Religions

11 pages, 203 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Duality of Toni Morrison’s Beloved: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American South

by Charity L. Gibson

Religions 2025, 16(2), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020171 - 3 Feb 2025

Abstract

Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved includes a namesake character representing both Christianity and African cosmology. Beloved is neither straightforwardly good nor evil but serves as a dualistic and spiritual symbol. Though one could interpret Morrison’s narrative to support a postmodern religious multiplicity of voices, [...] Read more.

Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved includes a namesake character representing both Christianity and African cosmology. Beloved is neither straightforwardly good nor evil but serves as a dualistic and spiritual symbol. Though one could interpret Morrison’s narrative to support a postmodern religious multiplicity of voices, the potentially problematic theology still allows the readers to engage in useful discussions about the spiritual and cultural inheritance of the American South. Morrison’s narrative is only compatible with a Christian or African religious lens through recognizing symbolization as a representation of cultural manifestations rather than an endorsement of multiple worldviews. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Theologies)

14 pages, 326 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Who Do You Say That I Am? (Matt 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20): Christology in the Synoptic Gospels

by Brian Meldrum

Religions 2025, 16(2), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020170 - 2 Feb 2025

Abstract

This article investigates Jesus’s identity in the Synoptic Gospels by examining the Gospels’ literary features. I take a narrative approach to determine how the evangelists, in unique and shared ways, reveal to their audiences who Jesus is. Certain literary features in the evangelists’ [...] Read more.

This article investigates Jesus’s identity in the Synoptic Gospels by examining the Gospels’ literary features. I take a narrative approach to determine how the evangelists, in unique and shared ways, reveal to their audiences who Jesus is. Certain literary features in the evangelists’ texts provide an answer to Jesus’s question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20). For Mark, Jesus is “Christ” and “Son of God” (Mark 1:1); as the plot unfolds, these terms become guideposts suggesting that characters in the Gospel (and by extension the audience, too) come to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is. For Matthew, the good news of Jesus commences with the relationship between Jesus and Israel’s past through figures like David and Abraham. By observing how Matthew characterizes Jesus in the Gospel, the audience learns that Jesus stands in continuity with Israel. Finally, Luke starts his account with a focus not on figures from Israel’s history, but rather on its institutions, like the temple and the priesthood (see Luke 1:5, 9). Luke’s audience learns who Jesus is by paying attention to Luke’s use of settings and themes. Thus, the particular literary artistry of each synoptic evangelist provides a way for a contemporary audience to know Jesus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Christology: Christian Writings and the Reflections of Theologians)

24 pages, 20765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Quest for Inner Freedom: An Artist’s Perspective

by Ivana Gagić Kičinbači

Religions 2025, 16(2), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020169 - 31 Jan 2025

Abstract

The article examines my artist’s struggle for inner freedom in practice-led artistic research through the medium of drawing. This inquiry, framed within a Catholic perspective, investigates the idea that the quest for inner freedom is vital for artistic work that aims to create [...] Read more.

The article examines my artist’s struggle for inner freedom in practice-led artistic research through the medium of drawing. This inquiry, framed within a Catholic perspective, investigates the idea that the quest for inner freedom is vital for artistic work that aims to create and communicate the ineffable. This article focuses on my strive to reach deeper levels of spiritual experience and to work from that state of consciousness. I explore the artist’s role as a mediator, connecting the invisible, intuitively understood dimensions, and making them visible through artistic creations. I conducted research by closely observing the artmaking process and the conditions in which it is undertaken. Research methodologies specific to the artistic field (visual arts) and the qualitative narrative research method were predominantly used. The process of preparation for the drawing by engaging in contemplative practice is also a subject of inquiry. The article highlights contemplative practices as tools for achieving inner freedom and unlocking creative potential. Full article

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20 pages, 2211 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changing Identities of Religious People: The Role of Religiosity and the Public Discourse in Evaluating Gay People in Central and Eastern Europe

by Bulcsu Bognár and Zoltán Kmetty

Religions 2025, 16(2), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020168 - 31 Jan 2025

Abstract

This study examines the values of religious and non-religious people in Central and Eastern Europe over the past thirty years. It focuses on changes in perceptions of gay people and explores how the emergence of sexual orientation in public discourse has influenced its [...] Read more.

