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Volume 16
Issue 5
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Religions, Volume 16, Issue 5 (May 2025) – 123 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): My article offers a contribution to the scientifically informed theological reflection on anthropogenesis, the original state of human nature and original sin. After introductory remarks on the historical–critical exegesis of Gen 1–11 and the Catholic view of evolutionary and theological anthropogenesis, I develop a critical evaluation of the notion of praeternatural gifts given by God to the first human being(s). In the next step, I discuss the difficulties of the received model of hereditary sin assuming the role of Adam as the “collective singular”. Next, I refer to alternative models of hereditary sin and offer some remarks on the return to the Irenaean notion of the original state of human nature and original sin in the circles of theologians attentive to the theory of evolution. View this paper
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17 pages, 263 KiB  
Article
Imagining Otherwise: Black Women, Theological Resistance, and Afrofuturist Possibility
by Marquisha Lawrence Scott
Religions 2025, 16(5), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050658 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 224
Abstract
“If it wasn’t for the women” is a common refrain in Black Church culture, made most popular by Cheryl Townsend Gilkes’ sociology of religion work in the 1990s. As conversations grow around a perceived disconnection from the church—particularly among younger generations—many Black congregations [...] Read more.
“If it wasn’t for the women” is a common refrain in Black Church culture, made most popular by Cheryl Townsend Gilkes’ sociology of religion work in the 1990s. As conversations grow around a perceived disconnection from the church—particularly among younger generations—many Black congregations and denominations are asking the following question: Where do we go from here? One possible response is to ask the women. Black women have long been central to the sustenance and theological framing of the Black Church. However, many contemporary Black women theologians and church-adjacent writers are reshaping religious discourse in ways that move beyond traditional ecclesial boundaries and into the interiority of Black womanhood. This turn should be considered essential in any reimagining of the Black Church. This paper employs content analysis to examine five contemporary works by Black women thinkers—Candice Benbow, Lyvonne Briggs, Tricia Hersey, EbonyJanice Moore, and Cole Arthur Riley—whose writings reflect Black women’s embodied spirituality, theological imagination, cultural meaning-making, and institutional critique within Black religious life. Rather than signaling a decline in moral or spiritual life, their work points to the search for sacred spaces that are more liberative, inclusive, and attuned to lived experience. Through a thematic analysis of Power, Authority, and Institutional Critique; Afrofuturistic Visioning of Faith; Sacred Embodiment and Spiritual Praxis; Language and Rhetorical Strategies; Gender, Sexuality, and Sacred Autonomy; and Liberation, Justice, and Social Transformation, this study contributes to the evolving conversation on Black women’s spirituality, leadership in religious spaces, and a possible iteration of the Black Church. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Congregational Engagement and Leadership)
19 pages, 328 KiB  
Article
Kaibara Ekiken’s Syncretic Shinto–Confucian Philosophy
by Liqi Feng
Religions 2025, 16(5), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050657 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 158
Abstract
During the Meiji period, the relationship between Confucianism and the indigenous Japanese religion of Shinto became more complex within the context of national culture and policy. The integration of Confucianism and Shinto became an important part of Japan’s modernization and ideological construction. However, [...] Read more.
During the Meiji period, the relationship between Confucianism and the indigenous Japanese religion of Shinto became more complex within the context of national culture and policy. The integration of Confucianism and Shinto became an important part of Japan’s modernization and ideological construction. However, this profound fusion did not emerge suddenly; as early as the Edo period, Confucianism and Shinto had already established a certain degree of interaction and influence. Therefore, this article attempts to outline an early example of the combination of Shinto and Confucianism (more specifically, Neo-Confucianism, which had a profound impact on modern and contemporary Japan) through the lens of the integrated thought of Shinto and Confucianism of the early Edo-period scholar, Kaibara Ekiken. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conflict and Integration of Confucianism and Religions in Modern Japan)
18 pages, 290 KiB  
Article
“Limit Situations” and Sociological Theory: Implications for the Study of Vulnerability and Engaged Spirituality
by Benedetta Nicoli
Religions 2025, 16(5), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050656 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 183
Abstract
This paper aims to advance sociological theory by systematizing the concept of “limit situation”, a term that Berger employs throughout his work, though only in a hinted and unsystematic manner. To achieve this objective, the paper develops a theoretical framework that incorporates different [...] Read more.
This paper aims to advance sociological theory by systematizing the concept of “limit situation”, a term that Berger employs throughout his work, though only in a hinted and unsystematic manner. To achieve this objective, the paper develops a theoretical framework that incorporates different contributions and perspectives. Within this framework, the concept of “limit situation” translates into an analytical tool for the sociological study of vulnerability, particularly in relation to engaged spirituality. The concept is tested through an empirical study based on in-depth interviews with founders, workers, and volunteers from organizations that provide care for individuals facing vulnerability. The analysis shows that encounters with vulnerability, under specific circumstances, create a liminal situation that promotes spirituality at both existential and operational levels. This process informs the value systems of the involved actors and activates specific social practices and relationships. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Engaged Spiritualities: Theories, Practices, and Future Directions)
13 pages, 235 KiB  
Article
The Relationship Between Submission and Sacrifice in the First Letter of Peter
by María José Schultz Montalbetti
Religions 2025, 16(5), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050655 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 335
Abstract
The First Epistle of Peter is a writing that addresses a new way of understanding and practicing worship among the followers of Jesus. The Christians, recipients of the letter, due to the imminent identity distinction from the Jews and their distancing from the [...] Read more.
