Abstract: In the twenty-first century, academic approaches to mysticism often risk reducing the Mystery to an object of erudition and historical distance, as if mystical experience belonged solely to a pre-modern past. Yet, when one encounters the “natural metaphors” that emerge within mystical writings—images of rivers, gardens, fire, and wind—it becomes almost impossible to silence the invitation to perceive the sacred as still unfolding in the present. This article proposes an embodied and associative reflection that brings into conversation the poetry of John of the Cross (1542–1591), the intimate diaries of Etty Hil-lesum (1914–1943), and the musical and visual work of the contemporary artist Björk Guðmundsdóttir (b. 1965). Through this triadic encounter, I argue that natural metaphors are not mere literary ornaments but symbolic languages that articulate the ineffable through the elemental languages of the earth. They sustain a theology of embodiment, re-lationality, and transformation that traverses epochs and artistic media. The study also seeks to fracture rigid and hegemonic readings that have confined mystical texts within colonial geographies of interpretation—readings that domesticate spiritual experience through rigid doctrinal frameworks. In contrast, this essay advocates for a decolonial hermeneutics of the mystical imagination, one that recognizes how the natural, the aes-thetic, and the spiritual interweave in the polyphony of the world. By reading John of the Cross, Hillesum, and Björk together, I suggest that mystical experience continues to unfold today through poetry, diary, and sound—where theology becomes not only a matter of thought but of vibration, beauty, and embodied openness to the Mystery.

Abstract: The Qur’an, described within itself as Umm al-Kitāb (“the Mother of the Book,” Qur’an: 13:39), is not only a compendium of divine revelation but also a complete epistemological and research framework that has yet to be fully explored by contemporary scholarship. While Muslim theologians and philosophers such as Al-Ghazālī, Al-Fārābī, and Ibn Rushd addressed aspects of Islamic epistemology, no comprehensive model has been systematically derived directly from the Qur’an’s own linguistic and conceptual structure. This study, therefore, reconstructs a Qur’anic Research Methodology by extracting its embedded scientific process—Observation (naẓar), Reflection (tafakkur, tadabbur), Validation (burhān, bayyina), Synthesis (ḥikmah), and Application (ʿamal, īmān). Using a qualitative hermeneutic methodology based on thematic exegesis, the study analyses relevant Qur’anic terms and verses to identify an internally coherent logic of discovery, reasoning, and verification. The findings reveal that the Qur’an promotes critical inquiry, empirical observation, and ethical verification as divine imperatives, linking faith, reason, and ethics in a continuous process of knowledge (ʿilm → yaqīn → ḥaqq al-yaqīn). It also uncovers the Qur’an’s cyclical model of knowledge, where understanding leads to conviction, and conviction leads to actionable wisdom (ḥikmah). This research contributes by proposing an integrated Qur’anic epistemological framework, offering a foundational paradigm for contemporary Islamic education, scientific thought, and research methodology. Future studies should operationalise this model across disciplines—bridging revelation and empirical science—to revive the Qur’an’s original vision of knowledge as both a spiritual pursuit and a systematic scientific inquiry.

Abstract:

This study examines the Qur’ānic and Gospel accounts of Jesus’ (ʿĪsā’s) birth, life, death, and ascension, with a focus on the theological question of his supposed bodily return (nuzūl al-Masīḥ) before the Day of Resurrection. Its purpose is to determine whether the Muslim understanding of Jesus—shaped largely by narrations on the signs of the Hour—aligns with the Qur’ān. Methodologically, it engages in comparative textual analysis of Gospel narratives, Qur’ānic verses, classical and modern exegetical interpretations, and relevant ḥadīth reports. The paper first outlines the diverse and often contradictory Gospel accounts of the crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension, noting their differences in sequence and detail. It then examines Qur’ānic verses employing the terms tawaffī and rafʿ, assessing classical exegetical views that affirm Jesus’ bodily ascension and modern interpretations that reject it, arguing instead for spiritual exaltation and death like other prophets. Special attention is paid to the reliability of āḥād reports on the nuzūl, their isnād weaknesses, and their tension with explicit Qur’ānic statements about the suddenness of the Hour, the universality of death, and the finality of prophethood. The study concludes that the Qur’ān contains no explicit statement supporting Jesus’ bodily ascension or pre-Resurrection return; such beliefs are rooted in Christian theology and later Muslim narrations, not in definitive Qur’ānic proof. Therefore, building a belief based on non-mutawātir hadith reports is not sound from the perspective of kalām methodology; rejecting the nuzūl view likewise cannot justly be equated with modernism or sectarian deviation.

