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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 25.4 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2025).
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: 0.6 (2024)

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2077-1444

Latest Articles

9 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Problems of Sons of Gods, Daughters of Humans, and the Nephilim in Genesis 6:1–4: A Reassessment

by Ki-Eun Jang

Religions 2025, 16(8), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080972 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2025

This article engages with earlier scholarly discussions on Genesis 6:1–4 and proposes that, contrary to the majority view, Genesis 6:1–4 does not presuppose knowledge of the flood narrative. Instead, its primary literary role is to introduce the Nephilim in anticipation of the forthcoming [...] Read more.

This article engages with earlier scholarly discussions on Genesis 6:1–4 and proposes that, contrary to the majority view, Genesis 6:1–4 does not presuppose knowledge of the flood narrative. Instead, its primary literary role is to introduce the Nephilim in anticipation of the forthcoming land promise and conquest narrative. I argue that the Nephilim are not necessarily read as divinely inspired beings but are instead associated with other pre-Israelite settlers characterized by their immense size. The inconsistent biblical depiction of the promised land—including the Transjordanian territory—and the conflation of various giant terms further suggest that the Nephilim in Genesis 6:4 are linked to the broader conquest narrative and associated traditions, particularly the eradication of giant groups such as the Rephaim. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Hebrew Bible: A Journey Through History and Literature)

29 pages, 357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transhumanism and Catholic Social Teaching

by Graham J. Jenkins

Religions 2025, 16(8), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080971 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2025

This paper offers a Christian ethical evaluation of transhumanism. It employs a two-part framework. First, the paper contextualizes transhumanism within the evolutionary cosmology of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and thereby suggests a theological openness to technologically influenced development as part of an ongoing [...] Read more.

This paper offers a Christian ethical evaluation of transhumanism. It employs a two-part framework. First, the paper contextualizes transhumanism within the evolutionary cosmology of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and thereby suggests a theological openness to technologically influenced development as part of an ongoing cosmogenesis towards greater consciousness, or the Omega Point. Second, the paper critically evaluates transhumanist values against five key principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST): natural law, human dignity, human flourishing, the common good, and care for creation. While the Teilhardian lens does indeed allow us to interpret certain transhumanist goals as potentially conducive to humans, the CST assessment reveals serious ethical concerns that must be addressed. These concerns include threats to inherent dignity through the reductionism of the human person, the potential unchecked exacerbation of current social inequality, and significant conflicts with the care of creation stemming from an unchecked technocratic paradigm as described in Laudato Si’. This paper concludes that while engagement with transhumanism is necessary, a Christian perspective should strive to ensure that technological advancement remains subordinate to the universal dignity of all persons, the common good, and authentic flourishing in communion with God. Full article

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

42 pages, 667 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Canaanite Literary Culture Before the Bible, a View from the Canaanite Amarna Letters

by Alice Mandell

Religions 2025, 16(8), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080970 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2025

The present study highlights how the Canaanite Amarna Letters offer unique insight into Canaanite literary culture in the Late Bronze Age. The letters represent the diplomatic acumen of scribes writing letters for local elites that were sent to the Egyptian court in the [...] Read more.

The present study highlights how the Canaanite Amarna Letters offer unique insight into Canaanite literary culture in the Late Bronze Age. The letters represent the diplomatic acumen of scribes writing letters for local elites that were sent to the Egyptian court in the mid-fourteenth century BCE. Yet they also preserve the earliest evidence of Canaanite literary forms and compositional practices. The letters include memorized formulae and expressions, word pairs, poetic devices, and the use of repetition to frame poetic units, which are common in the practices of later first-millennium scribes working in this same region, including those who wrote the Hebrew Bible. The letters also offer insight into the ways that the scribes combined memorized units into new narrative contexts. Such features added literary texture to the letters, but also contributed to their rhetorical aims. While some poetic passages in the letters may be novel compositions, there is also evidence that literary forms and expressions were integral to Canaanite scribal education by the Amarna period. The Canaanite Letters therefore set an important precedent for literary creation, and for the scribes’ bricolage practices in the process of creating new diplomatic letters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Bible and Ancient Mesopotamia)

