Enshrined Research Articles

PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN HARYANA: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDY

This paper discusses status, prospects, and challenges of sustainable tourism in Haryana. The natural beauties, temples, nationally protected monuments modern cities etc. draw tourists to this state. Haryana is well-known for handloom and handicraft products. It has a range of holy places of worship- gurudwaras, churches, mosques, and temples. Faridabad, Gurugram and Panchkula districts are popular among the tourist. Tourism sector share nearly 2.7 percent GDP of the state. It has been observed that there is a bright prospect of religious tourism, adventure tourism, heritage tourism, rural tourism, event tourism, and eco-tourism in the state. Still there are many challenges before its tourism sector. The prominent challenges are poor connectivity, abysmal infrastructure, lack of media coverage and lack of alternative means of transport. Therefore, Government should implement policies for mitigating such challenges and improve tourism industry in the state.

Sacred Places in a Burning World

ABSTRACT Sacred places today are at grave risk from climate change as the waters rise around these sites and fires approach and engulf them. Even the briefest online search results in a long list of examples. Summers of record heat in northern Spain imperil pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. Rising sea levels in the Florida Panhandle threaten hundreds of ancient Indigenous sacred sites. Flooding across East Asia has displaced Buddhist monks from their monasteries. Extreme heat in Mecca led to stampedes in 1990 and again in 2015, killing hundreds of pilgrims. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey inundated the sanctuary of the oldest synagogue in Houston, Texas, Congregation Beth Israel. Shrines and other sacred spaces caught in the path of extreme climate events and their aftermaths constitute a distinctive field of lived religious experience and practice in the post-Anthropocene, another name for our cataclysmic post-secular globalized world.

Enhancing the Sense of Place in Indian Religious Streets: A Comparative Study

Indian religious cities are renowned for their spiritual significance and cultural vibrancy, with streets serving as vital arteries that connect devotees to sacred sites and cultural landmarks. This research paper investigates the intricate dynamics of public open spaces within Indian religious cities, focusing on two iconic streets: Vishram Bazaar Street in Mathura and Bhakti Vedanta Marg in Vrindavan. Through a comprehensive analysis of physical, perceptual, socio-cultural, and functional aspects, the study aims to understand the nuances shaping the sense of place in these revered urban settings. Findings reveal a juxtaposition of moderately negative and positive perceptions, indicating the need for targeted interventions to enhance the overall quality of these streetscapes and preserve their cultural and spiritual significance. Recommendations for physical improvements, cultural preservation initiatives, and functional enhancements are proposed to enrich the urban experience and promote sustainable development in Indian religious cities. Key Words: Indian religious cities, Streetscape dynamics, Sense of place analysis, Vishram Bazaar Street, Bhakti Vedanta Marg, Cultural vibrancy, Sacred sites, Infrastructure challenges, Community perceptions, Socio-cultural analysis, Street quality, Cultural preservation, Place-making, Collaborative planning

Examining the outcomes and acceptability of a peer-led spiritual intervention for moral injury in a veteran service organization.

The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to examine the outcomes and acceptability of a spiritual intervention for moral injury led by veteran peers in a Veteran Service Organization (VSO), called "Heroes to Heroes." From baseline to 1-year follow-up, 101 veterans who participated in the intervention completed the evaluation surveys at four time points assessing psychological outcomes (moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms, and life satisfaction), spiritual outcomes (spiritual struggles and spiritual transcendence), and their perceived helpfulness of the program. In addition, we conducted four focus groups with six to eight alumni to more fully understand veterans' views and experiences of the program. Focusing on the longitudinal surveys, latent growth modeling analyses revealed veterans generally improved across the psychological and spiritual outcomes in the study. Specifically, veterans reported steady decreases in moral injury outcomes, PTSD symptoms, and spiritual struggles along with increased life satisfaction and spiritual transcendence over the 1-year period. An inductive content analysis of veterans' responses to open-ended items in the surveys and focus group interviews revealed four possible mechanisms or facilitators of these outcomes: (a) social connectivity and belonging (e.g., shared vulnerability and camaraderie); (b) behavioral engagement in core aspects of their spirituality (e.g., sacred practices and visiting sacred places); (c) spiritual transformation and growth (e.g., closeness with God and divine forgiveness); and (d) appreciation for diversity (e.g., religious and military). Overall, these findings affirm the potential effectiveness and acceptability of the VSO's peer-led spiritual intervention for promoting the holistic healing among veterans who are contending with emotional and spiritual wounds of war. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Politics of Sacred Places: A View from Israel–Palestine by Nimrod Luz (review)