Abstract: This research paper presents a comprehensive theological and content-based analysis of the concept of the Holy Land as represented in the Holy Qur’an, with a particular focus on the verses associated with the birth, migration, and prophetic missions of Moses and other prophets. Contrary to many classical and modern interpretations that link the Holy Land and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa directly to Prophet Muhammad, this study argues that no verse in the Qur’an explicitly mentions Muhammad in this context. Through a rigorous content analysis of the Qur’anic text, supported by linguistic and historical exegesis, the study reconsiders Surah Al-Isrā (17:1) not as a reference to Muhammad’s Night Journey, but rather as a continuation of the narrative of Moses and the Children of Israel. The findings suggest that the Holy Land in the Qur’an primarily refers to the geographical and spiritual region associated with the prophetic traditions of Abraham, Lot, and Moses, rather than a direct association with Mecca or Medina. This reinterpretation contributes to a renewed understanding of the Qur’anic geography of revelation and calls for a re-examination of inherited exegetical assumptions.

Abstract: Mount Hermon, rising on the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, is more than a geographic landmark—it is a sacred and cultural symbol deeply tied to Semitic linguistic traditions, religious narratives, and political histories. The name “Hermon,” rooted in the Semitic triliteral root ḥrm, embodies meanings of consecration, prohibition, and sanctity. Yet, through centuries of linguistic evolution and shifting cultural interpretations, its original resonance has become increasingly difficult to trace. This study explores how the mountain’s name and meaning have been shaped across epochs, from biblical and apocryphal texts to Greco-Roman inscriptions, Islamic traditions, and modern geopolitical discourse. It also highlights how oral traditions and cultural memory among local communities preserve Hermon’s significance even as natural features and ecological distinctiveness face erosion. By integrating linguistic, theological, archaeological, and political perspectives, the article underscores Hermon’s role as both a spiritual beacon and a contested frontier. Ultimately, the research calls attention to the urgent need to preserve not only the linguistic and historical legacies of Mount Hermon but also its fragile natural environment and cultural memory.

Abstract: Creationism is not only a pseudoscience present in Brazil but also a political problem. In reality, creationism as a pseudoscience and as a political issue are entangled in this Latin American country. Thus, this article has a double objective: to show how Brazilian creationism arises as a danger to both education/science and democracy in Brazil, and to discuss how its epistemological misconceptions and its dependence on Evidentialism portray a divinity that stands in contrast with the Christian understanding of the Trinitarian God. The first section will address how creationism is present in the Brazilian political arena, with special attention to its presence during Jair Bolsonaro’s government and how it constitutes an ongoing danger to Brazil’s education system and democracy due to the rapid growth of the number of Evangelicals in the country and of the Evangelical Parliamentary Front of the National Congress. The second will discuss examples of creationist arguments presented by the two major proponents of the movement in Brazil, the Presbyterians Adauto Lourenço and Marcos Eberlin, that show their standard procedure in dealing with scientific data and drawing religious conclusions from it. The third will analyze how Creationism relies on Evidentialism and portrays a divinity which diverges from the Trinitarian Christian God. I argue that creationism is not based on or an expression of a Christian understanding of the relationship between God, creation, and creatures, but is instead based on epistemological misconceptions, manipulation of data, and religious conclusions drawn from it.

