Studies on Religion and Philosophy
type: channel
description: Studies on Religion and Philosophy is an international academic journal that employs a double-blind peer review process and is dedicated to providing a multidisciplinary platform for scholars worldwide. The journal focuses on cutting-edge issues in the fields of religion and philosophy, aiming to promote their deep integration and mutual inspiration, exploring the intersection of these two domains in both theory and practice.
publisher: ConnectSix Scholar Publishing INC
language: en
publication name: Studies on Religion and Philosophy
issn: 3067-0853
copyright: All articles published in this journal are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited. Authors retain copyright of their work, and readers are free to copy, share, adapt, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as appropriate attribution is given.
items: Can Artificial Intelligence “Understand” Religion? A Philosophical Inquiry into Meaning, Symbol, and Transcendence
items: Religious Subjectivity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence:The Reshaping of Religious Experience under Technological Rationality from a Buddhist Perspective
items: "Algorithmic Rationality” and “Ultimate Concern”: Reconfiguring Religious Rationality in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
items: From Sacred Sanctuary to Intelligent System: A Religious-Studies Reflection on the Transformation of Temple Space under Artificial Intelligence
items: Artificial Intelligence and the Religious Imagination of the Future: A Comparative Study of Eschatology, Soteriology, and Technological Utopianism
items: Temple Garden Cultural Landscapes: An Initial Exploration
items: The Positive Impact of Buddhist Meditation Camps on Campers' Environmental Awareness: Empirical Evidence from China
items: The Ontological Compatibility of Methodological Naturalism with a Benevolent, Infinite God
items: Reconstructing Identity and Negotiating Meaning: De-institutionalized Pathways of Religious Identity in the Digital Age
items: The Digital Reproduction Mechanisms of Buddhist Rituals in Mobile Media Environments
items: Pathways of Conversion: From Buddhist Practice to Emotion Regulation Mechanisms
items: Reconstructing the Concept of Causality in Religious Philosophy under Algorithmic Rationality
items: Ambiguity and Reconstruction Mechanisms of Religious Spaces in the Process of Urbanization
items: An Analysis of Hebrew Poetry with the Example of The Song of Songs from the Perspective of Hegel Aesthetics
items: Beyond the Scar: Selfishness as a Metaphysical Impediment to African Progress
items: Research Status and Evolutionary Trends of Student Ideological Education: A Knowledge Mapping Analysis Based on CiteSpace
items: The Research Direction of Emerging Human Enhancement Technology from the Perspective of Social Constructivism
items: Diverging Paths of Conviction: The Fundamental Differences Between Communist and Religious Beliefs Through the Lens of Faith and Credence
items: Religious Beliefs and Social Justice: A Reconsideration of the Social Functions of Religion in the Process of Modernization
items: The Interweaving of Religion and Ethics: Religious Perspectives in Contemporary Technology Ethics
items: The Digital Age of Religious Communication: The Shaping and Challenges of Religious Beliefs through Social Media
items: Cross-Cultural Dialogue Between Religion and Philosophy: The Clash and Integration of Traditional and Modern Values in the Context of Globalization
items: Inaugural Editorial of Studies on Religion and Philosophy
items: Bridging the Sacred and the Rational: The Inaugural Vision of Studies on Religion and Philosophy

Can Artificial Intelligence “Understand” Religion? A Philosophical Inquiry into Meaning, Symbol, and Transcendence
type: item
description: Recent advances in artificial intelligence, particularly in large language models, have intensified debates about machine understanding, interpretation, and meaning. In religious contexts, these debates acquire particular philosophical urgency: can artificial intelligence meaningfully “understand” religious texts, rituals, and symbols, or does its competence remain confined to formal linguistic and statistical operations? Drawing on philosophical hermeneutics and the philosophy of religious language, this article argues that AI’s apparent interpretive capacities do not amount to genuine religious understanding. Religious meaning is not reducible to semantic coherence or predictive accuracy; it presupposes existential involvement, symbolic participation, and openness to transcendence. By examining religious texts, symbolic language, and ritual practices, the paper delineates the cognitive and ontological boundaries of AI with respect to religion. It concludes that while AI can function as a powerful auxiliary tool in religious studies, it cannot replace the interpretive subject nor access the dimension of meaning constitutive of religious understanding.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Religious Understanding
  topic: keywords
subject: Hermeneutics
  topic: keywords
subject: Religious Language
  topic: keywords
subject: Symbol
  topic: keywords
subject: Transcendence
  topic: keywords
creator: Othman Al-Farsi
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Othman Al-Farsi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 29
ending page: 40
doi: 10.71204/axy5m078

