Considering the growing interest in the theoretical-methodological debate in the Study of Religion in Brazil, the defenses of theses and publications in journals, the emergence of new names promoting the discussion, the changing profile of academic productions on the subject, the political and academic movements in favor of the autonomy of the discipline in Brazil, The aim of the Dossier Theory and Method in the Study of Religion of the journal Interações (2025) is to bring together articles that provide a balance and overview of research dedicated to revisiting, evaluating and proposing reflections on the theoretical-methodological profile of the Study of Religion. Articles will be accepted that discuss new approaches to the study of religion, the interaction between theories and methods of the Humanities and Social Sciences and the Study of Religion, discussions on methods and methodologies; the history of the Study of Religion in Brazil and internationally, debates on applied Science of Religion, disciplinarity and interdisciplinarity in the Study of Religion, and the interaction between epistemological theories and the Study of Religion.

A literatura científica tem abordado a dimensão espiritual/religiosa como importante fonte de recursos para enfrentamento de situações quando a saúde está ameaçada. Mas a espiritualidade é mais do que “recurso de coping” (enfrentamento) em situações de estresse. A espiritualidade diz respeito à dimensão do sentido e propósito da existência. Tem a ver com a conexão que uma pessoa desenvolve consigo própria, com outrem, com o ambiente mais amplo, incluindo a natureza e/ou mesmo uma transcendência. No Brasil, a maioria das pesquisas sobre esta temática destaca aspectos positivos da relação entre espiritualidade, religiosidade e saúde, e, reiteradamente, sublinha a importância de oferta de cuidado espiritual às pessoas enfermas.  No entanto, são escassos os estudos que:

1. a) discutem o conceito de cuidado espiritual;


2. b) apresentam formas, cientificamente embasadas, de identificação das necessidades espirituais;


3. c) oferecem propostas de cuidado espiritual culturalmente sensíveis e desvinculadas da noção tradicional de capelania religiosa-confessional;


4. d) investiguem os conflitos espirituais em sua potência de atuação como causa e efeito de problemas psicológicos;


5. e) investiguem a relação entre a própria espiritualidade de profissionais de Saúde e a qualidade e a forma do cuidado oferecido;


6. f) aprofundem e ao mesmo tempo ampliem as noções de espiritualidade utilizadas nos estudos;


7. g) investiguem o florescimento humano em sua relação com amadurecimento emocional e saúde global;


8. h) explorem o conceito de compaixão e as práticas de cuidado compassivo em relação às tomadas de decisão em Saúde.

Dado o caráter essencialmente interdisciplinar deste campo de conhecimento, o presente Dossiê será constituído de artigos científicos originais, advindos de diferentes disciplinas e que tratem os temas acima listados, seja por meio de um enfoque conceitual, empírico, com referencial teórico-metodológico em abordagem qualitativa ou quantitativa. A finalidade é reunir artigos que apresentem estudos que contribuam para o avanço do conhecimento neste campo.

Our world has been experiencing significant changes in every field of knowledge. The highly sophisticated means of communication have promoted great impacts, particularly regarding access to up-to-date and relevant information.  
The need for constant improvement is undeniable, and the scientific media in particular could not cannot keep up to date.
It is for this reason that we are pleased to present in this number of INTERAÇÕES not only a range of relevant articles and communications for the area of Religious Studies and Theology, but also, aligned with this need for updating, to communicate that from this number on we are assuming the publication model called Ahead of print. This system comprises publishing articles as soon as they have been evaluated and approved by the reviewers, without the need to wait for all the articles of an issue to be approved, and only then launch an edition.
The editorial team of INTERAÇÕES wishes to all readers that the reflections proposed here will lead to good reflections, debates, and the advancement of academic work in the Religious Studies and Theology area. Enjoy your reading!

We are pleased to present to our readers the INTERAÇÕES special issue with the dossier Spiritism in Perspectives, which presents academic papers and book reviews by researchers from the field of religious studies on spiritism, its history, its trajectory of consolidation and its perspectives for development in Brazilian society.

This special dossier has been proposed by the Núcleo de Estudos de História do Espiritismo (NUESHE) under the coordination of Professor Adriana Gomes (PPGH-UNIVERSO) jointly with Rodrigo Farias de Sousa (UFRJ) and the Grupo de Pesquisa Políticas, Ideologias e Religiões coordinated as well by Adriana Gomes and by Angélica A. Silva de Almeida (IF-Sudeste de Minas), both registered at CNPq, who together with Marcelo Gulão Pimentel (COLÉGIO NAVAL) sign the editorial. The researchers seek to situate the main events that marked the trajectory of this new religion, starting in France up to Brazil, where they highlight: the raising of the turning tables phenomena yet in the United States and its migration to Europe; the studies carried out by Allan Kardec from his interaction with these phenomena; the organization and publication of this material that gave origin to its doctrinal framework; the conflicts experienced in several social segments; its arrival in Brazil yet in the XIX century; its organization, development and the reactions in society.

