Faith Practices Research Articles

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY IN SELECTED LIFE DIMENSIONS

Poverty is a phenomenon that receives a lot of attention from a wide range of professionals as well as the lay public. This is a serious problem that significantly changes the lives and functions of individuals, families, as well as communities.
 The aim of this study was to find out how society perceives the consequences of poverty in individual dimensions of human life selected by us and also to find differences in perception of the consequences of poverty in terms of the selected demographic data (gender, place where the respondent lives, place of residence – city or countryside, faith, employment status, shared household, benefits in material deprivation, and an opinion on who should primarily address the problem of poverty). A quantitative research strategy was implemented using a self-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 37 items and focused on the perception of poverty and its consequences in our selected areas. The questionnaire contained 6 basic dimensions, resp. areas. These were the health area, the hygiene area, the social area, the psychological area, the structural area and the housing area. We used a deliberate and quota selection (region, gender). The total sample (n) consisted of 384 respondents. The average age of the respondents was 36.30 ± 12.91 years old (min. 18, max. 75).
 The results did not show a statistically significant difference in the perception of areas most affected by poverty in terms of gender; in terms of receiving benefits in material need, there was a statistically significant difference in health, mental health, housing and social affairs. In terms of residence (countryside, city), a statistical difference was recorded only in the area of ​​health. There were also significant statistical differences in the area of geography (the region in which the respondent lives), in the area of health and hygiene, and the structural area. The practice of faith has proven to be an important determinant of the perception of poverty, especially in the social and psychological spheres. We also noticed differences in the perception of poverty in some areas in terms of shared household and employment status.

Sitting in the Pews: Theological Beliefs and Racial/Ethnic Identity Among African American Adolescents

Church attendance, prayer, and faith practices play a significant role in the life experiences among African Americans, especially youth. Few studies on religious behaviors among African American youth investigate the relationship between theological orientations and racial identity. These orientations include biblical principles, other-worldliness, and social legacy. A total of 187 African American adolescents ( Mage = 15) attending 18 predominantly Black churches in two Midwestern cities participated in the study. Results provided support for two theological orientations that were associated with racial/ethnic identity in distinct ways. More specifically, other-worldliness was linked to more negative feelings about the appearance of African American adolescents and being more likely to endorse negative stereotypes about African Americans. Adolescents who perceived their church as communicating a theology based upon biblical principles reported rejecting negative stereotypes about African Americans. Study findings suggest theological orientations may be associated with shaping racial/ethnic identity attitudes among African American adolescents.

Feeling Apart: Relations of Belonging in Tibetan Buddhist Lay-Monastic Communities

Abstract Studies of belonging and community formation often emphasize commonality of values, emotions, and feelings. This article highlights the importance of practices that create relations of distance between members as well as closeness. Drawing on fieldwork in institutionalized Tibetan Buddhist communities in northeastern Tibet (Amdo/Qinghai), I focus on everyday practices of respect and faith that materialize community by putting monks, reincarnate lamas, and laity “in their place.” This can include the most quotidian of acts, such as standing when someone enters a room. I argue that such practices of “feeling apart” and their refusal are central to individual negotiations of religious belonging and to the dynamic, ongoing process of community formation. The importance of these practices becomes particularly apparent when, as is the case in northeastern Tibet, seemingly taken-for-granted relations of belonging and the emotional style that enacts and creates these relations are felt to be precarious.

Searching for Significance During a Pandemic: A Muslim Perspective.

The authors in this article seek to describe the importance of keeping one's beliefs and spiritual practices alive during the COVID-19 pandemic from a Muslim perspective, and it considers this challenge in light of the theory of religious coping and the growing literature on the benefits of mindfulness. It provides nurses and other healthcare providers a view into the beliefs and practices of a Muslim-American family and shows how faith practices can help people not only cope but grow in difficult times. Implications for nursing and healthcare are discussed.

