Editor's Foreword

With its eighth edition, IJIIS has now increased its visibility across the world. The Editor currently receives much more diverse articles from scholars, researchers and artists from various regions of the world. Entering this phase, the Editorial Team of IJIIS hopes to continuously improve its service to authors and contributors, who are interested in contributing to the debate and discourse on interreligious and intercultural studies.
Some of the articles in this edition were derived from our 8th International Conference on Interreligious and Intercultural Studies (ICIIS), which was held in February 2022 entitled “Gender, Intersectionality and Diasporic Communities”. The Conference was well attended by powerful women scholars, artists and those in the position of powers. The Conference was graced by the virtual attendance of the Indonesian Presidential Special Adviser, former Ambassador and Deputy District Head from East Java.
In this edition, IJIIS presents 10 highly interesting articles on various issues from diverse contexts. The first article is on “superstitions” in the African society. The article, which attempts to explain and interpret various long-held superstitions, was submitted by Joseph Mutei of St. Paul’s University in Kenya. The second article, from Nestor T. Castro of the University of Philippines at Diliman, examines the Catholic responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. Judith Schlehe of Freiburg University in Germany looks at “cosmological visions” and how they affect “multispecies practices and planetary health” during the pandemic.
From Indonesia, I Wayan Suka Yasa et. al. discusses the discourse of “immunity maintenance” in the Hindu Balinese tradition. The next article by Sri Sunarti Purwaningsih et. al. focuses on how the “urban informal sector workers” navigate through social networks throughout the pandemic. Meanwhile, Vanesia Amelia Sebayang et. al. examines Erpangkir Ku Lau ritual in North Sumatra as “a medium for self-cleaning to maintain the sanctity of the body and spirit of a human being”. Cokorda Gde Bayu Putra et. al. wrote about the “value of Pancasila” and how it is practised in financial accountability using phenomenological approach. The next article, which was presented by Wening Udasmoro et. al. during the 8th ICIIS, explains the “gendered literary narratives” among Javanese diaspora in New Caledonia. The last article, written by R Budidarmo Pramudji Kuntjoro Jakti, examines the ASEAN Youth Interfaith Camp (AYIC) and how it promotes religious harmony and paves the way for an inclusive region.
As always, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Editorial Team for their remarkable work and dedication. I hope that IJIIS will continue to improve, and contribute further for peace and sustainability.[]

Dicky Sofjan
Editor in Chief