POMAJU - pedagogcial approaches to justice and environment from a perspective of religious education on Marajó

• Applicant: Dr. Stefan van der Hoek
• Subject Area: Protestant Theology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 562908970

Environment and social justice are central issues of the 21st century, as they affect the fundamental living conditions and rights of all people and are inseparably linked (Frank, 2013, p. 95). In light of climate change, environmental degradation, wars, pandemics, and the resulting scarcity of resources, social inequalities are worsening worldwide. Although the affected groups have often contributed the least to the causes, their perspectives on causal explanations and prospects for hope often go unheard. This also applies, particularly, to their views on God, theology, and eschatology—topics that significantly impact the identity of a religious community. The community pedagogical research project POMAJU investigates the complex interrelations between religion, environment, and social transformations in a geopolitically significant region described as the "gateway to the Amazon" (Campos, 1997, p. 105; Oesselmann & Oesselmann, 2008, p. 125). Marajó is the largest river island in the world and is proverbially isolated from the rest of the world due to its remote location and limited transport options. This isolation has shaped the cultural and religious practices of its population over centuries. The planned research project aims, through field research, to systematically document the local religious diversity and reveal interactions concerning perceptions of environment and social justice. Using praxeological approaches, including interviews, observations, and documentary analyses, the project will explore how communities and individuals respond to environmental changes, interpret them, adapt social practices, and engage with theological discourses—whether they adopt or reject them. The focus is on examining communities as spaces of social connection, interaction, and religious socialization within a context of growing environmental threats. The project aims to develop a deeper understanding of religious diversity and pedagogical practices and link these with community pedagogical approaches. The acronym "POMAJU" stands for the terms "Potyra," "Mara," and "Jupi," where "Potyra" roughly means "flower" and symbolically represents growth and education as well as the environment. "Mara" means community, and "Jupi" stands for light or knowledge. These terms originate from the language of the Tupinamba and together mean "environment and education for justice or community."

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: Brazil
• Hosts: Professor Dr. Douglas Rodrigues da Conceição; Professor Dr. Leif Grünwald