Garnet’s innocence, Protestant contemporaries argued that Garnet was an illegitimate martyr and that his commemoration was evidence of Catholic support for regicide. This article demonstrates how London Protestant writers and publishers utilized anti-hagiographical arguments to intervene in attempts to promote Garnet’s sainthood, counter claims about the veracity of his relic, and shape his legacy in the decades following his execution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Saints and Cities: Hagiography and Urban History)

18 pages, 320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychological Needs in Sports, Spirituality Index of Well-Being, and Motivation in Sports

by Mehmet Emre Eryücel, Serdar Ceyhun, Sema Eryücel, Hasan Şahan, Bülent Turna, Sibel Yıldırım and İbrahim Halil Erdoğan

Religions 2024, 15(8), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080989 - 15 Aug 2024

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the psychological needs of athletes who attend gyms, the spirituality index of well-being, and motivation in sports, and to determine the mediating role of the spirituality index of well-being between psychological needs [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the psychological needs of athletes who attend gyms, the spirituality index of well-being, and motivation in sports, and to determine the mediating role of the spirituality index of well-being between psychological needs in sports and motivation in sports. Although sports spirituality is rapidly developing in the international literature, sports and spirituality have not been studied together in the national literature before. Therefore, this study holds the distinction of being one of the pioneering research efforts on the subject of spirituality in athletes in Türkiye. In this context, the data of 422 athletes, 176 women and 246 men, who have been attending gym facilities in Antalya for at least one year, were included in the research. Participants were administered a personal information form, Psychological Need States. It was found that the spirituality index of well-being is positively related to all satisfaction subscales and negatively related to all frustration subscales of psychological needs and that the life scheme is related to many subscales of sport motivation. Furthermore, it was also found that the spirituality index of well-being is a mediating variable between psychological needs in sports and motivation in sports. The data draw attention to the importance of sports spirituality. It is recommended to integrate spirituality into healthcare for athletes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport and Religion: Continuities, Connections, Concerns)

14 pages, 268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Folk Spiritism: Between Communication with the Dead and Heavenly Forces

by Nemanja Radulović

Religions 2024, 15(8), 988; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080988 - 14 Aug 2024

Examples of how Spiritism merged with local beliefs have been the subject of research in religious studies, ethnology, and folkloristics. Serbian Spiritism can also be viewed as such, but its history is an under-researched topic. We examine the syncretic product we will call [...] Read more.

Examples of how Spiritism merged with local beliefs have been the subject of research in religious studies, ethnology, and folkloristics. Serbian Spiritism can also be viewed as such, but its history is an under-researched topic. We examine the syncretic product we will call ‘folk Spiritism’, being different from the ‘high Spiritism’ of elite and middle-class intellectuals. Folk Spiritism was part of a grassroots movement for Church reform in the first half of the 20th century. The difference between folk and high Spiritism is also confirmed in the emic perspective. Based on a closer reading of its texts, we can discern a better image of the dead and communication with them in the practice of folk Spiritism. We conclude that the difference between the traditional and Spiritist image of the dead is that the former causes fear, while the later brings comfort; folk Spiritism gave preference to communication with heavenly forces (God, Christ, Holy Mother, angels, saints) while retaining the traditional view of the dead. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communication with the Dead)

17 pages, 434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applying Daoist Thoughts of Interconnectedness to Disaster Communities: Through the Lenses of Diaspora and Pluralism

by Dugsam Kim and Taesoo Kim

Religions 2024, 15(8), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080987 - 14 Aug 2024

The human community confronts a plethora of disasters, including man-made epidemics like COVID-19, environmental problems such as water and food resource depletion, biochemical warfare, and even threats from human-created artificial intelligence. Consequently, it is appropriate to term our current community a “disaster community”. [...] Read more.

