About
About the Journal for Religion, Film and Media
JRFM is a peer-reviewed, open access, online publication. It offers a platform for scholarly research in the broad field of religion and media, with a particular interest in audio-visual and interactive forms of communication. It engages with the challenges arising from the dynamic development of media technologies and their interaction with religion in an interdisciplinary key. It is published twice a year, in May and November.
JRFM is edited by a network of international experts in film, media and religion with professional experience in interdisciplinary research, teaching and publishing, linking perspectives from the study of religion and theology, film, media, visual and cultural studies, and sociology. It is published in cooperation between different institutions in Europe and the USA, particularly the University of Graz, the University of Munich and Villanova University, in cooperation with the Schüren publishing house in Marburg.
Announcements
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2026-11-14
"Fandom" - New issue of JRFM is now available
Fandom is an extremely fascinating field of research that explores the relationships between the ordinary and the extraordinary and is also connected to the practices of collecting, sharing, and shaping identities and communities. The postbox toppers that are popular in the UK gather circles of fans, create communities, spark mysteries, and foster a sense of caring; but they also raise ethical and religious questions, such as: how can a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose become tangible and experienceable. You want to know more? Read the new issue of JRFM on Fandom!
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2026-10-29
(half) Downtime between October 21st and 29th: SORRY!
TO ALL WHO EXPERIENCED TROUBLE ACCESSING JRFM in the last days ...:
We sincerely apologize for the downtime of our main server at www.jrfm.eu. Unfortunately, the php2shell vulnerability has hit us as well as thousands of other web services, and the IT department of our hosting university was pretty busy for a week to reestablish a trusted and safe environment. Good news: data integrity and accessibility are full restored now and we look forward publishing the next issue as planned on November 15th!
On behalf of the editorial team, Christian Wessely, tech contact
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2026-09-11
Call for Papers. Religion - Media - Crime
Discourses surrounding crime, punishment and justice are closely entangled with religious ideas and narratives while media function not only as echo chambers but are akin to co-authors of these discourses. Many religious traditions have spent great effort in painting mental and real images of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, and developing underlying ethical frameworks with their notions of good and evil. Furthermore, they have also provided concepts and language used in broader social or political discourses to understand crime or legitimize its punishment. The upcoming issue on “Religion – Media – Crime” aims to bring debates about religion, crime (and related notions like justice, innocence, good/evil), and the visual/communicative aspect together. Its focus is the exploration of the intersection – and sometimes perhaps even clash – of religion, media, and crime.
Volume 12, No. 2Fandom
Issue description
Fandom drives social and economic processes: many buy into the life of social media influencers, idolize professional athletes, actors, musicians, or wear fancy dress to go to events such as Comic-Cons. But fandom is also part and parcel of the mundaneness of everyday life: th ... See the full issue