Abstract: This study directs its focus towards contemporary Taoist hermits in the Zhongnan Mountains and Huashan, located in Shaanxi Province, China, via the perspectives of literary works and we-media. Initially, it delves into the motivations underlying the adoption of a hermitic lifestyle among these Taoists. Subsequently, it analyzes the di-verse means by which these hermits sustain their livelihoods in the mountainous re-gions. Next, it conducts an examination of the various religious practices and extraor-dinary experiences of these Taoist hermits. Also, this study contends that some Taoist hermits do not live in complete isolation from secular society; rather, they sustain a tangible connection with the external world. This study unveils a distinct contempo-rary Chinese Taoist group, which has hitherto been overlooked by previous scholarship that predominantly concentrated on the scrutiny of urban or rural Taoist groups in contemporary China.

Abstract: This article explores the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) through the lens of Isaac Luria’s esoteric grammar, treating the divine Name not merely as a sacred symbol but as a metaphysical structure encoding the processes of contraction (Tzimtzum), rupture (Shevirat ha-Kelim), and repair (Tikkun) \autocite{Dan2002}. Drawing from Luria’s radical reconfiguration of the Ma’aseh Bereshit tradition, the paper examines how the Name functions as a vibratory and ontological mechanism within the unfolding of creation. Emphasis is placed on the sonic dimension of divine speech, Vayomer Elohim, and the function of the Name as a tool of interior resonance rather than external invocation. The study also addresses how the four letters of the Tetragrammaton form a sacred grammar that, in Luria’s view, must be reconstructed through meditative practice and interior audition. Finally, the paper explores the reception, and frequent misreading, of Luria’s ideas within Western esoteric traditions, noting how symbolic distortions reflect both the power and fragility of sacred transmission. The Tetragrammaton emerges not as a fixed doctrine but as a living structure, a mystery to be inhabited rather than decoded.

Abstract: The discussion of the Islamization of Mathematics is a fascinating and complex combination of epistemology, religion, education, and postcolonial critique. This paper sets this modern intellectual enterprise apart from the famed history of 'Islamic Mathematics' during the Islamic Golden Age. It investigates the intellectual roots of the Islamization of Mathematics, a subset of the larger Islamization of Knowledge (IoK) movement, which strives to reintegrate all fields of human investigation into a Tawhidic (Divine Oneness) worldview. The paper examines the major criticism levelled at conventional 'Western' mathematics: that it is not value-neutral and instead supports a secular, materialist, and utilitarian worldview. It then investigates the proposed pedagogical and curricular modifications, which include reshaping mathematical concepts, problems, and historical narratives to reflect an Islamic ethos. These modifications aim not to change mathematical truths, but to imbue their study with spiritual value and moral purpose. Finally, the paper discusses the project's major problems and critiques, including concerns about the universal character of mathematics, the possibility of ideological dogmatism, and the practical difficulties of execution. It holds that, despite substantial problems, Islamization of Mathematics contributes significantly to the philosophy of education by promoting a critical reconsideration of values hidden in seemingly neutral subjects.