This study examines the values of religious and non-religious people in Central and Eastern Europe over the past thirty years. It focuses on changes in perceptions of gay people and explores how the emergence of sexual orientation in public discourse has influenced its acceptance or rejection. The research highlights a specific duality in the region where religiosity is accompanied by an increasing acceptance of gay people in the region; but in some countries, differences between religious and non-religious perceptions of gay people are increasing. The study argues that this duality is shaped by different public discourses, identity politics, and the varied roles of churches in these processes across countries. Consequently, it offers a new interpretation of the relationship between religiosity and attitudes toward gay people. Full article

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14 pages, 269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Core Idea, Theoretical Doubts, and Re-Understanding of the Theory of Śūnyatā in Madhyamaka Philosophy

by Zelin Zhao

Religions 2025, 16(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020167 - 31 Jan 2025

Abstract

With the introduction of the theory of śūnyatā (emptiness 空) in Madhyamaka philosophy from India to China, Indian Buddhism and Chinese culture have achieved a historic new convergence in their understanding of emptiness. After several evolutions of the theory of śūnyatā in Madhyamaka [...] Read more.

With the introduction of the theory of śūnyatā (emptiness 空) in Madhyamaka philosophy from India to China, Indian Buddhism and Chinese culture have achieved a historic new convergence in their understanding of emptiness. After several evolutions of the theory of śūnyatā in Madhyamaka philosophy, some people agree with it, while some question it, and the discussion around it has been very complicated. Determining how to fully understand and scientifically conceive of the core idea of the theory of śūnyatā in Madhyamaka philosophy and its contemporary value have become important issues in related research. Most of the existing research focuses on the theoretical interpretation of the theory of śūnyatā in Madhyamaka philosophy, but understanding and research from the perspective of life practices are still quite scanty, hindering the attainment of a comprehensive understanding and objective cognition of this theory’s actual value. The purpose of this paper is to strengthen the practical research on the theory of śūnyatā in Madhyamaka philosophy in order to fully understand and scientifically conceptualize its core ideas and contemporary value. From the two basic perspectives of past and present, in regard to both theory and practice, we will re-explore the core ideas of the theory of śūnyatā in Madhyamaka philosophy and investigate and analyze corresponding theoretical doubts. We further reveal that the theory of śūnyatā in Madhyamaka philosophy is not only a metaphysical philosophical theory in which the nature of the world is regarded as empty and its logic as consistent but also a practical piece of wisdom that views the world as empty so as to eliminate all kinds of life troubles and help people attain a better life experience. The dialectical wisdom of both the theory and practice of the theory of śūnyatā in Madhyamaka philosophy gives it very broad theoretical potential and practical prospects, making it worthy of in-depth study by relevant researchers. Full article

28 pages, 393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Trinitarian Koinōnia and Its Socio-Economic Implications

by Wilbert Joseph Gobbo

Religions 2025, 16(2), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020166 - 31 Jan 2025

Abstract

The Triune God is not indifferent to the human condition. This article, “The Trinitarian Koinōnia and Its Socio-Economic Implications,” intends to reflect on the inspiration and the critique of the Holy Trinity on human society. It aims at contributing to improving the socio-economic [...] Read more.

The Triune God is not indifferent to the human condition. This article, “The Trinitarian Koinōnia and Its Socio-Economic Implications,” intends to reflect on the inspiration and the critique of the Holy Trinity on human society. It aims at contributing to improving the socio-economic life of the last, the lost, and the least of society. Faith in the mystery of the Holy Trinity can influence human socio-economic relations. On the one hand, the theoretical framework used in this article is that of the classical Catholic method, which reflects on theological pillars (loci theologici). First, the article will reflect on the “theological pillar” (locus theologicus) of the Bible. It will discuss the biblical foundation of the Trinitarian koinōnia. It will then discuss another theological pillar (locus theologicus) of the human context concerning the Trinitarian koinōnia. On the other hand, another theoretical framework to be used is the deductive method. This article will examine whether there are particular socio-economic applications from the general Trinitarian koinōnia. The basic hypothesis is that there is a practical implication to the Christian faith in the Triune God. The Trinitarian oikonomia, when properly understood through, inter alia, Trinitarian koinōnia, can be the icon of the ideal human economics (oikonomia). In this article, we will privilege a systematic and systemic approach. Full article

13 pages, 611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Atemporal Plan for Union with God: Father Matta Al-Miskīn against the Backdrop of His Alexandrian Predecessors

by Wagdy Samir

Religions 2025, 16(2), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020165 - 31 Jan 2025

Abstract

The present paper explores contemporary desert father Matta Al-Miskīn’s views on humankind’s union with God within the Paradise–Fall–Salvation schema against the backdrop of his Alexandrian Patristic forebears. He understood humankind’s paradisal perfection as an orientation towards God and access to the divine life. [...] Read more.