The First Epistle of Peter is a writing that addresses a new way of understanding and practicing worship among the followers of Jesus. The Christians, recipients of the letter, due to the imminent identity distinction from the Jews and their distancing from the practices of imperial worship, live in a difficult social and religious situation. This situation demands the author to recall the theological foundations of Christian identity and redefine the meaning of traditional ritual concepts in new ethical and communal terms. This article, through a historical and theological analysis, examines the concepts of “sacrifice” and “submission” in their Christian reinterpretation and how they shape the worship practices of Jesus’ followers. To this end, the cultic elements present in the exhortative discourse are analyzed to explore the development of their theological significance at the dawn of the second century. Furthermore, considering the current appreciation of these attitudes as outdated values, this article evaluates whether the ethical discourse of the letter can have an impact on contemporary society. The study seeks to offer a renewed reading of 1 Peter that contributes to understanding the particularity of Christian worship in the Greco-Roman society of the first century and to ascertain whether its message is still relevant today. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interpreting the Bible: Re-Reading Texts, Characters, and Images from Scripture)
13 pages, 254 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Spirituality on the Education of Incarcerated Individuals: Reflections on the Exceptional Experience of Police-Free Prisons in Brazil
by Sergio Grossi and Alessandra Augelli
Religions 2025, 16(5), 654; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050654 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 214
Abstract
The article seeks to read the contribution of religious practices in prison education within the broader framework of spirituality as a search for meaning in life. It argues that religious engagement can foster cognitive and emotional development, providing inmates with a sense of [...] Read more.
The article seeks to read the contribution of religious practices in prison education within the broader framework of spirituality as a search for meaning in life. It argues that religious engagement can foster cognitive and emotional development, providing inmates with a sense of purpose, community, and resilience that supports their reintegration into society. In light of an exceptional and extremely significant experience with APAC in Brazil’s police-free prison model, the authors aim to highlight the nexus between spirituality and re-education in contexts of deprivation and restriction of personal liberty. Indeed, the APAC (Association for the Protection and Assistance of the Convicted) model, central to this study, emphasizes nonviolent coexistence, responsibility, and spiritual care as part of its rehabilitative framework, with a significant reduction in recidivism rates and costs compared to traditional prisons. The model’s approach, grounded in a collective sense of responsibility and spirituality, aligns with Viktor Frankl’s and Paulo Freire’s theories on meaning and liberation, illustrating how spirituality can transform prison environments and promote social justice. The study concludes that spirituality in prisons not only aids individual redemption but also calls for structural changes to support reintegration, marking a shift towards a more human-centered penitentiary system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Examining Religion's Influence in Non-formal and Informal Educational Contexts: Beliefs, Practices and Narratives)
23 pages, 331 KiB  
Article
Different Religions, Similar Experiences: Intra-Group Religious Tension Among Non-Religious Jews and Arabs in Israel
by Oriana Abboud-Armaly, Rachelly Ashwall-Yakar and Michal Raz-Rotem
Religions 2025, 16(5), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050653 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 364
Abstract
The rapid growth in interfaith peacebuilding has elevated the prominence of religion in theoretical and practical discourse, highlighting its importance in conflict dynamics. In dialogue-based encounters between distinct identity groups, religion often emerges as a key factor, regardless of participants’ specific affiliation or [...] Read more.
The rapid growth in interfaith peacebuilding has elevated the prominence of religion in theoretical and practical discourse, highlighting its importance in conflict dynamics. In dialogue-based encounters between distinct identity groups, religion often emerges as a key factor, regardless of participants’ specific affiliation or religiosity level. However, studies on religion-related tension typically adopt a polarized perspective, framing conflict in intergroup contexts while overlooking intra-group dynamics. This paper addresses this gap through a qualitative cross-case analysis of two studies, conducted in Israel during 2016–2019. Participants included 28 secular Jews and 28 secular Arabs (Christian and Muslim). Our findings reveal that non-religious individuals from both societies experienced similar challenges in navigating intra-group, religion-based encounters. Participants identified religion as defining boundaries of understanding, acceptance, legitimacy, and belonging within their societies. The study also highlights gaps in mutual recognition, whereby the participants expressed willingness to accept religion as integral to their religious counterparts’ identity, yet reported that this openness was not reciprocated. This gap created barriers to dialogue, weakening potential intra-group cohesion. This paper contributes to the literature on conflicts and peacebuilding, underscoring notable intra-group similarities between Jewish and Arab participants, and offers a novel framework for understanding religious dynamics across distinct social contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interreligious Peacebuilding in a Global Context)
30 pages, 1096 KiB  
Article
The Emergence and Spread of Relic Veneration in Medieval China: A Study with a Special Focus on the Relics Produced by Miracles
by Zhiyuan Chen
Religions 2025, 16(5), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050652 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 366
Abstract
Miracle tales are almost the sole source for the investigation of the emergence and spread of the relic cult in the early phase of Chinese Buddhism. The earliest excavated relic casket dates back to 453 CE, over four centuries after Buddhism was introduced [...] Read more.