Religious Subjectivity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence:The Reshaping of Religious Experience under Technological Rationality from a Buddhist Perspective
type: item
description: Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from being an external instrument to an environment that increasingly mediates attention, interpretation, and judgment. In religious life, this shift is not merely practical; it is structural. It reconfigures how religious experience is organized, how authority is distributed, and how religious subjectivity is formed. This article examines these transformations through a Buddhist philosophical lens, arguing that the rise of “algorithmic rationality” (a data-driven, predictive, optimizing mode of reason) reshapes the experiential conditions presupposed by Buddhist practice—especially the cultivation of mindfulness (smṛti), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (prajñā). Drawing on core Buddhist doctrines—dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), non-self (anātman), the dynamics of craving and grasping (tṛṣṇā/upādāna), and the ethical primacy of intention (cetanā)—the paper analyzes how AI reorganizes the field of experience by: (1) externalizing and commodifying attention, (2) delegating hermeneutic labor to machine mediation, (3) accelerating temporality and weakening the pedagogical value of “slow practice,” (4) introducing a new form of authority that is opaque yet persuasive, and (5) intensifying subtle forms of attachment to metrics, personalization, and cognitive convenience. The article distinguishes the legitimate instrumental use of AI from its deeper tendency to colonize meaning-making and proposes a Buddhist-informed normative framework: “technological non-appropriation,” “digital restraint,” and “contemplative accountability.” It concludes that Buddhism can engage AI constructively only by reasserting the irreducibility of liberation to optimization and by safeguarding the soteriological structure of practice against the reification and outsourcing of subjectivity.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Algorithmic Rationality
  topic: keywords
subject: Buddhist Philosophy
  topic: keywords
subject: Religious Subjectivity
  topic: keywords
creator: Wan Xing
creator: Lei Chuan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Wan Xing, Lei Chuan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 1
ending page: 15
doi: 10.71204/j8shvv59

"Algorithmic Rationality” and “Ultimate Concern”: Reconfiguring Religious Rationality in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
type: item
description: The rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence has not only transformed economic production, social communication, and political governance, but has also reconfigured the epistemic and existential conditions under which religious meaning is articulated and sustained. This article examines the tension between “algorithmic rationality”—a data-driven, predictive, and optimization-oriented mode of reasoning—and religious rationality, understood here through the category of “ultimate concern.” While technological rationality has long been analyzed as instrumental or functional, algorithmic rationality increasingly operates as a comprehensive cognitive environment that mediates attention, interpretation, and judgment. This paper argues that such rationality challenges religion not primarily by negating belief, but by subtly reshaping the conditions under which ultimate questions, transcendence, and existential orientation become intelligible. Drawing on philosophy of technology, contemporary theology, and religious studies, the article proposes a redefinition of religious rationality that neither retreats into anti-technological defensiveness nor capitulates to computational reductionism. Instead, it conceptualizes religious rationality as a non-optimizable, reflexive, and responsibility-bearing mode of reason that resists full translation into algorithmic terms. The paper concludes that the future viability of religion in highly computational societies depends on preserving the irreducibility of ultimate concern against the expanding horizon of algorithmic governance.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Algorithmic Rationality
  topic: keywords
subject: Ultimate Concer
  topic: keywords
subject: Religious Rationality
  topic: keywords
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Philosophy of Technology
  topic: keywords
creator: Wan Xing
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Wan Xing (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 16
ending page: 28
doi: 10.71204/kv3c1g31

From Sacred Sanctuary to Intelligent System: A Religious-Studies Reflection on the Transformation of Temple Space under Artificial Intelligence
type: item
description: The increasing integration of artificial intelligence into religious institutions has generated extensive discussion concerning ethics, authority, and belief. However, comparatively little attention has been paid to the transformation of religious space itself. This article examines the intelligent transformation of temple space through the analytical lens of the sacred–profane distinction, arguing that the introduction of artificial intelligence represents not merely a technical modernization but a structural reconfiguration of religious spatiality. Drawing on classical theories of religion, particularly the works of Durkheim and Eliade, as well as contemporary discussions in the sociology of religion and philosophy of technology, the paper conceptualizes temples as symbolic, institutional, and experiential spaces constituted through boundaries, rituals, and normative orders. It then analyzes how algorithmic systems—such as surveillance technologies, data-driven management, and automated governance—reshape temple space by introducing system rationality oriented toward efficiency, visibility, and control. The study argues that this systematization tends to blur the distinction between sacred and profane, transform religious authority, and reconfigure the conditions of religious experience. Rather than rejecting technological mediation outright, the paper calls for a critical religious-studies perspective that recognizes both the adaptive possibilities and the risks of total system integration. It concludes that the future of temples as sacred spaces depends on their capacity to preserve symbolic density, ritual autonomy, and experiential transcendence within increasingly intelligent environments.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Temple Space
  topic: keywords
subject: Sacred–Profane Distinction
  topic: keywords
subject: Religious Institutions
  topic: keywords
subject: System Rationality
  topic: keywords
subject: Religion and Technology
  topic: keywords
creator: Ouyang Shaokang
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Ouyang Shaokang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 41
ending page: 52
doi: 10.71204/5tc7h549

