Religion and Poverty

The biannual and peer-reviewed journal "Global Humanities - Studies in Histories, Cultures, and Societies" was initiated to discuss topics of a global and transnational range from an interdisciplinary perspective. It should provide a forum for likewise young and experienced scholars to present their recent research. The aim of the journal is to discuss historical, cultural, social, and economic topics from a wider and more global perspective and thus to underline the deeper meanings and reasons for global processes, which have become increasingly dominating in our world.§Nowadays religions are especially important for those who are living in countries of the formerly so-called 'Third World.' Consequently, there seems to be a close connection between religion and poverty, especially in the 21st century, when the hope for a better afterlife has become a driving force for the poor population of the world. However, what could be interpreted as a proof of the Marxist doctrine of religion as opium of the people, for sure deserves a more multi-perspectival approach, which would not just cover the recent years of human history, but past centuries as well as the different religions around the globe. Therefore the second issue of "Global Humanities" will trace the interrelationship between religion and poverty not only from a historical, but also from a religious perspective. The depiction of this interrelationship in literature and art will be addressed as well. Next to other topics, the issue will deal with Daoist popular practices of money burning, social interpretations of the Jewish bible, and the interrelationship between religious adherence and economic status in Muslim countries.