Miracle tales are almost the sole source for the investigation of the emergence and spread of the relic cult in the early phase of Chinese Buddhism. The earliest excavated relic casket dates back to 453 CE, over four centuries after Buddhism was introduced to China. Through a critical textual analysis of Ji Shenzhou Sanbao Gantonglu, it is evident that the initial form of relic veneration was based on miraculous responses. Legends about imperial relic worship before the 3rd century are all later fabrications. Two archeological finds—the alleged relic murals in a Han tomb at Horinger, Inner Mongolia, and the stūpa-shaped bronze vessel in Gongyi, Henan—are not directly related to relic veneration. Based on the available evidence, it is tentatively concluded that relic worship first emerged around the 3rd century in the vicinity of Luoyang, the capital of the Western Jin, and later spread to the south of the Yangtze River after the Yongjia chaos. The early worshippers included both monks and lay Buddhists, such as merchants and lower-ranking officials. Royal interest in relics did not arise until the 5th century. The rise of relic veneration in China occured two or three centuries later than that in Gandhāra, from which Chinese Buddhism was significantly influenced. Compared to the cult of images or scriptures, relic veneration also emerged relatively late in China. The reluctance to adopt relics as worship objects can be partly explained by (the mahāyāna) Buddhist doctrines and the Chinese cultural mentality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Localization, Globalization and Glocalization: Paradigm Shifts in the Study of Transmission and Transformation of Buddhism in Asia and Beyond)
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11 pages, 170 KiB  
Article
Prolegomena to the Concept of God When Dealing with the Question: Is Ethics Without God Possible?
by Daniel A. Dombrowski
Religions 2025, 16(5), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050651 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 262
Abstract
This article examines the assumption that, in order to respond adequately to the question in the title, one must have the classical concept of God in mind. Classical theism is criticized and neoclassical/process theism is briefly defended. Specifically, the classical theistic attribute of [...] Read more.
This article examines the assumption that, in order to respond adequately to the question in the title, one must have the classical concept of God in mind. Classical theism is criticized and neoclassical/process theism is briefly defended. Specifically, the classical theistic attribute of omnipotence receives four criticisms. The hope is that these criticisms prepare the way for a more fruitful response to the question in the title than is possible when the classical concept of God is assumed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Is an Ethics without God Possible?)
22 pages, 13352 KiB  
Article
The Publication and Dissemination of the Yuan Dynasty Pilu Canon
by Tun Zhao
Religions 2025, 16(5), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050650 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 266
Abstract
This study explores the publication and dissemination of the Pilu Canon 《毗盧藏》, engraved by followers of Bao’en Wanshou Hall in Houshan Village, Fujian, during the Yanyou reign of the Yuan Dynasty. Funded through donations, this canon was part of a broader initiative to [...] Read more.
This study explores the publication and dissemination of the Pilu Canon 《毗盧藏》, engraved by followers of Bao’en Wanshou Hall in Houshan Village, Fujian, during the Yanyou reign of the Yuan Dynasty. Funded through donations, this canon was part of a broader initiative to republish the four major Buddhist Canons. Its engraving style blends influences from Yan Zhenqing, Ouyang Xun, and Zhao Mengfu, with rounder characters and more spacious layouts compared to earlier Song editions. The project, supported by the White Lotus Society, involved various engravers and resulted in diverse transcription practices. Although no complete set survives, scattered volumes are housed in different institutions. The Pilu Canon provides valuable insights into the evolution of Buddhist scripture layout, the White Lotus Society’s influence, and the interaction between Buddhist texts and secular society in medieval China. 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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14 pages, 229 KiB  
Article
The Presence and Role of Ancestors in Indigenous Cultures, Euro-American Cultures, and Democratic Intergenerational Dialogue
by Mark S. Cladis
Religions 2025, 16(5), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050649 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 255
Abstract
What does it mean for a culture to include, or exclude, ancestors as active members? How do Indigenous cultures and traditions cast light on the role of ancestors? Those are the central questions in this article. It begins by offering a general account [...] Read more.
What does it mean for a culture to include, or exclude, ancestors as active members? How do Indigenous cultures and traditions cast light on the role of ancestors? Those are the central questions in this article. It begins by offering a general account of the role of ancestors in Indigenous cultures and traditions. These general comments contextualize specific engagement with the work of the novelist and essayist Leslie Marmon Silko (a Laguna Pueblo author) and also with the philosopher Kyle Whyte (a Potawatomi author). Having acquired from Silko and Whyte a sense for the active, intergenerational role played by ancestors in Indigenous cultures, the article then addresses the place of ancestors in Euro-American cultures and traditions, noting that due to particular forms of Christianity and secularism, Euro-American scholars and popular culture more generally tend to discount the role of ancestors. Yet, the work of Silko and others lend sight to see traces of ancestors in Euro-American cultures. Finally, the article returns to the question: What difference might it make to include or exclude ancestors in Euro-American communities and democracy? The approach in this article is transdisciplinary, drawing from the fields of religious studies (specifically its subfield, philosophy of religion and ethics), Indigenous studies, anthropology, political theory, and literary criticism. Full article
17 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Marking Nations Around New Jerusalem: The Mental Map of Ezekiel in the Babylonian Context
by Selim Ferruh Adalı
Religions 2025, 16(5), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050648 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 278
Abstract
The present study looks at how gentilics, usually attested in traditional biblical topoi from the Pentateuch, are re-contextualized in Ezekiel to provide a mental map of the peoples of the known Earth during the Exilic period. The basic constituents of Ezekiel’s mental map [...] Read more.