Artificial Intelligence and the Religious Imagination of the Future: A Comparative Study of Eschatology, Soteriology, and Technological Utopianism
type: item
description: Contemporary discourses surrounding artificial intelligence are increasingly framed in terms of radical futures: superintelligence, existential risk, human transcendence, and civilizational rupture. These narratives often present themselves as secular and scientific, yet they display striking structural similarities to classical religious doctrines of eschatology and soteriology. This article offers a philosophical and comparative analysis of artificial intelligence futures through the lens of religious studies, arguing that contemporary AI imaginaries reproduce key elements of religious end-time and salvation narratives in a secularized form. By comparing AI discourse with traditions of eschatology, soteriology, and apocalyptic expectation, the study reveals the implicit religious dimensions embedded within technological utopianism and catastrophe narratives. The paper further argues that these AI-driven future visions reshape contemporary understandings of hope, redemption, and responsibility, often displacing ethical agency from communal and moral practices to technical systems. Rather than dismissing AI futures as mere ideology, the article contends that recognizing their quasi-religious structure is essential for critically assessing their cultural power and normative implications.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Eschatology
  topic: keywords
subject: Soteriology
  topic: keywords
subject: Technological Utopianism
  topic: keywords
subject: Religion and Technology
  topic: keywords
subject: Futures Imaginaries
  topic: keywords
creator: Zhanyi Li
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Zhanyi Li (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 53
ending page: 62
doi: 10.71204/yv2h3253

Temple Garden Cultural Landscapes: An Initial Exploration
type: item
description: Temple gardens in China embody a synthesis of religious philosophy, aesthetic cultivation, and ecological adaptation. They represent the spatial materialization of Buddhist cultural values, the Chinese garden-making tradition, and a cosmological worldview in which nature and human cultivation are deeply interrelated. While modern scholarship has produced rich work on Buddhist architecture, monastic economies, and the symbolism of Chinese gardens, temple gardens as a unique cultural landscape category—particularly their cultural logic, aesthetic patterns, and socio-historical functions—remain insufficiently theorized in a systematic manner. This paper conducts an initial exploration of temple garden cultural landscapes, focusing on their origins, spatial forms, cultural meanings, and contemporary implications. Drawing on historical sources, landscape studies, and cultural theory, the study demonstrates that temple gardens are not merely scenic or devotional spaces; rather, they function as material expressions of Buddhist cosmology, ethical cultivation, social exchange, and ritual order. Their landscapes are shaped not only by religious symbolism but also by environmental adaptation and social-economic conditions, including monastic agrarian systems and community interactions. Through analyzing representative temple garden cases and the evolution of monastic garden cultures, this paper argues that the core of temple garden cultural landscapes lies in the interplay between sacredness and everyday life, withdrawal and engagement, nature and cultivation. Furthermore, the study highlights contemporary challenges, including heritage protection pressures, commercialization, and the need to reinterpret temple gardens as living cultural landscapes rather than static museum-like artifacts. By reframing temple gardens through integrated cultural landscape theory, the paper seeks to contribute to ongoing discussions in heritage studies, landscape architecture, and religious cul…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Temple Garden
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Landscape
  topic: keywords
subject: Buddhism
  topic: keywords
subject: Chinese Garden History
  topic: keywords
subject: Sacred Space
  topic: keywords
creator: Wan Xing
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Wan Xing (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-10
publication date: 2025-11-10
starting page: 40
ending page: 53
doi: 10.71204/9r0mqr20

The Positive Impact of Buddhist Meditation Camps on Campers' Environmental Awareness: Empirical Evidence from China
type: item
description: This study aims to explore the impact of Buddhist meditation camps on campers' environmental awareness and analyze the moderating role of social support. A questionnaire survey was conducted, targeting campers who participated in temple meditation camp activities from February 2024 to May 2024. A total of 1200 questionnaires were distributed, and 1082 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective rate of 90.17%. The study found that Buddhist meditation camp activities have a significant positive impact on enhancing campers' environmental awareness, specifically demonstrated by the increase in the frequency and duration of meditation effectively enhancing environmental awareness. However, the increase in social support played a weakening moderating role in this process, meaning that high levels of social support weakened the positive impact of meditation frequency and duration on environmental awareness. This finding suggests that when promoting meditation camp activities, it is essential to fully consider the needs of campers with different levels of social support and to develop more targeted environmental education strategies to maximize the environmental education effect of meditation camp activities.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Buddhism
  topic: keywords
subject: Meditation Camps
  topic: keywords
subject: Environmental Awareness
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Support
  topic: keywords
subject: Moderating Role
  topic: keywords
creator: Wan Xing
creator: Lei Chuan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Wan Xing, Lei Chuan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-10
publication date: 2025-11-10
starting page: 24
ending page: 39
doi: 10.71204/3ssf9n84

