Religion and Indigenous Traditions

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, there has been an increased interest in Indigenous traditions in many academic disciplines, including religious studies and theology. Ironically, this may bring the study of religion full circle, given that the modern discipline of religious studies and its earliest definitions of religion were shaped in part by anthropological and sociological studies of Indigenous peoples and traditions, such as animism and primitive religion (Tylor), totemism (Durkheim), tribal taboos (Freud), etc. In the case of theology, some religions arose or evolved in reaction to beliefs and practices associated with regional Indigenous traditions, such as in pre-Islamic Arabia, pre-Buddhist Tibet, and pre-Israelite Canaan. Indigenous religions are variously labeled as "tribal", "folk", etc., depending on the nomenclature followed in specific regions, such as in Asia.

The missionary impulse associated with proselytizing religions and religious movements witnessed a spectrum of engagement with Indigenous traditions, from forced conversion and assimilation to syncretistic collaboration. While all discussions on Indigenous religions may not fall within the categories of "pre-" or "post"-colonial contact, the differences between canonized/organized religions and oral/practiced religions is also pertinent to this call. Furthermore, the influence on and reaction to colonial narratives of religion have contributed to the current wave of reassessment and reconciliation. In this vein, reframing the vernacular practice of religions could also be attributed to decolonization efforts.

The pendulum appears to be swinging from extractive practices toward Indigenization and reconciliation. With this, religious studies scholars are becoming aware of the need to (re)position themselves to teach Indigenous traditions in the field of religious studies. Similarly, there are initiatives by religious leaders to (re)position themselves or adapt their theology to acknowledge Indigenous traditions within and/or alongside their religious teaching and practice.

We invite researchers and practitioners to submit original research papers that explore Indigenous traditions at the intersection of religious studies and/or theology. This call acknowledges the geo-political nuances in framing indigeneity in the contexts of religious studies. We welcome submissions across a wide range of topics and regional areas related to religion and Indigenous traditions, including the following:

1. The concept of religion reframed from an Indigenous worldview.
2. How Indigenous traditions have responded to religions encountered as a result of colonialism and conquest and/or how religions have responded to decolonization.
3. The revitalization of Indigenous traditions expressed through shamanism, animism, traditional practices, ceremony, sacred sites, pilgrimage, etc.
4. The affirmation of Indigenous traditions as a form of reconciliation with religions of colonialism and conquest.
5. Theoretical or methodological discussions in the study of religion and Indigenous traditions.
6. Indigenous traditions and worldviews with a focus on animal theology, ecotheology, and/or natural theology.
7. Indigenous understandings of origins, Transcendence, the concept of living well, and/or the afterlife.
8. Primitivizing Indigenous traditions by means of academic or theological approaches.

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

• Research area A: Revitalizing and/or reconciling Indigenous practices and beliefs.
• Research area B: Decolonizing religious studies and theology.
• Research area C: Theoretical or methodological discussions.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor or to the Assistant Editor of Religions, Ms. Violet Li (violet.li@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Craig Ginn
Dr. Durga Kale
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

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

• Indigenous traditions
• Indigenous knowledge
• ways of knowing
• ways of being
• reconciliation
• revitalization
• colonial
• postcolonial
• decolonizing
• Indigenizing
• Indigenization
• syncretism
• assimilation
• missionary impulse
• animal theology
• ecotheology
• natural theology