Abstract: Christian Zionism has been one of the most influential theological currents within global evangelicalism, with a significant impact in Abya Yala [the Americas] through evangelical missions[1] and the growth of Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism. Its close relationship with dispensationalist premillennialism has consolidated an interpretation of biblical history that places Israel at the center of eschatological events, promoting unconditional support for the Israeli state. However, this vision has been strongly questioned by other Christian currents in the region, especially by Latin American Liberation Theology (TLL) and the ecumenical movement, which have denounced the strategic use of the Bible to legitimize the Israeli occupation in Palestine; moreover, it is relevant given that “in our region, economic, political and military apparatuses violently deploy discourses of religious content, in the manner of crusades to reach power and dispose of territories, goods, and peoples.”[2] Despite these tensions, sustained dialogues on the subject have been absent, which calls for an in-depth analysis of its theological, political, and social implications.On the systematic approach to Christian Zionism, it is essential to note the two premises that Elizabeth Philipps, in 2008, pointed out in her research entitled Apocalyptic Theopolitics: Dispensationalism, Israel/Palestine, and Ecclesial Enactments of Eschatology: “(1) exposé pieces written journalistically for audiences unfamiliar with Christian Zionism, and (2) awareness-raising pieces written by evangelical leaders and scholars to dissuade evangelical audiences from adherence to Christian Zionism. Of the few recent works on Christian Zionism written for scholarly readers, none is written by a theologian” (p. 4).[3]Likewise, for authors such as Gerald R. McDermott, Zionism is a phenomenon before the appearance of dispensationalist premillennialism and evangelical Zionism. This author assures that Zionism traces its roots some eighteen centuries earlier with antecedents in the Hebrew Bible —the covenant of Yahweh with Israel and the promised land— and in the Jewish authors who wrote part of the Christian Bible maintaining that vision in the figure of the return of the Jewish Diaspora to establish a new Israel.[4] On the other hand, some authors argue that it is not necessarily possible to equate premillennialism and fundamentalism, since although there are notable coincidences, there are also many divergences.[5] This chapter addresses the relationship between evangelical Zionism and the evangelical churches in Abya Yala, exploring both their expansion and the critical responses from liberationist and ecumenical perspectives. To this end, it is divided into four main sections. The first section analyzes the theological framework that has shaped Christian Zionism. It will explore dispensationalist premillennialism, its influence on the literalist interpretation of biblical prophecy, and its impact on global politics, especially concerning Israel. It will examine how this view has influenced Latin American evangelical churches, shaping their perspective on the Jewish people's role and the world’s eschatological destiny.The second section addresses how evangelical missions have promoted Christian Zionism in the region. It studies the role of missionary organizations and evangelical leaders in disseminating narratives that reinforce support for Israel and how these positions have influenced the foreign policy of Latin American countries. In addition, we analyze the evangelization strategies used and their impact on the construction of religious identities in Abya Yala.The third section explores the response of progressive theological movements to Christian Zionism. It examines how the TLL has denounced the instrumentalization of the Bible to justify oppression and how ecumenical churches have promoted a critical view of the Israeli occupation. The lack of an open debate between these sectors and Christian Zionism is also discussed, as are the reasons behind this absence of dialogue.Finally, the fourth section proposes the importance of opening a space for debate among the different Christian currents in Abya Yala. It reflects the need for a theology that prioritizes peace and justice, instead of apocalyptic narratives that reinforce geopolitical conflicts. The possibility of building bridges between evangelical, liberationist, and ecumenical sectors to promote a more ethical vision committed to the social reality of the region is raised.This chapter, therefore, offers a comprehensive analysis of Christian Zionism’s impact in Abya Yala, its theological roots, its expansion through evangelical missions, and the responses it has generated in progressive Christianity. In doing so, it seeks to contribute to a deeper debate on the role of religion in international politics and its influence on faith communities in the region. [1] It is important to recall that, since the Missionary Council of Panama in 1916, the historic Protestant churches in Latin America —direct heirs of the sixteenth-century Reformation— began to adopt the name evangélicas instead of protestantes. This shift, however, should not be confused with the use of the term “evangelical” in the U.S. context, which typically refers to conservative evangelical churches that emerged in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In this chapter, this distinction is crucial for Latin American religious studies: iglesias evangélicas históricas (mainline Protestant churches) are differentiated from iglesias evangelicales, often aligned with U.S.-style evangelicalism in theology, practice, and political positioning. For more information, see: Córdova Quero, Hugo (2014). El desafío del diálogo. Historia, definiciones y problemáticas del ecumenismo y la pluralidad religiosa (Buenos Aires: GEMRIP Ediciones). [2] Cardoso Pereira, Nancy, Sandra Nancy Mansilla, and Larry Madrigal Rajo. “Introducción.” Revista de Interpretación Bíblica Latinoamericana 93 (2024): 7. [3] Philipps, Elizabeth. Apocalyptic Theopolitics: Dispensationalism, Israel/Palestine, and Ecclesial Enactments of Eschatology (Cambridge: University of Cambridge, 2008). [4] McDermott, Gerald R. “A New Christian Zionism.” Providence Magazine (April 2016): pp. 57-62. [5] Martins Campos, Breno, and Aretha Beatriz Brito Da Rocha. “Aproximações e distanciamentos entre fundamentalismo e pré-milenarismo: por uma tipologia do protestantismo a incluir John Gresham Machen.” Revista Caminhando 24, no. 1 (2019): pp. 193-213.