16 pages, 291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Praying for the Coming of the Kingdom, Crystallizing Biblical Themes in Second Temple Prayers: The Shema, the Qaddish, and the Lord’s Prayer

by Pino Di Luccio

Religions 2025, 16(8), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080969 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2025

Some studies have pointed to the Jewish background of the prayer that, according to the gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus taught his disciples. However, the formulations of LP’s words do not necessarily presuppose the conclusion of the formation of Jewish prayers and [...] Read more.

Some studies have pointed to the Jewish background of the prayer that, according to the gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus taught his disciples. However, the formulations of LP’s words do not necessarily presuppose the conclusion of the formation of Jewish prayers and do not necessarily presuppose a unidirectional influence of Jewish prayers on the formation of LP. This prayer and its “midrash” in John 17 may have influenced the formulation and final formation of some Jewish prayers. The differences between these prayers may indicate the mutual influence that, in some cases, took place throughout the history of their formation. This reciprocity may be due to the intention to establish and define the differences between the religious groups of Judaic origin that inherited these prayers and between the communities that recited them. The crystallization of biblical themes in these prayers highlights the common heritage of these groups and a different understanding of the fulfilment of God’s word in relation to the coming of his kingdom. While this process, characterized by a conflict of interpretations, took place “within Judaism,” it also led to the parting of the ways of Judeo-Christians from the Synagogue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Hebrew Bible: A Journey Through History and Literature)

16 pages, 304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Participation in Organized Prayer Movements on Christians’ Development of Faith, Hope, Spiritual Wellness, and Love

by Hong Sheung Chui, Edmund Sui Lung Ng and K. F. Au-Yeung Chan

Religions 2025, 16(8), 968; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080968 - 25 Jul 2025

The teaching of the Bible emphasizes the importance of prayer for Christians’ faith and spiritual growth, particularly during times of trial and difficulty. Through prayers, Christians enable their spiritual experience of continuous transformation. This study tries to investigate the effects of the organised [...] Read more.

The teaching of the Bible emphasizes the importance of prayer for Christians’ faith and spiritual growth, particularly during times of trial and difficulty. Through prayers, Christians enable their spiritual experience of continuous transformation. This study tries to investigate the effects of the organised prayer movement by Jireh Fund Prayer Movement (JFPM) in Hong Kong on Christians who follow the movement. This study explores the effects of participating in the JFPM on Christians’ development of faith, spiritual wellness, resilience and love. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in 2024, with more than 500 Christians from 67 churches responding to a questionnaire developed for the study to measure the various effects on Christians after they participated in the movement. The questionnaire was developed to measure Christians’ participation in the movement, their spiritual development of faith with hope, spiritual wellness, love, and resilience in the face of stress experienced. The findings are that the organised prayer movements provided by the Jireh Fund have a profound influence on Christians’ development of faith, spiritual wellness, and love. Through shared experiences in participating in prayer group movements, individuals strengthen their faith, enhance their spiritual development, experience divine love, and reduce stress in their daily lives. The sense of community and support found in these movements enhances spiritual wellness, while the focus on collective prayer fosters a culture of love and compassion. Through prayer, believers are empowered to grow in their relationship with God and to extend His love to others, demonstrating the transformative power of organised prayer movements in the lives of Christians. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Theologies)

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43 pages, 1214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Immeasurable Joy: Being One Meditation of a “Bodhisattva Vaibhāṣika”

by Henry Albery

Religions 2025, 16(8), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080967 - 25 Jul 2025

This paper considers the practice of immeasurable joy (muditā) as presented in the so-called Yogalehrbuch, a seventh century Sanskrit “yoga manual” from Qïzïl, on the northern rim of the Tarim Basin. It demonstrates that the author of the text, whose [...] Read more.

