Faith Communities Research Articles

The Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies (HTSP) project: improving family planning in Siaya County, Kenya.

Religious leaders are influential and can impact the uptake of family planning (FP). In this study of the Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies (HTSP) project, led in Siaya County, Kenya, from September 2017 to June 2019, we present findings from the project's evaluation, to determine changes in knowledge of the key HTSP messages; changes in the proportion of community members who correctly identify at least three methods of contraception; changes in knowledge of healthy child spacing; and changes in modern contraceptive prevalence rate. This is a two-staged (baseline and endline) cross-sectional study, designed to assess the knowledge, practice, and coverage of HTSP/FP services. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire adapted from the United States Agency for International Development. Focus group discussion participants included men, women, representatives of community groups, faith leaders, and community heath volunteers. Frequencies were calculated from the ODK platform. Bivariate analytics (paired t test) were performed. At baseline, women respondents aged 20-29 years constituted 66.3% of the women participants, dropping to 60.9% at endline. Women aged 30-34 years constituted 11.9% and 22% of the entire women respondents, at baseline and endline, respectively. Men aged 20-29 constituted 45.2% of all men respondents at baseline, and 35.4% at endline. There were statistically significant increases in the knowledge of modern contraceptives among women (p = 0.0342), faith leaders (p = 0.0464), and the entire population (p = 0.0097), from baseline to endline. The HTSP model identifies success factors for FP interventions in Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries where faith leaders and community stakeholders are influential, and that women and faith leaders are much more easily impacted positively with these efforts, as measured by increased knowledge and awareness of modern contraceptive methods, compared with men.

Challenges in Disseminating Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs in Faith Community Settings: What We Need to Include.

Effective dissemination of information about evidence-based programs (EBPs) is essential for promoting health equity. Faith-based and other community organizations have difficulty locating EBPs for implementation in their settings. A research team engaged in a systematic search to identify a menu of EBPs that could be offered to African American FBOs as part of a community-engaged implementation study. Methods. A four-stage process was developed to search for EBPs meeting seven inclusion criteria for dissemination in faith-based organizations (FBOs). Criteria included relevance to identified health disparity topics, endorsement on a federal website, free access to downloadable program materials, facilitator guidance, no requirements for health care providers, and culturally relevant materials for African American communities. Nineteen government websites were searched. Sixty-six potential EBPs were identified. Six EBPs met all inclusion criteria. The search for EBPs that met seven criteria for implementation in African American FBOs demonstrated challenges that have been described in the literature. Researchers encountered a lack of standardized terminology for identifying EBPs on federal websites, frequent requirement for health care providers or clinics and/or fees for training and materials. FBOs are supportive and safe places to offer EBPs to promote health, and EBPs need to be designed and disseminated to meet the needs and preferences of FBOs. Including members of FBOs and others in the community in EBP development, design, and dissemination, such as searchable health promotion EBP registries, can increase the likelihood that effective programs intended to address health disparities are readily accessible to FBOs for implementation.

Learning and performing Sanskrit as a sacred language: Children’s religious repertoires and syncretic practice in London

Aim: We investigate how children in the Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu/Saiva faith community in London learn and use Sanskrit alongside Tamil and/or English and other multimodal and embodied resources to communicate with the Divine. Methodology: The data were collected as part of a 3-year multi-sited collaborative team ethnography documenting how migrant children become literate in faith settings. Data and analysis: The data consist of participant observations across religious education classes, the Temple, and the home, and interviews with the key participant child, Chantia, her brother and the Chief priest at the Temple. The analysis focuses on instances in the data where sacred language learning and performance are thematised. In addition, we analyse a digital video recording of Chantia’s daily morning prayers using transvisuals. Findings: Learning Sanskrit consists of integrating a limited set of Sanskrit religious texts and practices, such as key religious concepts, mantras, and poetic verses in children’s evolving religious repertoire and is embedded in children’s everyday religious socialisation across contexts. Chantia unites and syncretises a range of conventionalised semiotic resources, including religious texts in Sanskrit to communicate with the Divine and personalise her act of worship. Conclusions: Children’s religious repertoires are learned, deployed, adapted, and expanded differently depending on the affordances of the socio-cultural context. Chantia’s meaning-making process is much more complex than the rigid categorisation of the different modal resources she deploys, forming an integrated system of communication. Originality: Our conceptualisation of Sanskrit sacred language learning is anchored on a multilingual and multimodal perspective that does not privilege Sanskrit over other (sacred) languages nor linguistic over non-linguistic resources. Significance: Our paper extends current critique of logocentric perspectives in applied and sociolinguistics to the examination of religious repertoires that are often driven by a communication hierarchy positioning sacred languages at the top and other aspects of communication as secondary.