The Preparation and Practice of Protestant School Leadership: Evidence from a Nationally Representative U.S. Sample

The importance of K-12 school leadership for student learning, teacher recruitment and retention, and school culture is well documented by research. Furthermore, there are compelling reasons for examining the connection between faith and educational leadership practice, a connection which should yield distinctive practices in faith-based schools. Unfortunately, little research has empirically examined principal preparation, particularly in the context of Christian schools. Using a nationally representative sample of 870 U.S. private and public high school principals, we examined how much training principals receive in seven areas of school leadership practice and where they received that training. We found that Protestant school principals receive similar amounts of training in areas like school law and personnel management but much less training in areas such as fiscal management and data-driven decision-making. We discussed the implications of our findings for Christian school leadership practice and principal preparation

The Emmaus narrative and contemporary Christian followership – An empirical case study

This article aims to explore a ‘lived discipleship’ by determining whether and how contemporary communities of faith could implement the norms and principles reflected in the Emmaus narrative of Luke 24:13–35 within a plausible epistemological framework that might facilitate a fresh understanding of Christian followership as discipleship. This was done through an empirical case study using two focus groups as co-researchers, in order to actively listen to their respective understandings of lived theology in their unique South African contexts. The two focus groups consisted of (1) a contemporary Christian grouping of Afrikaans-speaking, active churchgoers situated in Hazeldean, a suburb in Pretoria East, Tshwane, Gauteng and (2) a contemporary Christian grouping of African, active churchgoers situated in Ivory Park, a suburb in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. This article concluded that Luke 24:13–35 nudged the co-researchers to re-evaluate their contemporary understanding of discipleship and moved them to additional and new perspectives in terms of practical expressions thereof that can be best described as ‘lived followership’. A shift from perceiving Jesus in terms of an ‘act to follow’ by gaining the correct knowledge, to following Jesus as ‘a performative act’, a shift from ‘theoretical knowledge’ to ‘heart knowledge’.Contribution: This article is a part of the Festschrift for Prof. Stephan Joubert. This article plays into similar creative interdisciplinary relationship as seen in the work of Prof. Joubert, by looking at the relationship between New Testament and Practical Theology in order to improve practices of faith that is rooted in a biblical understanding of Jesus.

Spiritual Synchronicity: Icon Veneration in Evangelical and Orthodox Religious Practices in the 21st Century

Much scholarship in the dialogue between evangelical and Orthodox believers focuses on doctrinal compatibility. This article contributes to that literature by giving an example of a spiritual practice (icon veneration) that creates additional space for ecumenical dialogue and unity. Some US-evangelicals in the 21st century have incorporated the use of icons into their personal faith practices. Icon veneration is ripe with ecumenical potential for evangelical–Orthodox relations because of its prominence in Orthodox communions while at the same time appealing to a growing number of evangelicals. This article considers three sites of evangelical icon use in turn: the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia (EBCG), Icons of Black Saints, and an evangelical ministry called “Heart of the Artist”. Each site adopts a slightly unique understanding of icons that may appeal to evangelical believers. Although Orthodox and evangelical believers may understand theologies of icon veneration differently, the emergence of icon veneration among evangelicals remains a spiritual synchronicity, and ought to be recognized as such. Evangelicals continue to receive the gift of icon veneration from their Orthodox siblings in ways in line with the EBCG, Black Orthodox icons, and Heart of the Artist, so icon veneration has potential to further resource ecumenical dialogue.

The Bible, faith formation and a virus – Exploring the influence of a pandemic on faith formation content and practices for children and teenagers

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has posed different kinds of challenges to society and churches over the past months. With various ‘normal ministry practices’ not permitted under lockdown regulations, as well as people starting to fear the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a sense of crisis can easily prevail. However, a small congregation in Bloemfontein, South Africa, responded by engaging their children and teenagers through reflection, content and outreach. Various methods, including virtual and face to face, were utilised to minister to and with children and teenagers. This response can now be analysed to find answers to the following questions: How did the pandemic influence specific methods chosen for faith formation? What made it different from ‘ministry as usual’? What role did the Bible play in the methods and content used? Within the framework of the qualitative research, reflective practice from a hermeneutic perspective was utilised as theoretical approach to analyse the response of the pastors and Sunday school teachers. Reflection occurs on three levels, namely, technical (efficiency and effectiveness), practical (goals and consequences) and critical (analysis of one’s practice within wider contexts). A literature study was also conducted on the influence of a pandemic on faith formation. Recommendations were made regarding different ways to engage with children and teenagers and involving them in ministry.Contribution: This research contributes to knowledge as to how and why pastors and congregations react the way they do in a pandemic and how this impacts upon faith formation among children and youth in the faith community.