The present paper explores contemporary desert father Matta Al-Miskīn’s views on humankind’s union with God within the Paradise–Fall–Salvation schema against the backdrop of his Alexandrian Patristic forebears. He understood humankind’s paradisal perfection as an orientation towards God and access to the divine life. Through the Incarnation, Christ reclaimed humanity’s access to the divine life. Based on Matta’s Commentary on the Gospel of John, this paper shows that the Paradise–Fall–Salvation continuum confirms his assertion that humankind’s union with God is the goal of Creation. The paper also demonstrates that Matta’s vocabulary points to the fundamental difference between being God by nature and being God by adoption, with the latter state to be fully attained in eternity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Patristics: Essays from Australia)

26 pages, 507 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emperor Wu of Liang’s Reinterpretation and Elevation of the Precepts as the Bodhisattva Ideal

by Yoon Kyung Cho

Religions 2025, 16(2), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020164 - 30 Jan 2025

Abstract

This paper examines Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty (r. 502–549) and his efforts to reform the Buddhist saṅgha through the establishment of the bodhisattva precepts and the proclamation of the Prohibition of Alcohol and Meat. Grounded in Mahāyāna Buddhist ideals, Emperor Wu [...] Read more.

This paper examines Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty (r. 502–549) and his efforts to reform the Buddhist saṅgha through the establishment of the bodhisattva precepts and the proclamation of the Prohibition of Alcohol and Meat. Grounded in Mahāyāna Buddhist ideals, Emperor Wu sought to integrate religious and political authority, positioning himself as the “Emperor-Bodhisattva”. By analyzing the Ordination of the Bodhisattva Precepts for Monastics, which encouraged monks to voluntarily pursue bodhisattva ideals, and the “Abstinence from Alcohol and Meat”, which redefined meat-eating as an act of killing and imposed strict dietary regulations on all monastics, this study explores his shift from promoting voluntary adherence to enforcing these ideals through state power. Emperor Wu’s reforms aimed to dismantle the hierarchical structure within the existing monastic community and establish a morally impeccable Mahāyāna Buddhist society. The analysis also addresses how Emperor Wu’s criticisms of the śrāvaka precepts became more explicit over time, leading to their marginalization in favor of Mahāyāna interpretations of monastic discipline. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates that the rise of Mahāyāna Buddhism as a newly redefined identity and Emperor Wu’s integration of religious and political authority were ideologically interlocked forces in the historical context of the Liang dynasty. Full article

23 pages, 52451 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dervish Hatixhe’s Veneration in Contemporary Albania: Visual Representations, Devotional Practices and Sensory Experiences

by Gianfranco Bria

Religions 2025, 16(2), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020163 - 30 Jan 2025

Abstract

This article explores the veneration of Hatixhe, an 18th-century Sufi saint from Tirana, Albania, whose legacy continues to resonate across religious and cultural boundaries. Despite limited historical records, Hatixhe’s sainthood is venerated through hagiographic narratives that portray her as a compassionate healer, spiritual [...] Read more.

This article explores the veneration of Hatixhe, an 18th-century Sufi saint from Tirana, Albania, whose legacy continues to resonate across religious and cultural boundaries. Despite limited historical records, Hatixhe’s sainthood is venerated through hagiographic narratives that portray her as a compassionate healer, spiritual protector, and symbol of resilience. This study investigates the visual, ritual, and sensory dimensions of her shrine, which has become one of the focal points for interfaith devotion in post-socialist Albania. Embodied rituals—such as touching her tomb and lighting candles—allow devotees to connect with her shenjtëri (“sainthood”). Through these acts, Hatixhe’s legacy as a grua e shenjt (“holy woman”) or grua e mirë (“good woman”) is anchored in both religious and cultural contexts, as her shenjtëri integrates local and national values, partly transcending Islamic frameworks. Hatixhe’s teqe, preserved through the efforts of her female heirs during the communist era, serves as a unique testament to a female lineage in Albanian Sufism. By examining the spatial, material, and symbolic aspects of her veneration, this study underscores the significance of Hatixhe’s shenjtëri as a site of blessing and communal solidarity for women, enriching the understanding of their roles in Albanian spiritual and social life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Female Visions: The Religious Visual Culture of Contemporary Female Islamic Mysticism)

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25 pages, 10149 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of the Saints and Blessed of the Catholic Church on the Cultural Heritage of Kraków

by Izabela Sołjan and Bożena Gierek

Religions 2025, 16(2), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020162 - 30 Jan 2025

Abstract

Kraków is a unique city on the map of Europe. As early as 1978, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the first 12 sites in the world. It has been a member of the Organization of World [...] Read more.