The human community confronts a plethora of disasters, including man-made epidemics like COVID-19, environmental problems such as water and food resource depletion, biochemical warfare, and even threats from human-created artificial intelligence. Consequently, it is appropriate to term our current community a “disaster community”. This paper delves into the issue of diaspora, intrinsically linked to the fragmentation problem in the disaster community, where each subgroup tends to focus solely on its own community. This issue is scrutinized by categorizing the diaspora into larger and smaller categories, with cases from both the international and domestic levels examined respectively within each category. Among the many Daoist philosophical concepts, this paper focuses on the Daoist principle of interconnectedness. In examining Daoist thought on interconnectedness, it also confirms that the notion of interconnectedness is being increasingly emphasized in modern society and across various academic disciplines. This perspective affirms the pluralistic nature of existence, while also underscoring the fundamental interconnectedness that underpins the myriad forms and phenomena. It provides a framework for addressing the challenges faced by the disaster community, particularly in relation to issues of diaspora, by emphasizing the need for coexistence and collective responsibility within a web of mutual relations. The philosophy innovatively applied from Daoism emphasizes “recognizing diversity based on Dao, while acknowledging that each existence is interconnected”. Here, “recognition of diversity based on Dao” underpins pluralism, and “interconnectedness of all existence” forms the fundamental solution to the diaspora problem. This approach could be extended as a strategic response to various disasters that the human community encounters. Therefore, this paper assesses the current state of the disaster community, the severity of the diaspora issue, and some cases both between and within nations. It also discusses the core of Daoist philosophy and its creative application to overcome these challenges. The disaster community should transition towards a sustainable and open community, and on this journey, by acknowledging our interconnectedness, we can find solutions to not only the disasters we confront but also to the diaspora problem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religion, Diaspora and Pluralism)

23 pages, 540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Did Chinese Buddhists Incorporate Indian Metaphors? A Study of Lushan Huiyuan’s Use of Firewood–Fire Metaphors in the Shadow of Indian Canons

by Fang Xin

Religions 2024, 15(8), 986; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080986 - 14 Aug 2024

In the discourse of Lushan Huiyuan 廬山慧遠, the firewood–fire metaphor (xinghuozhiyu 薪火之喻) is employed to illustrate personhood (shen 神), referring to pudgala. Scholars often criticize Huiyuan for interpreting personhood as a true “self” (ātman) under the influence of [...] Read more.

In the discourse of Lushan Huiyuan 廬山慧遠, the firewood–fire metaphor (xinghuozhiyu 薪火之喻) is employed to illustrate personhood (shen 神), referring to pudgala. Scholars often criticize Huiyuan for interpreting personhood as a true “self” (ātman) under the influence of the Vātsīputrīya school, thus contradicting the doctrine of non-self. This paper suggests that this might be a dual misunderstanding of both Huiyuan and the Vātsīputrīya school. Huiyuan’s firewood–fire metaphor is indeed profoundly influenced by the Vātsīputrīyas’ three kinds of designation. Yet, he never commits to the substantial self, and his argument primarily aims to refute the view of annihilationism (duanmie 斷滅), that is, that life ceases to exist after one period ends. This stance fully aligns with the doctrine of non-self that has been central since the inception of Buddhism. Additionally, Huiyuan’s explanation of the indestructibility of personhood (shen bumie 神不滅) is a reluctant proposition; its fundamental purpose does not lie in discussing transmigration, but rather in demonstrating the state of “body and mind both cease” following the cessation of causes and conditions once “transmigration ends”. Full article

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

10 pages, 296 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Military Imagery as an Exhortation for Ecclesial Unity in 1 Clement 37 and 2 Timothy 2:3–4

by Kangil Kim

Religions 2024, 15(8), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080985 - 14 Aug 2024

The problem of schism is one of the major issues in 1 Clement. To resolve this problem, the author of 1 Clement exhorts the Corinthian believers to submit to their leaders by using military imagery. While the use of military imagery is often [...] Read more.