The Politics of Sacred Places: A View from Israel–Palestine by Nimrod Luz (review)

The Politics of Sacred Places: A View from Israel–Palestine. By Nimrod Luz

The Politics of Sacred Places: A View from Israel–Palestine. By Nimrod Luz

Fighting for Oak Flat: Western Apaches and American Religious Freedom

Abstract This article foregrounds the Western Apache fight to save the sacred site of Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, or Oak Flat, which at this writing is threatened by a proposed copper mine. Like many other Native peoples, Western Apaches have historically resisted colonial suppression by reconfiguring ancestral traditions to make them legible to authorities as religion. In their current struggle, Western Apaches are restoring and repairing their relationships with the sacred landscapes of their ancestral homelands. The controversy over Oak Flat also demonstrates how US religious freedom law continues to impose an implicitly Christian model for religion and how Western Apaches today are pushing back against that model even as they necessarily use it to claim the protected status that religion enjoys in the United States. Chi’chil Biłdagoteel thus illuminates the ongoing paradoxes of US religious freedom law, the privileges that Christianity still holds within this legal regime, and the ongoing vibrancy of living Apache religion.

Language Creativity in Presenting Hindu Religion Material

Teachers are required to be creative in packaging learning activities in various ways. One of the creativity carried out by prospective teaching students is modifying familiar songs into songs containing learning material about Hindu religion. Therefore, it is important to conduct this research to describe language creativity in presenting Hindu religious material and the obstacles faced in modifying songs. Creativity in presenting material is very important in order to achieve effective communication in learning activities. This research is classified as qualitative research with an empirical approach. This research was carried out by collecting a number of songs containing Hindu Religious Education material developed by students of the Pendidikan Agama Hindu Study Program, STKIP Agama Hindu Amlapura in classroom management practices and interviewing students regarding the difficulties or obstacles experienced when being creative in modifying songs so that they contain Hindu religious material. The results of this research show that there are several songs that students tend to create and modify in classroom management, namely children's songs whose rhythms are very familiar, such as the songs Balonku, Pelangi-Pelangi, Lihat kebunku, Naik Becak, Satu-Satu Aku sayang Ibu. From the rhythm of these songs, they were modified into songs containing Hindu religious material, namely Panca Yadnya, Panca Sraddha, Tri Pramana, Three Basic Frameworks of Hindu Religion, Tri Kaya Parisudha, Holy Books and Holy Places Hindu religion. When carrying out this creativity, students also experience various difficulties or obstacles, such as using diction, adjusting rhythm, packaging material, and limitations for complex material.

The Vampire as the Mythological Creature in the Cinematography of South Slavic Countries: Vampire in Films “Leptirica” and “Holy Place” - Folkloric Juxtaposition

Mythological creatures have enchanted and intrigued human beings for ages, and humans unconsciously stimulated their fears and insecurities. People have created a vampire-paranormal obsession that is reflected in everything that human creativity has touched, especially in film adaptations. In this article, readers will see the representation of the mythological creature Vampire on the Serbian film screen. The article dissects two selected films, “She-Butterfly” and “The Holy Place” from the vampire-induced horrors of the South Slavic cinematography. They will representatively be the focus of the study. These examples will reveal how the film of that time conjured up the horror, fear, and general aura of the mythological creature Vampire that has haunted the human race for centuries. In contrast to film representations, the author places a vampire from folklore as a pillar for comparison or a test sample to analyze the similarities, differences, and credibility of the representations in the film. Regarding the supportive material, we will extensively rely on the "Serbian Mythological Dictionary" as it provides a solid collection of various folk explanations and descriptions, which we will use for comparison. The methodological approach includes a description of the film plot with important elements, the analysis of the mentioned elements of interest within separate important parts of the plot, and a comparison with a folklore vampire within the analysis.