Kraków is a unique city on the map of Europe. As early as 1978, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the first 12 sites in the world. It has been a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities since 1995. The city’s cultural heritage also consists of its religious heritage, including the heritage associated with people who lived in Kraków over the centuries and whom the Catholic Church has recognized as saints or blessed. So far, 23 people closely associated with Kraków have been declared blessed or saints by the Church. Their cult has resulted in the establishment of more than 20 worship centres in Kraków, with two international sanctuaries among them. The legacy of the saints is also the ideas and values they professed, which became evident in the activities they performed. The aim of this article is to present the cultural heritage of these saints, with particular emphasis on their intangible dimension, especially related to the social activity of the saints in the city. This article is based on an analysis of numerous materials devoted to the saints and the cult centres associated with them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Interplay between Religion and Culture)

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26 pages, 334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prophetism and Secularization: Kantian Hope as a Gnostic–Ebionite Synthesis

by Stefano Abbate and Lluc Valentí

Religions 2025, 16(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020161 - 30 Jan 2025

Abstract

Kant’s philosophy of history is one of the best examples to trace the remains of certain theological concepts that emerged during the Christian tradition, which are secularized in order to shape a philosophical history. This process of secularization involves hidden causes through the [...] Read more.

Kant’s philosophy of history is one of the best examples to trace the remains of certain theological concepts that emerged during the Christian tradition, which are secularized in order to shape a philosophical history. This process of secularization involves hidden causes through the weakening of the doctrinal truths of Christianism. These threats come from two antithetical poles whose attempts to demolish the Christian faith have been noticeable since its beginnings: Gnosticism and Ebionism. This article seeks to trace the influence of both doctrines in Kant’s philosophy of history. Based on his reinterpretation of certain theological concepts, it offers an adequate frame to understand the backgrounds that sustain Kant’s hope when regarding history. His great hesitation between an ultimate, intra-historical consummation and an infinite aspiration never fulfilled on Earth can be explained well from the opposite Ebionite and Gnostic perspectives. In conclusion, the article proposes that the tension that inspires Kant’s philosophy of history emerges from an unstable synthesis between Gnosticism and Ebionism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Humanities/Philosophies)

14 pages, 204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accommodation, Fortification, or Conversion? Approaches to Catholic Engagement with Secular Culture

by Hannah Vaughan-Spruce

Religions 2025, 16(2), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020160 - 30 Jan 2025

Abstract

As the Catholic Church declines in the west, critical questions are raised about its engagement with secular culture. Different engagement models have been experimented with since the 1960s, which I term accommodation, fortification, and conversion. Each model can be assessed according to sociological [...] Read more.

As the Catholic Church declines in the west, critical questions are raised about its engagement with secular culture. Different engagement models have been experimented with since the 1960s, which I term accommodation, fortification, and conversion. Each model can be assessed according to sociological and theological criteria. While the accommodation model seems to have proven itself sociologically ineffective, compounding the challenge of evangelisation, the two remaining models, while offering more positive signals, still await sufficient sociological testing. This article argues that both the fortification and conversion models are more theologically authentic than the accommodation model and proposes that the conversion model, in its particular understanding of the ‘secular’, is likely to see greater evangelistic fruits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catholic Theologies of Culture)

18 pages, 263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What the New Atheists (and, for That Matter, Creationists Too) Got Right

by Cristobal Bellolio

Religions 2025, 16(2), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020159 - 30 Jan 2025

Abstract

The reception of the so-called New Atheism in the 2000s in the intellectual community was harsh. Its main figures were accused of elaborating on a subject of which they were mostly ignorant. Criticism focused on the narrow way they described religion as a [...] Read more.

