Fundamental Beliefs Research Articles

The human eco-predicament: Overshoot and the population conundrum

The human enterprise is in overshoot, depleting essential ecosystems faster than they can regenerate and polluting the ecosphere beyond nature’s assimilative capacity. Overshoot is a meta-problem that is the cause of most symptoms of eco-crisis, including climate change, landscape degradation and biodiversity loss. The proximate driver of overshoot is excessive energy and material ‘throughput’ to serve the global economy. Both rising incomes (consumption) and population growth contribute to the growing human eco-footprint, but increasing throughput due to population growth is the larger factor at the margin. (Egregious and widening inequality is a separate socio-political problem.) Mainstream approaches to alleviating various symptoms of overshoot merely reinforce the status quo. This is counter-productive, as overshoot is ultimately a terminal condition. The continuity of civilisation will require a cooperative, planned contraction of both the material economy and human populations, beginning with a personal to civilisational transformation of the fundamental values, beliefs, assumptions and attitudes underpinning neoliberal/capitalist industrial society.

What are fundamentalist beliefs?

ABSTRACT Fundamentalist beliefs are often discussed in relation to extremist, radical, or fanaticist beliefs, or terrorist ideology, as well as in relation to terrorism, radicalization, and violent extremism. Besides, the notion is frequently defined and operationalized, for example in the field of psychology. Despite the frequent recurrence of the notion in the literature, no clear and agreed-upon definition exists. Elements and characteristics that are commonly thought of as constituting fundamentalist beliefs are intellectual vices such as closed-mindedness or dogmatism, certain group dynamics and affections, a high degree of certainty in holding these beliefs, and fundamentalist content. Drawing on, among other things, recent developments in (social) epistemology, these alleged elements are critically reviewed. Based on this review, we develop what we call the Content-Reaction-Affect account of fundamentalist belief. This account, it is argued, is not only accurate, precise, fair, and clear, but also theoretically and practically fruitful.

In Like Manner of “Amazing Grace”: A Christian’s Journey for Relationship and the Sound of Spirituality

I was 13 years old when I heard Judy Collins’ rendition of “Amazing Grace” over the radio. At that time, I thought it was an unusual song to be played over a rock station. Collins sang the first verse with a pure yet moving vocal quality unaccompanied until the second verse when an unpretentious-sounding choir joined her. I was immediately mesmerized by the sound, even though I did not understand the meaning of the text. However, after embracing Christianity, “Amazing Grace” has been a wonderful companion and master teacher throughout my journey. In this transcendent autoethnography, I answer the research question, “What does spirituality sound like?” by using “Amazing Grace”. I describe how this hymn played a role in my early Christian life when it caused me to consider biblical truth. Then, I explore the lessons I learned about biblical grace. From a music educator’s perspective, I discuss my fundamental belief that “spiritual music is relationship” and show how “Amazing Grace” is a model for the sound of spirituality. I conclude with the prose of seven biblical reflections on what spirituality sounds like—a sound that leads us to a profound relationship with God.

Deep Disagreement (Part 1): Theories of Deep Disagreement.

Some disagreements concern our most fundamental beliefs, principles, values, or worldviews, such as those about the existence of God, society and politics, or the trustworthiness of science. These are 'deep disagreements'. But what exactly are deep disagreements? This paper critically overviews theories of deep disagreement. It does three things. First, it explains the differences between deep and other kinds of disagreement, including peer, persistent, and widespread disagreement. Second, it critically overviews two mainstream theories of deep disagreement, the Wittgensteinian account and the Fundamental Epistemic Principle account, before introducing a Hybrid account. Finally, it explores the notion that deep disagreements can be deeper than others.