Abstract: “Heretic” is commonly understood as perspectival term employed by insiders to describe a specific kind of outsider, namely, one who, not only holds to seriously objectionable positions, but having been one of us, should know better. Accordingly, ‘heretic religiosity’ denotes for members of the mother religion a dissenting form of religiosity that deviates too sharply from their own to be con-tained within it. Michael Walzer’s well-known idea of connected criticism, to which this paper’s title alludes, is a person who firmly opposes his community’s way of life, but choses to remain within the fold. The type of religious heresy I shall be looking at in the following pages not only choses to re-main within, but is contained within the fold. And not only that, but it is actually formative of the fold. But in that case, why should it be considered heretical?

Abstract: This article addresses the epistemic and political problem of self-referentiality in theology within the context of post-secular societies, as a demand for public relevance of faculties of theology within the 21st-century university. It focuses on the epistemological emergence of public theology as a distinct knowledge such as human rights, and ecological thinking, contributing to the public mission of knowledge production and interdisciplinary engagement. The study applies Michel Foucault’s archaeological and genealogical methods in dialogue with Michel de Certeau’s insights into the archaeology of religious practices through a multi-layered analytical approach including archaeology of knowledge, dispositifs of power, pastoral government, and spirituality as a genealogy of ethics. As a result of the analysis, it examines the historical conditions of possibility for the emergence of a public theology, and how it needs to be thought synchronously with other formations of knowledge, allowing theology to move beyond its self-referential model of approaching dogma and the social practices derived from it. The article concludes programmatically that the development of public theology requires an epistemological reconfiguration to displace its self-referentiality through critical engagement with a public rationality framework, as an essential task for the public relevance and contribution of theology within contemporary universities and plural societies.

Abstract: This article examines four block-printed Mahāpratisarā dhāraṇī amulets from late Tang to early Song China, highlighting how Sanskrit-script texts circulated in everyday religious life. Through philological and visual analysis, it reveals a decentralised dhāraṇī culture shaped by variant bījākṣara (seed syllable) arrangements, divergent textual recensions, and diverse ritual uses—from burial and temple consecration to daily wear and cave enshrinement. Rather than static texts, these amulets reflect dynamic interactions between sacred sound, material form, and vernacular Buddhist practice, offering rare insight into non-canonical transmission and popular engagement with Indic scripture.

Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of Latin American queer theologies in the first two decades of the twenty-first century. It begins by highlighting Althaus-Reid’s significant contributions and his impact on the development of queer theologies in the region. Key ideas from the first generation of queer theologians who collaborated with Althaus-Reid are emphasized. The chapter then explores the second generation of queer liberation theologians in Latin America, drawing on each author's theological work to illustrate the progression of queer theological thought. Finally, it addresses emerging issues within trans-queer theologies, offering insights into their development and significance within the broader context of Latin American queer theology.

Abstract: When speaking of liberation, a fundamental question inevitably arises: Liberation for whom? This enquiry becomes more complex when the sex-gender perspective is added. This paper presents critical points within Latin American Liberation Theologies (LLT) that must be addressed to move towards a liberation of sex-gender dissidences (Maricas). The reflection, far from being speculative, seeks to resituate the question of contextuality as one of the most important theoretical-practical challenges in the elaboration of Queer Theologies from/in/by Abya Yala. Therefore, it will reflexively examine the urgent need to continue depatriarchalizing and “indecenting” the methodologies employed in LLT. To this end, it will draw on the contributions of Latin American indecent theologies, rarely considered by contemporary “liberation” proponents. Research through various reference works, past and present, leads to the following question: Are LLT Ready to Liberate Maricas?