The problem of schism is one of the major issues in 1 Clement. To resolve this problem, the author of 1 Clement exhorts the Corinthian believers to submit to their leaders by using military imagery. While the use of military imagery is often understood in reference to the author’s emphasis on peace and concord, what remains to be explored is the way in which the militaristic imagery in 1 Clement 37 can be read alongside 2 Timothy 2:3–4. Although there is no clear evidence of whether Clement draws on 2 Timothy or vice versa, I suggest that the militaristic imagery in 2 Timothy 2:3–4 offers a helpful analog for understanding the meaning of the use of military imagery in 1 Clement 37. Full article

11 pages, 270 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Māori and Ancient near Eastern Pantheons in the Context of Genesis 1 in te reo Māori

by Lyndon Drake

Religions 2024, 15(8), 984; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080984 - 14 Aug 2024

The recent test translation of Te Paipera Tapu (the Bible in the Māori language) has aroused considerable debate for its use in Genesis 1 of the names of atua Māori (Māori divine beings). These names of atua have been used instead of names [...] Read more.

The recent test translation of Te Paipera Tapu (the Bible in the Māori language) has aroused considerable debate for its use in Genesis 1 of the names of atua Māori (Māori divine beings). These names of atua have been used instead of names of features of the natural world, which stands in contrast to the use of other kupu Māori (Māori words) in the earlier translation and its revisions. In this paper, I outline relevant members of the Māori pantheon and of some ancient Near Eastern pantheons, which are not identical. I then discuss the Hebrew text of Genesis 1 in its ancient literary context, making proposals about the use of the names of atua Māori in translations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intercultural Hermeneutics of the Bible in Aotearoa-New Zealand)

17 pages, 270 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“And They Shall Be Two in One Flesh”: A Scotistic Exploration of Marriage, Intersubjectivity, and Interpersonality

by Liran Shia Gordon

Religions 2024, 15(8), 983; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080983 - 13 Aug 2024

Marriage is an institution known for both its virtues and challenges. This study examines marriage not merely as a sociological or theological construct but as a lens to explore the profound philosophical problems of intersubjectivity and interpersonality. By examining both the relational and [...] Read more.

Marriage is an institution known for both its virtues and challenges. This study examines marriage not merely as a sociological or theological construct but as a lens to explore the profound philosophical problems of intersubjectivity and interpersonality. By examining both the relational and sacramental dimensions of marriage, we gain insights into how two distinct individuals can form a deep, enduring bond that transcends individual isolation, thus offering a model for understanding both intersubjectivity and interpersonality. The unique perspective offered by Christian theology, which regards marriage as a sacrament, entails a fundamental and irreversible transformation in the individuals involved. This provides a unique venue to address intersubjectivity and interpersonality using unconventional sources and analysis. The objective is not to advocate for Catholic doctrine or any specific religious perspective but to deploy the sacramental understanding of matrimony and its conceptual framework to address these intertwined philosophical issues. Full article

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

13 pages, 244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empathy and Umbanda

by Fernando Carlucci and Daniel De Luca-Noronha

Religions 2024, 15(8), 982; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080982 - 13 Aug 2024

This article explores the intricate interplay between empathy and religious experience within the Brazilian Umbanda religion. Umbanda is a syncretic faith that integrates elements from African spiritual practices, Catholicism, and Kardecist spiritism, reflecting the diverse cultural and social dynamics of Brazilian society. The [...] Read more.

This article explores the intricate interplay between empathy and religious experience within the Brazilian Umbanda religion. Umbanda is a syncretic faith that integrates elements from African spiritual practices, Catholicism, and Kardecist spiritism, reflecting the diverse cultural and social dynamics of Brazilian society. The religion emphasizes communication with spirits, particularly the pretos velhos—spirits of old slaves—who are revered for their wisdom and connection to the divine. These spirits engage with practitioners through mediums in rituals held in terreiros, offering guidance and comfort. Central to our discussion is the concept of embodied empathy, which is vital for understanding the deep emotional connections between the practitioners and the spirits. We seek to understand why Umbanda rituals are not just spiritual sessions, but profound empathic exchanges that facilitate communal healing and personal transformation. Through the lens of the predictive processing theory and the concept of embodied cognition, we argue that these empathic interactions are not just psychological but are deeply rooted in the physical and social embodiments of the participants. This perspective helps in understanding how Umbanda serves both as a spiritual practice and a socio-cultural mechanism that aids individuals in navigating their personal and collective life challenges. The empathy experienced within Umbanda rituals exemplifies how religion can serve as a powerful conduit for social cohesion and personal introspection. Full article