The present study looks at how gentilics, usually attested in traditional biblical topoi from the Pentateuch, are re-contextualized in Ezekiel to provide a mental map of the peoples of the known Earth during the Exilic period. The basic constituents of Ezekiel’s mental map of foreign peoples recall some of the configurations known from the Babylonian mental map tradition. One known iteration of the latter is the Babylonian World Map (BM 92687). The document presents several interesting features as to how mental maps are formed in the Babylonian context. Its composition may date back to the late eighth century BCE. It is an iteration of the Babylonian mental map with a unique unmarked epicentre. Furthermore, it was probably impressed on clay on the occasion of a military campaign or itinerant work concerning specific toponyms in southern Babylonia. Finally, it was copied for scribal purposes in the Neo-Babylonian period. The present study proposes that these dynamics of the Babylonian mental map help understand Ezekiel’s mental map of foreign peoples. Aspects of Ezekiel’s mental map owe to an older Hebrew tradition partly known from the Pentateuch, although it is a unique iteration for Ezekiel’s oracles against the nations with historical references to the Exilic period. Jerusalem is the epicentre. Two main rings of foreign peoples encircle Jerusalem. The first circle comprises Judah’s neighbours from the east, south, west, and northwest. The second circle picks up from the northwest going up the coast, then south to Egypt, and finally east and northeast with Gog of Magog. Ezekiel concludes with the Temple Vision confirming Jerusalem’s central position. This case study implies that Ezekiel encountered and independently adapted aspects of the Mesopotamian mental map. Comparisons such as the one attempted here can illustrate the potential of ancient Near Eastern intertextuality and cultural hybridity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Bible and Ancient Mesopotamia)
16 pages, 218 KiB  
Article
The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National Identity
by Karin Neutel
Religions 2025, 16(5), 647; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050647 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 269
Abstract
Despite its ancient and foreign origin, the Bible has managed to integrate so seamlessly into the contemporary Nordic countries that it is seen to form the basis of specifically Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish identity and values. This paper will employ the work of [...] Read more.
Despite its ancient and foreign origin, the Bible has managed to integrate so seamlessly into the contemporary Nordic countries that it is seen to form the basis of specifically Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish identity and values. This paper will employ the work of translation scholar Lawrence Venuti on the politics and ethics of translation, and especially his concepts of foreignization and domestication, to explore this understanding of the Bible. Venuti’s thought informs critical reflection on how translation contributes to the cultural position of the Bible in the Nordic context, through examining translation principles, the function of retranslation, and the role of fluency. This contributes to our understanding of how the Bible has become a successful migrant to the Nordic region who is now used to keep others out. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transgressing Boundaries: Biblical and Social Scientific Studies of Migration)
30 pages, 1281 KiB  
Article
Public Religious Pedagogy Amidst Religious Pluralism: Qualitative Study Among Hindu and Muslim Educators in Salesian Institutions of Tamil Nadu, India
by Francis-Vincent Anthony and Antony Christy Lourdunathan
Religions 2025, 16(5), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050646 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 321
Abstract
Overcoming its self-referential preoccupations, theology today is urged to exit into the public square characterized by multiple types of diversity. One of the crucial public domains in which religions have played a significant role is education. In the contemporary multireligious Indian context, the [...] Read more.
Overcoming its self-referential preoccupations, theology today is urged to exit into the public square characterized by multiple types of diversity. One of the crucial public domains in which religions have played a significant role is education. In the contemporary multireligious Indian context, the question that arises is whether we can consider Salesian pedagogy as public religious pedagogy, that is, if educators affiliated to neighbour religions can share the Salesian/religious pedagogy in Salesian educational institutions. It is our contention that the prism of public theology can shed some light on such a possibility. With this intent, we first elucidate the configuration of public theology amidst religious pluralism focusing successively on public practical theology of education, public religious education, and public religious pedagogy. This is then followed by a synthesis of Salesian pedagogy and the research design of a qualitative study on its lived experience among Hindu and Muslim educators, namely, professors in Salesian colleges, teachers in Salesian schools, and social collaborators in Salesian study centres of Tamil Nadu, India. Lastly, based on the emerging findings we highlight the relevance and advancement of Salesian pedagogy as public religious pedagogy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theology ‘In Exit’ for a Better World: Consolidating the Intersecting Features of Public Theology)
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15 pages, 200 KiB  
Article
Healing Estranged Sorrows Through Re-Visioning Soul-Work
by Daniel Boscaljon
Religions 2025, 16(5), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050645 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 234
Abstract
This article defines estranged sorrow as a category of trauma that cannot be grieved because it was never consciously experienced. As a domain of grief prevented from moving into conscious awareness, estranged sorrow becomes an underlying, chronic source of unspeakable sorrow that diminishes [...] Read more.
This article defines estranged sorrow as a category of trauma that cannot be grieved because it was never consciously experienced. As a domain of grief prevented from moving into conscious awareness, estranged sorrow becomes an underlying, chronic source of unspeakable sorrow that diminishes the ability to experience the full range of psychic reality or potentiality. Estranged sorrow encompasses not having developmental psychological needs met, the absence of community, the presence of structural injustice, and the dwindling access to the numinous. Accounting for estranged sorrow beneath a variety of pathologized symptoms shows how the absence of soul and imagination accounts for an addiction to numbing as well as the epidemic of loneliness through a loss of self and social modes of awareness—and thus relationality. I then look to the importance of imaginal revisioning, part of the methodology of archetypal psychology, to better understand and begin working through trauma unearthed by exploring estranged sorrow. The process of revisioning involves the soul-work of personifying the world, seeing through the literal ideas that limit our access to psychic reality, enduring the feelings that something is wrong, and returning to an expanded psychic reality. This article concludes by reflecting on this process in the light of myth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religious Perspectives on Ecological, Political, and Cultural Grief)
15 pages, 180 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Ku (2025). The Agency of Preaching: Practicing Hospitality in Multicultural Contexts. Religions 16: 103
by Eliana Ah-Rum Ku
Religions 2025, 16(5), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050644 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 164
Abstract
There was an error in the original publication (Ku 2025) [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preaching in Multicultural Contexts)
39 pages, 435 KiB  
Article
“Medical Men in the New Age”: Alice Bailey’s Impact on Contemporary Energy Healing
by Dominic S. Zoehrer
Religions 2025, 16(5), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050643 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 304
Abstract
Energy healing refers to a globalising market of healing rituals that aim to stimulate the clients’ self-healing process. In the context of healing, the term ‘energy’ has multi-layered meanings and may denote physical, psychological, social, as well as spiritual principles of restoring well-being. [...] Read more.