“All were gaining knowledge from each other”: decolonial participatory research capacity-sharing for and by non-academics

ABSTRACT This article contributes to the emerging literature on decolonial research capacity-sharing (the process of strengthening individual/organisational capacity to shape research agendas, assess, design, produce, disseminate, and apply evidence). It provides a discussion of a participatory research capacity-sharing initiative led by Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI), which was aimed at practitioners, activists, and researchers, with valuable experience as professionals and activists but little to no prior research experience, from various parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. While existing literature (including publications on decolonial research capacity-sharing) often assumes that research capacity-sharing is led by and aimed at academics, our article reflects on the question of how decolonial research capacity-sharing can be implemented in interventions led by and aimed at non-academics. It therefore makes an important contribution to existing literature on research capacity-sharing, pointing to the important role practitioners, activists, and community members can play, especially in interventions informed by decolonial principles.

Volunteering in the Middle of Crisis and Politicization: The Role of Religiosity, Political Ideology, and Personal Experiences in Volunteerism Among Muslims and Christians During COVID-19

Religion is a strong social identity cue that creates in-group and out-group identity. Yet individuals can harbor multiple identities, and a political ideology is another significant identity marker. Similarly, personal experiences with disease also create another social identity where individuals may feel part of the same social group as individuals who have experienced a similar adverse event. How do these identities intersect in an individual’s willingness to volunteer for individuals from and outside their faith during a crisis event? We attempted to answer this question using an original sample of Muslims and Christians and their willingness to volunteer for COVID-19-related causes. We find that stronger religiosity increases volunteering toward individuals in their faith group (in-group). However, conservative beliefs reduce volunteering toward causes outside of an individual’s faith community (out-group). We find that COVID-19 diagnosis increases volunteering, but only when an individual or their family member is hospitalized.

Belonging, care, and support: findings from Ottawa’s healthy end of life project

ABSTRACT With a rapidly aging population, Canada has a growing need for public health palliative care services. End of life care, including palliative care, is holistic in nature, paying attention to the physical, psychological, social-cultural, and spiritual needs of the person who is dying and their networks of friends, family, and caregivers. Public health approaches to palliative care work to strengthen community capacities to provide care in tandem with medical and social services. This study reports on the findings of the Healthy End of Life Project (HELP Ottawa), a 4.5-year community-based research project, to demonstrate the importance of including faith communities in public health palliative care initiatives. Focusing on Christian faith communities, this article explores how faith communities can best build the capacity to offer, ask for, and accept support for members who are living with advanced illness, caregiving, or grieving.

Practical theology case study of transforming lives of the poor in the Amalinda Forest Community, East London

How can the problem of poverty be addressed by those concerned about the transformational development of the poor in South Africa? The church, as a community of faith and the bearer of the Christian witness cannot be left behind when responding to this question. This article reflects on a practical theological intervention where a church moved beyond its walls to help those in need. The active role played by the church in addressing this problem and the response of the community will be brought to light. However, this is a challenge that does not affect a local church only: research findings undergird the transformative engagement of the entire church community and calls for local social and political institutions to form a multipurpose partnership to deal with poverty in affected communities.

