Archives

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  PASR Journal

  Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025)

  The aim of creating a more equitable and compassionate world, where the worth of every individual is acknowledged and honored, and where the welfare of all is promoted through shared care and support, is the sacred mission for which humanity was formed. This journal explores several themes that represent a harmony and peaceful coexistence, embodying the vision of a society where everyone flourishes: human dignity, community, the common good, understanding, respect, love, Inclusive Disability Theology, and Liberation Theology.

  The writings on the Realignment of Values for Sustainable Progress and the theological perspectives of John Paul II and Jean Vanier highlight the significance of human dignity, community, and the collective good. They both challenge the notion of individualism and promote a more comprehensive and interconnected view of human welfare, whether in terms of social advancement or mental health.

  The following three articles focus on intercultural communication skills in a digital and globalized era, the evangelizing role of the Christian family, and Augustine’s idea of charity as a key component of unity within the Church. They stress the significance of comprehension, respect, and affection in engaging with diverse perspectives. Additionally, they underscore the importance of establishing connections and promoting harmony through communication and common values, whether in a global context, among family members, or within the Church community.

  The recent articles on “Inclusive Disability Theology: A Critical Analysis in the Context of the Vision of Synodality” and the “Cross Communion Paradigm: Reimagining Liberation Theology from the Perspective of the Catholic Church” both emphasize inclusion and the need to address marginalization within the Catholic Church. However, they approach the topics from distinct angles. The first article focuses on the experiences of individuals with disabilities, whereas the second looks at the larger notion of communion and participation, especially for those who have been historically marginalized. Both perspectives aim to redefine conventional theological interpretations and practices to promote greater welcome and justice.

  The shared theme among human dignity, community, the common good, understanding, respect, love, Inclusive Disability Theology, and Liberation Theology is a dedication to every person’s intrinsic value and well-being, alongside the advancement of justice and flourishing for everyone within a community. When these concepts are reflected in both the Church and society, they highlight the significance of relationships, social responsibility, and the acknowledgment of every individual’s worth, regardless of their background or differences, fostering a more inclusive Church and a more welcoming society.

  Dr. Venicris Alonsozana
  Editor-in-Chief

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  PASR Journal: Religion in the 21st Century: National Canopy Forum on Theory, Methods, and Research

  Vol. 2 No. 1 (2016)

  This issue published selected articles from the Religion in the 21st Century: National Canopy Forum on Theory, Methods, and Research

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  PASR Journal

  Vol. 4 No. 1 (2024)

  We live in a world that feels more unpredictable than ever—volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). For researchers like us, this reality is both daunting and exciting. It pushes us to go beyond our comfort zones and think deeper about how we understand the world, particularly in areas like religion and society, where traditions meet rapid change. The articles in this issue of the Philippine Association of the Sociology of Religion journal highlight the urgency of theorizing in these challenging times—not as an abstract exercise but as a way to truly make sense of the shifting landscape we all navigate.

  In this VUCA world, the pace of change can leave us feeling disoriented. Long-established beliefs and institutions are being questioned, and new forms of spirituality and secularism are emerging. The complex social realities we face today—whether due to political turmoil, economic struggles, or environmental crises—demand that we look at things from fresh perspectives. Theorizing, in this sense, helps us connect the dots. It allows us to question what we think we know and to uncover deeper truths about how religion and society are evolving. This journal aims to explore these complexities with a critical eye, offering frameworks that help make sense of the ever-shifting ground we stand on.

  But theorizing is not something we do alone in an academic bubble. It’s a conversation—a collaborative effort between scholars, practitioners, and communities. When we bring different perspectives together, especially from voices that have often been overlooked, we deepen our understanding and create more meaningful insights. In these turbulent times, it’s crucial that we engage with one another in ways that are honest, empathetic, and grounded in the lived experiences of people, especially those on the margins.

