Sungsoo Hong

The Paradox of Social Debordering A Spatial-Theoretical Foundation for the Theory and Practice of Religious Education

Dr. Sungsoo Hong

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Personal Information:

Dr. Sungsoo Hong

Fürstengraben 6, 07743 Jena

Room 306

Telephone: +49 3641 9-42773

sungsoo.hong@uni-jena.de

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Research interests related to Diaspora:

  • Global religions in a local context
  • Negotiation of spatial regulations
  • Delimitation and new demarcation

Working title of the habilitation project: The Paradox of Social Debordering A Spatial-Theoretical Foundation for the Theory and Practice of Religious Education

Abstract:

This research project is based on the perception of societal and lived-world transformation processes that have been dynamicized over the last few decades by globalization, increased mobility, migration movements, and digitalization, among other things. Accordingly, newer sociological and cultural studies approaches have given more attention to spatial aspects. These spatial aspects allow for a more precise grasp of new constellations and the resulting paradoxes, which are characterized above all by the "simultaneity of the unequal." This brings the relationship between de-bordering and bordering, majority and minority, center and periphery, as well as belonging and non-belonging, to the fore as important research aspects.

The planned research project will attempt to examine new constellations and the resulting paradoxes more closely as a challenge for religious education. Using (1) sociological spatial theory and (2) cultural studies considerations on the concept of space, these new constellations can be analytically clarified more precisely. In terms of educational theory, the school and religious education can be defined as special spaces (3) that are at the intersection of society and the individual's lived world. This is followed by a pedagogical (4) and theological-religious education (5) discussion of the new spatial arrangements and the resulting paradoxes. The planned research project thus aims to view the current societal and lived-world changes and the accompanying (religious) educational processes from a spatial perspective. In addition, the underlying spatial aspects themselves should be critically reflected on from a theological perspective.

Keywords: 

Theory of space, globalization, religion, paradox, religious education

Project duration:

 12/2021 – 12/2024

Publications:

  • Hong, Sungsoo (2025): Verräumlichung des Rassismus – Rassifizierung des Raumes. Raumtheoretische, theologische und religionspädagogische Überlegungen zur Verflechtung von Raum und Rassismus, in: Österreiches Religionspädagogisches Forum 33/1, 98–111. DOI: 10.25364/10.33:2025.1.6. 
  • Al-Janabi / Hong, Sungsoo / Sandkühler, Franziska (2025): Kultur- und religionssensible Bildung in der postmigrantischen Gesellschaft, in: Religion und Kommunikation in Bildung und Gesellschaft, Bd. V. (im Erscheinen).
  • Hong, Sungsoo (2024): Kulturtransfer und Translation. Impulse der  Kultursemiotik von Jurij M. Lotman für interkulturelle und  interreligiöse Bildungsprozesse, in: Anusiewicz-Baer, Sandra / Hild, Christian / Mohammed, Abualwafa (Hrsg.), Religiöse Bildung im Transfer –  Vermittlung zwischen Religionen, Sprachen und Kulturen, Stuttgart, S.  99–113.
  • Hong, Sungsoo (2023): Heterogenität und Inklusion. Eine Metastudie zu komplexen Diskursfeldern in der Erziehungswissenschaft und der  Religionspädagogik. Leipzig.
  • Hong, Sungsoo (2021): 다양성과 통합에 관한 독일의 교육담론 고찰 (research on the German educational discourse on heterogeneity and inclusion, in: 교육의 이론과 실제 (Theory and Practice of Education), No. 2, 6), pp. 97-121.
  • Hong, Sungsoo (2020): Heterogeneity, inclusion and education - pedagogical and religious pedagogical comments on the three key concepts in the current discourse on inclusion, in: Theo-Web. Journal for religious education vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 399-412. https://doi.org/10.23770/tw0141External link