The Ontological Compatibility of Methodological Naturalism with a Benevolent, Infinite God
type: item
description: This paper works to explore the ontological compatibility of methodological naturalism with the concept of a benevolent, infinite God. Methodological naturalism, which is intended to operate independently of metaphysical claims, offers a neutral stance on the existence of deities; maintaining the empirical integrity of the scientific method. In examining four leading models of divinity, this paper assesses their potential to align with methodological naturalism while preserving divine attributes of infinity and benevolence. The paper then argues that, of the four, panentheism provides the most suitable framework for the integration of such a deity into a methodologically naturalistic framing. The combined model maintains the empirical constraints of methodological naturalism while allowing for a divine presence that embodies ultimate goodness in an infinite nature.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Ontology
  topic: keywords
subject: Divinity
  topic: keywords
subject: Methodological Naturalism
  topic: keywords
subject: Classical Theism
  topic: keywords
subject: Pantheism
  topic: keywords
subject: Emergentism
  topic: keywords
subject: Panentheism
  topic: keywords
subject: science and religion
  topic: keywords
creator: Niq Ruud
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Niq Ruud (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-10
publication date: 2025-11-10
starting page: 1
ending page: 13
doi: 10.71204/b9cj9459

Reconstructing Identity and Negotiating Meaning: De-institutionalized Pathways of Religious Identity in the Digital Age
type: item
description: Buddhism for China’s digital‑native youth now unfolds less in monasteries than on the endlessly scrolling timelines of Douyin, Bilibili, and WeChat, where Zen‑style décor ads, three‑second tea ceremonies, and pastel Amituofo memes appear as algorithmic coincidences. How, in the absence of ritual apprenticeship or clerical authority, do such fragmented, commercialised encounters coalesce into a felt conviction of “being Buddhist”? This paper answers by fusing the lived‑religion turn to everyday practice, Wellman’s networked individualism, and cultural‑schema theory with Mahāyāna categories of upāya (skillful means), pratītyasamutpāda (dependent origination), and anātman (non‑self). The resulting De‑Institutionalised Buddhist Identity Construction (DBIC) model specifies a four‑phase, recursive mechanism: (1) Ambient Contact delivers unsolicited Buddhist stimuli via platform algorithms and lifestyle branding; (2) Schema Resonance activates dormant scripts of karma, compassion, or serenity; (3) Peer Legitimation supplies micro‑affirmations through influencer cues and chat‑thread encouragement; and (4) Ritual Bricolage converts resonance into modular, self‑curated practices—five‑minute metta sessions, virtual incense burns, eco‑vegetarian “compassion meals.” Each practice leaves digital traces that intensify subsequent exposures, forming feedback loops that echo dependent‑origination logic. Five propositions render the model empirically testable, linking exposure patterns, network structure, bricolage diversity, and identity stability. By reframing narrative coherence as a functional rather than ontological yardstick—valid if it reduces dukkha and fosters altruism—the study challenges authenticity debates rooted in Western selfhood assumptions. It also coins algorithmic soteriology, suggesting recommender systems can, when aligned with upāya, serve as inadvertent pedagogues. Implications span temple strategy (from gatekeeping to curated digital pathways), mental‑health p…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Religious Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: De-Institutionalization
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital Religion
  topic: keywords
subject: Individualized Spirituality
  topic: keywords
subject: Buddhism
  topic: keywords
creator: Jian Li
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Jian Li (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 63
ending page: 74
doi: 10.71204/t8f71s03