The reception of the so-called New Atheism in the 2000s in the intellectual community was harsh. Its main figures were accused of elaborating on a subject of which they were mostly ignorant. Criticism focused on the narrow way they described religion as a set of factual beliefs that compete with—and pale in the face of—modern science, instead of a life experience, an ethical orientation, an existential commitment, or a set of communal practices. In the spirit of S.J. Gould’s non-overlapping magisteria thesis, these critics contended that religion has little to do with factual assertions. This paper challenges this strict separation, arguing that many theistic traditions, such as Christianity, inherently make factual claims about the universe and history, intertwining their beliefs with cosmic realities. Following Ronald Dworkin’s posthumous distinction between the “science part” and the “value part” of religion, the paper underscores the philosophical legitimacy of religious factual claims, thus acknowledging the potential overlap between science and religion. In this sense, it argues that the New Atheists may have got wrong the meaning of religion in many people’s lives, but they got the “science part” right enough. In the same vein, it concludes that while creationists are most likely wrong in their account of the origin of life and biodiversity, their contestation in the factual domain cannot be discarded as a disfigurement of religion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Images of the World in the Dialogue between Science and Religion)

18 pages, 327 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participating in the New Creation in Ephesians

by Mark J. Keown

Religions 2025, 16(2), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020158 - 30 Jan 2025

Abstract

This article explores Ephesians, asking how the theme of the new creation is developed in Ephesians. Rather than specifying matters like authorship, date, and recipients, it takes a broad view of the situation of the letter so that the focus can be on [...] Read more.

This article explores Ephesians, asking how the theme of the new creation is developed in Ephesians. Rather than specifying matters like authorship, date, and recipients, it takes a broad view of the situation of the letter so that the focus can be on exploring the theme. It argues that the new creation idea is developed in three main ways. First, while Ephesians has a decidedly realized eschatology, there are hints throughout the letter of the consummation when the whole Earth is freed from corruption and reconciled under one head, Jesus Christ. Second, particularly in chapters 1–3, the writer of Ephesians focuses on realized aspects of eschatology to strengthen the readers’ understanding of their identity in Christ and their status as people of the new creation. The writer does this to strengthen the readers to assume the posture of the new creation while living in a fallen world beset with sin and under spiritual powers. In Ephesians 4–6, the writer describes this new creation virtues the readers are to embody as they contend for God in the world. Finally, the article explores the missional appeal of the letter. The writer challenges the readers to embody the new creation ethic and join God’s mission that calls all humankind to believe in the gospel and become people of the new creation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resurrection and New Creation in Ephesians)

15 pages, 568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

(Re)viewing Postsecularity Through the Pragmatic Pursuits of New Religious Movements in India

by Vikram Kapoor

Religions 2025, 16(2), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020157 - 30 Jan 2025

Abstract

In the contemporary postsecular context, where the influence of religion has become increasingly significant, this study explores the substantial influence of New Religious Movements (NRMs) in India. Focusing on Brahma Kumaris (BKs), a prominent NRM, this study examines their role as proponents of [...] Read more.

In the contemporary postsecular context, where the influence of religion has become increasingly significant, this study explores the substantial influence of New Religious Movements (NRMs) in India. Focusing on Brahma Kumaris (BKs), a prominent NRM, this study examines their role as proponents of social change across various public spheres in modern society. The BKs’ deviation from traditional religious doctrines, their emphasis on self-transformation, and their capacity to adapt to contemporary challenges render them particularly relevant in the postsecular context. This study analyzes the pragmatic approach that BKs employ to engage with and assert their influence in contemporary public life. Specifically, it delineates five critical processes that underpin the organization’s pragmatic pursuits: detraditionalization, synergism, gender sensitization, agro-spiritualism, and digitalization. By subverting varied normativities and contesting the religious/secular dyad through their pragmatic pursuits, the BKs illuminate the shapeshifting edges and fluid integration of religion and secularity within the contemporary postsecular milieu. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religion and the Public Sphere: Revisiting the Boundaries of Theory and Practice in a Postsecular Age)

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18 pages, 409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Discourse on the Marxist Study of Religion in the New Era in the PRC: An Outsider’s Perspective

by Katja Wengenmayr

Religions 2025, 16(2), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020156 - 29 Jan 2025

Abstract

This paper contributes to the intercultural understanding of religious studies in East Asia by examining their discursive framework within the Chinese context. It analyzes the academic discourse on religious studies in the PRC, particularly debates on atheism and the Marxist study of religion. [...] Read more.