Particularity of the Tomb as a Holy Place

Throughout the ages, peoples and tribes have taken pride in place for themselves, especially the graves of the righteous, and they have been sanctified. And, various religious rituals have been performed to the point that these rituals have become integrated into the customs and traditions of those peoples. In this article, we will address the important characteristics that the Jews carry out through the graves of the righteous in the Jewish religion. The definition of the grave of a righteous friend as a holy place will also be discussed. It must be mentioned that after his death, his dignity, actions, and strength remain influential even after his death. Therefore, his burial place and his grave are considered sacred and pure places, and they are considered popular and attract many visitors.

Of Welfare, Sacred Places, and “Rice Christians”: Freedom of Religion and Multiple Religious Belonging

Abstract When governments are structurally unable to provide social services, or when disaster strikes, relief organisations tend to step in. This is also the case in South and East Asia. Such organisations may be faith-based, leading to the emergence of what Asians colloquially call “rice Christians”: persons who (allegedly) convert to a religion in order to access services, or out of loyalty to the aid-supplying organisation. Such converts may continue to practice their traditional religions and beliefs. This raises the question whether rights to religion or belief are still available to “rice Christians” when governments, e.g., seek to redevelop a sacred site that formed part of their original belief system. The present article addresses that question, drawing upon the concept of multiple religious belonging (‘mrb’) and a 2017 decision of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in which the court accepted that individuals may adhere to multiple religions, especially where conversion happened within a missionary context and the now-claimed belief is Indigenous or traditional. It argues in favour of recognition of mrb within the context of freedom of religion, which would mean that also “rice Christians” can continue to rely on original belief systems to protect their practices and places.

Beyond borders: Exploring the mental, emotional, and spiritual significance of Hajj.

For Muslims all across the world, the desire to participate in the religious rites of the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) which stands as one of the five pillars of Islam is a heartfelt longing. It stands for the pinnacle of devotion and spiritual gratification, luring followers to the most sacred city in Islam for a life-changing journey of faith, comradery, and submission to Allah. Muslims hold Mecca in the highest regard; it is a source of endless inspiration and devotion throughout their lives, as seen by their desire to undertake the Hajj and Umrah. The pilgrimage encompasses a series of synchronized rituals and acts of worship, each holding its unique spiritual meaning, and serve as a powerful testament to the universal nature of Islamic teachings. These rituals have a significant impact on Muslims' mental and spiritual well-being. Hajj elicits a spectrum of feelings; creates unity, humility, and thankfulness; and encourages self-reflection as well as personal development. It also instills a sense of spiritual fulfillment. Hajj transcends personal boundaries, strengthening a pilgrim's sense of connection to the larger Muslim community that rejuvenates their hearts and souls toward the teaching of Islam. Hence, it is imperative to explore in depth this transformative journey, illuminating the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions that bind Muslims across the globe.

(Un)rest in revolution: Beijing’s Eight Treasures Mountain (Babaoshan) Revolutionary Cemetery and the making of China’s national memory

In 1950, the People’s Republic of China began transforming the Eight Treasures Mountain ( Babaoshan) into a national cemetery for its highest-ranking cadres and most devoted supporters. This article advances our understanding of how the People’s Republic of China revolutionizes the way it uses the dead to legitimize its rule over the living. While the People’s Republic of China seeks to erase the Imperial and Republican past, it follows its predecessors in shaping national memory by creating a sacred site for the loyal dead. Furthermore, despite atheist self-proclamation, the People’s Republic of China relies on traditional beliefs and practices to memorialize its dead members. The state’s attempts to shape national memory through these means have not been without resistance from the bereaved families, particularly under controversial circumstances. Besides these unsettled conflicts, the People’s Republic of China faces the challenges posed by a growing number of the dead. The People’s Republic of China tries to manage its necro-constituents by turning to information technology and eco-burial.

Judaization in Palestine: Is It Genocide According to the 1998 Rome Statute?