The Digital Reproduction Mechanisms of Buddhist Rituals in Mobile Media Environments
type: item
description: This paper investigates how Buddhist rituals are digitally reproduced within mobile media platforms such as short video apps and livestreaming services. Drawing on theories of mediatization, ritual studies, and digital religion, it examines the structural transformation, semiotic reconfiguration, and reception dynamics of Buddhist practices as they migrate into technologically mediated spaces. The study explores how traditional ritual elements are selectively encoded, visually reconstituted, and reinterpreted through digital affordances, revealing new forms of religious communication and participation. Through analysis of case studies from platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou, and Bilibili, the paper argues that mobile media not only serve as vectors for ritual dissemination but also as agents of ritual innovation, where user interaction, algorithmic visibility, and platform aesthetics co-construct the sacred. The research contributes to broader understandings of how religion adapts in the digital age and how digital environments reshape embodied spiritual experiences.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Buddhist Rituals
  topic: keywords
subject: Mobile Media
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital Religion
  topic: keywords
subject: Mediatization
  topic: keywords
subject: Ritual Reconfiguration
  topic: keywords
subject: Livestreaming
  topic: keywords
creator: Xiaoru Xue
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Xiaoru Xue (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 46
ending page: 62
doi: 10.71204/ftq1ev54

Pathways of Conversion: From Buddhist Practice to Emotion Regulation Mechanisms
type: item
description: Traditional Buddhist practices such as meditation (dhyāna) and sutra recitation (mantra/prayer) have long served as vehicles for ethical cultivation and spiritual realization. In recent decades, these techniques have been adapted for secular applications in emotion management and psychotherapy. This paper offers a theoretical analysis of the conversion pathways from classical Buddhist modalities to contemporary psychological interventions. Through a systematic examination of doctrinal sources, process models, and clinical case studies, we articulate a nuanced transformation framework comprising cognitive-affective reappraisal, attentional regulation, embodied resonance, and ritual enactment. We argue that this framework not only illuminates the mechanisms behind mental health benefits but also highlights the pivotal role of intentionality, cultural translation, and ethical grounding.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Buddhist Practice
  topic: keywords
subject: Emotion Regulation
  topic: keywords
subject: Pathways of Conversion
  topic: keywords
subject: Mental Health
  topic: keywords
creator: Wan Xing
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Wan Xing (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 33
ending page: 45
doi: 10.71204/a4d18y59

Reconstructing the Concept of Causality in Religious Philosophy under Algorithmic Rationality
type: item
description: In the contemporary era of algorithmic rationality, the traditional concept of causality has come under profound pressure. Predictive algorithms, data-driven analytics, and machine learning systems are rapidly transforming causality into an operational tool of correlation, surveillance, and control. This paper investigates this transformation by drawing upon two contrasting yet philosophically rich traditions: Western causal determinism and the Buddhist theory of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda). Through a comparative and reconstructive philosophical analysis, the paper demonstrates that Buddhist dependent origination offers a non-linear, interdependent, and ethically embedded view of causality that stands in stark contrast to the mechanistic, reductionist assumptions of algorithmic determinism. Across six chapters, the study critically examines the ontological, epistemological, and ethical stakes of algorithmic causality, the philosophical heritage of Western determinism, the liberative potential of Buddhist conditionality, and the religious reimagination of freedom in a predictive age. The paper concludes by proposing a relational, dynamic, and non-reductive theory of causality that foregrounds moral agency and metaphysical openness, offering a viable philosophical response to the deterministic tendencies of algorithmic systems.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Religious Philosophy
  topic: keywords
subject: Algorithmic Rationality
  topic: keywords
subject: Buddhist Theory
  topic: keywords
creator: Zhekang Ou
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies on Religion and Philosophy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 1
ending page: 13
doi: 10.71204/nbb3pw72

Ambiguity and Reconstruction Mechanisms of Religious Spaces in the Process of Urbanization
type: item
description: In contemporary urban landscapes, traditional religious spaces, once defined strictly by physical boundaries of temples, churches, mosques, and other sacred places, increasingly exhibit ambiguity and fluidity. Driven by rapid urbanization, secularization trends, decentralization of urban planning, and a global resurgence of spirituality, religious practices and experiences frequently transcend conventional religious boundaries, integrating into diverse urban contexts. This study critically examines how religious spaces manifest ambiguity within urbanization, exploring mechanisms underlying their reconstruction in response to modern socio-spatial changes. Through interdisciplinary theoretical lenses such as spatial theory, post-secularism, and religious sociology, combined with case studies of diverse urban environments, the study elaborates on the structural, social, and spiritual factors influencing the reshaping of religious spatial boundaries. Findings indicate a marked departure from traditional spatial logic, highlighting the emergence of hybrid, ephemeral, and decentralized forms of urban religious spaces. The implications underscore a significant shift in understanding religion’s role within contemporary urban contexts, suggesting critical revisions for urban planning and religious governance.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Religious Spaces
  topic: keywords
subject: Urbanization
  topic: keywords
subject: Spatial Ambiguity
  topic: keywords
subject: Decentralization
  topic: keywords
subject: Spirituality
  topic: keywords
subject: Urban Sociology
  topic: keywords
creator: Alexei Ivanov
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies on Religion and Philosophy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 14
ending page: 24
doi: 10.71204/n1v51g31

