About the Journal

   Journal title  : SAMAWA: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama
   Initials  : SAMAWA
   Abbreviation  : SAMAWA J. Pendidik. Agama
   Frequency  : 2 issues per year
   DOI  : https://doi.org/10.55681/aspirasidigital by Crossref
   Online ISSN  : xxxx-xxxx
   Editor-in-Chief  : Ishep Tahta Maulana
   Publisher  : LPPM Institut Elkatarie
   Citation Analysis  : [Sinta] [Google Scholar]

SAMAWA: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama is a peer-reviewed, open-access international journal dedicated to publishing pioneering research at the profound intersection of religious studies, spiritual development, and educational pedagogy. Positioned as a premier scholarly forum, the journal serves religious educators, theologians, curriculum developers, institutional administrators, and sociologists of religion worldwide. SAMAWA prioritizes rigorous empirical classroom research, deep textual and theological analyses, and innovative instructional models that address the complexities of teaching religious values, moral ethics, and spiritual resilience in a modern, pluralistic society. By bridging foundational religious doctrines with contemporary educational sciences, the journal fosters a holistic understanding of how religious education can cultivate ethical character, religious moderation, and social harmony within diverse global communities.

Scope and Topics

The journal welcomes high-quality original research articles, critical literature reviews, and empirical action research that offer significant contributions to the following thematic areas:

  • Religious Pedagogy & Instructional Strategies: Innovative teaching methods for religious studies, experiential spiritual learning, active learning methodologies, and the integration of classical religious texts into modern classrooms.
  • Character Education & Moral Development: Ethical frameworks in education, holistic student development, the role of religious education in building anti-corruption mindsets, and psychological approaches to moral reasoning.
  • Religious Moderation & Interfaith Education: Pedagogy of peace and tolerance, cross-cultural understanding, strategies for mitigating religious extremism through education, and inclusive educational frameworks in pluralistic societies.
  • Curriculum Development & Evaluation: The alignment of religious curricula with national competency standards, evaluation mechanisms for affective and spiritual learning outcomes, and the modernization of traditional religious education systems (e.g., Madrasah, Pesantren, or theological seminaries).
  • Educational Technology in Religious Studies: The integration of digital media and e-learning architectures in religious instruction, virtual spiritual communities, and the impact of the internet on religious literacy and digital ethics.

Publication Frequency

To ensure rigorous editorial oversight, thorough peer review, and timely dissemination of critical educational and theological research, SAMAWA is published semi-annually (2 issues per year, typically scheduled for release in June and December). Special thematic issues focusing on urgent challenges in global religious moderation, digital disruptions in spiritual education, or localized institutional reforms may be commissioned by the Editorial Board.

Peer Review Process

SAMAWA enforces a strict double-blind peer review policy to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity, pedagogical validity, and theological objectivity.

  • Initial Desk Evaluation: Every submission undergoes a preliminary screening by the Editor-in-Chief or a relevant Subject Editor to assess thematic alignment, methodological soundness (qualitative, quantitative, or normative-theological), and structural compliance. Plagiarism screening via Turnitin/iThenticate is strictly executed at this stage, requiring a similarity index below the journal's maximum threshold.

  • Expert Peer Review: Manuscripts passing the desk evaluation are anonymized and assigned to at least two independent reviewers who are established academic experts or senior practitioners in the specific domain of religious education, theology, or learning sciences.

  • Editorial Decision: Based on the reviewers' recommendations, the Editorial Board renders one of four decisions: Acceptance, Revisions Required (Minor/Major), Resubmit for Review, or Rejection. The final decision rests entirely on the intellectual merit, educational rigor, and practical applicability of the work to religious pedagogical advancement.

Mission Statement: "The mission of SAMAWA is to deconstruct systemic barriers in spiritual learning and catalyze transformative, ethically grounded religious education within a rapidly changing, globalized world. Grounded in the philosophy that robust religious literacy, profound moral character, and a deep commitment to religious moderation are the absolute anchors for societal harmony and spiritual well-being, the journal aims to democratize advanced educational and theological knowledge by providing an unrestricted, high-impact platform for global scholarly dialogue. Through the promotion of diverse and rigorous methodological approaches—encompassing qualitative classroom ethnographies, normative textual analysis, and quantitative educational assessments—SAMAWA seeks to empower religious educators, inspire curriculum innovators, and shape progressive, evidence-based religious education policies worldwide."