Amelioration of a liturgical ethos mindful of anamnesis and its convergence with environmental justice

This article deals with the problematic praxis of life in the Anthropocene amidst the urgent calls for environmental justice. Normally, people are confused and misled by this concept due to a political ringtone. However, the article argues that justice or righteousness should always be integral to a faith community’s outlook on life. Among numerous other ministry manifestations, liturgical praxeology offers unique opportunities to establish a deep-rooted liturgical ethos. Contemplation about the harmful effects of injustices on a meaningful life provides the opportunity to reconsider how liturgy can enhance or ameliorate a liturgical ethos grounded in moral principles. The concept of ethos touches on the persuasive or performative essence of liturgical enactment. If this is the case, surely a hunger for destruction, wars, and devastating acts that limit opportunities for a liveable life in the environment should be considered essential. The liturgical ethos must remind people to remember the precious memories of what should be done regarding righteousness (justice) and wardship. In laying the foundation for a deep-rooted ethos, responsibility takes centre stage. Faith communities, by emphasizing this sense of responsibility, can contribute towards a renewed hunger for justice and righteousness in their environments. The research question guiding this exploration is articulated as follows: How can liturgical ethos, with explicit reference to anamnesis and its convergence with the gravity of environmental justice, contribute to fostering responsibility for the environment among participants of the liturgy? This question is addressed through a qualitative literature study. Browning (1996:34), for example, is interested in practical wisdom’s (phronesis) purpose of understanding human action and defines a research activity as a process that starts with a description and then moves to the endeavour of systemization. Eventually, strategizing perspectives will offer liturgical perspectives on a liturgical ethos or praxeology that could promote moral responsibility among the liturgy participants.

From gadgets towards community

South Africa is a divided racially, religiously, economically, politically and digitally country. Gadgets become personal and humans gravitate towards them instead of towards each other where botho can be experienced. Technology has negative and positive impacts on the community. This article provides some practical steps from theological perspective for citizens to cross the digital divides. It is here recommended that botho be interpreted through communion ecclesiology lenses. To do this communion ecclesiology and botho will be elaborated, compared, and contrasted. Through the literature review and social media, these two tools are presented as a solution towards divided communities of faith. The findings are that the digital divides can be overcome through theological reflections, self-offering, and robust engagement with communities. The contribution made by this article is that communality cannot be bought. Becoming a spiritual community comes through self-denial and crossing the digital divides – being incarnationally present on the cutting edges of communities.

Using Claude Romano’s ‘evential phenomenology’ to reflect on moments of grace and hope during the pandemic

ABSTRACT Drawn from a wider study investigating the way people in Christian faith communities in Melbourne Australia experienced hope, grace and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper utilises Claude Romano’s notion of evential phenomenology to explore the lived experiences of three focus group participants in 2022. The phenomenological interpretation found that grace and hope were experienced as events, the significance of which were understood only after they had occurred. These events offered possibilities and opened up new worlds for these participants that provided grace, and which gave them hope for the future. Some tentative recommendations are offered in light of the interpretation.

Living in the Aftermath: Spiritual Struggles of Hong Kong Christian Women Survivors of Sexual Violence

Spiritual trauma is one of the common outcomes for Christian women trauma survivors together with other psychological challenges (McNulty & Wardle in Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 549–555, 1994; Rudolfsson & Tidefors in Pastoral Psychology, 64, 453–467, 2015; Yih in "Business as usual": Are Hong Kong faith communities supportive to Christian women with sexual harassment trauma? under review). Victims frequently experience much disappointment with the pastoral or congregational support they receive in the aftermath of their disclosure, which critically exacerbates their primary traumatic overwhelm and causes various faith-related challenges collectively known as spiritual struggle (Doyle in Sexual abuse in the Catholic clergy: A decade of crisis, 2002–2012 (pp. 171–182). Praegar, 2011). In this paper, I critically examine the spiritual aspect within the complex processes of Hong Kong Christian women survivors of sexual violence trauma recovering from the impacts caused by the responses of the victims’ faith communities using the qualitative research methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The paper contributes to the growing efforts to develop an integrated and holistic provision of theologically robust and trauma-informed pastoral care for those struggling on the complex and challenging journey in the aftermath of trauma caused by sexual violence.

