Researching Global Religious Landscapes

How should researchers navigate in a global landscape of religious and secular worldviews? This volume contributes with an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of contemporary religion in a cross-cultural or global perspective. The chapters in the volume highlight quite different themes - from translation to sexuality and secularity, critically dismantling conceptions of e.g., the "sacred individual", "Eastern religions" and multiple belongings. Yet, they are united in their search for signs that help us contest categorical cultural, religious, and secular boundaries, methodologically, theoretically, and epistemologically. The debate on universalism vs. particularism can simply not be put aside and hence, the implications of this dichotomy needs to be further investigated.<BR /><BR /> <BR /><BR /> The volume explores current challenges pertinent to cross-cultural research on religion in today's world. It reflects important aspects of global cultural and religious diversity. All articles stem from the international research project "Young Adults and Religion in a Global Perspective". The project implemented a mixed methods study in twelve different countries across the world. The chapters univocally stress the importance of using a sensitive analytical toolbox when investigating values and worldviews in an increasingly interconnected world. Nevertheless, such sensitivity needs to entail a capacity to move across boundaries and positions, giving voice to novel existential positions that do not fit within the traditional patterns of set religious and secular boundaries.

Dr. Theol. Peter Nynas is Professor of Study of Religions at Abo Akademi University (AAU), Finland and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology. Dr Ruth Illman is the Director of the Donner Institute for Research in Religion and Culture in Turku, Finland. She holds the title of Docent in the study or religions at Abo Akademi University (AAU) and in the history of religions at Uppsala University, as well as doctoral degrees in the study of religions (2004) and Jewish studies (2018). Dr. Nurit Novis-Deutsch is a social psychologist researching values and moral development in the department of Learning and Instructional Sciences at the University of Haifa in Israel. Rafael Fernandez-Hart, PhD, is Professor and Director of the Facultad de Filosofia, Educacion y Ciencias Humanas, Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, Lima, Peru.