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Religions
Special Issues
Interfaith Dialogue and Transformation
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Interfaith Dialogue and Transformation

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444). This special issue belongs to the section "Religions and Theologies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 4276

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Peter Admirand

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
Interests: religion and literature; interreligious dialogue; theist-atheist dialogue; theology and comics studies; testimonies of mass atrocity; liberation theology; forgiveness, justice and the unforgivable; theodicy; Catholic social teaching; Christology amidst the world religions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue of Religions titled “Interfaith Dialogue and Transformation”. Interfaith dialogue has served as a catalyst, sign, and witness for both intra- and inter-theological transformation and growth. Such transformations—spanning all world views and religious traditions—have engaged theist, nontheist, and atheist perspectives, touching upon all aspects of lived faith, praxis, and doctrine.

Conversely, the absence or censorship of interfaith dialogue has curtailed post-conflict peace prospects, hindered deep reckoning with the failures and blind spots of our traditions, and diminished the spiritual and moral potential embedded in virtues such as humility and compassion, which all recognised world views and faiths profess to uphold.

This Special Issue aims to explore the transformative potential of interfaith dialogue across different contexts, traditions, and disciplines. It seeks to highlight how interfaith encounters can reframe theological perspectives, reshape community relationships, and foster social justice initiatives, thus aligning closely with the journal’s commitment to the scholarly study of religions in dialogue with one another.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and reviews. Contributions may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • How interfaith dialogue can transform faiths, individuals, and/or communities.
  • Case studies and historical examples of spiritual, religious, political, intellectual, and/or social justice transformations through encounters with religious others.
  • Failures of transformation amidst interfaith encounters.
  • Pioneers of interfaith dialogue and transformation.
  • Key or overlooked texts advocating transformation through interfaith dialogue.
  • Strategies for nurturing transformation in interfaith dialogue initiatives in schools, places of worship, rituals, praxis, and pilgrimages.
  • Obstacles that inhibit transformation, and virtues that can promote robust interfaith transformation.

We hope that this Special Issue will stimulate new research and practical engagement in the field of interfaith studies, fostering deeper theological, social, and political understanding across traditions. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this issue aims to serve as a significant scholarly resource for advancing both theory and practice in interfaith engagement.

While the genesis of this project is based on a successful all-day panel at the 2025 European Academy of Religion conference in Vienna—organised by the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue at Dublin City University—the call is open to all colleagues in theology, interfaith studies, comparative theology, peace studies, and related cross-disciplinary fields.

Submission Details:

  • Proposal length: 500–750 words, with a short academic bio.
  • Proposal deadline: 15 January 2026.
  • Article length: 4,000–7,000 words (longer articles will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
  • Full-paper submission deadline: 15 June 2026 (following initial review by the editor, papers will be submitted to Religions for double-blind peer review).

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Peter Admirand
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • interfaith dialogue
  • transformation
  • comparative theology
  • peacebuilding
  • interreligious engagement
  • atheist–theist dialogue

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 284 KB  
Article
Care of Nature and Interfaith Dialogue: Exploring a New Way to Promote African Eco-Spirituality Through Interfaith Learning in Nigerian Schools
by Calista Chinenye Onubuogu
Religions 2026, 17(5), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17050558 - 6 May 2026
Viewed by 258
Abstract
In recent years, the question of the environment’s future and humanity’s role in it has received considerable critical attention amid global warming. Among the many scholarly works, there appears to be a renewed consensus that fostering indigenous knowledge, practices, and spiritualities could help [...] Read more.
In recent years, the question of the environment’s future and humanity’s role in it has received considerable critical attention amid global warming. Among the many scholarly works, there appears to be a renewed consensus that fostering indigenous knowledge, practices, and spiritualities could help mitigate ecological crises. However, far too little attention has been paid to the heightened tension among Nigerian Christians that the promotion of these indigenous practices will lead or has led to the re-emergence of paganism instead of the presupposed care of nature. This fear of fostering neo-paganism has constantly hampered the integration of Nigerian indigenous spiritualities and practices to mitigate the recurrence of ecological devastation. This article addresses the question: To what extent can interfaith learning help resolve tensions between Christians and Nigerian Indigenous religious followers and promote environmental sustainability? The article explores the underlying reasons behind the tension between Nigerian Indigenous religious followers and Christians. It further discusses interfaith learning in religious education in Nigerian schools as an approach to mitigate tensions and promote environmental action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaith Dialogue and Transformation)
15 pages, 337 KB  
Article
Reinforcing Interfaith Dialogues Among Religions in Nigeria: Recipes for Conflict Transformation in Communities
by Michael Ufok Udoekpo
Religions 2026, 17(4), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17040439 - 2 Apr 2026
Viewed by 718
Abstract
Today’s world is a pluralistic society. This is evident in the multiplicity of cultures and religions, which should ordinarily have practiced mutual respect through interfaith and ecumenical dialogues, compromises, communal and peaceful transformation, with recognition of basic rights of all communities. Unfortunately, this [...] Read more.
Today’s world is a pluralistic society. This is evident in the multiplicity of cultures and religions, which should ordinarily have practiced mutual respect through interfaith and ecumenical dialogues, compromises, communal and peaceful transformation, with recognition of basic rights of all communities. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, particularly in Nigeria, dominated by three major religions: African Traditional Religions (ATR), Christianity, and Islam. These three, we must acknowledge, sometimes not only misunderstood other faiths, but scandalously eyed them with hostile suspicions and tragic distinction that we are the children of light and everyone else the child of darkness, breeding conflicts and violence. This article, using literary and theological analysis, addresses those issues that promote interreligious and ecumenical dialogue as recipes for overcoming conflicts and reinforcing positive and integral human transformation and development in communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaith Dialogue and Transformation)
20 pages, 300 KB  
Article
The Transformation of Christology (And the Church) Through Interfaith Dialogue
by Peter Admirand
Religions 2026, 17(3), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17030388 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1267
Abstract
This article explores how interfaith dialogue, especially involving non-Christian views and interpretations of Jesus, has transformed contemporary understandings of Christology. It also contends how and why such challenges and developments can further reform and expand what is meant by the Church and salvation [...] Read more.
This article explores how interfaith dialogue, especially involving non-Christian views and interpretations of Jesus, has transformed contemporary understandings of Christology. It also contends how and why such challenges and developments can further reform and expand what is meant by the Church and salvation (ecclesiology and soteriology). To do so, it first highlights three perspectives towards the other that seem most promising for any robust interfaith Christology and why turning to non-Christians for views of Christ can be spiritually and theologically helpful, if not cathartic. To highlight this idea, it then examines some representative Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist interpretations or critiques of Christology. In doing so, the article ambitiously contends that one main aim of transforming Christology is to transform the Church. Thus, the transformation of Christology through interfaith dialogue will also transform the Church because it will transform how Christians perceive and respond to what is salvific in other faiths and revelations. Advocating for a more expansive Christology, therefore, coincides with developing a more expansive ecclesiology and soteriology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaith Dialogue and Transformation)
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