Wagar and Motley “Archaic” Vestiges: A Postmodernist Reading of Contemporary Somali Fiction

The advent of the modernist dream resulted in the universalisation of culture, which entails deliberate effort to abandon traditional ways of life that foster difference and instead embracing national cultures to bring different communities together. Colonialism in the Horn of Africa, for instance, brought different Cushitic communities under single political entities and most of them adopted Islam to find a common ground. Other communities in East Africa had to convert to Christianity to find a universal cultural bridge. This has resulted in the assumption that most African peoples are homogeneous given that past traditions that elevated difference have been eradicated by unifying factors such as modern states and conventional religions such as Islam and Christianity. A critical reading of some literary texts, however, demonstrates that such claims are partly unfounded because there exist aspects of pre-Islamic Somali religion along with the fundamental beliefs of Islam, which bolster difference. This article is a postmodernist reading of selected contemporary Somali fiction to investigate the influence of pre-Islamic Somali religion on contemporary Somali culture. Using the ideas of Jacques Derrida and Joseph Campbell, the study demonstrates the impact of myth and the ancient traditions on migration and contemporary culture in Nadifa Mohamed’s Black Mamba Boy and Nuruddin Farah’s Secrets.

Ethnotheology Studies Concerning the Substance of Folk Religion as Local Theology of the Tugutil Ethnic in Halmahera Towards Contextual Ministry

This article is an ethnotheological study of the substance of Folk Religion as Local Theology of the Tugutil Ethnic in Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province, Indonesia. This study examines and describes the elements of folk religion, namely beliefs about God, humans, sin and salvation as the fundamental beliefs of traditional societies with animism-dynamism patterns. The research was carried out using a qualitative method with an ethnographic approach. The results of this study show that the local theology of the Tugutil ethnicity regarding Jou Ma Dutu as God. He was the creator and owner of the universe; trichotomous human nature o roehe-o gikiri-o gurumini ; the human reality that is o baradoha ma nyawa which only causes the instability of the universe and disturbances to the ancestral spirits. Likewise, the concept of salvation they believe in is present and pragmatic, which does not give place to futuristic eternal life. The final result of this study shows that by examining deeply folk religion, the local theology was adopted by the Tugutil ethnic group. It becomes a consideration for implementing sociocultural approaches and contextual ministry, both spiritual and social ministry, for the Tugutil ethnic group as one of the isolated community groups in Indonesia.

Leadership First: The Art of Leading

Effective leadership begins with an understanding of self and the ability to look beyond oneself to see, project, and inspire others to grow. In this article, readers will reflect on their leadership practices and core fundamental beliefs of what it means to lead and how to produce great results in the people they lead effectively. Leadership is a continuous growth process, and leaders must be willing to engage and self-reflect daily to maximize the capacity of those around them.

Employee Perception of Organizational Culture’s and its Relative Influence on their Attitude and Behaviour

The cultural-dimensional attitude of employees towards organizational learning. The objective of the study is also to compare employee work experience, job changes and their perception of culture in order to enhance organizational learning readiness. This research expands inadequate research into the influence of organizational culture on employee perceptions of their workplaces. This emphases on the specific importance of employee answers to comprehensive, open-ended questions about their perceptions of cultural dimensions. The study sheds light on the cultural dimensions that employees report the most inspiration on their perceptions of corporate life. Research indicates that the social aspects of traditions, business practice and fundamental beliefs have shaped respondents ‘ attitudes of their organizations. 64 workers of the logistics company gathered the primary data. The connection between consistency, job shifts and awareness of the cultural aspect were discussed through enhancing organizational learning. In order to determine the important relationship between the working shifts and the experience of responsive, variable employees in enhanced organizational training, a comparison was created. For the evaluation of the theories, the questionnaires are analyzed. The research shows that the social aspects of beliefs, interpersonal practices and fundamental principles have shaped the viewpoint of the participants in the study limited to Bangalore in their organizations, and may not apply to other contrapositions.

Exploring Nurses’ and Nursing Students' Self- Efficacy and Mindsets in Caring for the Elderly in Canada.

