Focus and Scope

In general, Journal of Islamic Studies and Social Religion (JISSR) focuses on interdisciplinary studies that explore the intersection between Islamic thought and the dynamics of social reality. This journal is dedicated to publishing original research and conceptual analyses that examine how religious values are experienced, practiced, and negotiated by communities in their daily lives (lived religion). We emphasize a sociological approach to religion to understand various socio-religious phenomena, Muslim communities’ responses to the currents of modernization and cultural change, as well as the interaction of religion with the political landscape, public institutions, and cultural diversity. Through this analytical framework, Religomune positions Islam not merely as a normative textual doctrine, but as a living sociological entity that is in constant dialogue with the spirit of the times and has a tangible impact on the structure of human civilization.

This journal encompasses original research articles based on library and/or empirical research in the field of Islamic studies especially on, but not limited to, six main topics:

(1) Sociology of Islamic Societies
This sub-area empirically examines social phenomena, structures, and institutions within Muslim societies. Areas of focus: Patterns of social interaction, social stratification, the mobility of the Muslim middle class, and the role of social institutions (family, educational institutions, and economic institutions) in shaping the character of religious communities. Article Focus: Qualitative or quantitative research that dissects grassroots sociological realities, rather than merely normative studies.

(2) Religious Dynamics and Social Change
This sub-area highlights how religion adapts to, responds to, or even acts as a catalyst for social change. Research Focus: The impact of modernization, secularization, globalization, and digital transformation on religious authority, shifts in ritual forms, and the emergence of new socio-religious movements. Article Focus: Empirical studies on how Muslim communities respond to the disruptions of our time, including research on religious activism in virtual spaces.

(3) Contemporary Islamic Thought and Social Realities
This sub-area bridges conceptual/theoretical studies with their practical implementation in society. Research focus: Discourse on contextual interpretation, the renewal of Islamic law (maqashid al-sharia), and the response of Islamic thought to contemporary issues such as human rights, gender justice, and environmental ethics (ecotheology). Article Focus: Conceptual studies or critical literature reviews that demonstrate how a theological idea manifests or is contested within sociocultural realities.

(4) Intersection of Islam, Culture, and Local Wisdom
This sub-area explores the encounter and negotiation between the universal teachings of religion and the particularities of local traditions. Research Focus: Processes of acculturation, assimilation, syncretism, and vernacular religious practices (such as Nusantara Islam, Islam in Western diaspora communities, etc.). Article Focus: Ethnographic or religious anthropological research that captures everyday religious practices (lived religion) in various geographical and cultural contexts.

(5) Social Cohesion and Inter-religious Relations
This sub-area analyzes the interactions between Muslim communities and adherents of other religions or beliefs within a sociological framework. Research focus: Pluralism, interfaith dialogue, tolerance, resolution of religiously charged conflicts, and peacebuilding efforts within diverse societies. Article Focus: Studies that examine the dynamics of social harmony and tension, as well as models for conflict mitigation in areas prone to communal friction.

(6) Religion, Politics, and Public Policy
This sub-area examines the relationship between power, the state, and the influence of religion in the formulation of policies that impact the broader public. Research focus: The sociology of Islamic politics, identity politics, the role of religion-based pressure groups, discourses on citizenship, and the influence of religious values on state regulations. Article direction: A critical analysis of the reciprocal relationship between the authority of political institutions and the aspirations of religious communities in the public sphere.