Founded in 2011, the Religion in Society Research Network was established to examine the changing place of religion and spirituality in contemporary life. It investigates how belief systems and non-belief frameworks shape culture, ethics, identity, governance, and social cohesion—particularly in contexts marked by secularization, renewed pluralism, and shifting public roles for faith communities. Over time, the Network has become a forum for researchers, practitioners, and community leaders to explore how religion operates as a lived, cultural, and political force, and how diverse traditions coexist, intersect, and negotiate meaning in a globalized world.
The International Conference on Religion and Spirituality in Society is hosted each year in partnership with a leading academic institution. Historical hosts include Arizona State University, Tempe, USA (2013); University of California, Berkeley, USA (2015); Imperial College London, UK (2017); University of Granada, Spain (2019); University of Córdoba, Spain (2022); National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece (2023); Complutense University of Madrid, Spain (2024); and Sapienza University of Rome, Italy (2025). Each edition develops a Special Focus that addresses emerging debates on faith, secularism, coexistence, and religious change, welcoming contributions in both English and Spanish
The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society is a peer-reviewed, hybrid open access journal that examines the cultural, social, and political dimensions of religion and spirituality. Articles range from philosophical and theological reflection to ethnographic, sociological, and historical analysis, addressing topics such as interfaith dialogue, ritual practice, ethics, gender, education, political theology, and the relationship between tradition and modernity. All submissions undergo double-anonymous, rubric-guided peer review and receive constructive editorial feedback to support conceptual clarity and methodological rigor.
The Religion and Spirituality in Society Book Imprint publishes monographs and edited collections that extend inquiry into lived religion, comparative belief systems, civic life, and the cultural transformations of faith. Projects range from empirical case studies and conceptual analyses to thematic anthologies that document how religious ideas and practices shape—and are shaped by—social, political, and environmental contexts. The imprint welcomes broad and specialized topics, with open access pathways available to increase global reach and accessibility.
The Religion in Society Research Network’s Member Knowledge Community on CGScholar provides a year-round space for scholars and practitioners to share profiles, papers, fieldwork, and works-in-progress. Designed for collaborative knowledge-building, it offers a multimodal authoring environment and light, community-guided review to strengthen purpose and reader context before wider circulation. Conference presentations, journal submissions, and book projects connect within this integrated research ecosystem, supporting ongoing engagement across belief, practice, pluralism, secularism, and social change.
The Network’s leadership provides overall direction and stewardship—shaping priorities, supporting programs, and sustaining an inclusive, scholar-led community. Current Chair: Dr. Luis G. Roger-Castillo (University of Jaén and University of Granada, Spain), whose work explores religion, law, and ethics in contemporary plural societies.
Center of Byzantine, Modern Greek and Cypriot Studies, University of Granada, Spain
Partnerships extend the Network’s scholar-led mission—linking universities, institutes, and cultural organizations committed to advancing dialogue on religion and society. Collaborations have included:
Granada, Spain
Granada, Spain
Athens, Greece
Córdoba, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Rome, Italy
Lima, Perú