  As you read the articles in this issue, I encourage you to approach them not just as a scholar but as someone living in this complex world. The ideas and theories within are tools to help us better understand the challenges we face and to imagine new possibilities for our shared future. In a VUCA world, theorizing is more than an intellectual pursuit—it’s a way of making sense of the chaos and finding paths forward.

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  PASR Journal: Religion and the Formation of New Publics

  Vol. 1 No. 1 (2013)

  This journal publishes selected papers from the 2008 Mid-Term International Conference of the International Sociological Association (ISA) - Research Committee on Religion (RC 22).

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  PASR Journal

  Vol. 3 No. 1 (2023)

   It is with deep honor and gratitude that I write this foreword for the collection of papers presented at the Philippine Association for the Sociology of Religion (PASR) in collaboration with the Philippine Association for the Study of Culture, History, and Religion (PASCHR) with the theme Collective Memory: Exploring Through the Prism of Culture, History, and Religion held in Guimaras State University on October 20-22, 2022.

  The PASR conferences had always been a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. It provides a space for students, developing academics, and season scholars to interact, present, and to discuss current and pioneering works ranging from the anthropological, the historical, the political, the religious, and the sociological.

  This publication embodies the very core of PASR as scholars from various academic disciplines gathered to render an empirical audit and analysis of local and global phenomena.

  In Quo Vadis Philippines?: Forgetting Atrocities of the Martial Law and Problematic Historical Empathy, Dr. Maria Virginia G. Aguilar and Dr. Edwin F. Lineses suggest that the transmission and internalization of culture through pattern maintaining institutions allow people to construct their cultural memory. Cultural memory crystallizes shared experiences and aspirations providing the sense of identity and collective conscience.

  In Pro Tutela Fidei: Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres’ (SPC) Missionary Zeal during the American Colonization of the Philippines (1904-1946), Dr. Salvador M. Evardone faithfully details the impact of the Treaty of Paris on the three centuries of Hispanic Catholicism in the country. Dr. Evardone suggests that benevolent assimilation of the Philippines to the United States in 1898 led to the successes of Protestant missionaries and the Aglipayans as Filipinos started to deflect from the Catholic faith. As a response, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres took over the mission to protect and preserve Catholicism through evangelization, care of the sick, and Catholic ministry among the underprivileged.

  In Myanmar Historiography in the Pre-Colonial Period, Dr. Mo Mo Thant writes about the scientist as a social chronicler by exploring the transformation of the style of historiography in Myanmar. Dr. Thant proposes that in Myanmar, historiography starts with a prose chronicle called Rajavamsa also known as Yazawin (in Pali) or the Chronicles of Kings. This document explains and describes the continuous and chronological registers of events around the Myanmar kings in the 16th century. 

   In Decoding the Elementary Forms of Social Exchange in Philippine Politics, Dr. Frederick Iguban Rey, theorizes about the interplay of cost and reward as the basis of human interaction by testing the five propositions perceived by Homans in 1961 as the foundations of sociability. Contextualizing these propositions, Rey elaborates on the nature and structure of social exchanges in Philippine politics. These propositions were validated to generate a scientific blueprint of the dynamics of human interaction as participants strive to achieve a balance in the ecology of power relations.

  In Learning from the Navajo: Rethinking Religion for a Post-Colonial Era, Dr. James Spickard, speaks about the lingering presence of intellectual colonialism in the post-colonial era in the sociology of religion. Dr. Spickard proposes that dominant theories and concepts reflecting the European and American religious developments failed to capture the religious dynamics in other parts of the world. The paper suggests that it is critical to explore the importance of generating concepts from non-Euro-American religious spaces such as that of the Navajo and their concept of hózhǬ to accommodate unfamiliar insights and civilizations as sources of universal understanding.

  These coming together of scholars from different points of departure will furnish the academic community with excellent insights on the interconnectedness and interdependence of social institutions. I trust that this collection will stimulate further study and research in all these areas.

  We thank all authors and participants for their contributions.

   

  Frederick Iguban Rey, MSc, MA, PhD.

  Faculty-Researcher The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas (UST)