An Analysis of Hebrew Poetry with the Example of The Song of Songs from the Perspective of Hegel Aesthetics
type: item
description: The Bible includes both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is often referred to as the Hebrew Bible, in which the Song of Songs is one of the most extraordinary work. This study seeks to explore the beauty in the Song of Songs to deeply appreciate the poem by using some of Hegelian aesthetic theories in the complete system of idealistic aesthetics Hegel established in Aesthetics. Besides the introduction and conclusion, the full text is divided into three sections. The first section discusses the beauty of the human body. The God made humans for them to multiply. So the conditions of women and men, that is the beauty of the human body must embody the aim. The second part focuses on the beauty of art. In the poem, there are carefully selected images to constitute harmonious pictures to make readers feel calm. Rhetorical devices as similes and metaphors are wisely used to show the charm of the poem. Then, the study explores the beauty of the sublime. The God means the sublime. Different forms like gold, fire and trees represent the God. Through close reading, the paper elaborates the beauty in the poem with Hegelian aesthetics.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Hebrew Poetry
  topic: keywords
subject: Song of Songs
  topic: keywords
subject: Hegel Aesthetics
  topic: keywords
creator: Ting Zhang
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Ting Zhang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 25
ending page: 32
doi: 10.71204/x71vy124

Beyond the Scar: Selfishness as a Metaphysical Impediment to African Progress
type: item
description: Even though external forces like colonialism and slavery can be considered legitimate reasons for Africa's underdevelopment, pervasive selfishness, rather than external historical factors, stands as a formidable impediment to development efforts across African societies. This study, adopting a tripartite methodological procedure, which includes forty-five years of critical participant observation, a systematic empirical examination of the East African media, and theoretical synthesis, has analysed how selfishness (self-interest) is a metaphysical and structural impediment to African progress. African society, at all levels—from individual and household to national—is characterized by a pervasive "me-first" mentality, manifesting as a sina uchungu (I feel no pain) mentality, an inability to act through metaphysical evasiveness, which we refer to as the God-Satan mentality, the political economy of spiritual exploitation, lack of planning, irresponsibility, unaccountability, laziness, and a stifling of critical inquiry. The study reveals how this complex operates within the tension between traditional communitarian philosophies like Ubuntu and contemporary realities of cultural transformation, where historical legacies of extractive institutions intersect with modern religious interpretations to create environments where self-preservation behaviours become rationalized. By demonstrating how these internally rooted cultural and ethical dispositions actively undermine development efforts, the paper calls for a reconceptualization of African advancement that must address not only political-economic structures but also engage in deliberate projects of cultural, ethical, and spiritual renewal to foster the collective responsibility and human agency essential for sustainable progress.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Selfishness
  topic: keywords
subject: African Societies
  topic: keywords
subject: Accountability
  topic: keywords
subject: Fatalism
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Capital
  topic: keywords
subject: Collective Action
  topic: keywords
creator: Stewart Mbegu
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Stewart Mbegu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-10
publication date: 2025-11-10
starting page: 14
ending page: 23
doi: 10.71204/yz9bzq35

Research Status and Evolutionary Trends of Student Ideological Education: A Knowledge Mapping Analysis Based on CiteSpace
type: item
description: Student ideological education is a key pathway for shaping students' sound personalities and correct values, which not only concerns individual growth but also serves as an important guarantee for social harmony and development. This paper uses the information visualization software CiteSpace to perform a visual knowledge map analysis of 2,838 papers on student ideological education published between 2000 and 2024 in the CNKI database. The aim is to explore the research overview, hotspots, and trends in this field. The study finds that the overall number of publications follows a trend of increasing and then decreasing, with a large number of authors, but no well-established collaborative network. The main research hotspots focus on four areas: ideological and political education, educational methods, vocational college students, and university counselors. At the same time, seven keyword clusters are generated, with strong connections between them. In terms of emerging terms, "curriculum-based ideological education" and "ideological education" have higher emergence intensity, while "ideological political work" and "university counselors" have longer emergence durations. In terms of research trends, recent studies on student ideological education have placed more emphasis on topics such as the new era and curriculum-based ideological education.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Student ideological education, ideological and political education, CiteSpace, knowledge map
  topic: keywords
creator: Qihan Zhang
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Qihan Zhang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 109
ending page: 120
doi: 10.71204/6g3yqt40