Background. The elderly population is considered the most significant health care consumers, and caring for them is among the most challenging issue of public health and social care systems. Providing nursing students with the required skills and knowledge related to the senior population's care will promote their self-efficacy and mindsets. Aim. This study explores nurses' and nursing students' self-efficacy and mindsets in caring for the elderly, examines the nursing curriculum's contributions to nurses' self-efficacy and mindsets, and provides suggestions for reconfiguring the nursing curriculum for comprehensive geriatric nursing care. Methods. A mixed-method research design was utilized, and quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 90 nurses and nursing students through an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed via SPSS and NVivo 12 software programs. Results. The results revealed that most nurses had an above-average level of self-efficacy toward caring for geriatric patients. A statistically significant positive correlation between self-efficacy and nurses' attitudes, knowledge level, and years of experience was revealed. This study demonstrated the positive impact of the Canadian nursing curriculum on nurses' self-efficacy. Conclusion. The current study recommends following Bandura's self-efficacy theory's fundamental beliefs such as role modeling, verbal encouragement, and mastery experience to enhance the nursing curriculum by incorporating them into the teaching and learning strategies to improve nursing students' performance.

David Maurice Brink. 20 July 1930—8 March 2021

David Brink was one of the leading theoretical nuclear physicists of his generation. He made major contributions to the study of all aspects of nuclear physics, embracing nuclear structure, nuclear scattering and nuclear instability. His wide-ranging interests and interactions with theorists and experimentalists alike helped him in providing theoretical analysis and interpretations and suggesting experiments. He had the gift of visualizing complex problems in simple terms and provided clear analysis of the underlying processes. He was an expert on the use of semi-classical methods that provided an intuitively clear picture of complex phenomena. His research work and books are characterized by scientific clarity, transparency and depth. David possessed outstanding skills in mathematical computation, and he was an expert on special functions, group theory and the Feynman path integral method. David had many research students and collaborated with a large number of scientists from across the world, for whom he was a source of scientific and human inspiration and admiration. His most fundamental belief was that research was a means of trying to discover and understand the beauties of nature and explain them in simple terms to others. His absolute belief in the value of truth and his unselfish and generous attitude in sharing knowledge makes him an outstanding figure in contemporary nuclear physics.

Reflections on ethos and tenets of music in the Assemblies of God Uyo district, Akwa Ibom State

Music has always been an indispensable tool in any church setting. In Nigeria, the early missionaries appropriated music in liturgical services in form of hymn singing, chant and anthem as part of worship in the church. With continual apt growth of Christianity in Nigeria, Assemblies of God church evolved from the Pentecostal movement, with emphasis on the activity of the Holy Spirit and on holy living. Hence, contents and styles of music were made to suit the pattern and beliefs of Assemblies of God such as spirit motivated songs, evangelistic songs, mission songs and salvation songs other than the conventional hymns singing and anthems. This paper therefore attempts to highlight the distinctive traits of Assemblies of God, Uyo District, and its reflection on the music ministration. Also, it showcases the basics for music ministers (choristers and music directors) to include: musical background, spiritual life, social and leadership skills as fundamental principles, beliefs and moral conduct patterned by the beliefs of the church for quality service to God and humanity. Qualitative design and typical forms of data drawn from interviews, participant observations and relevant documents were applied in the study for data collection. The significance of this paper is to provide justifiable guidelines to every music minister to attain the required moral and music standard widely accepted and appreciated by God and man. With the findings, it recommends periodical re-orientation towards musical knowledge and spiritual relevance as regard to what Assemblies of God believe for effective music ministration

Character Education Based on Javanese Cultural Values in Madrasah Aliyah Al Islam Surakarta, MAN 2 Semarang, and Madrasah Aliyah Al Manshur Popongan