This paper considers the practice of immeasurable joy (muditā) as presented in the so-called Yogalehrbuch, a seventh century Sanskrit “yoga manual” from Qïzïl, on the northern rim of the Tarim Basin. It demonstrates that the author of the text, whose purpose is to describe the journey of a yogin on the path to the awakening of a Bodhisattva, relied on some version of the *Vibhāṣā, the voluminous treatise on Buddhist metaphysics from which the Vaibhāṣika school derives its name. Identifying several parallels between the two texts, it presents a new edition of select passages of the manuscript from the preface to immeasurable joy which constitute what the text terms a theory of practice (prayoganirdeśa). On this basis, it is shown that the specific principles of Vaibhāṣika ontology and phenomenology conveyed by this theory come to be instantiated at the experiential, structural and representational levels of the practice (prayoga), which the text primarily serves to example. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Buddhist Meditation in Central Asia)

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15 pages, 262 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bizzoche and Tertiaries: Options for Women in Early Modern Malta

by Petra Caruana Dingli

Religions 2025, 16(8), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080966 - 25 Jul 2025

Devout laywomen across different regions of early modern Europe developed their own distinctive lifestyles, nomenclature and communities. The history of bizzoche and tertiaries in early modern Malta is still largely unexplored. Through archival material, this paper provides an initial overview of the women [...] Read more.

Devout laywomen across different regions of early modern Europe developed their own distinctive lifestyles, nomenclature and communities. The history of bizzoche and tertiaries in early modern Malta is still largely unexplored. Through archival material, this paper provides an initial overview of the women who opted for a semi-religious lifestyle in Malta in the period up to c.1700, examining their modes of living and status within society. It also examines their position within the structures of the Church in Malta, shaped by both societal and ecclesiastical norms and the female Christian experience, within the context of the Catholic Reformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Casta Meretrix: The Paradox of the Christian Church Through History)

21 pages, 6554 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deciphering Arachosian Tribute at Persepolis: Orthopraxy and Regulated Gifts in the Achaemenid Empire

by Gad Barnea

Religions 2025, 16(8), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080965 - 25 Jul 2025

Inscribed trays, plates, mortars, and pestles made of beautiful green chert bearing formulaic administrative textual formulae were found during excavations at the Persepolis Treasury in the 1930s. These implements and the enigmatic formulae inscribed upon them present scholars with a complex and unique [...] Read more.

Inscribed trays, plates, mortars, and pestles made of beautiful green chert bearing formulaic administrative textual formulae were found during excavations at the Persepolis Treasury in the 1930s. These implements and the enigmatic formulae inscribed upon them present scholars with a complex and unique challenge whose correct interpretation holds important implications for the study of Achaemenid history, imperial administration, and relations between ancient Arachosia (roughly modern-day Afghanistan) and the centers of power, as well as—as I argue in this article—for the symbiosis between administration and cult in antiquity. They continue to be hotly debated ever since their inauspicious initial publication by Bowman in 1970, yet they have thus far remained obscure. By comparing these finds with material and textual data from across the Achaemenid empire and early Parthian sources, this article offers a new comprehensive study of these objects. My analysis suggests that these objects are to be considered as a more systematized and tightly controlled Arachosian form of “informal taxation”—namely, regulated gifts—which are comparable to similar imperial donations found in the Treasury at Persepolis. Specifically, they take part in an “economy of fealty” demonstrating loyalty to king and empire through the adherence to the era’s Mazdean ritual orthopraxy. Full article

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38 pages, 7272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Task of an Archaeo-Genealogy of Theological Knowledge: Between Self-Referentiality and Public Theology

by Alex Villas Boas and César Candiotto

Religions 2025, 16(8), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080964 - 25 Jul 2025

This article addresses the epistemic and political problem of self-referentiality in theology within the context of post-secular societies as a demand for public relevance of faculties of theology within the 21st-century university. It focuses on the epistemological emergence of public theology as a [...] Read more.