The purpose of this study is to analyse the act of genocide in the attempt at Judaization in Palestine based on the 1998 Rome Statute and examine the possibility of categorizing the Judaization of Palestine as cultural genocide because Judaization has changed various aspects of Palestinian life and the Palestinian territories themselves. In addition, cultural genocide has been eliminated from its history, but there are still actions that are assumed to lead to it. This research is a type of normative legal research using a conceptual, statutory, case, and historical approach. The results of this study indicate that the Judaization of land and people in Palestine is a crime of genocide, as stated in Article 6 (c) of the 1998 Rome Statute. At the same time, the Judaization of identity and holy places can be categorized as cultural genocide, according to experts. However, the opinions of experts contained in legal works are subsidiary legal sources and, until now, have not been recognized as customary international law. In addition, the Judaization of identity and holy places within the framework of international law can only be viewed as genocidal intent, not cultural genocide.

A Propaedeutic Treatment of Embodied Theology and the Applications of Self-Defence

Self-defence is generally thought to be either a staple of martial arts practice or a way for the Crown to establish if an accused was acting in self-defence. That calls to mind two essential aspects about the actor in self-defence: 1) the subjectivity of the actor’s intent and actions, and 2) the objective examination against what other prudent persons would or would not do given the same set of circumstances. Assessing criminal liability is essential to the legalities of self-defence but, the discovery of one’s mind and actions after the fact is relevant to consequence and reflective practice which merely defines what may be considered reasonable, legitimate, and necessary as per case. More importantly, is there a divine pre-eminence of self-defence that can ameliorate one’s actions of force against another to curtail the negative effects of a hostile attacker. In this article, I propose that both virtue and duty can lead the actor to discover the sacred site of the lived-body as the self-known as I to value the self-known as the other. To view the body as sacred in such a pre-emptive way may re-establish restraint and control over one’s actions as to promote bodily integrity and the preservation of life.

The ethnoecology of the Malay sacred myth through narratives of Kampung Tua Nongsa in Batam

The condition of the Malays is significantly marginalized due to the migration and the rapid industrial development in Batam, Indonesia. However, the Malay sacred myth is still sustained as a local wisdom for the Malay generations. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the ethnoecology behind the story of the sacred myth of Bumbum, Puak, and Batu Belah as a representation of environmental Malay local wisdom in Kampong Tua Nongsa, Batam. Within the conceptual framework of ethnoecology as a bridge to understanding the relationship between literature in the form of folklore and the culture of society, this qualitative research collected data through observation by being directly involved in the community and in-depth interviews with 21 informants including the key jury of the sacred places, community advice, community leaders, village officials, and the younger generation of Malay people in Kampong Tua Nongsa. Data analysis was carried out by comparing, reconfirming, classifying, and interpreting the data with an ethnoecology approach. The results showed that there were three important ethnoecological representations: (1) the ecological ties between forests and humans in the sacred Bumbum, (2) the reflection of the wise king in the sacred of Puak, and (3) the sea as the central life of nature in the sacred of Batu Belah. Sacred site prohibitions reveal deep connections between human behavior and nature, emphasizing ethical considerations; these stories highlight cultural values, insights for heritage preservation, and solutions for environmental challenges within an ethnoecological framework, stressing the importance of ethics in human-nature interactions.

Pilgrimage to Holy Places in History of Vyatka Province (Second Half of 19th — Early 20th Centuries)

The article analyzes the reasons for the growing interest in holy places, primarily Palestine, associated with Russia’s state policy, based on published sources. It also examines the forms and methods of educational work. In 1894, the Vyatka department of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society was established in the Vyatka province to disseminate information about the Holy Land and support Russia’s activities in the Middle East. The department raised funds for the society’s work in the Holy Land and organized lectures on the history and activities of the society. Significant results were achieved through this educational work, including an increase in the number of members in the Vyatka department, particularly at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and a growing interest in the Holy Land. Additionally, in the second half of the 19th century, some representatives of secular and spiritual society in the Vyatka province visited Orthodox holy sites, primarily the Holy Land and Mount Athos, and left memoirs about their pilgrimage experiences. Thus, the remote Vyatka province became spiritually closer to the Holy Land in the second half of the 19th century.