The importance of time – surveying spiritual meaning and growth during the COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantine

ABSTRACT This study presents the results of two surveys based on the conceptual design and research framework as proposed by De Beer (2021). The empirical study analyses the data of the survey to determine factors that influenced people’s spiritual experiences during the 2020–2021 pandemic, in order to contribute to the identification of factors that influence people’s experience of spirituality in challenging times. A total of 227 adults, aged 18–81 from different countries participated in the study. The data were analysed and tested for predicting factors through the calculation and comparison of median values and an ordinal logistic regression. The study concludes with recommendations for spiritual workers, healthcare workers, faith communities, and religious leaders to assist people with their spiritual journey in times of crisis. The novel contribution of this study is that it made use of the opportunity provided by the COVID-19-pandemic to learn more about people’s spiritual experiences in unprecedented times as an important factor in people’s well-being.

Covid-19, Women’s Mental Health, and Religion in Zimbabwe: Insights from Christian Women and Clergymen in Masvingo, Zimbabwe

The study sought to find out intersections of Covid-19, women’s mental health, and religion in Masvingo District, Zimbabwe, during the first 35 days of the lockdown. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews from a purposefully selected sample of 15 Christian women and three clergymen in Masvingo District, Zimbabwe. Participation was voluntary and all participants gave their consent. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained by not identifying participants by their real names. Data were thematically analysed. Findings show that while Covid-19 negatively affected all people in terms of mental health and psychological well-being, the burden weighed heavily on women on account of their caregiving role in the public and private spheres as well as their domestic responsibilities. The study also revealed that Covid-19 and its management were associated with heightened levels of anxiety and depression. Religion gave women hope. A sense of closeness to God gave the women resilience amidst the pandemic. Religious messages and prayers for the sick and bereaved, though at some point hampered by movement restrictions and digital challenges, were helpful mechanisms of stress reduction. It is recommended that the government and other stakeholders including faith communities adopt a gendered approach to provide psychosocial support and enhance women’s coping capacity.

Dementia and the problem of loneliness: how faith communities can help

ABSTRACT Considerable recent research has focused on loneliness and its effects on mental and physical health at all ages. This paper addresses loneliness among people living with dementia and those who love and care for them. By adopting a new culture of congregational care and becoming “dementia friendly”, faith communities can help to overcome the dementia stigma that often results in loss of relationships and increases in loneliness. Examples of obstacles to such care are offered along with descriptions of model programs in dementia-friendly faith communities.

Adoptive Youth Ministry of Chap Clark. A Critical Appraisal from a Catholic Perspective

Based on the two fundamentals in Youth Ministry, namely the role of the youth in Youth Ministry as protagonists and subjects, as proposed in Christus Vivit, the apostolic exhortation on the Youth, a fresh thinking has been taking place in the Church. This study explores Youth Ministry based on the theology of Adoption propounded by Chap Clark, a Presbyterian Pastor from the United States, who has been in the field of Youth Ministry for the past 27 years. He proposes a Christian spirituality which is found in one’s belongingness to a community, which he terms as “Adoptive Youth Ministry.” The objective of Youth Ministry as adoption is for every child, every adolescent, and every young adult, to be so embraced by the community of faith that they are assured a home, a people, and a place where they can discover who they are and how they are able to contribute. It proposes a concrete step towards a process of integrating the youth in ecclesial life. A Catholic perspective on his method is an enrichment in the Church’s theology of Youth Ministry.

Religious Minority and Peaceful Coexistence: The Dynamics of the Ahmadiyya Community in Malang, Indonesia

The position of the Ahmadiyya is problematic since it claims to be a part of the Muslim community, but it is considered a deviant sect by the mainstream Sunni Muslims in Indonesia. There has been persecution and violence towards this minority. The violence towards the Ahmadiyya increased most notably after the issuance of a joint ministerial decree in 2008, which limits the activities and proselytization of the Ahmadiyya. Interestingly, although affected by the national and regional discourse on the Ahmadiyya, the Ahmadiyya community in Malang, East Java, still lives peacefully with other faith communities. By employing qualitative content analysis, the present study examines the dynamics of the Ahmadiyya as a religious minority in the context of a plural society in Malang, East Java. More specifically, it investigates two main research problems, namely the Ahmadiyya community’s agency in response to the limitation of their activities and the socio-political and socio-religious factors relatively supporting peaceful life of the Ahmadiyya community. This study reveals a distinct picture that stays in contrast to the majority of Ahmadiyya communities in Indonesia, which is often associated with discrimination and persecution.

