Call for papers on “Religion, Spirituality, Health and Bioethics”

2025-02-05

Editors: Prof. Dr. Mary Rute Esperandio (PUC/PR) and Prof. Dr. Sônia Regina Corrêa Lages (UFJF).

 

The editorial team of Numen: Revista de Estudos e Pesquisa da Religião is pleased to announce the call for the thematic paper “Religion, Spirituality, Health and Bioethics”. This special issue seeks to explore the complex intersections between religious beliefs and practices, spirituality, health care and bioethical issues in contemporary societies. In an era marked by increasingly complex medical and ethical challenges, religion and spirituality continue to play a significant role in the way individuals and communities deal with health, illness and care. At the same time, bioethical discussions often dialogue with religious and spiritual dimensions, raising questions about autonomy, human dignity, the meaning of the experience of suffering and the sacredness of life. This thematic dossier invites contributions from researchers and professionals in the areas of Religious Sciences, Theology, Bioethics, Health Sciences and related fields to submit original research articles, theoretical reflections, case studies and interdisciplinary approaches that critically engage with the following (but not limited to) topics:

 

  • Religious and spiritual coping mechanisms in health crises and care contexts (religious spiritual coping, spiritual conflicts, positive and/or negative impacts on health care processes)
  • Bioethical debates shaped by religious traditions and theological perspectives (for example: abortion, beginning of life, assisted suicide, radical prolongation of life, in vitro fertilization, cloning, stem cell research, among others).
  • The role of faith communities in promoting public health and well-being
  • Ethical dilemmas at the intersection of religion, health care, and medical advances
  • End-of-life care, palliative care, and the influence of spiritual beliefs
  • Religious perspectives on global health challenges, such as pandemics and inequalities in access to health
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to religion and bioethics in education and practice
  • Implications of the differential concepts of “religiosity” and “spirituality” in health care practices and public health policies.

 

Submission guidelines: Manuscripts must follow the journal’s submission guidelines, available at: https://periodicos.ufjf.br/index.php/numen/issue/view/1780. All contributions will undergo a peer-review process. Texts in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian are accepted, with a limit of 15 to 30 pages.

  • Submission deadline: 06/15/2025