Projects / Programmes
Religion, ethics, education, and challenges of modern society
January 1, 2022
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.11.00 |
Humanities |
Theology |
|
| 6.10.00 |
Humanities |
Philosophy |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.03 |
Humanities |
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion |
person, society, violence, culture of peace, reconciliation, justice, global justice, dialogue, solidarity, subsidiarity, values, virtues, religion, Christianity, worldviews, ideologies, liberalism, wars, EU, Balkans, Slovenia, patriotism, ideas, resilience, resonance, digital culture
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
April 23, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
265 |
768 |
664 |
2.51 |
| Scopus |
341 |
1,222 |
1,032 |
3.03 |
Researchers (31)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Our time "is not an era of change, but a change of era" (Pope Francis). The Western world still stands on its Mosaic foundation, but is about to enter a new digitalised and globalised era. (Assmann) This turning point is not merely a consequence of a new digital culture but results from the crisis of the idea of the human being that was developed by the humanism of the Modern Age. This decline is manifested in different forms of dehumanisation that ultimately originate in an anthropological crisis: the crisis of identity. Some scholars have attempted to answer this crisis with anti- and transhumanist theories. This research, in contrast, explores the idea of the human being in the light of a new, fraternal humanism that could replace the fading modern atomistic conception of the human being. It aims to reconstruct the idea of the human being from the perspective of religion, ethics, and education, which illuminate the most fundamental characteristics of the human being and are the vital factors of the forming of individual and communal identity. The research follows the discoveries of contemporary religious anthropology, which affirms that the human being, as such, originates in the relationship with transcendence as evident from prehistorical traces. Today, this relationship is understood as the relation between faith and reason, which are not mutually exclusive but rather mutually inclusive. Such a historical and (at the same time) contemporary view on the human being at the crossroads of religion, ethics, and education is in the centre of this research, which, with its phenomenological and hermeneutical approach, surpasses metaphysical and naturalistic assumptions. The truth is, therefore, primarily understood in a practical and not theoretical sense: the truth is lived and gives life its meaning. The goal of this research is to establish the meaning of "a good life" in the context of contemporary culture. Thus, the research is directed to the issue of resilience and its condition: resonant relations. Resonance as a dynamic relation enabling a person to adapt to changes in a changing society. As a fundamental concept, resonance demands a redefinition of religion in the light of the relational model that promotes interreligious dialogue and cooperation. In the field of ethics, the concept of resonance gives a prominent place to global justice. Inclusive fraternal humanism requires an answer to the issue of global justice, especially concerning the marginalised. Another example of new ethical challenges is new technologies in the fields of medicine and artificial intelligence. This research addresses the issue of implementing theoretical discoveries into practice on the pedagogical, catechetical, and pastoral levels and will highlight integral learning that comprises the body and senses. It also analyses psycho-therapeutic issues concerning the healing of relationships, especially in the perspective of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Significance for science
The research programme represents an original scientific contribution in the fields of philosophy, theology, as well as in the anthropological-religious, and psychological-therapeutic areas. The research is important for the development and growth of science and professional fields, as it applies, tests, supplements, and upgrades some much-disputed concepts and models in contemporary humanities. The research findings are directly transferred to the pedagogical process at all three levels of studies. The results are presented in scientific and professional publications and at important international conferences and foreign institutions via visiting lectures and research, through which the research makes visible Slovenian science both at home and abroad. Research interest in the topics of the programme has been growing in recent years. To repeat, their new, important aspects are discovered within various sciences, which directs the research work towards interdisciplinarity. Through research, the contemporary debate and scientific advance are actively co-shaped, while the importance of theological, philosophical, anthropological-religious, and psychological-therapeutic science for these topics and in a broader scientific and social regard is simultaneously consolidated. Within the research group, several young researchers complete their research thesis in mentioned fields and within the research topics of the programme. Its anticipated results are relevant for the development of science and professions, from the perspective of knowledge transfer and education of personnel. The programme consists of the individual areas, which are otherwise closely intertwined. Philosophical field: The topics of relational personalism, resilience, resonance, global justice, ethics of modern technologies and violence are especially important. The topic of violence is also central to the anthropological-religious field. Resonance and resilience are central concepts in ethical research and in humanities. The relational paradigm is gaining ground everywhere, and resonance and resilience are its fundamental and connecting constituents. The research applies them in the fields of ethics and religion and deepens their understanding and applicability. It thus gives new impetus to research in both areas and actualises them, which is essential for scientific development. The aim is shaping of new resonant and resilience model of relational personalism. Thus the research continues the previous programme research while upgrading the model of relational personalism from two very current aspects. Non-resonant relationships are a fundamental factor in violence, and resonant relationships (characterised