This article addresses the epistemic and political problem of self-referentiality in theology within the context of post-secular societies as a demand for public relevance of faculties of theology within the 21st-century university. It focuses on the epistemological emergence of public theology as a distinct knowledge, such as human rights, and ecological thinking, contributing to the public mission of knowledge production and interdisciplinary engagement. This study applies Michel Foucault’s archaeological and genealogical methods in dialogue with Michel de Certeau’s insights into the archaeology of religious practices through a multi-layered analytical approach, including archaeology of knowledge, apparatuses of power, pastoral government, and spirituality as a genealogy of ethics. As a result of the analysis, it examines the historical conditions of possibility for the emergence of a public theology and how it needs to be thought synchronously with other formations of knowledge, allowing theology to move beyond its self-referential model of approaching dogma and the social practices derived from it. This article concludes programmatically that the development of public theology requires an epistemological reconfiguration to displace its self-referentiality through critical engagement with a public rationality framework as an essential task for the public relevance and contribution of theology within contemporary universities and plural societies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Dogmatism to a Public Theology: An Archeology of Theological Knowledge and Religious Studies)

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20 pages, 255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Bonaventurian Synthesis of the Human Being as “Imago et Similitudo Dei”: The Existential Realisation of a Person as a “Seeker of Truth” and a “Wayfarer Summoned by Love”

by Francisco Javier Rubio Hípola

Religions 2025, 16(8), 963; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080963 - 25 Jul 2025

This study explores the Bonaventurian synthesis of the human being as imago et similitudo Dei, highlighting its anthropological and existential implications. Against the backdrop of contemporary reductionist approaches that fragment the understanding of the human person, Bonaventure offers a holistic vision that integrates [...] Read more.

This study explores the Bonaventurian synthesis of the human being as imago et similitudo Dei, highlighting its anthropological and existential implications. Against the backdrop of contemporary reductionist approaches that fragment the understanding of the human person, Bonaventure offers a holistic vision that integrates intellectual, affective, and volitional dimensions within a Christocentric and Trinitarian framework. Through a systematic analysis of Bonaventure’s primary texts—particularly the Itinerarium mentis in Deum and the Collationes in Hexaëmeron—and supported by critical scholarship, the article argues that human fulfillment transcends the limits of pure rationality and culminates in the unitive act of love with God. The study identifies two central principles of what Lázaro Pulido calls “Christian Socratism”: (1) human life as a journey to the Father’s house, and (2) the configuration of the soul, in wisdom and love, as a dwelling place of God. By situating the moral and spiritual life within the logic of divine attraction, Bonaventure overcomes both Aristotelian intellectualism and postmodern individualism. Ultimately, his thought presents happiness not as self-realization but as conformity with Christ crucified, revealing a path where suffering acquires meaning and the human vocation to love finds its ultimate horizon in the Trinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematic Theology and Social Ethics: On the Unity of Theory and Praxis)

24 pages, 792 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Japanese Contribution to the Philological Investigation of Old Uyghur Buddhist Texts in the 21st Century

by Seltenet Halik

Religions 2025, 16(8), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080962 - 25 Jul 2025

Japanese scholarship occupies a special place in the study of Old Uyghur philology, Central Asian history and religions on the Silk Road. The German volume edited by J. P. Laut and K. Röhrborn in 1988 provides an overview of Japanese studies of Old [...] Read more.