INTERAÇÕES is very pleased to present to its readers one more free theme publication, full of contributions to the area of Religion Studies and Theology. In this issue, the main themes are concerned with the ethno-racial debate; religion and education; ancient and contemporary Christianity and Eastern religious traditions. I hope you all have a good reading, full of learning and reflections!

INTERAÇÕES is very pleased to introduce to its readers another free thematic publication, marked by very important studies for the Religious Studies and Theology area. Aiming to embrace the diversity of ideas and analyses presented, the articles have been organized in three thematic blocks: (1) Philosophy of Religion; (2) Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue; and (3) Theology. Thus, we hope that everyone has a pleasant reading of the papers published in this volume.

We wish a good reading!

The INTERAÇÕES journal, a scientific journal edited by the Graduate Program in Religious Studies, of the Department of Religious Studies at PUC Minas, as an instrument of interdisciplinary debate in the field of religious studies, has consistently contributed to the publication of articles, debates, communications, and reviews.

In the previous editorial edition, we have discussed what would be the Sciences of Religion. In this issue, Professor Flavio Senra and Professor Tatiana Almeida give us an important reflection on interdisciplinarity and disciplinarity in Religious Studies. We invite readers to read the text with the question: what is our starting point in Religious Studies? INTERAÇÕES brings in this issue ten important articles with valuable contributions and two important interviews.

We wish to the readers of INTERAÇÕES that these publications may instigate good analyses, and thus stimulate the advancement of academic research in the area of Religious Studies and Theology. Have a good reading!

The year 2020 will be remembered in history as a year of great challenges, mainly for the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, which in addition to all the problems faced, was the bearer of great reflections for humanity. Everything was done from the imposition of social distance. In this sense, the name of our journal, interactions in portuguese, seems to make more sense than ever, since interactions have become essential, even if virtual.

In this new context, INTERAÇÕES brings to its readers, following the celebrations of its 15th anniversary, an issue with valuable contributions to our area, in spite of all the difficulties imposed. We wish INTERAÇÕES' readers that the papers in this issue provide good analysis, rich debates, and that they offer insights for the advancement of academic work in the area of Religious Studies and Theology. Enjoy your reading!

INTERAÇÕES is pleased to bring its fifteenth volume to its readers. We are proud of a road traveled with much dedication by a team that puts itself at the service of the Religious Studies and Theology area. In the year in which it celebrates 15 years since the foundation of the journal at the Universidade Católica de Uberlândia, under the responsibility of its first editor, Prof. Vani Terezinha de Rezende, and later incorporated to the set of periodicals of PUC Minas, under the responsibility of the Department of Religious Studies and its Graduate Program in Religious Studies, INTERAÇÕES carries out, from this volume, some important updates in its editorial process.

With this issue we consolidate the the OJS Platform, version 3.0 process of implementation, with the update of the metadata for the English and Portuguese languages in the last five years. This way INTERAÇÕES advances in its internationalization process, preparing itself to receive, from its area of expertise, works from the international academic community, especially the Latin American community.

In this issue INTERAÇÕES presents in the section Articles an outstanding set of contributions on theology and politics. In addition to articles on other themes, as well as Debates and Communications and other relevant texts for the area.

The editorial team wishes its readers that the reflections proposed here give rise to good reflections, debates and the advancement of academic works in the area of Religion and Theology.

After completing the deployment of the new OJS 3.0 Platform System on the PUC Minas Journal Portal, INTERAÇÕES has implemented some changes to its editorial policy and is working to expand its presence in international indexers.

In this issue we worked on three main thematic: religious publications, education, religion and dialogue and, finally, pastoral and mystical theology.

This issue begins with articles that address, from different perspectives of analysis, the influence of religious publications within their communities. After that INTERAÇÕES brings reflections about the role of religions and education in the processes aimed at establishing a culture of peace, dialogue, respect and tolerance, essential aspects defended by studies and practices related to the theme of pluralism and interreligious dialogue. And finally brings up some articles that address the religious practices, either in the field of pastoral, or in the mystical field or contemplative experience.

On behalf of the Editorial Board of INTERAÇÕES, we would like to thank you for reading and hoping that these articles will become a source for new research and on this direction, contribute to the consolidation of the area of ​​study in the disciplines of Religion Studies and Theology in our country.

Getting in touch with the theme Pentecostalism and politics, object of this issue, aims to show that in recent years Pentecostalism, came to occupy a prominent place in academic research. Here then, we are presenting important reflections about this reality through the papers sent by writers from different areas of research in religion studies field. We are thankful by the effort made by the authors and peer reviewers. This work has given us the great experience of interacting with several researchers on the theme of Pentecostalism and its relationship with politics.

In the papers presented here, the authors brought an expanded discussion about the reality of the Pentecostalism and politics themes, not only with quantitative data, but pondering, qualitatively, the conclusions related to the phenomenon. The scientific productions listed highlight provocative questions about Pentecostalism in its marginalized beginning, and, currently, considered as an increasingly dynamic, and complex reality full of determinations. which challenge us with increasingly daring demands within the public space.