<p>This study aims to analyze the importance of character education based on Javanese cultural values and the implementation of character education construction based on Javanese cultural values. The objects of this research were Madrasah Aliyah Al Islam Surakarta, MAN 2 Semarang, and Madrasah Aliyah Al Manshur Popongan. In its implementation, qualitative research was used with phenomenological and naturalistic approaches. Data collection techniques were through observation, interviews, and documentation. The discussion in this article leads to the conclusion that Javanese culture is vital since it can be used as a medium and means of forming students' character, containing the fundamental beliefs and knowledge sources in harmony with Islamic teachings. The implementation process is through the construction of approaches, values, methods, media, strategies, and evaluations reflected in the 2013 curriculum and Central Java Regional Regulation Number 9 of 2012, which are integrated into every subject, extracurricular activities, school culture, habituation and exemplary, and school regulations.</p>

Review: Creating the Creation Museum: How Fundamentalist Beliefs Come to Life, by Kathleen C. Oberlin

Review: <i>Creating the Creation Museum: How Fundamentalist Beliefs Come to Life</i>, by Kathleen C. Oberlin

The Criminal Justice System’s Interventions toward Crime Victimization: Aims and Challenges

The crime victim frequently suffers psychological/emotional damages along with physical, financial, and social damages. Understanding the damages victims suffer is essential in complex victim care. Individuals, criminal justice institutions, and victim support organizations attending to a victim post-victimization must be mindful of these damages to assist better and avoid further emotional damage in the form of secondary victimization. We accept the Criminal Justice System (CJS) as a given solution to criminalizable situations in society. There are enough indicators that challenge its effectiveness and use. In fact, our belief in its function is not based on any facts. In this paper, we examine where we fundamentally went wrong in our concepts of the criminal justice system; from crime to punishment and rehabilitation of offenders, from victimization to justice, and victim support. Furthermore, the article identifies some of the challenges that professionals in CJS and victim support face, including a fundamental belief that “victims are revengeful”, professional language use, and scientific knowledge limitations.

Communicating with children about ‘everyday’ pain and injury: A Delphi study

Background‘Everyday’ pain experiences are potentially critical in shaping our beliefs and behaviours around injury and pain. Influenced by social, cultural and environmental contexts, they form the foundation of one's understanding of pain and injury that is taken into adulthood. How to best communicate to young children about their everyday pain experiences, in order to foster adaptive beliefs and behaviours, is unknown.MethodsIn this Delphi survey, we sought expert opinion on the key messages and strategies that parents/caregivers can consider when communicating with young children (aged 2–7 years) about ‘everyday’ pain that is most likely to promote recovery, resilience and adaptive pain behaviours. Eighteen experts participated including specialists in paediatric pain, trauma, child development and psychology; educators and parents. The survey included three rounds.ResultsResponse rate was over 88%. Two hundred fifty‐three items were raised; 187 reached ‘consensus’ (≥80% agreement amongst experts). Key messages that the experts agreed to be ‘very important’ were aligned with current evidence‐based understandings of pain and injury. Strategies to communicate messages included parent/caregiver role modelling, responses to child pain and discussion during and/or after a painful experience. Other key themes included promoting emotional development, empowering children to use active coping strategies and resilience building.ConclusionsThis diverse set of childhood, pain and parenting experts reached consensus on 187 items, yielding 12 key themes to consider when using everyday pain experiences to promote adaptive pain beliefs and behaviours in young children.SignificanceParents and caregivers likely play a critical role in the development of children's fundamental beliefs and behaviours surrounding pain and injury that are carried into adulthood. Everyday pain experiences provide key opportunities to promote positive pain‐related beliefs and behaviours. This Delphi survey identified key messages and strategies that caregivers can consider to optimize learning, encourage the development of adaptive pain behaviours and build resilience for future pain experiences.

‘Ted Cruz cucks again’

This article provides a multimodal semiotic analysis of the word cuck as used in online white supremacist spaces. A fundamental belief of the white supremacist ‘alt-right’ movement is an anti-Semitic narrative that positions Jewish people as a ‘global elite’ that seeks to oppress and eliminate white populations. Central to this belief is that Jewish people actively manipulate populations of colour, Black people in particular, to overtake white populations in a process known as ‘white genocide’ or ‘the great replacement’. Based on a digital ethnography of alt-right communities on Voat, Twitter and Reddit, this article demonstrates how the memeified word ‘cuck’, a pejorative term for ‘weak’ men on the US political right wing, draws from and reproduces this white nationalist conspiracy theory through allusions to interracial cuckold pornography. While disguised as innocuous, expressions like ‘cuck’ provide insight into how the alt-right weaponises misogynist and racist humour in its radicalisation efforts.

