Casta Meretrix: The Paradox of the Christian Church Through History
A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 884
Special Issue Editors
Interests: patrology; patristics; Gregory of Nyssa; eastern theology; hagiography; Maltese ecclesiastical history; archival research; Christian iconography
Interests: modern and contempory church history; history of the holy see; international relations; society of Jesus; history of the church in Malta; ecclesiastical archivistics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The forthcoming Special Issue, Casta Meretrix: The Paradox of the Christian Church Through History, seeks to provide a comprehensive and scholarly exploration of the rich and complex history of the Christian Church. This volume will consist of academic studies covering various facets of the Church’s journey through time, with a particular focus on its institutional framework, theological developments, internal schisms, legislative evolution, and the Church’s ongoing dialogue with other religions and secular forces. By presenting diverse perspectives on these critical issues, the volume aims to delve deeply into the historical tensions that have shaped the Church and its paradoxical existence as both a divine institution and a human enterprise.
The volume's scope is broad, encompassing studies from the early Church’s establishment through its expansion across diverse cultures, its conflicts and resolutions, and its ongoing redefinition in the face of modern challenges. Contributions that address key moments in Church history, such as the formulation of early ecclesiastical laws, the major theological disputes, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, and the complex relationship between Christianity and political authority, the Church’s response to modernity, secularisation, and its encounters with other religious traditions will be taken into consideration.
The paradox at the heart of Christian history—the Church as both a divine and a human institution—is intended to be a central theme of the studies presented. Interested contributors are invited to examine how the Church has navigated this tension throughout history, making decisions that reflect its sacred mission while also revealing the fallibility and complexities of human governance. Through this lens, the volume seeks to explore how schisms and theological disputes have been both divisive and creative forces within Christianity, leading to the emergence of new traditions and interpretations.
Beyond merely documenting the past, the volume aims to learn from history to foster a more unified future. The lessons drawn from centuries of separation, conflict, and reconciliation will be directed toward addressing the divisions that continue to fracture the Church today. By highlighting the richness and diversity of Christian traditions, the volume aspires to encourage greater cooperation and mutual appreciation among different denominations and sects. It seeks to show how, by embracing the multifaceted nature of its history, the Church can move forward with greater unity and resolve in addressing internal and external challenges.
In sum, this volume seeks to be a valuable resource for historians and theologians and a call to reflect on how the past can inform present efforts to bridge divides and build a more inclusive and cooperative future for the universal Church.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Jonathan Farrugia
Dr. Nicholas Joseph Doublet
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.
Keywords
- christianity
- ecumenical councils
- apostolic succession
- monasticism
- constantinian shift
- great schism
- reformation
- canon law
- nicene creed
- sacraments
- orthodoxy
- heresiology
- iconoclasm
- mysticism
- missionary movements
- church-state relations
- crusades
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