Muslim Holy Sites in the Southern Urals: geoinformation mapping and spatial analysis

In the last decade, there has been a tendency in the Southern Urals to reconstruct old and to form new holy places revered by Muslims. To date, more than 115 such objects have been recorded. Most of them are revered only by the residents of small villages, but some have acquired great importance for Muslims throughout the region. The purpose of this work is to identify the most popular places of worship of Muslims in the Southern Urals. Considering that some of the objects of regional importance have been revered by Muslims since the XIV century, and others, having appeared relatively recently, quickly became one of the most visited places, it is necessary to determine the factors influencing the growth of this popularity. The study supposed the Geoinformation methods to be used. Thus, using free Quantum GIS software, and on the basis of archival materials, archaeologists’, ethnographers’, religious scholars’, culturologists’ groundwork, as well as referring to the materials of Internet communities and other open sources, we have created the following layers: 1) Mausoleums, 2) Places of worship according to the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, 3) Places of worship according to the Internet community Sufi RB, 4) Religious tourist routes. Using a comparative method, it was determined that the most popular among Muslims in the region are the mausoleum of Hussein-Bey and Mount Narystau (Ilchigulovo IV, kurgan burial ground). The results of the study indicate that the popularity of objects is influenced by a number of factors: they can be identified as the presence of a monumental structure, the representation of the object in the media space and in the Internet, as well as the availability of objective scientific data about it.

Globalization in Sanrio’s Virtual Festival: enhancing sacred places, character representation, and musical public spaces

ABSTRACT This paper discusses Sanrio Virtual Festival 2023, held on VRChat in 2022 by Sanrio, a company known for its character business, which includes Hello Kitty. This study explains how Sanrio is gaining global power toward creating a new utopia through multilayered live performances. To this end, the virtual Puroland reinforces the function of a sacred place in pop culture by incorporating diverse musical and cultural resources instead of the cult-like image of a cute sanctuary. Furthermore, media that mixes 2D/2.5D characters creates ones in dynamic 3D with enhanced ubiquity. Through parasocial relations with the user, this humanized digital medium provides users with a sense of life and presence as well as diminishes their perceptual discomfort, while promoting an experience of realism and community grafted onto the user’s extended cultural fantasy. Furthermore, the experience is characterized by stages with various conceptual designs that communicate nonverbally and multisensory, including optical live performances and DJ clubs, which have led to the creation of an interactive global Sanrio public sphere from the formation of a complex musical public space. However, the creation of such an emotional musical community is a communicative process that also voraciously consumes its users’ presence and involvement.

Латинские раннесредневековые путеводители и описания Святой Земли

The article presents an overview of Latin early medieval characteristics and descriptions of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, written from the very first decades of the Christian era, – starting from the first third of the 4th century. This is a Latin version of the Onomasticon by Eusebius of Caesarea (ca 320 AD), created by Jerome the Blessed ca 388 AD. The so-called Bordeaux Itinerary dated to 333 is an independent author's description of a pilgrimage from Bordigala (Bordeaux) through Constantinople to Jerusalem and other places of Palestine and back – through Rome to Bordeaux. At the end of the 4th century a unique monument of Latin pilgrimage literature was created, the Peregrinatio to the Holy Places by Egeria, or Etheria, or Sylvia the Virgin, which not only lists but describes in detail the holy places of Palestine and the Middle East by a pious pilgrim lady. An example of early Byzantine Latin-language monuments of this kind may be On the Location of the Holy Land by Theodosius and Itinerarium by Antoninus of Placentia in the late 6th – early 7th century. Around 670 there appears the Narration of the Holy Places by the Gallic bishop Arculphus in the Records of Abbot Adamnan, who lived and died in Ireland at the beginning of the 9th century. The Tale of the Disasters in Jerusalem of the time of the Jerusalem patriarch George (796–806?) describes the beginning of the Arab conquest of Near East. These monuments developed the canon of pilgrimage descriptions, terminology, localization and identification of Biblical events with modern geo- and topography, and created the foundations of the genre in its various modifications.