Linguistic and Contextual Analysis of Fasting in Surah al-Baqarah: A Jewish-Christian Heritage in 7th Century Arabia

This research examines the Islamic obligation of fasting during the month of Ramadan as outlined in the Quran (Q 2:183-5). The author argues that many Islamic scholars have underestimated the importance and significance of this religious duty, instead focusing on the allowances and exemptions provided in the Quranic verses. Through a semantic analysis of the language and structure of Q 2:183-5, the paper contends that the Quran emphasizes fasting as a crucial act of worship that should not be taken lightly. The conditional sentence structure in the verses is interpreted as a rhetorical device to highlight the benefits of fasting, rather than merely providing relief or exceptions. Furthermore, the paper argues that the Quranic mandate for fasting was not novel, as it built upon pre-existing fasting traditions among earlier faith communities like Judaism, Christianity, and even ancient Greek and Buddhist practices. This suggests that the first recipients of the Quran would have understood fasting as a serious religious obligation. In conclusion, the research challenges the common scholarly view that the Quran provides extensive leniency regarding the Ramadan fast. Instead, it posits that the Quranic approach emphasizes the importance and wisdom behind this act of devotion, which Muslims should not underestimate or treat too lightly.

New Threats to Sacred Sites and Religious Property

Abstract Over the last 40 years, Native American faith communities have struggled to protect their sacred sites using religious liberty law. Because Native American religious claimants lack an explicit ownership interest in their sacred sites, courts can—and do, consistently—decide in favour of the government as landowner, regardless of anticipated or actual burdens on Indians’ free exercise of religion. In cases involving religious property, competing notions of ownership can enable, or inhibit, religious practice. New threats to Native American sacred sites often follow valuable natural resources that lie above, below, and around tribes’ ancestral lands. Even where faith communities own their sacred sites, religious liberty protections may prove limited. Courts often make judgments about religious property based on their own determinations of what counts as ‘essential’ for faith communities’ free exercise of religion. How legal institutions comprehend religion when evaluating property claims brought by faith communities will often dictate whether, and how extensively, religious liberty protects religious property. Such judicial theologizing can further threaten sacred sites.

PELAKSANAAN KULTUM DALAM PENINGKATAN PEMAHAMAN MAKNA SHOLAT TARAWIH PADA MASYARAKAT DI MASJID JAMI’ BULUREJO JOMBANG

Tarawih prayers are one of the worship services performed during the month of Ramadan, which is an important part of Muslim religious practice. A thorough understanding of the meaning and purpose behind performing tarawih prayers is critical for Muslim communities, particularly in the context of increasing spirituality and appreciation of religion. This research aims to explore the role of implementing kultum in increasing understanding of the meaning of Tarawih prayers at the Bulurejo Jami' Mosque, Jombang, as well as its impact on the community members who participate in this activity. The method used in carrying out this service may be interactive lectures and short discussions in the Tarawih prayer congregation. The results of this service show that the implementation of kultum has a very important role in increasing understanding of the meaning of Tarawih prayers among the people of the Bulurejo Jami' Mosque. Through Kultum, worshippers can explore the theological, historical, and practical aspects of Tarawih prayers in depth. In conclusion, the implementation of the cult at the Bulurejo Jami' Mosque had a positive impact on increasing understanding of the meaning of Tarawih prayers and strengthening the community's faith and spirituality. This research recommends enhancing the quality and frequency of cultural activities and broadening community participation to enhance understanding of religion and diversity

Faith Community Nursing: Impacting Community-Based Care.

Faith community nurses (FCNs) are well positioned to serve individuals needing community-based healthcare within local healthcare systems, large church denominations, or through the support and resources of nonprofit faith community nursing organizations. This article briefly outlines development of the specialty of faith community nursing and proposes areas of research needed to grow the impact of this nursing specialty. Examples of FCNs working in and collaborating with healthcare systems, educational institutions, and congregations illustrate the value and diversity of FCN services for impacting community-based care. An exhaustive list of national, denominational, and regional organizations supporting FCN practice is included.