Author & Reviewer Guidelines
Journal of Religious Studies

Presentation

Does the paper present a cohesive argument in the field of Religious Studies? Are the ideas, theological perspectives, cultural analyses, or philosophical reflections clearly communicated and relevant to the scholarly discourse on religion?

Writing

Does the title accurately reflect the manuscript’s content in religious studies? Is the writing concise, well-structured, and accessible to an academic readership across interdisciplinary contexts?

Length

Which portions of the manuscript should be expanded to strengthen the argument? Which sections could be removed, condensed, summarized, or integrated without losing clarity in discussing religious concepts, traditions, or theoretical frameworks?

Title

Is the title concise and precise, reflecting the main conclusion or contribution of the study? Avoid abbreviations and implicit terms; prefer clarity that situates the research within the study of religion.

Abstract

The abstract should include:

• Aim of the study (context within religious studies).
• Methodological approach (qualitative, comparative, historical, textual, or field-based).
• Key results or findings (insights into religion, spirituality, or interfaith contexts).
• Conclusion (implications for scholarship or practice).

Introduction

The introduction must clearly present:

• Background of the study.
• State of the art and previous research in Religious Studies to justify novelty.
• Gap analysis and clear statement of originality.
• Hypothesis or problem statement (optional).
• Proposed approach to address the issue.
• Specific aims or objectives of the research.

Method

The methodology should be transparent and replicable. Authors must describe:

• Research design (e.g., ethnography, textual analysis, comparative theology, survey, or historical study).
• Location, participants, and context (if applicable).
• Instruments or sources (texts, interviews, archival material, etc.).
• Data analysis methods and procedures.

Results and Discussion

Results must be well-structured, with tables or figures if necessary, and include:

• Processed and organized findings, not raw data.
• Relation of findings to the objectives stated in the introduction.
• Comparison with previous scholarship in Religious Studies, highlighting agreements or contrasts.
• Scientific and theological interpretation of each finding.
• Clear implications for religious scholarship and practice.
• Limitations of the study or methodological considerations.
• Suggestions for further research or broader exploration.

Conclusion

The conclusion must directly answer the research objectives, summarize the scholarly contribution, and may include implications or recommendations for further academic inquiry. Conclusions should be written in narrative form, not as bullet points.