RelEx: Unveiling the Religious Views of Socially Excluded Groups Across Cultures

RelEx investigates how socially excluded people view and relate to religion on a cross-cultural scale using a new mixed-methods framework specifically developed for this purpose. Research is conducted in Ghana, Finland, India, and Peru. In each context, our empirical research focuses on the religious views of persons subjected to three particular forms of social exclusion related to:

For further information visit “about the project”. 

Funder information: RelEx is an ÅAU Centre of Excellence funded by the Åbo Akademi University Foundation during 2024–2028.

RELEX conducts empirical research among incarcerated people in a number of both male and female low and medium-security prisons in each country included.

RELEX focuses on four ethnic minorities and/or indigenous groups that are each associated with particular forms of religion and that each face several types of context-dependent social exclusion. These groups are the Sámi, the Fulani, the Awajún, and the Santal.

LGBTQI+ communities have historically experienced several forms of social exclusion and discrimination. While the situation nowadays differs notably from one cultural context to another, the social exclusion of LGBTQI+ persons has often been justified on religious grounds, as sexual and gender non-conformity have been deemed incompatible with religious mores. Attitudes towards LGBTQI+ persons vary decisively between Finland, Ghana, India, and Peru. While a fair amount of research exists on LGBTQI+ and religion in Western contexts, less is known about the situation in most other parts of the world and research combining and comparing several contexts is rare.

RelEx Kick-off Workshop: 14–16 June in Turku

RelEx held a three-day workshop on developing our research instruments at the Åbo Akademi University Arken Campus in Turku from 14 to 16 June, 2024.

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RelEx Core Team and Experts Collaborate in a 3-Day Workshop in Turku

10.7.2024

RelEx Core Team and Experts Collaborate in a 3-Day Workshop in Turku Turku, Finland – June 2024 – In a collaborative effort to refine and enhance its research instruments, the RelEx core team hosted a productive three-day workshop from June 14-16 in Turku, Finland. This event brought together members of the RelEx core team and…