Japanese scholarship occupies a special place in the study of Old Uyghur philology, Central Asian history and religions on the Silk Road. The German volume edited by J. P. Laut and K. Röhrborn in 1988 provides an overview of Japanese studies of Old Uyghur Buddhism and presents some representative works published up to 1988. For publications subsequent to 1988, an appendix to Laut and K. Röhrborn’s volume by M. Ölmez can be mentioned, though it provides minimal elaboration on Buddhist publications. The present paper offers a comprehensive review of notable contributions to the study of Old Uyghur Buddhism published in Japanese in recent years, which are challenging to access for scholars unacquainted with the Japanese language. It focuses exclusively on publications released between 2000 and 2024 in Japanese, with no English translations available at the time of submission of this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reviving Ancient Wisdom on the Northern Silk Road: Research on Old Uyghur Buddhism and Buddhist Scriptures)

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14 pages, 759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The “Tripitaka Diplomacy” in the East Asian World During the 10th–12th Centuries

by Jing Jiang, Junnan Shen and Kanliang Wang

Religions 2025, 16(8), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080961 - 24 Jul 2025

During the 10th to 12th centuries, the Song, Liao, and Goryeo Dynasties and Japanese regimes in East Asia engaged in frequent activities of requesting and granting the Chinese Tripitaka (the Chinese Buddhist Canon), forming a distinctive diplomatic phenomenon termed “Tripitaka Diplomacy”. This paper [...] Read more.

During the 10th to 12th centuries, the Song, Liao, and Goryeo Dynasties and Japanese regimes in East Asia engaged in frequent activities of requesting and granting the Chinese Tripitaka (the Chinese Buddhist Canon), forming a distinctive diplomatic phenomenon termed “Tripitaka Diplomacy”. This paper examines the political and cultural dynamics underlying these cross-border interactions by analyzing the historical records of such activities among the polities. It also explores the multifaceted role of the Tripitaka in East Asian international relations, which transcended its religious significance to shape diplomatic strategies and power dynamics. Through this lens, this paper reveals the complexity of the East Asian international order during this period, emphasizing how the circulation of the Tripitaka served as both a cultural bridge and a tool for political negotiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shaping Sacred Knowledge: The Transmission and Legacy of the Chinese Buddhist Canon)

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25 pages, 398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From the Periphery to the Center: Sufi Dynamics and Islamic Localization in Sudan

by Gökhan Bozbaş and Fatiha Bozbaş

Religions 2025, 16(8), 960; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080960 - 24 Jul 2025

This study examines the complex process of Islam’s localization in Sudan, focusing on how hospitality, Sufi dhikr, and Mawlid celebrations integrate with Islamic practices. Drawing on three years of qualitative fieldwork, it demonstrates how Sudan’s geography, ethnic diversity, and historical heritage enable the [...] Read more.

This study examines the complex process of Islam’s localization in Sudan, focusing on how hospitality, Sufi dhikr, and Mawlid celebrations integrate with Islamic practices. Drawing on three years of qualitative fieldwork, it demonstrates how Sudan’s geography, ethnic diversity, and historical heritage enable the blending of core religious principles with local customs. Sufi brotherhoods—particularly Qādiriyya, Tījāniyya, Shādhiliyya, and Khatmiyya—play a pivotal role in local culture by incorporating traditional musical, choreographic, and narrative art forms into their rituals, resulting in highly dynamic worship and social interaction. In Sudan, hospitality emerges as a near-sovereign social norm, reflecting the Islamic ethics of charity and mutual assistance while remaining deeply intertwined with local traditions. Islam’s adaptability toward local customs is further illustrated by the vibrant drumming, chanting, and dancing that enhance large-scale Mawlid al-Nabi celebrations, uniting Muslims under a religious identity that goes beyond dogmatic definitions. Beyond their spiritual meanings, these Sufi practices and networks also serve as tools for social cohesion, often functioning as support systems in regions with minimal state presence. They help prevent disputes and foster unity, demonstrating the positive impact of a flexible Islam—one that draws on both scripture and local traditions—on peacebuilding in Sudan. While highlighting the country’s social realities, this study offers insights into how Islam can function as a transformative force within society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Voices from the 'Periphery of Islam': Discourses of Authenticity, Rooting and Community-Building)