Energy healing refers to a globalising market of healing rituals that aim to stimulate the clients’ self-healing process. In the context of healing, the term ‘energy’ has multi-layered meanings and may denote physical, psychological, social, as well as spiritual principles of restoring well-being. This article demonstrates how the idea of energy as a healing agent was embedded within the occult cosmology and anthropology of the British-American post-Theosophist Alice A. Bailey (1880–1949). Applying historical discourse analysis, Bailey’s impact on the emergence of energy healing is examined. Her theory of energy is explored against the backdrop of her esoteric grand narrative. It is demonstrated how Bailey’s principles of energy formed the basis for her vision of a “medicine of the future”. A concluding discussion proves the global influence of Bailey’s ‘energetic turn’ and how it modelled the approach of major holistic actors of the later twentieth century. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religion, Ritual, and Healing)
17 pages, 273 KiB  
Article
Secularization, Profanation, and Knowledge of the Heart in Contemporary French Fiction
by Roy Peachey
Religions 2025, 16(5), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050642 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 183
Abstract
Given the highly contested nature of the debate over secularization in modern literature, this paper examines the ways in which four contemporary French novelists address questions of human and divine absence in their fiction, focusing on Joël Egloff’s J’enquête, Gaspard-Marie Janvier’s Le [...] Read more.
Given the highly contested nature of the debate over secularization in modern literature, this paper examines the ways in which four contemporary French novelists address questions of human and divine absence in their fiction, focusing on Joël Egloff’s J’enquête, Gaspard-Marie Janvier’s Le dernier dimanche, Jérôme Ferrari’s Le sermon sur la chute de Rome, and Sylvie Germain’s Tobie des marais. It argues that some of the most pressing questions of our secular age—including questions of intersubjectivity and human and divine absence—are addressed in these competing narratives of secularization. It then examines Jean-Louis Chrétien’s notion of cardiognosie, or knowledge of the heart, and his argument that profanation, rather than secularization as such, is of central importance in the modern novel’s construction of meaning before concluding with a close reading of Jérôme Ferrari’s Le sermon sur la chute de Rome and a consideration of the heart in Sylvie Germain’s Tobie des marais as a first step toward establishing the means by which profanation has been faced and overcome in recent fictional texts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catholic Theologies of Culture)
16 pages, 280 KiB  
Article
Psychedelic Churches Need Philosophy of Religion
by Eric Steinhart
Religions 2025, 16(5), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050641 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 423
Abstract
Many new psychedelic religious organizations have recently emerged in the United States. These psychedelic churches operate in a legal gray area, which provides job opportunities not just for lawyers but also for philosophers of religion. To gain legal permission to use psychedelics, these [...] Read more.
Many new psychedelic religious organizations have recently emerged in the United States. These psychedelic churches operate in a legal gray area, which provides job opportunities not just for lawyers but also for philosophers of religion. To gain legal permission to use psychedelics, these churches need philosophically well-developed doctrines. Philosophers of religion can help develop these psychedelic doctrines. Looking at the law from a philosophical perspective, I derive six criteria which these psychedelic doctrines should satisfy. As an illustration, I show how a modernized Platonism can satisfy these criteria. Just as bioethicists can help in the practice of medicine, so philosophers of religion can help with the legal proceedings of new psychedelic churches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychedelics and Religion)
11 pages, 213 KiB  
Article
‘Through Valley of the Shadow of Death’: Death In-Between and Betwixt “Life After Life” in Mind Uploading Immortality
by Chammah J. Kaunda and Minkyu Lee
Religions 2025, 16(5), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050640 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
This article engages the concept of death as a revolutionary transformation within the contexts of mind uploading (MU) and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s theology of the Omega Point. The focus is not on the Omega Point itself as a conceptual endpoint, nor on [...] Read more.
This article engages the concept of death as a revolutionary transformation within the contexts of mind uploading (MU) and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s theology of the Omega Point. The focus is not on the Omega Point itself as a conceptual endpoint, nor on what becomes of consciousness once it has been successfully uploaded into a digital substrate. To grasp the meaning of “death” within the context of MU, the article employs the notion of liminal speculative imagination to analyze death amid the liminality of biological mortality and digital immortality. It argues that death is more than just the end of life but rather as a transitional phase between different states of being. It contends that this liminal gap between life forms is an inherent aspect of existence that cannot be eliminated at a fundamental level. Instead of seeking to overcome death, the article suggests embracing the transformative nature of this liminality. In this view, death is seen as a natural and unavoidable part of life, serving as a mediator or catalyst for transitions into new forms of existence. Rather than focusing solely on achieving immortality, the article advocates for utilizing technology to facilitate evolution and advancement. By acknowledging the role of death in the process of transformation, particularly within the context of transhumanism, the article proposes that embracing liminality can lead to new possibilities for human evolution. This includes the potential emergence of transhuman life forms, such as those enabled by MU technologies. Full article
13 pages, 320 KiB  
Article
Harmonizing Openness in the Zhuangzi: A Critique of Respecting Diversity
by Luyao Li and Paul J. D’Ambrosio
Religions 2025, 16(5), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050639 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 199
Abstract
In contemporary societies, increasing diversity is often accompanied by intensified conflicts across various public domains. While respecting differences is commonly proposed as a solution, this necessarily narrows the scope of shared values, which correspondingly decreases the chances of developing harmony. Indeed, harmony is [...] Read more.
