On the Significance of Religion in Global Issues

“On the Significance of Religion in Global Issues. An Introduction” serves as the introductory volume of the Routledge series “Religion Matters – On the Significance of Religion in Global Issues” (eds. Christine Schliesser, Ayse S. Kadayifci-Orellana, Pauline Kollontai). Like the series “Religion Matters” itself, this introductory volume is prompted by the rising interest in the role of religion in the making of modern societies. This volume opens up a sequence of innovative inquiries into the impact of religion in current global challenges. The ambitious Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – agreed upon by the world community in 2015 – serve as the framework for this exploration. Questions to be discussed include: What role does religion play in poverty and poverty alleviation? How does religion inspire people in combatting gender inequality? What is religion’s role in fueling conflict and which resources can religion offer for peace and reconciliation?

Based on the conviction that not one single faith tradition or discipline can adequately address the complexity of current global issues, this volume unites the perspectives of different faith traditions and different disciplines. While the main author, Christine Schliesser, comes from the perspective of Christian ethics, various guest contributors bring in the voices of other religious traditions, cultural and geographic backgrounds, ranging from Buddhism and Islam to Indigenous Religions and Judaism as well as interfaith perspectives. Combining cutting-edge research with case studies and concrete implications for academics, policy makers and practitioners, this concise and easily accessible volume helps to build bridges between these different actors and their engagement in global issues.