19 pages, 406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Translation as Pedagogy: Dharmagupta’s Didactic Rendering of the Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedikā-Prajñāpāramitā-Sūtra) and Sanskrit Instruction in the Sui–Tang Period

by Jiayi Wang and Nan Wang

Religions 2025, 16(8), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080959 - 24 Jul 2025

The Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedikā-Prajñāpāramitā-Sūtra) translated by the Sui Dynasty monk Dharmagupta is the fourth Chinese rendition of the Diamond Sutra. Characterized by unprecedented linguistic opacity and syntactic complexity within the history of Buddhist textual transmission, this translation’s distinctive features have attracted significant scholarly [...] Read more.

The Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedikā-Prajñāpāramitā-Sūtra) translated by the Sui Dynasty monk Dharmagupta is the fourth Chinese rendition of the Diamond Sutra. Characterized by unprecedented linguistic opacity and syntactic complexity within the history of Buddhist textual transmission, this translation’s distinctive features have attracted significant scholarly attention. This study synthesizes existing academic perspectives and employs Sanskrit–Chinese textual criticism and comparative analysis of parallel translations to conduct a granular examination of Dharmagupta’s retranslation. Our findings reveal that this text fundamentally deviates from conventional sutras designed for religious dissemination or liturgical recitation. Its defining traits, including morphological calquing of Sanskrit structures, simplified pronominal systems, and etymologically prioritized equivalence, collectively reflect a pedagogical focus characteristic of language instructional texts. Dharmagupta’s approach epitomizes a translation-as-pedagogy paradigm, with the text’s deviations from conventional norms resulting from the interplay of religious development, historical context, and translator agency. We argue that the Diamond Sutra retranslation constitutes a radical experimental paradigm in translation history, warranting re-evaluation of its significance within the broader trajectory of Buddhist textual practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Languages and Buddhist Texts: Translation, Transmission, and Interpretation Across Traditions)

19 pages, 536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Luigi Giussani and an Accompaniment Model for Religious Education in Rural Australia

by Paul G. Chigwidden

Religions 2025, 16(8), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080958 - 23 Jul 2025

The rapid secularisation of society has made the work of religious education in Catholic secondary schools increasingly difficult. Contemporary RE teachers are often faced with wildly disparate knowledge and interest levels in their classrooms, to say nothing of their own religiosity. Many systems [...] Read more.

The rapid secularisation of society has made the work of religious education in Catholic secondary schools increasingly difficult. Contemporary RE teachers are often faced with wildly disparate knowledge and interest levels in their classrooms, to say nothing of their own religiosity. Many systems focus on new curricula, new forms of professional development opportunities, or tertiary courses as a means of enriching what is happening in the classroom. This article examines the approach developed in a small rural diocese in accompanying the RE teachers working in its five secondary schools. It is an accompaniment model that is grounded in the theological and pedagogical insights of Luigi Giussani and adapted to the realities of contemporary education in an Australian setting. The results are a surprising proliferation of enrichment and innovation that can be immediately shared with students in each RE classroom. Moreover, accompaniment offers a more sustainable, agile, and targeted mode of supporting the evangelising work of RE teachers working in Catholic secondary schools. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematic Theology as a Catalyst for Renewal in Catholic Education)

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17 pages, 231 KiB

Open AccessArticle

‘Go and Make Disciples of All Nations’: Challenges to Catholic School Leaders in Promoting Christian Values in a Secular Society

by David Fincham

Religions 2025, 16(8), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080957 - 23 Jul 2025

There are many lessons to be learned from the findings of research that would be advantageous in realising the potential of Catholic schools to contribute to the common good of a secular society. In summary, it is possible to highlight the following inferences, [...] Read more.