This paper contributes to the intercultural understanding of religious studies in East Asia by examining their discursive framework within the Chinese context. It analyzes the academic discourse on religious studies in the PRC, particularly debates on atheism and the Marxist study of religion. In 2021, President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of aligning religious studies with Marxist principles, sparking renewed debate on the field’s orientation. This paper examines the responses of religious studies scholars to state directives. It illustrates how the reframing of the discipline and reinterpretations of the Marxist view on religion serve as strategies employed by scholars to answer “the call” of the official discourse. The significant representation of scholars promoting atheism in the political sphere further aligns religious studies with official discourse, narrowing the discursive space for other theoretical approaches toward religion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religious and Theological Interactions in East Asia: Issues, Channels and Impact)

16 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Culturalization of Politics, Religion and Cultural Wars: The Case of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot Community

by Nikos Moudouros

Religions 2025, 16(2), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020155 - 28 Jan 2025

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of religion into a structural part of cultural war, as well as the broader process of the culturalization of politics, as a hegemonic strategy. Within this specific context, the article describes the evolution of cultural war in Turkey [...] Read more.

This article examines the transformation of religion into a structural part of cultural war, as well as the broader process of the culturalization of politics, as a hegemonic strategy. Within this specific context, the article describes the evolution of cultural war in Turkey and how it is transferred in the context of the Turkish Cypriot community. The first part of the article contains a general analysis of the process of the culturalization of politics and its connection with the question of hegemony. The second part focuses on the case of Turkey and, more specifically, on how the Turkish right has instrumentalized religion in cultural war. It places the AKP within the aforementioned context and describes the importance it has placed on the strengthening of religion in the educational structures of the country. The last part of the article focuses on the evolution of cultural war between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community. It examines the key views of the AKP on the transformation of Turkish Cypriot collective identity and the role religion should play. It also examines the reaction of sections of the Turkish Cypriot community, mainly originating from the historical dimension of Turkish Cypriot secularism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interreligious Dialogue and Conflict)

14 pages, 233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Grammatical Investigation of Miracles

by David Ellis

Religions 2025, 16(2), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020154 - 28 Jan 2025

Abstract

Wittgenstein claims that religious belief does not stand on evidence, that only those with a religious point of view can see an event as a miracle, and that experiencing a miracle can influence a person towards religious belief. This has the unusual outcome [...] Read more.

Wittgenstein claims that religious belief does not stand on evidence, that only those with a religious point of view can see an event as a miracle, and that experiencing a miracle can influence a person towards religious belief. This has the unusual outcome that a miracle can lead a person to God, but a miracle cannot be evidence of God. This also faces two challenges. First, if miracles can only be seen from a religious point of view, then suggesting that a miracle can influence a person towards religion implies that a person can see a miracle before having a religious point of view. Second, if religious belief is not based on evidence, then those who report believing because of evidence are confused about their beliefs in a way we would not expect. I argue that these are not challenges to Wittgenstein’s account but symptoms of our misunderstanding of grammar and his distinction between relative and absolute miracles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Work on Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion)

38 pages, 530 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Criteria for the Acceptability of Scientific Theories as Locus theologicus: A Methodological Analysis of Catholic Church’s Reactions to the Cases of Galileo and Darwin (Bellarmine—Pius XII—John Paul II)

by Zbigniew Liana

Religions 2025, 16(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020153 - 28 Jan 2025

Abstract

The categories of demonstration and hypothesis appear constantly in the texts of Catholic theologians confronted with the new science of Copernicus and Darwin. They were used by Robert Bellarmine to reject Galileo’s scientific and realistic interpretation of Copernican theory. They were equally used [...] Read more.

The categories of demonstration and hypothesis appear constantly in the texts of Catholic theologians confronted with the new science of Copernicus and Darwin. They were used by Robert Bellarmine to reject Galileo’s scientific and realistic interpretation of Copernican theory. They were equally used by some neo-scholastic theologians against Darwin’s theory of evolution and reappeared in the official texts of Pope Pius XII and John Paul II. My paper will analyze these selected historical texts to show whether and how the epistemology and methodology adopted by their authors determined their acceptance or rejection of scientific theories as potential Loci theologici. Moreover, the historical-comparative approach should reveal in this theological tradition, for all its officially declared continuity, the progressive evolution of views on the meaning and role of demonstration and hypothesis in science, as well as official Catholic theology’s dependence on the historically changing notion of science and its method. This will allow me to discuss the idea of a changing scientific methodology as another very specific locus theologicus, this time metatheoretical. I will propose the idea of a non-absolute autonomy or relative dependence of theology on available meta-scientific solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Sciences as a Contemporary Locus Theologicus)

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