The Research Direction of Emerging Human Enhancement Technology from the Perspective of Social Constructivism
type: item
description: Edinburgh School, Bath School, and Paris School are representative schools of social constructivism. The three schools put forward “strong programme,” “empirical programme of relativism,” and “actor-network theory,” respectively. The “strong programme” emphasizes the macro research direction of the relationship between science-technology and society, the “empirical programme of relativism” attaches importance to the micro perspective of science and technology practice itself, and the “actor-network theory” pays attention to such meta issues as the ontology and epistemology of science and technology. The “outside” of technology, the “inside” of technology, and the “net” of technology constitute three directions in which emerging human enhancement technology is to be explored based on social constructivism. From the perspective of the “strong programme,” macro variables such as economy, politics, culture, and society guide the direction of the evolution and development of human enhancement technology; from the perspective of the “empirical programme of relativism,” micro variables such as subject, object, and intermediary of emerging human enhancement technology innovation constitute the internal driving force of its development and progress; from the perspective of the “actor-network theory,” the noumenon of emerging human enhancement technology manifests itself as a “synthesis,” constructed by “actors” and revealed by tracking “actors,” “translation,” and describing ways of interconnection. Integrating sustainability into these perspectives is crucial for ensuring that human enhancement technologies develop in a manner that promotes long-term ecological and social well-being. By aligning macro-level policies and economic incentives with sustainable development goals, fostering eco-friendly innovation practices, and creating inclusive networks that engage diverse stakeholders, these technologies can support human advancement without compromising environmental integri…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Strong Programme, Empirical Programme Of Relativism, Actor-Network Theory, Emerging Human Enhancement Technology
  topic: keywords
creator: Hong Chang
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Hong Chang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 95
ending page: 108
doi: 10.71204/f8jq9n49

Diverging Paths of Conviction: The Fundamental Differences Between Communist and Religious Beliefs Through the Lens of Faith and Credence
type: item
description: Faith and belief are both interconnected and distinct. Their connection lies in the inclusion of the subject's "belief." The differences between them manifest in their objects of focus, distinguishing between the concrete and the abstract, the individual and the collective, the diverse and the unified, and in their formation, where the involvement of emotion and willpower varies. There is a fundamental difference between Communist faith and religious faith, evident in their bases of existence as social facts versus mystical entities; in their modes of cognition as scientific rationality versus emotional experience; and in their value orientations as self-liberation versus the salvation of others. It is imperative to vigorously promote the education of Communist faith, transforming it into an internal "conviction" and external "consciousness," thereby advancing the grand cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics continuously forward.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Belief, Faith, Communist Faith, Religious Faith, Distinction
  topic: keywords
creator: Xiqi Li
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Xiqi Li (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 83
ending page: 94
doi: 10.71204/pcs8xe55

Religious Beliefs and Social Justice: A Reconsideration of the Social Functions of Religion in the Process of Modernization
type: item
description: This paper explores the intersection between religious beliefs and social justice in the context of modernization. With the rapid changes in global social, political, and economic landscapes, religion continues to play a pivotal role in shaping moral and ethical standards in modern society. This study focuses on how religion influences social justice, particularly in addressing pressing global issues such as social inequality, immigration, and environmental protection. By examining the evolving social functions of religion, the paper critically assesses its moral guiding role in contemporary debates on justice. The research highlights the transformation of religion’s role in modern society, where traditional religious doctrines are being reinterpreted in response to modern challenges. It further investigates how religious institutions and communities contribute to the promotion of justice, equity, and the protection of human dignity. The findings indicate that despite the secularizing forces of modernization, religion retains a significant, albeit transformed, role in advocating for social justice, influencing public policy, and fostering collective responsibility. The paper also emphasizes the need for a reconsideration of the social functions of religion in light of contemporary global issues, proposing a more inclusive and adaptive understanding of its role in promoting a just and equitable society.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Religious Beliefs, Social Justice, Modernization, Global Issues, Moral Guidance
  topic: keywords
creator: Tianyi Liu
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Tianyi Liu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 66
ending page: 82
doi: 10.71204/20729a46

The Interweaving of Religion and Ethics: Religious Perspectives in Contemporary Technology Ethics
type: item
description: With the rapid advancement of technologies such as artificial intelligence and genetic editing, the intersection of technology and ethics has become a pressing concern in contemporary society. This paper explores the role of religious perspectives in shaping the moral frameworks for modern technological advancements, particularly in the context of ethical challenges posed by these innovations. It examines how different religious traditions—specifically Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Confucianism—provide unique ethical viewpoints on the application and regulation of new technologies. The paper analyzes key issues such as human dignity, the sanctity of life, and the moral implications of technological interventions in nature and human existence. By investigating religious ethics in the context of modern science, this study aims to highlight the contribution of religious teachings to the broader discourse on technology and ethics. It argues that integrating religious ethical principles into technological development and regulation can offer valuable insights for addressing the moral dilemmas arising from rapid technological progress. The paper concludes with a discussion on the potential of interfaith dialogue in advancing a more holistic approach to technology ethics in the 21st century.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
creator: Aarav Kumar
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Aarav Kumar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 42
ending page: 65
doi: 10.71204/9vxpyk66