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

15 pages, 2210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flawed Sainthood in Popular Culture: Maradona’s Culture of Commemoration in Naples

by Maria Alina Asavei

Religions 2024, 15(8), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080981 - 13 Aug 2024

There is currently a certain pressure from various mnemonic communities, animated by vernacular interests, to canonize new saints within what is regarded as the flawed saints’ cultural-political movement. Among these new, uncanonized saints, whose memory is commemorated unofficially in various cultural-political registers, there [...] Read more.

There is currently a certain pressure from various mnemonic communities, animated by vernacular interests, to canonize new saints within what is regarded as the flawed saints’ cultural-political movement. Among these new, uncanonized saints, whose memory is commemorated unofficially in various cultural-political registers, there is also the football star Diego Armando Maradona, called by his millions of fans “the Hand of God” (La Mano de Dios). The commemorative culture that thrived around Maradona’s persona—materialized in artefacts, shrines, icon-like paintings, prints, graffiti, stencils, and other memorabilia—do not fit the customary narratives of sainthood, nor to the display and content of the recently inaugurated (2023) memorial to the new martyrs of both the 20th and 21st centuries at Saint Bartholomew Basilica in Rome. The article argues that the commemoration of Maradona by his fans in Italy, Argentina, and worldwide is enacted in pop culture formats aimed at addressing different sets of contemporary mnemonic and spiritual needs. The aim is to offer a fresh conceptual engagement with the contemporary cultural-political phenomenon of “flawed saints” commemoration through the lens of contemporary popular culture, taking the culture of commemoration of Diego Maradona as a case study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Religion, Media and Popular Culture)

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13 pages, 568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes of Catholic Clergies to the Application of ChatGPT in Unite Religious Communities

by Grzegorz Ignatowski, Łukasz Sułkowski, Krzysztof Przybyszewski and Robert Seliga

Religions 2024, 15(8), 980; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080980 - 12 Aug 2024

The article “Attitudes of Catholic clergies to the application of ChatGPT in unite religious communities” investigates the perspectives of the Catholic clergy on the integration of ChatGPT technology in religious environments. Bearing in mind that communication technologies are becoming an integral part of [...] Read more.

The article “Attitudes of Catholic clergies to the application of ChatGPT in unite religious communities” investigates the perspectives of the Catholic clergy on the integration of ChatGPT technology in religious environments. Bearing in mind that communication technologies are becoming an integral part of every aspect of life, including religious practices, the study delves into the potential, advantages, and challenges associated with using ChatGPT to support religious discourse. Adopting a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with eleven Polish priests, addressing the diversity within the group. The respondents, who play important roles in organising the life of Catholic religious communities, highlighted ChatGPT’s potential in enhancing the dissemination of information, educational initiatives, and pastoral care. However, they also expressed concerns about the technology’s impact on genuine human interactions and the preservation of religious practices. Full article

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Open AccessArticle

Su Shi: A Paragon of Interreligious Harmony in Song Dynasty China

by Pinghua Liu

Religions 2024, 15(8), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080979 - 12 Aug 2024

This paper explores the life and works of Su Shi, a prominent intellectual and statesman during China’s Song Dynasty, as a champion of interreligious harmony. We examine how Su Shi’s vast philosophical and literary output demonstrates his deep engagement with Confucian ethics, Buddhist [...] Read more.

This paper explores the life and works of Su Shi, a prominent intellectual and statesman during China’s Song Dynasty, as a champion of interreligious harmony. We examine how Su Shi’s vast philosophical and literary output demonstrates his deep engagement with Confucian ethics, Buddhist compassion, and Daoist tranquility. By analyzing his poems, essays, and other writings, we explore how Su Shi navigated these diverse traditions, finding common ground and promoting mutual understanding. This analysis highlights Su Shi’s ability to bridge religious and philosophical divides, offering a valuable perspective for contemporary discussions on interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interreligious Peacebuilding in a Global Context)

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