Call for Papers: Call for Papers for Special Issue on “Mission and Freedom of Religion and Beliefs”

2024-06-12T18:28:08+02:00

There are multiple interrelations between Christian missions and religious freedom, both from a theological perspective, as well as from a human rights perspective. Organized Christian mission in its contemporary expressions is dependent in some way on freedom of religion or belief. Restrictions of this freedom, its violation, e.g. in the form of discrimination and persecution, might force a high price on the participation in the missio Dei both for the agents as well as for the recipients of this mission. Denial of access to countries or specific peoples to foreign Christian workers, prohibition and sanctions of inviting others to leave the majority religion or official world view, the outlawing of the Christian faith altogether or any of its particular expressions, prohibition of the importation, dissemination, acquisition or possession of the Bible or Christian media or its censure, the banning of manifestations of the Christian faith from the general public, – these are but some examples of obstacles in the way of Christian mission. Often those who respond in some positive way to Christian mission, risk all sorts of state or social sanctions and at times even their lives. These realities for missionaries and converts should be of no surprise, as Jesus clearly warned about the cost of discipleship when training and sending his disciples and the New Testament records are full of examples of this reality. This mirrors the fate of Old Testament prophets.

Furthermore, Christian mission as a servant of the missio Dei needs to respect the religious freedom of those whom it invites to follow Christ if it is to be true to its Master. Christian mission betrays its character if it were to violate religious freedom. This calls for a self-critical examination of attitudes, positions of power, and methods by the agents of mission, both in past and present. The ethical criteria would be similar as for the transmission of religion, which take place within the framework of the community of descent. In the course of the history of the church, at times some hybrid expressions of Christian mission have been conflated with the spread of political rule using all sorts of coercive means.

In addition, culturally insensitive or unwise forms of mission might provoke unnecessary social hostilities or state sanctions and ensuing violations of religious freedom. Finally, religious freedom requires religious mission in order to come into being and is permanently dependent on it. Religious mission contributes to the establishment of religious freedom by providing a faith alternative beyond that handed down from the community of ancestry or imposed by political hegemony. Without such an alternative, there would be no freedom, as there is no choice if there is but one option.

Possible articles could focus on, but are not limited to, the following fields or topics:

Ground rules for responsible mission
Diaconia-aid and mission
Ethics of/ in mission
Biblical foundations, norms or case studies
Christian mission in the light of Christian rationales for religious freedom
Historical case studies of violations of religious freedom in Christian mission
Examination of advocacy for religious freedom for the sake of Christian mission
The costs of mission in the face of adversity
Sensitive mission in contexts of limited religious freedom
Considering and integrating the cost of discipleship in Christian mission
Risk evaluation by those responsible for sending agents of mission into contexts of limited religious freedom
Mission, teaching, and manifestation of faith as foundational religious freedom rights contrary to common misrepresentations of Christian mission

Articles submitted to the IJRF should be 4000-6000 words and be submitted by June 30th, 2024. Authors should conform to the Guidelines for Authors found on the ijrf.org website. Acceptance is subject to peer review. Please submit your essay by following the instructions on our Submissions page.

The International Journal for Religious Freedom (IJRF): Announcements

Call for Papers: Call for Papers for Special Issue on “Mission and Freedom of Religion and Beliefs”