Religious Engagement and Education: Exploring Belief, Practice and Pedagogy Across Cultures

Dear Colleagues,

Introduction:

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue titled "Religious Engagement and Education: Exploring Belief, Practice and Pedagogy Across Cultures". Religion plays a vital role in shaping cultural identities, moral frameworks, and community dynamics. As societies across the globe become more interconnected, the ways in which religious beliefs and practices are taught and understood must evolve. This Special Issue seeks to bridge the gap between religious studies and education by focusing on the dynamic interplay between religious traditions, cultural practices, and pedagogical approaches. We aim to gather pioneering research and insights that delve into how religious education can foster deeper engagement with religious practices, beliefs, and cultural contexts in contemporary settings.

Aim of the Special Issue:

This Special Issue aims to explore how religious education can effectively convey and engage with the core aspects of religious traditions, beliefs, and practices within diverse cultural settings. By aligning closely with the journal's focus on the study of religions, we intend to address how educational strategies can enhance understanding of and respect for religious diversity. Our goal is to create a platform for scholars, educators, and practitioners to share their research on the intersections of religious belief, practice, and pedagogy. This Special Issue will serve as a critical resource for those seeking to deepen the impact of religious education in both academic and communal contexts.

Suggested Themes and Article Types for Submissions:

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Religious Practice and Pedagogy: Studies on how religious rituals, practices, and spiritual experiences are incorporated into educational settings and their impact on learners' understanding of religion.
• Interfaith Engagement: Research on educational strategies that promote dialogue and understanding between different religious traditions, fostering interreligious respect and cooperation.
• Cultural Contexts in Religious Education: Explorations of how religious education is adapted and practiced in various cultural settings, highlighting the interaction between local customs and religious teachings.
• The Role of Sacred Texts: Analyses of methods for teaching sacred texts and their interpretations in ways that are accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences.
• Ethical and Moral Education: Investigations into how religious education contributes to the development of moral and ethical reasoning, informed by religious traditions.
• Religion and Identity Formation: Insights into how religious education influences the formation of personal and communal identities within different cultural and religious contexts.
• Impact of Technology on Religious Practices: Studies on how digital tools and online platforms are transforming religious practices and their integration into religious education.
• Case Studies in Religious Education: Detailed accounts of successful religious education programs, initiatives, and practices that emphasize the religious aspects within various cultural contexts.
• Religious Policy and Education: Examinations of how educational policies at the local, national, and international levels influence the teaching and practice of religion in educational settings.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor or to the Assistant Editor of Religions. 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.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Heather Marshall
Dr. Francis Farrell
Guest Editors

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.

• religious education
• pedagogy
• curriculum development
• teacher training
• interfaith dialog
• digital learning
• educational strategies