ECIREL. Between Science and Religion

The main objective of this research is to analyse the emergence, transmission and circulation of discourses and practices of reluctance and rejection of biomedical technologies and treatments, placing special emphasis on disentangling the role of religious and spiritual beliefs when such rejection occurs.

The importance of new religious subjectivities becomes especially visible in the field of science and biomedical technologies, since it is at the intersection of science and religion that moral visions, ethical regulations, politico-ideological constellations, views on gender and social imaginaries of the future are interwoven. Moreover, the accelerated transformation of the contemporary religious landscape, the fragmentation of meaning-making spaces, the growing mobilisation of religious identities in the public sphere, and the increased visibility of debates on biomedical technologies all underscore the relevance of this project.

Methodologically, the project proposes an innovative mixed-method approach combining big data analysis with a qualitative approach. In terms of scientific impact, the research aims to make a relevant theoretical contribution by bringing together three different disciplinary fields: the sociology of religion, the anthropology of health, and science and technology studies. The project will also have a methodological impact, as it is based on a highly innovative design. In terms of social impact, the research will foster a better understanding of the logics of action and reasoning of these groups, with the aim of improving science communication policies in this area.

Project details

The project Between Science and Religion. An Empirical Study to Understand the Role of Religious Beliefs in Opposition to Biomedical Technologies (ECIREL) is coordinated by Professor Dr. Maria del Mar Griera.

Project PID2020-120201GB-I00 funded by: