Faith In God Research Articles

Aspects of life of the reuniting archbishop, Metropolitan Józef (Siemaszko)

This article covers little-known aspects of personality and activity of Metropolitan Józef (Siemaszko) of Lithuania and Vilna, which became an important factor of the successful reunion of Byelarussian and Ukrainian Uniates with Orthodox Christians in 1839 and their further confl ict-free integration into the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Józef was a unique person, who devoted his whole life to the revival of Orthodoxy in the Western Russian lands. In his everyday life, Metropolitan Józef was very simple and shunned the common entertainment of high society of that era. The money which he had, he spent on charity and help to his subordinates, which earned him their well-deserved respect. Metropolitan Józef’s distinctive features as a church leader were scrupulousness in matters, fairness to everyone around him, including those who hindered his activities because of their convictions, as well as insistence combined with sincere care for his subordinates. Metropolitan Józef’s authority was based on the fact that all those around him saw his unfeigned faith in God, which implied an unswerving adherence to the Truth, and which was accompanied by his high morality and personal modesty. Metropolitan Józef had no prejudice against Catholic clergy and Catholic high society in the Byelarussian–Lithuanian and Ukrainian lands. His patient and unspiteful attitude toward those who hated him was the evidence of his religious and moral strength. It convinced his subordinate priests of the spiritual justice of the renunciation of Unia, and encouraged them to follow their archpastor. Of particular importance to the success of the work of the Most Reverend Józef were his approaches to church administration and interactions with the authorities. He set a personal example and encouraged his subordinates’ successes, inspiring them. At the same time, Metropolitan Józef’s independent and fi rm attitude towards the authorities gave the reunited priests confi dence, that they could always fi nd justice and support, and that the attacks, slander and provocations, which they constantly experiences in the 1840–1850s, would be to no avail. This was largely the reason for their zealous fulfi llment of their duties as Orthodox clergy.

Acceptance and Preparedness to be COVID Warriors: Self Narratives of Frontline Nurses of a Tertiary Care Center.

AimAim of this study is to gain insight into how frontline nurses accepted and prepared themselves before COVID posting. Methods: It is a qualitative and phenomenological study design. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with the nurses who provided care to confirmed COVID 19 patients in a tertiary hospital of North India from September to November 2020. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) were followed in this study.ResultsIn this study, the reported experiences were divided into five main themes: (I) Getting ready to be at the frontlines (II) Family and peer support (III) I Can Handle it! (IV) I have to be Strong! (V) Training is key to confidence. The risk of infection, fear of being a source of infection to the family, the worry of staying away from family, uncertainty, and nervousness related to personal protective equipment were the most common thoughts that disturbed the participants. However, taking a good diet, practicing yoga and meditation, having a sense of serving their country and community, faith in God, family support, faith in the organization, and good training helped the participants to prepare for the COVID posting. Conclusion: Despite facing various challenges, the nurses showed great strength and resilience. To promote a resilient health system, supportive supervision and adequate administrative support, training and workshops, peer group support, counseling cells, and spiritual support may be considered.

Poorappattu Velambum Tamilar Panpadu

If there is a cultural repository of ancient Tamilians it is the Sangam period. They are becoming famous in all fields of political culture, art, trade, foreign relations etc. Although most of the Sangam literature speaksof love and braveness, it also highlights the generosity of the Tamilians and the high moral values necessary for the life of the people. Based on this, you can see the Tamil culture found in the late forties in this article.It shows brotherhood responses among the people of the world, maintaining personal virtue, happily welcome others with relationships, faith in god and pursuing careers for the betterment of whole life. It is a pity that humanism still supports the status of brotherhood in this world and their subsequent emergence as a galactic power.

Does armed conflict increase individuals’ religiosity as a means for coping with the adverse psychological effects of wars?

This study examines how armed conflict affects individuals' religious behaviors (e.g., praying) and beliefs. The direction of the effect is theoretically not clear: war exposure may strengthen individuals' religiosity. Alternatively, after war exposure, individuals may stop following religion, and decrease their faith in God. To assess the direction of this effect, this study examines individuals' religiosity before and after a war between Israel and a Lebanese terror organization in 2006. Using both longitudinal and cross-section datasets, I find that being exposed to war or residing in war-affected regions increases individuals' religious behaviors and beliefs. These results are more pronounced among lower-educated individuals and among those who were not religious prior to the violence. Exploring possible mechanisms, I show that individuals become more religious as a means for coping with the adverse psychological effects of the war. Placebo tests using the pre-war period and individuals’ views unrelated to war exposure strengthen my main findings.

‘It is God that Does Everything, Including Winning Football Trophies’: Exploring Thanksgiving Ceremonies by Liverpool F.C. Supporters Club in a Nigerian Town

This article explored a new approach to football fandom by Liverpool F.C. supporters club in Nsukka, Nigeria. Between 2019 and 2020, this group embarked on thanksgiving ceremonies to commemorate the successes of Liverpool F.C. within that period. The study adopted participant observation and oral interviews as methods of data collection. Findings show that the reason for the thanksgiving ceremonies by the group is anchored on a tenacious faith in God, who can do all things, including helping Liverpool F.C. win trophies. This finding brings to scholarly attention the much-neglected role the Christian faith plays in football fandom among young people in Nsukka, Nigeria.

THE CONCEPT OF SIN IN “SINS”, A SHORT NOVEL (‘POVEST’) BY I. N. POTAPENKO

The article discusses the concept of sin in Sins, a short novel (povest') by I. N. Potapenko in the context of the patristic teaching on sinful passions and virtues. According to the Church Fathers, sin is the cause of all human misfortunes and evil, and the origin of sorrow and death. Exploring the phenomenon of sin, the writer examines various types of human vices, trying to understand the sources of the origin of sin, ways to overcome it and the possibility of salvation in the world. The work is written in the form of an adult’s memories of childhood. Through the prism of children’s perception, the attitudes of different types of people to faith, awareness of their own sinfulness, the desire for repentance and salvation of the soul are revealed. The short story presents the main sinful passions (gluttony, fornication, avarice, anger, sadness, despondency, vanity, pride) and the main sources of sin (human self, egoism, pride). The work has an edifying character. The tragic fate of some characters is a clear example of the destructive effect of sins. There is a clear link between a vicious life and incurable diseases, death without repentance, suicide. Through preaching the gospel truths, I. N. Potapenko tried to convey the idea that despite the ubiquity of sin, it is possible to be saved in the world. This requires faith in God, repentance, humility, following the commandments, and leading a virtuous Christian life.

Standardization of Taqwa (Piety) Scale for Muslims: An Exploratory Study

Taqwa (piety) is a construct in Islamic psychology. It correlates with a large number of behavior such as sustainable capacity building, Islamic leadership, employees’ happiness, and workplace deviance. But the earlier studies have failed to capture the assessment of taqwa from the Qur'anic perspective. In the present study, an attempt is made to standardize a taqwa scale. In the first phase, a pool of 30 items was generated for each of the three domains of the construct (Faith in God, Love for God, and Fear of God), and subject matter experts judge the items’ content for the relevance, clarity, and simplicity on a 4 point Likert rating scale. Item content validity index and interrater reliability of each item were calculated. In the final version, 28 items remained content valid. A total of 229 Muslim students purposively drawn, completed the measure. The mean age of the participants was 22.66 (SD= 1.84). The Taqwa Scale consisted of twelve items with 6 point-Likert rating scale. Exploratory Factor Analysis yielded three factors, namely, faith in God (7 items), love for God (3 items), and fear of God (2 items). Content validity, inter-rater reliability, factorial validity, composite reliability, and construct validity provide strong evidence of the reliability and validity of the taqwa Scale.

A Study of Parental Stressors, Financial Issues as Stress Factor, and the Coping Strategies in the PICU.

To evaluate the stressors in parents of critically ill children admitted in PICU and the coping strategies used by them. Parents of children admitted to the PICU (at least 48h) were administered Modified PSS: PICU scale (total 8 subscales, 42 items) and coping questionnaire (8 questions). A total score (Modified PSS: PICU score) and subscales mean scores were used to describe the stressors. The questionnaire was verbally administered to either one of the parents, in English or Hindi. The responses were assessed and analyzed. Either of the parents (age 20 to 50 y, 29 mothers) of 102 children responded. The Modified Parental Stress Scale: PICU (PSS: PICU) score was 44 (± 11.2). Parental stress was related to severity of illness (p < 0.001). Procedures done on their child and the appearance of the child were most stressful. Fathers were more stressed about the procedures compared to mothers (p = 0.004). Middle-class parents were more stressed about financial issues compared to upper and lower socioeconomic class in response to the open-ended question. The most used coping strategies were "Trust in your God" (99%), "Communication with doctors and nurses" (97.1%), and "Sharing feelings with spouse" (94.1%). Mothers found sharing feelings with the spouse more helpful. Parents of critically ill children are very stressed. Middle-class parents should also be taken care of in financial aspects. More attention should be given to the parents of children with severe illness. Parents should be communicated frequently. Encouraging faith in God and good communication can be helpful.

A National Study of Adult Women Sexually Abused by Clergy: Insights for Social Workers.

Given the paucity of research on the experiences of women who are sexually abused by clergy as adults and the advent of the #ChurchToo movement in 2017, the results of a mixed-methods national study highlight the experiences of those who survived the abuse and report on what factors are most healing in their recovery. Internet-based surveys with both quantitative and qualitative items were completed by 159 respondents. Less than 10 percent reported receiving help and support from their congregation after they reported the abuse, and about half of the respondents were blamed for the abuse and ignored by people in their congregations. In spite of the poor responses from their churches, these respondents reported positive beliefs regarding their ability to recover and heal. Mental health counseling was listed as a primary mechanism for healing. Multiple regression was used to develop a model of resilience. Faith in God was the most salient predictor. Those who survived sexual abuse need social workers who can navigate the complex set of factors and issues at the intersection of religion/spirituality, mental health treatment, and policy advocacy, including the ability to see what has been helpful about religious experiences and what has not.

Abraham the Father of Faith (Gen 12-17) – Challenge to Christians in Nigeria

In Abraham, Israel's first Patriarch, God begins a new development in his plan of the creation and salvation of the world by specially choosing the people of Israel (Gen 12-50), after the general account of the creation and development of mankind from the beginning of the book of Genesis (Gen 1-11). Abraham stands out in his relationship with God and is thus, for those who believe in God and who acknowledge His self-revelation in the OT, the father of faith. Many Christians in Nigeria today suffer from the crisis of faith which often breeds lukewarmness and syncretism in their actual practice of it – and even outright rejection of the same faith in neo-paganism. The others who try to remain steadfast, are naturally distracted by the negative activities of these other brothers and sisters with whom they are supposed to be professing the same faith. This paper presents the steadfast legacy in the faith of Abraham, the proto-type of Jesus in the OT, as an enlivening challenge to all Christians, especially here in Nigeria. Abraham’s steadfast faith in God, in all the circumstances of his life, challenges the Nigerian Christians of today, as they face all sorts of difficulties in the practice of their faith. It also challenges the institutionalized Churches towards the provision of a sustained catechetical growth for all their members for a more active and vibrant Christian life in our dear country that is today menaced with many religious, social, economic and political problems. To arrive at its goal, this paper employs the exegetico-analytical method of enquiry. In the final analysis, apart from the pertinence of all the points raised in it, this work has the added importance of taking us to the very fertile roots of our faith in God in the person and life of Abraham, thereby helping to engender stronger conviction in the believing audience that would read it.

The use of religious and personal resources in coping with stress during COVID-19 for Palestinians.

The Palestinian community in Israel has experienced significant stressors historically, yet little research has assessed the strategies these individuals cope with stress. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to assess coping resources among Palestinian adults. The present study explored the religious and personal resources adopted by Palestinians living in Israel to cope with the stress caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, and whether differences in using these resources were attributed to selective demographic variables. The sample consisted of 985 Palestinian adults, 58% of whom are women and 42% are men. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 50 years old (M = 35.8, SD =14.48), and they were chosen using convenience sampling from the Palestinian community living in Israel. Participants completed self-report questionnaires to report on their personal resources for coping with stress. Palestinian adults who participated in this study tended to rely more on faith in God, optimism, social and family support, having the self-control and self-efficacy, as well as subjective well-being, as resources for coping caused by crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, there were significant differences on these coping resources that attributed to selective demographic variables. The findings were discussed with relation to previous studies.

Las imágenes de Dios presentes en los estudiantes de formación inicial docente

This article shares the results of the research that was carried out for the purpose of getting the master´s degree. In the study carried out, the images of god that young people were reconstructing and investigated, in order to try to understand what ideas were orienting their decisions in daily life. We worked with a sample of 18 students in the 4th year of initial teacher training at a pedagogical institute in Lima, to whom an interview guide and a focus group guide were applied. The research standpoint was qualitative and the ethnographic type. One of the most important conclusions that it was obtained were that the images of God presented by the students were constructed from beliefs stemming from significant experiences related to relatives and other people from less immediate contexts. In addition, it was also possible to identify that these images of god were not built on the received doctrinal teachings but based on life experiences that were significant to them. Being these images of god the ones that preva´s in his way of understanding, relating and living his faith in god, as well an in his ways of thinking, understading and acting in life.

Hubungan Antara Konsep Du’a Ngga’e Sebagai Realitas Tertinggi Suku Ende-Lio Dengan Iman Kristiani

This study aims to explain the concept of Du'a Ngga'e as the ultimate reality of the Ende-Lio tribe, Flores about the Christian faith. The Ende-Lio people believe that before the Catholic Church proclaims their faith in God, they have known and worshiped “Allah” as the ultimate reality with the name Du'a Ngga'e. The people of the Ende-Lio tribe believe in Du'a Ngga'e as the origin of all things and the source of human life so that they must be respected and worshiped in the hanga (sacred space). Therefore, the Catholic Church must continue to pay attention to the noble values of local culture by building an equal horizontal dialogue without discrediting one another. The methodology used in this study is a qualitative method by conducting in-depth interviews and literature studies on the two variables. This study found two important things, namely: (1) In the concept of Du'a Ngga'e, the Ende-Lio tribal community already contains the truths of Christian faith in God Almighty. (2) The consequence is that the Church must respect the local culture as an entry point in proclaiming the Christian faith.

Solidarity, Hope, and Wrestling with God: The Perspective of the Will for Life of the Jewish People in Modern Times as a Major Theme in Yehuda Bauer’s Historiography

ABSTRACT Yehuda Bauer is well known for his public leadership in Holocaust and genocide studies. This article, however, sheds light on another aspect of Bauer's historiography: most of his research studies—that is, those for which he dove into primary archival research and that are focused on more concrete historical topics, rather than general overviews, and have an extensive scholarly apparatus—deal with Jewish history only and, more precisely, with some very clear topics within it. They surround the Holocaust as an event but tackle a much deeper issue: the uniqueness of the Jewish people as a historical phenomenon, explored through the prism of the Shoah. Six clusters of studies, which are inter-related and often intertwine and overlap, can be discerned in this oeuvre: (1) his studies on the Brichah movement; (2) his trilogy on the history of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; (3) his ongoing polemic regarding the American Jewish community's commitment to and investment in rescue activities of European Jewry and its (in)ability to influence US administration policies; (4) his studies on the behavior of Jewish leadership under Nazi rule; (5) his studies on the negotiations between Jewish groups and individuals and the Nazis on rescue during the Shoah; and (6) his studies of the phenomenon of Jewish communal organization and its modes of functioning, even during the last days of the Eastern European shtetlach. To these topics a seventh topic that bothered Bauer—which is quite astonishing in view of his firm stance in favor of Jewish secularism—is examined: religious Jewry and the possibility of faith in God after the Holocaust. Thus, it is claimed here, Bauer remained “on speaking terms” with God, but that his stance is mehutzaf (“contrary”)—the term he uses to describe a basic characteristic of the Jews in general.

Христиан Вольф и Иммануил Кант о бытии Бога

The positions of Christian Wolff and Im­manuel Kant on the possibility of proving the existence of God require some examination. Wolff’s critique of the physical-theological proof and his proposed ways of improving it are here analysed. God is central to Wolff’s philosophical system and the fundamental prerequisite of his theoretical and practical philosophy. Although Wolff insists that the natural law is inherent in human nature and can therefore be comprehended by human reason without turning to divine revelation, in reality God is the creator of this natural law and the cause of its perfection. Accordingly, faith in the true God in Wolff’s philosophy is obligatory for achieving the supreme degree of virtue, whereas pagans and atheists can achieve only its lowest degree. Kant criticises traditional proofs of the existence of God both in his pre-critical and critical periods. The author looks at the role God plays in Kant’s practical philosophy. Comparing the positions of Kant and Wolff, the author finds many similarities between them. Chief of them is that although both thinkers saw the moral/natural law as universal and obligating regardless of a person’s faith in God, in fact faith in God turned out to be an inevitable consequence of the true moral attitude of the individual.

Existing as a being-with-heart-disease-who-developed-pressure-wounds: an understanding based on Martin Heidegger.

To understand, using Martin Heidegger's phenomenological framework, the Being who experiences a heart disease and develops a pressure injury. Qualitative, phenomenological study using Martin Heidegger's theoretical-philosophical-methodological framework. Nine participants were interviewed at their residences, from October to December 2015, Ceará. Six meaning units were revealed: experiencing difficulties; dealing with the treatment of pressure wounds; not knowing the cardiac disease; being supported by family and friends; experiencing changes caused by disease; and maintaining faith in God. These Daily life was apprehended in an inauthentic life, chatter, curiosity, and ambivalence. Imprisoned to the vigor of having been, they live in anguish, supported by the faith in God and being-with-others in a movement of attentiveness. The phenomenon interferes with patients and families' daily lives rendering them vulnerable. There is a need for nursing to reflect on this experience and incorporate care that reaches human existence.

Poetry of War: Ukrainian-Turkish Manifestations

The main focus of the article is on Ukrainian poetry written since February 24, 2022, as well as Turkish poetry about the war in Ukraine. The study explores the figurative palette of Ukrainian and Turkish poems, pays particular attention to the multi-vector perception of the war situation through the eyes of Ukrainians and Turkish neighbours, and also to children's poetry (poems written by Ukrainian and Turkish children). Using the comparative method and the method of microanalysis, we discovered common and different images and themes in Turkish and Ukrainian poetry, namely, the image of Europe and America, cruel Russia, the image of a bear, the president of Russia, the image of a stolen spring, the theme of courage, the theme of a crippled childhood. Human values were common to Ukrainian and Turkish poets: human life, peace on the planet, family grief, and historical memory is also similar: in both Ukrainian and Turkish poems, the theme of the aggressive character of Russia from ancient times to the present day echoes. Prayer poems deserve special attention; faith in God unites the poetic world of the Muslim and Christian worlds. Children's poetry is the most painful element of war poetry, but even here the voices of little Ukrainians sound patriotic, with a dream for a bright future, and Turkish voices – with pleas to return childhood to Ukrainian children. The presented works must necessarily have their continuation – namely, translations into different languages, in particular Turkish, for spreading part of the strong-willed spirit of Ukrainians and intercultural communication.

Care for the spiritual dimension provided by caregivers in a nursing home.

to understand care for the spiritual dimension provided by caregivers in a Nursing Home. this is a qualitative research, carried out in a geriatric center of a philanthropic hospital in the city of Salvador, Bahia. Eighteen formal caregivers participated, through a semi-structured interview, between January and February 2019. The data were analyzed in the light of Jean Watson's Theory of Transpersonal Caring. formal caregivers discuss the spiritual dimension based on older adults' religious beliefs, encourage religious practices and exercise spiritual care according to older adults' physical, emotional and spiritual demands. formal caregivers understand that older adults' religious or spiritual experiences should be included in their work routine. Care for the spiritual dimension occurs by stimulating faith in God, encouraging religious practices and embracing their beliefs in the face of physical, emotional and spiritual demands.

Religious Poetry of Hopkins and Iqbal: A Comparative Study

Hopkins and Iqbal have not been explored together although both share many common concerns. In the light of their works and faith, an attempt will be made to establish them as the poets of religious order and their relevance to the modern age. Iqbal was a Muslim and Hopkins a Catholic Christian by faith. Both try to tread the path in their own ways to reach the ultimate. There is a unity of vision between them in the ultimate analysis which can be seen in their different works like Hopkin’sThe Wreck of the Deutschland, Nondum and The Windhover, and Iqbal’s Bal-e-Jibril, Armaghan-e-Hijaz etc. They will be examined to establish the differences / similarities between them. Hopkins is a religious poet who first turns to the exploration of his own personality to test the validity of religious experience. The Wreck of Deutschland, The Habit of Perfection, Nondum and The Windhover are some of his poems with valuable revelation of his spiritual experience. All the poems of Hopkins with the exception of a few imply the presence of a God of infinite goodness and beauty in nature and the deliverance of man from death by faith in God. Iqbal was a Muslim by faith. Indeed the religious motif is the axis on which Iqbal’s whole system of thought revolves, and which is reflected in his poetry as strongly as his prose writings, though he is interested in a wide range of subjects. Religion, philosophy and theology make the same queries about the destiny of man, and these three forces are blended together in Iqbal’s works. Religion is described by Iqbal as a power of utmost importance in the life of individuals as well as nations. Iqbal has tried in both poetical and philosophical ways of expression to manifest his ideal of religion as a force which means to find one’s self. Hence, this research will be an attempt to unfold this unity of vision and perspective. The works of both poets will be minutely analysed for the similarity of their religious content and message. Hopkins and Iqbal use poetry as a means to articulate their convictions. This research will be an attempt to explore the striking relevance between two religious poets of the East and the West. Both of them seek salvation in the spiritual realm of religion. In this research, an attempt will be made to compare and analyse their responses to the modernity of 20th century. The present study will also look for the similarities and dissimilarities in their works.

Homo ethicus oder der Mensch in seiner moralischen Verantwortung Eine islamische Perspektiv

In his contribution, Esfahani sheds light on homo ethicus and his moral responsibility from the perspective of the Koran and Islamic tradition. He considers it necessary to first present the existential situation of man’s relationship with God, and then he develops some criteria that enable man to make moral decisions and act ethically in faith in God. According to Islamic belief, man is the highest possible representative of God in creation. Esfahani refers to Islamic mystics who described the perfect human being as a pure mirror in which the attributes and names of God should be reflected. When man reaches this stage, he has reached a height where even the angels bow before him. At the highest level, man approaches being made in the image of God, even if the boundary between creator and created remains clear. The author turns to the Koran, where God introduces Adam to the angels as his representative or successor and the angels are asked to prostrate themselves before him. It becomes clear that God has endowed his representative with a knowledge that the angels do not possess, and this knowledge is the knowledge of the names of God, which brings enormous consequences – it is a knowledge that enables man to act in all matters in accordance with the responsibility of a representative of God. As a result, people have an inner compass that enables them to follow God’s will and act ethically when making a decision. Depending on the level of consciousness achieved, the motives for human action can be varied. All names were united in the perfect human being and these would also be brought into appearance through his humanity. Man has free will, which he is not allowed to oppose to the will of the Creator. A decisive impetus for ethical action is the knowledge that in the afterlife people have to be accountable for their actions. Reason is given to man, which enables him to make the right distinction. On this basis, a rationally justified three-stage ethical model is developed. At the highest level, »mindfulness of God«, man shapes his actions in the awareness of God’s presence.