There are many lessons to be learned from the findings of research that would be advantageous in realising the potential of Catholic schools to contribute to the common good of a secular society. In summary, it is possible to highlight the following inferences, which were drawn from research undertaken by the writer: (1) From the perspective of Catholic school leaders, Catholic education faces considerable challenges and, sometimes, antagonism, within a secular society, which can impose significant pressures on the conduct of their work. (2) There is a need to disseminate information to individuals and groups within and outside Catholic schools of the Christian values that are promoted by the Church. (3) Catholic schools make a significant contribution towards the common good of society, which is not always generally appreciated and should be more widely publicised. (4) Catholic communities and their leaders would benefit from ongoing opportunities to engage in continuing professional development and formation that would nourish and nurture the enhancement of spiritual capital in their schools. Full article

18 pages, 295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Religious Policies and Civil Conflict: “Italian” Perspectives on the French Wars of Religion

by Daniele Santarelli

Religions 2025, 16(8), 956; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080956 - 23 Jul 2025

This paper investigates the complex relations between the Italian states, particularly Venice and Florence, and France at the beginning (c. 1560–1565) of the French Wars of Religion (c. 1560–1598). Focusing on the early years of the conflict, it highlights the “Italian” perception of [...] Read more.

This paper investigates the complex relations between the Italian states, particularly Venice and Florence, and France at the beginning (c. 1560–1565) of the French Wars of Religion (c. 1560–1598). Focusing on the early years of the conflict, it highlights the “Italian” perception of France’s politico-religious upheavals and their profound implications for governance and state stability. Drawing on diplomatic correspondence and political reflections, the analysis reveals contrasting approaches among Venetian ambassadors: in particular, Giovanni Michiel advocated conciliatory policies to avert civil war, while Michele Suriano favored uncompromising anti-heresy measures. Niccolò Tornabuoni, serving as the Florentine ambassador in France, evolved from moderate criticism to a rigidly anti-Protestant position, mirroring Cosimo de’ Medici’s shift toward Counter-Reformation policies. This study situates these early reflections within the broader context of Venice’s internal tensions, marked by the diffusion of Reformation ideas and anti-papal currents, and Florence’s strategic alignment with Spain. It also underscores the role of these conflicts in shaping the politico-diplomatic strategies and reinforcing the perceived necessity of religious uniformity as a safeguard against political and social destabilization. The final part is directly linked to the sources and arguments as it contextualizes the diplomatic responses of Venetian and Florentine envoys within the broader political–religious transformations of the period. Full article

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

16 pages, 508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Role of Self-Forgiveness to Explain the Relationship Between Religiosity and Wellbeing in Individuals with Serious Mental Illness

by Sandra D. Reid, Shelly-Ann Hunte, Marielle Joseph and Marsha Ivey

Religions 2025, 16(8), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080955 - 23 Jul 2025

Self-forgiveness is identified as a contributor to psychological wellbeing and may serve as a mechanism through which religiosity supports mental health. There is a dearth of research on wellbeing and the role of self-forgiveness in the English-speaking Caribbean. This preliminary study explored the [...] Read more.

Self-forgiveness is identified as a contributor to psychological wellbeing and may serve as a mechanism through which religiosity supports mental health. There is a dearth of research on wellbeing and the role of self-forgiveness in the English-speaking Caribbean. This preliminary study explored the relationship between religiosity, self-forgiveness, and wellbeing among persons with serious mental illness (SMI), a population largely overlooked in this context. A convenience sample of 362 out-patients receiving care in Trinidad and Tobago completed self-reported measures of self-forgiveness, the Religious Commitment Inventory, and Havard’s Flourishing Measure. Inferential statistics examined group differences in religiosity and wellbeing, and predictive relationships among key variables. Among persons with SMI, higher religiosity was significantly associated with greater wellbeing (p < 0.0001). Additionally, there was greater wellbeing among those who reported a propensity to self-forgive compared to those who did not (p < 0.0001). Self-forgiveness explained a significant part of the relationship between religiosity and wellbeing. Furthermore, among the non-highly religious, self-forgiveness was also significantly associated with greater wellbeing (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that self-forgiveness may mediate the link between religiosity and wellbeing, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic coping mechanism for individuals with serious mental illness. This study adds to the growing literature on religious coping in mental health and underscores the need for further research to clarify the mediating role of self-forgiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intersections of Religiousness/Spirituality and Forgiveness and Implications for Mental Health and Well-Being)