Developing spiritual revival and discipleship program to uplift the spiritual standards of Bamburi great news church members

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The study sought to develop a spiritual revival and discipleship program to uplift the spiritual standards of Bamburi Great News Church members. The study adopted a mixed method. Data was collected by means of random sampling. 10 people were interviewed on the topic. Among them were 2 youths, 3 elderly men, and 5 women. Questionnaires were also used to corroborate the findings of the interviews. Several members with email addresses were sent questionnaires, while others were given directly to the respondents on a particular Sabbath. There were 17 electronic respondents and 25 verbal respondents then; the rest were hard copy respondence Totalling 148 people. The result of this program is that it has proved successful and, if implemented, can benefit other churches that would like to grow and revive spiritually. It resulted in reaching out evangelism to neighbours and an increase in membership. They have a strong culture of Bible study, intercessory prayers, intermediation, and fasting. Members have been acquainted with the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and are now well established in the church and its mission. As a result, there is a deeper renewal of commitment to God. Intercessory prayers should be encouraged at all levels of the church’s activities. Additionally, Bible study should be encouraged at all program levels in the church. Also, there should be regular seminars held in the church to keep a reminder to believers of their weak points in faith.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

THE CONCEPT OF WAQF FROM WORLDVIEW THEORY: The Study of Sharia-Philosophy

This article describes the structure of the waqf concept from a worldview theory perspective. Worldview is simply a fundamental belief system concerning God, reality, man and truth, ethics, etc.; which serves as a guide for human life. A person's worldview will determine his behavior and actions. The next question is what kind of belief concept makes someone willing to do waqf? This article is a literature review that employs qualitative data with a philosophical approach. The data analysis method employs content analysis of data sources from the library. The result shows that the worldview analysis on waqf is a concept that was emerging from the Islamic worldview whose emergence was supported by various other fundamental concepts such as God, Prophets, Revelation, and Sharia (religion). It proves that the structure of the waqf concept is not as simple as handing over the property to Allah for the benefit of others. The peculiarity of such waqf concept seems impossible to be affirmed by the secular Western worldview, which is unable to affirm the concept of revelation, the Prophet, and religion. It also proves that the philosophical foundation of a waqf concept built on an Islamic worldview is very consistent, solid, and even has a broad spectrum that spans the worldly and the hereafter visions simultaneously.

Faith In God as The Source of Goodness And Religious Moderation In Indonesia: A Christian Moral Perspective

Goodness is the basis and goal of all moral actions. Therefore, ethics, be it theological or philosophical, must in some way explain specifically what goodness is and where one can find it. The Christian faith answers this by stating its fundamental belief that God is good. It says that the Christian belief in goodness is based on faith in God, placing each Christian at the heart of the relationship between faith and moral action. After confirming this fundamental Christian belief that God is the centre of all values, in this paper, we will draw out some implications of the relationship between faith as a personal and communal experience of God and the development of an attitude of religious moderation in a pluralistic Indonesian society. Thus, cultivating an attitude of religious moderation does not stop as an external rule but should go further as an ethical imperative for every Christian.

Kritik Metafisik Terhadap Kesemertaan Pemahaman atas yang Fisik

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Science, technology, that now tends to be materialistic, offers humans how to get a truth. It is ironic that such science, tends to reduce other factors that already exist in the world of human understanding. As a result, with all its ambitions, science tries to con- vince humans that some of its fundamental beliefs are a deception. But in fact science, technology has limitations in explaining the truth. This limitation is often closed tightly with opinions so that humans lead to dryness of understanding. There is an effort, more useful to view life or other basic understanding is more lively. &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;