In contemporary societies, increasing diversity is often accompanied by intensified conflicts across various public domains. While respecting differences is commonly proposed as a solution, this necessarily narrows the scope of shared values, which correspondingly decreases the chances of developing harmony. Indeed, harmony is frequently criticized for potentially requiring uniformity, which would undermine diversity. This article addresses this challenge by exploring philosophical and religious perspectives drawn from the Zhuangzi. Specifically, we find that a type of dynamic openness can be found in the Zhuangzi which shifts the focus away from embracing a more static “diversity”. Here, openness is understood as emphasizing interconnectedness, mutual influence, and collective transformation, offering a framework for resolving conflicts beyond mere respect for differences. In this article, we argue that one type of philosophical–religious perspective that can be derived from the Zhuangzi advocates for harmonizing openness—a process that achieves consensus while fully allowing for individual differences, rather than enforcing the type of uniformity found in many calls to respect diversity. This perspective offers valuable insights for the navigation of conflict in an increasingly pluralistic world and provides a critique of more popular contemporary approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Diversity and Harmony of Taoism: Ideas, Behaviors and Influences)
15 pages, 639 KiB  
Article
Church-Related Institutional Betrayal and Institutional Courage in Domestic Violence: As Viewed Through a Qualitative Lens
by Geneece L. Goertzen and Gaynor Yancey
Religions 2025, 16(5), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050638 - 18 May 2025
Viewed by 364
Abstract
Victims of domestic violence who bring their experiences to the attention of their spiritual communities and faith leaders have experienced both betrayal and courage from their religious institutions. There is much hurt in the betrayal and much to celebrate in the courage. Institutional [...] Read more.
Victims of domestic violence who bring their experiences to the attention of their spiritual communities and faith leaders have experienced both betrayal and courage from their religious institutions. There is much hurt in the betrayal and much to celebrate in the courage. Institutional betrayal can be embedded in systemic and organizational cultures that repeat themselves even with new leadership and across generations. When leadership hesitate to take actions to protect members, or values the institution above the individuals that depend on it, betrayal ensues. Alternatively, institutional courage can be implemented through improved practices and updated organizational policies. This is true in all communities, including those of faith. When clergy take supportive actions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those within an institution, healing is more likely to follow. Faith leaders must seek to engage proactively, protect the vulnerable against injustice, and create cultures that benefit those who depend upon the institution. It takes courage to practice institutional courage! Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Faith and Sustainable Development: Exploring Practice, Progress and Challenges among Faith Communities and Institutions)
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22 pages, 384 KiB  
Article
The Mystified Unknown—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and Ideology
by Maria Roginska
Religions 2025, 16(5), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050637 - 17 May 2025
Viewed by 420
Abstract
This article investigates a distinctive discursive space within Soviet society where scientific inquiry and mystical thought coexisted, despite the state’s official commitment to atheism. Referred to as the mystified unknown, this space provides a framework for understanding the persistence and intertwining of [...] Read more.
This article investigates a distinctive discursive space within Soviet society where scientific inquiry and mystical thought coexisted, despite the state’s official commitment to atheism. Referred to as the mystified unknown, this space provides a framework for understanding the persistence and intertwining of religious and mystical elements within Soviet scientific discourse. By focusing on the concept of “influence”, the study examines discussions in Soviet psychology to demonstrate how the regime’s political need to influence the masses, coupled with its suspicion of foreign ideas and a covert desire to wield influence, shaped the development of certain scientific disciplines, particularly the imaginaries they produced. This environment, characterized by doublethink and secrecy, nurtured the growth of scientific fantasies and mysterious imaginaries, allowing mystical concepts to endure under the veneer of science. Consequently, Soviet society became more inclined to re-enchant science rather than uphold it strictly as a symbol of secularism. Full article
25 pages, 5686 KiB  
Article
Preparatory Guidelines for Meditation in Pre-Modern Sino-Tibetan Buddhist Traditions
by Ching-Hsuan Mei
Religions 2025, 16(5), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050636 - 17 May 2025
Viewed by 370
Abstract
This study offers a comparative analysis of preparatory practices in Buddhist meditation, focusing on the Tiantai tradition of medieval China and the Nyingma tradition of tenth-century Tibet. Challenging the view of meditation as solely a mental experience, it highlights the critical role of [...] Read more.
This study offers a comparative analysis of preparatory practices in Buddhist meditation, focusing on the Tiantai tradition of medieval China and the Nyingma tradition of tenth-century Tibet. Challenging the view of meditation as solely a mental experience, it highlights the critical role of the body in shaping contemplative training. Drawing on recent Buddhist studies and cultural embodiment theory, the paper argues that preparatory practices are essential stages of psychophysical transformation, not just preliminary steps. The study explores early Chinese Tiantai texts, particularly Zhiyi’s meditation manuals, which present twenty-five preparatory practices involving posture, diet, breath control, and ethical restraint. In parallel, the paper examines Nupchen Sangye Yeshe’s bSam gtan mig sgron from the Tibetan Nyingma tradition, highlighting its emphasis on physical integrity, ritual purity, four supportive conditions, and environmental harmony. While Tiantai sources provide a structured methodology, Nyingma practices integrate these elements within broader tantric and visionary frameworks. The paper concludes that these practices are not only supportive of meditation, but also performative enactments of Buddhist cosmology and ethics, positioning the body as central to meditation’s transformative potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Buddhism and Medicine from an Interdisciplinary and Global Historical Perspective)
31 pages, 13309 KiB  
Article
Exploring Four Block-Printed Indic Script Mahāpratisarā Dhāraṇī (Chinese: 大隨求陀羅尼) Amulets Discovered in China
by Yuling Wu
Religions 2025, 16(5), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050635 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 226
Abstract
This article examines four block-printed Mahāpratisarā dhāraṇī amulets from late Tang to early Song China, highlighting how Sanskrit-script texts circulated in everyday religious life. Through a philological and visual analysis, it reveals a decentralised dhāraṇī culture shaped by variant bījākṣara (seed syllable) arrangements, [...] Read more.
