Management of Religious Diversity: Comparing and Contrasting Experiences across the World

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 4806

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interests: religion and politics; relationship between state and churches; studies on secularism and religious presence in the legal system

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Census data and scientific research show a growing pluralization of religious affiliations in our contemporary societies. Whether due to greater migratory flows or due to the dynamics of the religious field itself, there are numerous empirical evidence that reflect a greater heterogeneity of religious identities and a greater visibility of various religious expressions in the public space.

This scenario challenges the states in their policies to manage requests dealing with religious affairs, from building a new church, mosque or temple to introducing special dietary requirements in public schools to take into account religious identities; from opening up jails to priests, imams or monks to allows religious organizations to use public spaces for religious rites. In other words, this callout seeks discussions on how and to what extents the increasing religious pluralism (in some cases—such as Italy—due to migratory flows) requires states, at national or—more frequently— local levels to rethink the set of governmental devices—legal, symbolic, and practical—that public authorities put into play in their relationship with religious institutions.

This Special Issue invites papers on the management of religious diversity, mainly invoking studies that have researched the subject at a local level and/or advanced level in comparative studies.

It is interesting to reflect on the experiences of managing religious diversity in the institutional relationship between local/national administrations and religious organizations, as well as in the educational, health, penitentiary and labor spheres.

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

  • The management of religious pluralism
  • Religious organizations and their relations with national and/or local administrations
  • Religious and civic engagement
  • Migrant religion and societal inclusion
  • Faith, ethnicity and discrimination

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Roberta Ricucci
Prof. Dr. Juan Cruz Esquivel
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • management of religious diversity
  • state
  • local level
  • comparative studies
  • integration
  • discrimination
  • religious minorities

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

7 pages, 225 KiB  
Article
From Existence to Being: Reflections on the Transformation of Personal Identity Through Confrontation with Cultural, Religious, and Spiritual Diversity
by Martin Dojčár and Rastislav Nemec
Religions 2024, 15(12), 1467; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15121467 - 1 Dec 2024
Viewed by 587
Abstract
(1) Background: This study describes an exploration of the potential of cultural, religious, and spiritual diversity to trigger one’s psychological self-image and open the possibility of personal identity transformation as a tool for deep intercultural, interreligious, and interspiritual dialog (2) Results: The study [...] Read more.
(1) Background: This study describes an exploration of the potential of cultural, religious, and spiritual diversity to trigger one’s psychological self-image and open the possibility of personal identity transformation as a tool for deep intercultural, interreligious, and interspiritual dialog (2) Results: The study provides a philosophical argument for understanding the existential experience of the “unknown” as a stimulus for critical reflection or even for the transformation of personal identity of the individuals involved in such interactions. (3) Methods: The method of phenomenological analysis was employed in this theoretical research. (4) Conclusions: The circumstances were philosophically considered under which the existential experience of the unknown in intercultural, interreligious, and interspiritual contexts can facilitate processes of critical reflection or the transformation of personal identity based on the philosophical distinction between ontic and ontological identity. Full article
18 pages, 390 KiB  
Article
Liberal Citizenship Through the Prism of Shia Jurisprudence: Embracing Fundamental over Partial Solutions
by Javad Fakhkhar Toosi
Religions 2024, 15(12), 1457; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15121457 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 485
Abstract
This article explores the compatibility of liberal citizenship with Twelver Shia jurisprudence, a topic previously analyzed from the perspective of Sunni schools, most notably in the extensive research of Andrew F. March. This study confronts the challenges of reconciling liberal citizenship with Islamic [...] Read more.
This article explores the compatibility of liberal citizenship with Twelver Shia jurisprudence, a topic previously analyzed from the perspective of Sunni schools, most notably in the extensive research of Andrew F. March. This study confronts the challenges of reconciling liberal citizenship with Islamic jurisprudence, as highlighted in March’s work, through the lens of Shia legal thought. Rather than aiming to critique or review March’s research, this article considers his work solely as a representative example addressing the topic from the perspective of Sunni jurisprudence. This approach provides readers with a fundamental contrast, illuminating the unique insights that emerge from examining the subject within the framework of Shia jurisprudence. Unlike Sunni jurisprudence, which addresses these issues case-by-case by reviewing relevant Quranic and narrational sources, Twelver Shia jurisprudence offers a more foundational resolution. Owing to the belief in the occultation of the twelfth Imam and its implications for the implementation of Islamic law, Shia scholars have advanced theories such as the theory of obstruction (insidād) and the suspension of the social and political dimensions of Sharia. These theories effectively narrow the scope of Sharia, allowing for the acceptance of laws from non-Islamic states and circumventing potential conflicts with liberal citizenship in the absence of the twelfth Imam. Full article
25 pages, 374 KiB  
Article
The Regulation of Religion through National Normative Frameworks: A Comparative Analysis between Italy and Argentina
by Luca Bossi and María Pilar García Bossio
Religions 2024, 15(7), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15070799 - 29 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1078
Abstract
The normative framework is one of the constitutive edges of state regulation of religion. It contributes to the configuration of different forms of relations between state and religions. This can be observed in at least three areas. First, in the way the state [...] Read more.
The normative framework is one of the constitutive edges of state regulation of religion. It contributes to the configuration of different forms of relations between state and religions. This can be observed in at least three areas. First, in the way the state defines religion. Second, in the way it recognises and legislates its relationship with different religions. Finally, in the rules it establishes for confessional institutions and actors at different levels of social life (education, health, prisons, etc.). In this article, we propose to comparatively analyse the national legal systems that regulate religion in Italy and Argentina, with special emphasis on the equal or differentiated treatment of different religions. The policies of recognition and integration of religious minorities find in the normative framework an empowering or limiting factor, depending on the national context. Although both countries share a dominant Catholic matrix, their historical developments and legal formats present contrasts that project different scenarios of religious governance, which we will try to elucidate. Full article
12 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Spiritual Articulation and Conscientious Objection: Dynamics of Religious Diversity Management in Healthcare Practices in Argentina
by Gabriela Irrazábal and Ana Lucía Olmos Álvarez
Religions 2024, 15(6), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15060652 - 27 May 2024
Viewed by 1417
Abstract
This article delves into the dynamics of managing religious diversity within the healthcare field in Argentina. It focuses on the articulations between health practices and individual belief systems among healthcare professionals and users. Applying a comparative approach based on qualitative interviews, we draw [...] Read more.
This article delves into the dynamics of managing religious diversity within the healthcare field in Argentina. It focuses on the articulations between health practices and individual belief systems among healthcare professionals and users. Applying a comparative approach based on qualitative interviews, we draw conclusions that underscore the imperative of acknowledging the sociocultural diversity within our societies. This recognition is fundamental in cultivating healthcare environments that not only respect users’ diverse worldviews but also healthcare professionals’ religious perspectives. Our findings advocate for incorporating religious diversity management principles in healthcare, emphasizing the development of inclusive approaches in dealing with health, illness, and wellbeing. Full article
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