by empathy, compassion, love, mercy, dialogue) are the way to overcome it. The research on global justice is closely intertwined with the outlined aspects and will have a similar impact. In addition, a young researcher completes his research work (within the programme group) on the topic of (un)fairness and bias in the decision-making of artificial intelligence systems, while another deals with a similar topic (the problem of the human body in the context of modern technologies and cyborgisation). The field of anthropology and religious studies: The researchers apply contemporary religious theories of violence (Girard, Assmann, etc.) to concrete examples and thus interpret them while testing and improving the relevant theories and connecting them with contemporary theories of resonance and resilience and thus come to new original syntheses, which are applied and tested during the research. We live in a time of religious pluralism. Geopolitical reasons encourage us to study what unites religions. In our case, this is Abraham. His faith makes him, from the point of view of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, a figure being of foundational importance for monotheism. The United States has intervened in diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Arab states, which have signed the so-called Abraham Agreement. Even the current Pope, Francis, grounds his connecting of Christians and Muslims on the idea of their common foundations symbolised by Abraham. Therefore, research regarding Abraham is of great social importance, both locally and globally. Research on the intercultural relationship between the Christian East and the West has thus far not been systematically, methodologically appropriate, and theoretically supported in the Slovenian and Central European academic space. Therefore, it will provide new insights that can be used and upgraded by scientists of various profiles, especially theologians, historians, and literary critics. Research in religious studies is to be completed by two young researchers in the group (the first on Islam, the second on religion and violence). Theological field: Canon criminal law has a long history and constantly influences the formation of civil or national law and contributes greatly to the development of law in general. Research in the field of pastoral care (catechesis) is tested in concrete pastoral practice and, at the same time, knowledge is transferred. The same is true of resonance pedagogy and Christian integrative gestalt pedagogy. Psychological-therapeutic field: Research of interpersonal and collective models of reconciliation, vulnerability, positivity, and forgiveness.
Significance for the country
The results of the research programme are relevant for the wider society, economy, health service and culture. The programme consists of research in several particular fields. Philosophical field: The topics of relational personalism, resilience, resonance, global justice, ethics of modern technologies, and violence are especially important. The research on resilience and resonance gives economically relevant results, as a successful economy is closely linked to appropriate relations, for the development of a green economy, which can only be resonant and in relation of stewardship to environment, for the developing of a resonant economy, which goes beyond a mere appropriative and instrumentalist approach. The latter is manifested in increasing social acceleration and (its) negative effects (ecology, crisis of democracy, etc.). The research develops the foundations for the formation of a humane, social, and solidarity economy and contributes to the field of health care, as the consequences of social acceleration and non-resonant relationships are already very burning there (depression, burnout, etc.). Its results are useful for increasing resilience at both the individual and social levels and for areas of culture and the arts that are at the core of resonant activity. Non-resonant relationships are a fundamental factor in violence, and the resonant ones ( characterised by empathy, compassion, love, mercy, dialogue) are the way to overcome it. Research on global justice is closely intertwined with the outlined aspects and will have a similar impact. Field of anthropology and religious studies: We live in a time of religious pluralism. Geopolitical reasons encourage us to study what unites religions. In our case, this is Abraham. His faith makes him, from the point of view of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, a figure being of foundational importance for monotheism. The United States has intervened in diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Arab states, which have signed the so-called Abraham Agreement. Even the current pope, grounds his connecting of Christians and Muslims on the idea of their common foundations symbolised by Abraham. Therefore, research regarding Abraham is of great social importance, both locally and globally. Also, the echo of research on the intercultural relationship between the Christian East and the West reaches the general public. Theological field: Canon criminal law influences the formation of civil or national law. Research in the field of pastoral care and catechesis is tested in concrete practice and, at the same time, knowledge is transferred. The target groups of research results in the field of pastoral care and catechesis, resonance pedagogy and Christian integrative gestalt pedagogy are the professional public, students, catechists, pastoral workers, and organisations that plan and implement catechetical activity. Resonance pedagogy and Christian integrative gestalt pedagogy aim at shaping personality with dialogical, solidarity and responsible attitude towards fellow human beings and nature. Psychological-therapeutic field: Research regarding interpersonal and collective models of reconciliation, vulnerability, positivity, and forgiveness contributes to individual and wider social awareness of the beneficial effects of focusing on the good and positive for an individual's mental and physical health. It contributes to strengthening cohesion, promoting forgiveness, and overcoming the harmful polarisation between extreme, moralistic, or neoliberal attitudes and views of interpersonal vulnerability. The development of new scientific knowledge in areas that have remained overlooked due to the long-term focus of research on negative and traumatic experiences contributes to the easier introduction of positive models of social interaction in the fields of education and therapeutical treatment.