The Digital Age of Religious Communication: The Shaping and Challenges of Religious Beliefs through Social Media
type: item
description: This paper explores the role of social media in the dissemination and transformation of religious beliefs in the digital age. It examines how digital technologies, particularly social media platforms, have reshaped the ways in which religious content is shared, understood, and practiced. The study highlights both the positive and negative effects of social media on religious communication, identifying opportunities for inclusivity, global engagement, and the creation of online religious communities. At the same time, it discusses the challenges posed by information overload, the fragmentation of religious messages, and the rise of echo chambers, which can lead to a shallow understanding of complex religious doctrines. The paper also explores the implications of social media on religious identity and practices, noting how believers can now construct and express their religious identities in increasingly personalized and diverse ways. Furthermore, the rise of digital religious leadership and the decentralization of doctrinal dissemination are analyzed in the context of social media’s impact on traditional religious institutions. Ultimately, the study underscores the dual-edged nature of social media as both a facilitator and a disruptor of religious communication, calling for a more nuanced understanding of its role in shaping contemporary religious practices.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Social Media, Religious Communication, Digital Religion, Religious Identity, Information Overload
  topic: keywords
creator: Liang Zhang
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Liang Zhang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 25
ending page: 41
doi: 10.71204/de63mn10

Cross-Cultural Dialogue Between Religion and Philosophy: The Clash and Integration of Traditional and Modern Values in the Context of Globalization
type: item
description: With the acceleration of globalization, the cultures, religions, and philosophical thoughts of the world are increasingly interacting, colliding, and blending across multiple levels and fields. As two major branches of human thought, religion and philosophy carry the worldviews, values, and moral norms of different social contexts. In the context of globalization, the dialogue between traditional religious thought and modern philosophical trends has become an important perspective for understanding the transformations in contemporary society. This paper, through analyzing the mutual influence of religious and philosophical ideas in different cultures, explores how religion and philosophy, through cross-cultural dialogue, drive the transformation of values across the globe in the context of globalization, and further examines the significance of this process for contemporary global society.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
creator: Tawny Grassie
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Tawny Grassie (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 9
ending page: 24
doi: 10.71204/15g3cz20

Inaugural Editorial of Studies on Religion and Philosophy
type: item
description: The inaugural issue of Studies on Religion and Philosophy marks the beginning of an academic endeavor to explore the profound and multifaceted relationship between religion and philosophy. This journal is conceived as a platform for interdisciplinary inquiry, fostering critical dialogue that bridges the two disciplines to explore humanity's most fundamental questions about existence, morality, suffering, and transcendence. Religion and philosophy, though often pursued independently, share a common historical foundation in human intellectual history. Their intersection offers valuable insights into the deeper dimensions of human life, belief, and meaning. This journal aims to create a space for innovative and thought-provoking scholarship that not only deepens our understanding of these disciplines but also encourages new conversations that advance both fields. By engaging with both religious wisdom and philosophical thought, Studies on Religion and Philosophy seeks to foster a deeper appreciation of the spiritual and intellectual dimensions that shape human existence.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Religion, Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Inquiry, Human Existence, Intellectual History
  topic: keywords
creator: Lei Chuan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Lei Chuan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 5
ending page: 8
doi: 10.71204/3n40cx73

Bridging the Sacred and the Rational: The Inaugural Vision of Studies on Religion and Philosophy
type: item
description: The intersection and interaction between religion and philosophy have long been a central concern in intellectual discourse, and today, as globalization and multiculturalism continue to shape social realities, these two pillars of human thought are experiencing a unique convergence. As editor-in-chief of Research on Religion and Philosophy, I am privileged to participate in this academic initiative that seeks to bridge the sacred and the rational. Drawing on my own academic background in religious philosophy and ethics, this journal aims to facilitate in-depth dialogue and reflection on the relationship between religious thought, philosophical logic, and social practice. The historical intersection of religion and philosophy, from ancient thinkers like Plato and Augustine to modern philosophers, reveals the profound ways in which these two disciplines have shaped humanity's understanding of the world and the pursuit of meaning. This intersection is not only an area of scholarly inquiry but also one with significant implications for contemporary society and culture, prompting new discussions on existence, morality, and the role of religion in the modern world.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Religion, Philosophy,Multiculturalism, Religious Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Dialogue, Contemporary Society
  topic: keywords
creator: Wan Xing
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Wan Xing (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-08
publication date: 2025-11-08
starting page: 1
ending page: 4
doi: 10.71204/kbs20e28