This article examines four block-printed Mahāpratisarā dhāraṇī amulets from late Tang to early Song China, highlighting how Sanskrit-script texts circulated in everyday religious life. Through a philological and visual analysis, it reveals a decentralised dhāraṇī culture shaped by variant bījākṣara (seed syllable) arrangements, divergent textual recensions, and diverse ritual uses—from burial and temple consecration to daily wear and cave enshrinement. Rather than static texts, these amulets reflect dynamic interactions among sacred sound, material form, and vernacular Buddhist practice, offering rare insight into non-canonical transmission and popular engagement with Indic scripture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Old Texts, New Insights: Exploring Buddhist Manuscripts)
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16 pages, 1555 KiB  
Article
The Distribution of Zhicao 芝草 by Buddhist Ways After the Fengshan Ritual in Mount Tai, 1008–1016
by Rui Yang
Religions 2025, 16(5), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050634 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 198
Abstract
Between 1008 and 1016, for several times Emperor Zhenzong (968–1022, r. 997–1022) distributed Zhicao (Ganoderma Lucidum), acquired during the Fengshan 封禪 rituals. These grand-scale activities from central to local levels were completely different from the previous management of auspicious omens and calamities. Zhicao [...] Read more.
Between 1008 and 1016, for several times Emperor Zhenzong (968–1022, r. 997–1022) distributed Zhicao (Ganoderma Lucidum), acquired during the Fengshan 封禪 rituals. These grand-scale activities from central to local levels were completely different from the previous management of auspicious omens and calamities. Zhicao, serving as an auspicious symbol in the Confucian system of auspicious omens and calamities, underwent an elevation in status through its integration with the concept of longevity in Daoism. It began to play important roles in the political propaganda of Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1276) dynasties. On the one hand, the distribution was influenced by the political initiatives of Emperor Gaozong (628–683, r. 649–683) after his Fengshan ceremony, with the reason lying in the subtle influence of the Buddhist concept of sacred relics. By integrating the political propaganda of Three Teachings, Emperor Zhenzong reinforced the regime’s legitimacy and enhanced the personal authority of the monarch. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monastic Lives and Buddhist Textual Traditions in China and Beyond)
20 pages, 397 KiB  
Article
Healing Through Letting Go: On the Maturation of a Certain Conception of Medicine in Indian Buddhism
by Eviatar Shulman
Religions 2025, 16(5), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050633 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 203
Abstract
“Illness itself is emptiness”, says Vīmalakīrti, in a statement that appears to reflect on the nature of sickness and disease. However, Vimalakīrti’s approach of non-duality may not satisfy the rising interest in Buddhist medicine, for which philosophical ideas of emptiness seem too far [...] Read more.
“Illness itself is emptiness”, says Vīmalakīrti, in a statement that appears to reflect on the nature of sickness and disease. However, Vimalakīrti’s approach of non-duality may not satisfy the rising interest in Buddhist medicine, for which philosophical ideas of emptiness seem too far removed from practical interventions with real people’s pain. Nevertheless, there may be more in Vimalakīrti’s ideas than mere sophistry, and the vision he expresses can connect to realistic practices of healing. In this article, I pursue one potent formulaic passage that appears in a number of early discourses preserved in Pāli (but not in Chinese), in order to examine some of the earlier antecedents of the idea that illness is a mental construction, and that the mind can contribute to recovery. The early discourses provide a more sober definition of the position expressed by Vimalakīrti, by showing how a variety of practitioners let go of their illness, through a change in attitude that was informed by Buddhist insight. With this these texts highlight an understanding regarding the powers of the mind over matter, which traces physical events to their mental apprehension. Not only monks, but also householders, can heal through letting go of the the inner causes that contribute to the disease. While such an understanding need not be generalized as a comprehensive statement on Buddhist medicine, it helps us understand the views and cogency of Buddhist doctrine in this context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Buddhism and Medicine from an Interdisciplinary and Global Historical Perspective)
25 pages, 403 KiB  
Article
Expanding the Scope of “Supernatural” Dreaming in the Light of the Cognitive and Evolutionary Study of Religion and Cultural Transmission
by Andreas Nordin
Religions 2025, 16(5), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050632 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 194
Abstract
A conundrum in the cognitive, evolutionary, and anthropological study of religion is how to propose descriptions and explanatory models of the structure and functions of supernatural dreaming and its relationship to action imagery, the use of experience, and, importantly, cultural transmission (factors) associated [...] Read more.