Abstract: This chapter presents some reflections arising from the approach to the intellectual itinerary of Darío García Garzón. After a brief reconstruction of the biographical profile of this Colombian queer/marica theologian, his writings (2004-2012) are studied to point out the exercise of contextualization of the “queer” that he carried out in the Colombian territories, through reflections on the Deleuzian fold (Le Pli). The importance of his creole-mestizo-baroque hermeneutic proposal for the critique and reformulation of the “habitus of theologization” in the approach to sex-gender dissidence is recognized.

Abstract: This study explores the genesis, evolution, and contemporary relevance of the Ignatian Leadership as a transformative model that combines corporative management principles with the spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the organisational tradition of the Jesuits. Using a qualitative approach, we carried out an exhaustive review of 54 documents and interviews with experts, thus incorporating different phenomenological perspectives. The results reveal that this leadership was founded to renew the apostolic mission of the Society of Jesus, modernise its educational management approach, and empower laypeople and Jesuits in managerial roles. The model is based on Ignatian spirituality, particular with regard to the principle of discernment, and focuses on serving others and contributing to the common good. Over time, it has transcended the Jesuit sphere, becoming a model that can be applied in various contexts, one that promotes counter-cultural practices, organisational transformation and contemporary forms of leadership. This shift of focus not only paves the way for institutional change but also guides individuals towards a more authentic and meaningful life.

Abstract: This study explores the publication and dissemination of the Pilu Canon 毗卢藏, engraved by followers of Bao'en Wanshou Hall in Houshan Village, Fujian, during the Yanyou reign of the Yuan Dynasty. Funded through donations, this canon was part of a broader initiative to republish the four major Buddhist canons. Its engraving style blends influences from Yan Zhenqing, Ouyang Xun, and Zhao Mengfu, with rounder characters and more spacious layouts compared to earlier Song editions. The project, supported by the White Lotus Society, involved various engravers and resulted in diverse transcription practices. Although no complete set survives, scattered volumes are housed in different institutions. The Pilu Canon provides valuable insights into the evolution of Buddhist scripture layout, the White Lotus Society's influence, and the interaction between Buddhist texts and secular society in medieval China.

Abstract: This paper covers the evolution of legal education from its religious and cultural origins to contemporary influences, providing a broad framework for exploring the complexity between religious norms and modern legislation. The concept of ”education” presents a range of information that we can view from a general perspective as a form of training for individuals, as well as for professionals who apply the law. Through our study, we propose an analysis of the concept of ”legal education” as found in the fields of history and law, thus demonstrating the interdisciplinary approach of this endeavor.Starting from the general-specific connection, we initiated an analysis of the concept of legal education from the perspective of canon law and common law to outline a comprehensive opinion on the foundation we are presenting for discussion within our paper.The material we propose begins with the origin and evolution of the term "legal education" and continues with a brief terminological analysis. We further address the role of legal education throughout the ages, from antiquity to the present day, and the place, religious implications, and influence of religious texts on justice and legal education in each era.The chosen method is qualitative research through observation. In this context, we defined the subject of the research (legal education), analyzed the concepts (on the one hand, the concept of educating individuals about rules, norms, and justice, and on the other, the training of future professionals/public officials who interpreted and/or applied the law), and systematized the collected data to identify the utility of the concept of legal education in each era.By examining the information contained in this paper, we open up a topic that can be further developed by those interested in our subject.

Abstract:

In a world increasingly defined by isolationist values and ideological extremism, the question of how to foster a sense of unity and shared purpose is pressing. Political policies and economic structures certainly influence societal well-being, but they often lack the moral and ethical frameworks needed to address issues like individualism and extremism at their core. The Bible and theological higher education, by contrast, offer an alternative approach, encouraging community-centered values, critical engagement with belief systems, and an ethos of compassion. Through this essay the author explores the unique role of the Bible and theological higher education in counteracting the spread of individualism and extremism, while also examining why political and economic measures may provide limited assistance in achieving these ends.