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The project is part of a long-term research strategy developed by the consolidated research group HISTOREL From the University of La Laguna. The team's research over the past few years has had two main objectives. First, to bolster the theoretical and methodological framework for the study of religions, extensively developed in the project "Methodologies in the History of Religions." Second, to provide tools for studying religious diversity, and especially the visibility of religious minorities in Spain, and particularly in the Canary Islands. This work has been carried out thanks to various research projects and contracts funded by the Pluralism and Coexistence Foundation of Madrid (under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice). The research strategy has focused on using expert knowledge to reverse the centuries-old invisibility of religious diversity in Spain. Methodological reflection is a fundamental factor in this endeavor, one that could not receive the systematic attention it deserves in previous work. The team therefore demonstrates a proven capacity to achieve success in this proposal. This project seeks to delve specifically and systematically into the intersection of these two interests, starting from the need for methodological and theoretical reflection in order to provide appropriate and effective tools for the study of religious diversity (and in particular, religious minorities) in Spain. To this end, it proposes an approach that prioritizes reflection on the past, especially antiquity, over theoretical and methodological agendas focused exclusively on the present. Antiquity is characterized by areas of religious diversity and therefore offers valuable tools because research is conducted from a less biased perspective, making methodological neutrality easier to achieve. A combination of theoretical and practical research is proposed. The former would focus on reflecting on existing literature and analyzing the theoretical and methodological foundations for making religious diversity visible in Spain through the use of documentation and mapping techniques. The second phase would include a series of specific field studies focused on particularly significant topics, such as those related to new spiritualities, mindfulness, and other border territories that require great methodological precision and broad theoretical openness, and which serve as exemplary examples. The project aligns with the Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation and Horizon 2020, and clearly fits within challenge 6 ("social change and innovation"). The religious factor is an element that cannot be disregarded when seeking to improve our understanding of the current situation and thus adapt public policies to the diversity of beliefs, a key factor in today's globalized and multireligious societies. The study focused on theoretical and methodological reflection proposed in this project would also provide insights for addressing some of the uncertainties and vulnerabilities evident in challenge 8 ("security, protection, and defense").
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=»Abstract» tab_id=»abstract»][vc_column_text] This project is part of a long-term research strategy developed by the research group HISTOREL (http://historel.webs.ull.es) of the University of La Laguna. Two have been the main objectives of the researches promoted by the team over the last years: 1) the development of the methodological and theoretical foundations for the study of religions today (question extensively advanced in the project «»Methodologies in the history of religions»»), and 2) the development of empirical research focused specifically on religious diversity (and especially the visibility of religious minorities) in Spain (and particularly in the Canary Islands). This work has been developed in the context of various projects and research contracts funded by the Fundación Pluralismo y Convivencia (Madrid, agency linked to the Spanish Ministry of Justice). The research strategy of this research group focuses on trying to reverse the secular non-visibility of religious diversity in our country by means of expert knowledge. In order to achieve this aim, the methodological reflection is a key factor not properly developed in previous research, but that can be achieved by this project. The team has proven experience and solvency in research to succeed in such a proposal. This project tries to delve in a specific and systematic manner in the investigation of the intersection of both objectives: the need of serious theoretical and methodological reflection in order to provide adequate and effective instruments for the study of religious diversity (and in particular of religious minorities) in our country. This project proposes an inclusive approach, not exclusively focused on the present, but vindicating the interest of the historical perspective (and in particular the study of Hispanic Ancient religions). Antiquity, characterized by religious diversity, provides powerful methodological and theoretical tools for understanding this topic from a more decent perspective, applying a more neutral methodological stand. The project implies a combination of theoretical and practical research purposes: The first one focuses on reflection on previous bibliographic production and on the analysis of the theoretical and methodological bases on the conditions of visibility of religious diversity in Spain through the use of various documentation and mapping techniques. The second purpose includes specific empirical field work focused on particularly significant issues having to do with new spiritualities, mindfulness and other border territories that require highly accurate methodological and theoretical opening (as the study of multi-faith spaces). The project would be properly inserted in the Spanish Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation and in the European Horizon 2020 in challenge 6 (changes and social innovations). The religious factor is a key element that cannot be denied nor neglected in public policies in order to become adapted to the diversity of beliefs, a basic element in the present globalized and multi-religious societies. The study of the methodological and theoretical foundations proposed in this project would also offer elements to manage some of the uncertainties and vulnerabilities that are described in the challenge 8 (Secure Societies). [/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row]