A conundrum in the cognitive, evolutionary, and anthropological study of religion is how to propose descriptions and explanatory models of the structure and functions of supernatural dreaming and its relationship to action imagery, the use of experience, and, importantly, cultural transmission (factors) associated with these representations. Research has long emphasized the important function and significance of dreams and dreaming in beliefs and practices related to religious phenomena. The literature of anthropology and religious studies shows that dreams, dream experiences, and narratives are often associated with religious ideas and practices, both in traditional societies and in the world religions. Indeed, at the very beginning of the anthropological study of human beings, scholars proposed that dreaming is a primary source of religious beliefs and practices. Another facet of this is the recurrent manifestations of divinities, spirits, ancestors, and demons—in short, imagery of various supernatural agents—together with the occasional ritualization of dreams in the waking state. However, we know less about the associated phenomenon of dreams about ritual imagery. The aim of this paper is to elucidate and map dream imagery about rituals, drawing on simulation theories from dream research and prominent models of ritual behavior in the cognitive and evolutionary science of religion (CESR). This theoretical and methodological endeavor is illustrated by examples from dream narratives collected in Nepal before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Meaning, Mind and Evolution: New Perspectives in the Study of Religion)
15 pages, 245 KiB  
Article
Religious Hinge Commitments and Ideology
by Duncan Pritchard
Religions 2025, 16(5), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050631 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 492
Abstract
In his final notebooks, published as On Certainty, Wittgenstein articulated a radical conception of the structure of rational evaluation, one that had arational hinge commitments at its heart. This proposal has recently been extended to the religious case, in the form of [...] Read more.
In his final notebooks, published as On Certainty, Wittgenstein articulated a radical conception of the structure of rational evaluation, one that had arational hinge commitments at its heart. This proposal has recently been extended to the religious case, in the form of quasi-fideism, which treats basic religious commitments as being hinge commitments. My interest in this paper is how religious hinge commitments relate to one’s fundamental ideological commitments, such as the kinds of basic political or economic certainties that prevail in a predominantly capitalist society. While I argue that there are significant overlaps between fundamental religious and ideological commitments, there are also some significant divergences, which is why the former tend to be more plausible candidates to be genuine hinge commitments. In particular, I maintain that while allowing that there can be religious hinge commitments extends hinge epistemology beyond the paradigm, commonsense, cases that was Wittgenstein’s focus in On Certainty, it doesn’t thereby open the door to there being ideological hinge commitments, given the important ways in which religious and ideological hinge commitments diverge in their properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Work on Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion)
20 pages, 426 KiB  
Article
A Different Perspective on Life Philosophy: Zhuangzi’s “Death-Life (死生)” Thought
by Tiantian Yu
Religions 2025, 16(5), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050630 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 163
Abstract
Modern society, dominated by rationalism, has led to the hollowing out of life’s meaning. In response to this predicament, the question of how to transcend instrumental rationality and reconstruct an understanding of human conditions becomes crucial. Among pre-Qin thinkers, Zhuangzi offers the most [...] Read more.
Modern society, dominated by rationalism, has led to the hollowing out of life’s meaning. In response to this predicament, the question of how to transcend instrumental rationality and reconstruct an understanding of human conditions becomes crucial. Among pre-Qin thinkers, Zhuangzi offers the most profound exploration of life-related issues. His “death-life” thought embodies unique philosophical implications, revealing the fluidity, wholeness, and infinity of life. The word order of “death-life” underscores the idea of the transformation of things (wuhua, 物化), illuminating two practical pathways toward the infinite circulation of life. This understanding of life resonates with Henri Bergson’s life philosophy in their shared reverence for life’s infinite flow through intuition. However, they diverge in their views on time and subjectivity. Despite their differences, their ideas can complement each other. Integrating Bergson’s spirit of creative evolution with Zhuangzi’s carefree and detached mindset may help dissolve modern society’s obsession with utilitarian goals, allowing individuals to engage in active creation while simultaneously embracing the spontaneity and boundless possibilities of each present moment. This synthesis provides valuable insights for reconstructing life’s meaning in contemporary society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chinese Religious Cultures: Historical Traditions and Modern Interpretations)
28 pages, 10413 KiB  
Article
Visible Layouts, Hidden Dynamics: Reading, Reproducing, and Reframing Chinese Buddhist Glossaries
by Ziwei Ye
Religions 2025, 16(5), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16050629 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 300
Abstract
This paper investigates how the layout strategies of Xuanying’s Yiqiejing yinyi (mid-7th c.), the earliest surviving Chinese Buddhist glossary, evolved across manuscripts, Buddhist Canon editions, and Qing-era scholarly reprints from the 7th to 19th centuries. While Xuanying’s work serves as the central case [...] Read more.
This paper investigates how the layout strategies of Xuanying’s Yiqiejing yinyi (mid-7th c.), the earliest surviving Chinese Buddhist glossary, evolved across manuscripts, Buddhist Canon editions, and Qing-era scholarly reprints from the 7th to 19th centuries. While Xuanying’s work serves as the central case due to its breadth of preservation and representativeness, this study also references Huiyuan’s glossary (early-8th c.) to highlight broader patterns of reception and adaptation, particularly in late imperial China. Through a usability–production efficiency framework, the study identifies a continuum from the flexible manuscript layouts to the standardized double-line format used in Buddhist woodblock printing, and later to Qing-era adaptations that integrated Buddhist glossaries into evidential studies. It argues that layout decisions were influenced not merely by practical considerations of use and production but also by changing conceptions of textual function and authority. It also highlights the unintended effects of layout standardization, which at times introduced new interpretive complexities. By demonstrating how layout actively influenced the reproduction and reception of Buddhist glossaries, this study offers a new perspective on the intersection of materiality, textual transmission, and reading practices in pre-modern China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Old Texts, New Insights: Exploring Buddhist Manuscripts)
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