5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

This session aims to bring together works that address the activism of religious actors in the political sphere within democratic societies. The goal is to promote discussions about the impacts of religious individuals' participation in institutional political spaces, as well as their personal and denominational motivations. It is important to understand how democratic rules and secular principles intertwine with the strategies and movements of religious actors in secularized democratic societies. Topics for this session include, among others: 1) Political activism of religious actors; 2) Religious actions in parliaments, the executive, and/or the judiciary; 3) Support and/or rejection of religious leaders towards non-religious candidates; 4) Religious demands to elected governments; 5) Religious events and movements advocating for theological/doctrinal causes; 6) The relationship of religious actors with political parties; 7) Analysis of theological narratives (good vs. evil) transposed into institutional political spaces; 8) Religious actors' positions in political debates on gender issues.