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25 pages, 4980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Memory of Mysticism: Kabbalistic Modes of (Post)Memory in W.G. Sebald’s Austerlitz

by Jo Klevdal

Religions 2025, 16(8), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080954 - 23 Jul 2025

As first-hand testimonies and accounts of the Holocaust fade, scholars and artists alike have struggled to depict and contextualize the genocide’s monumental violence. But depicting violence and its aftermath poses several problems, including the question of how to recall loss without artificially filling [...] Read more.

As first-hand testimonies and accounts of the Holocaust fade, scholars and artists alike have struggled to depict and contextualize the genocide’s monumental violence. But depicting violence and its aftermath poses several problems, including the question of how to recall loss without artificially filling in or effacing the absence so central to its understanding. In essence, remembering the Holocaust is a paradox: the preservation of an absence. Marianne Hirsch’s influential concept of postmemory addresses this paradox and asks questions about memorial capacity in the twenty-first century. This essay considers Hirsch’s postmemory in the context of W.G. Sebald’s 2001 novel Austerlitz, which uses a combination of prose and photography to engage the difficulties inherent in memory work without access to eyewitnesses. Through the interaction of printed text and images, Austerlitz subtly references Lurianic mysticism’s concept of tikkun and Tree of Life (ilanot) diagrams. The result is a depiction of memory that is both process-based and embodies absence. My reading of Austerlitz traces a Jewish heritage within the work of a non-Jewish German author by attending to a tradition of mystical thought embedded in the novel. This situates Sebald’s fiction in a much longer Jewish history that stretches out on either end of the event of the Holocaust. Structurally, Sebald develops a tikkun-like process of (re)creation which relies on gathering material scraps of the past and imaginatively engaging with their absences in the present. Images, just as much as text, are central to this process. Reading Austerlitz in the context of Kabbalah reveals an intellectual and artistic link to a Jewish history that, while predating the Holocaust, nonetheless sheds light on post-Holocaust memories of loss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Jewish Thought in Times of Crisis)

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Charity and Compassion: A Comparative Study of Philosophy of Friendship Between Thomistic Christianity and Mahayana Buddhism

by Zhichao Qi and Jingyu Sang

Religions 2025, 16(8), 953; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16080953 - 23 Jul 2025

In the current era, when civilizations are in constant conflict and humankind is facing a series of serious existential crises, there is an urgent need for universal love to unite humankind. As models of world religions, Christianity and Buddhism provide rich intellectual resources [...] Read more.

In the current era, when civilizations are in constant conflict and humankind is facing a series of serious existential crises, there is an urgent need for universal love to unite humankind. As models of world religions, Christianity and Buddhism provide rich intellectual resources for the construction of such universal love. Regarding Thomistic Christianity, its philosophy of friendship has gradually achieved a dual transformation from virtue-oriented to love-oriented, and from God-centered to human-centered. In the case of Mahayana Buddhism, its philosophy of friendship has evolved with the “Humanistic Buddhism” movement, increasingly demonstrating a compassionate spirit of saving the world. By comparing Thomistic Christianity with Mahayana Buddhism, we can see that although they exhibit different models of friendship, their main developmental trends are consistent. Both are committed to demonstrating a human-centered model of friendship, both emphasize the value of self-reduction in friendship, and both demonstrate the unique and irreplaceable role of religion in friendship. The goal of the philosophy of friendship is universal love and harmonious development of civilizations, while its future development depends on the joint efforts of contemporary religious scholars and philosophers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Otherness-Reception and Self-Rediscovery in the Dialogue and Comparative Study of Christianity and Buddhism)

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