JREACT - Japan, Religious Education And Critical inTerculturalism. Approaches from the Study of Religions and Didactics.

ID Call: HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Sapienza's role in the project: Host Institution

Supervisor: Alessandro Saggioro

Fellow: Giovanni Lapis

Department: History, Anthropology, Religion, Arts and Performing Arts 

Project start date: September 15, 2025

Project end date: September 14, 2028

Abstract:

JREACT will develop innovative concepts and methods for the teaching of religions in the school context from the perspective of the secular and academic study of religions. For several years, scholars of religions in Europe have been researching on this topic, with the main aim of overcoming Euro- and Christian-centric biases. However, there have been few comparisons with the perspectives of non-European scholars. JREACT fills this gap by analysing how scholars of religions in Japan approach the topic of teaching religions at school. Given the combination of the different religious context, the long tradition of modern religious studies, and a lively (even political) debate on the topic, Japan is a promising case-study to analyse and compare with the European situation. This will make it possible to identify points of contact, unexplored issues and new insights to develop intercultural and self-critical religious education, responding to European policies of creating diverse, inclusive and democratic societies. JREACT will be conducted for 36 months at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” (supervisor Prof. Alessandro Saggioro). The exit phase will be carried out at the University of Tokyo (supervisor Prof. Satoko Fujiwara). JREACT also includes a 4-month secondment at Leibniz University in Hanover (supervisor Prof. Wanda Alberts).