The Self-Regulation of Electronic Commerce: An Appraisal in Accordance to the Chilean Law of Unfair Competition

Electronic commerce or e-commerce constitutes a commercial activity on the rise. Although it has many advantages, there are several lingering factors that prevent its consolidation, such as the lack of trust of the potential consumer/user. In order to overcome that obstacle, instruments of self-regulation were created in the field of advertising. Firms that wish to distinguish themselves favorably against their competitors have the option of adopting those instruments, which play a praiseworthy role regarding the target audience and constitutes a considerable improvement of consumer rights. However, on occasions, problems arise in the market when those systems of self-regulation bind third parties that did not voluntarily enter into a contract. This paper tackles the question of if self-regulation of advertising in the net can be put in place should it affects the honor of the third party not committed with the fair-practices document. In this article, we will refer to the particularities that arise from a case concerning the Chilean Law no. 20,168, of 2007, on unfair competition and self-regulation of advertising in the Internet pertaining WOM, Movistar, Entel, Claro and Virgin. The Chilean Law no. 20,168, of 2007 contributes to the goal of discouraging conduct contrary to good faith or good practices in advertising in conjunction with codes of conduct that have been approved in the field related to the systems of self -regulation.

The Self-Regulation of Electronic Commerce: An Appraisal in Accordance to the Chilean Law of Unfair Competition

Purpose – Electronic commerce or e-commerce constitutes a commercial activity on the rise. Although it has many advantages, there are several lingering factors that prevent its consolidation, such as the lack of trust of the potential consumer/user. In order to overcome that obstacle, instruments of self-regulation were created in the field of advertising. Firms that wish to distinguish themselves favorably against their competitors have the option of adopting those instruments, which play a praiseworthy role regarding the target audience and constitutes a considerable improvement of consumer rights. However, on occasions, problems arise in the market when those systems of self-regulation bind third parties that did not voluntarily enter into a contract. This paper tackles the question of if self-regulation of advertising in the net can be put in place should it affects the honor of the third party not committed with the fair-practices document. Methodology/approach/design – In this article, we will refer to the particularities that arise from a case concerning the Chilean Law no. 20,168, of 2007, on unfair competition and self-regulation of advertising in the Internet pertaining WOM, Movistar, Entel, Claro and Virgin. Findings – The Chilean Law no. 20,168, of 2007 contributes to the goal of discouraging conduct contrary to good faith or good practices in advertising in conjunction with codes of conduct that have been approved in the field related to the systems of self -regulation.

How Can I Keep from Singing? Being the Church amid the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract The disruption wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic has been the greatest global upheaval since the Second World War. All sectors have been forced to recalibrate their practices, including churches. Although practical concerns around worship, pastoral care, and missional activities have required extensive thought, considered theological reflection is also called for. In a context often resistant to change, theologically informed adaptation is critical, countering the temptation to prioritise mere functionality. In the past, the best Christian responses to pandemics have discerned them as ‘vocational moments’, kairos times where the faith’s longstanding theological commitments were brought to bear in faithful practice. This article promotes a ‘gentle witness’ as one possible way the church might construe a response. As the prevailing mood is one of fear, isolation, loneliness, separation, a witness that comes alongside in loving presence, lament, solidarity, and care for Jesus’ sake, incorporating a public face, commends itself as an appropriate ‘way’ for a public-facing church.

“When You Stop Pretending That You Know”

Abstract Increasingly addressing the religious dimension of Cormac McCarthy’s work, critics have frequently rooted it in a Gnosticism which holds, first, that the world is a place of evil and suffering and, second, that salvation is attained through knowledge made available only to the elect. The Stonemason, however, seems intent on refuting just such a thesis. Focusing on Ben and his grandfather Papaw, a centenarian stonemason, the play presents Ben as seeking, through mastery of the mason’s secrets, to become custodian to knowledge that will unlock the mysteries not just of a trade but of the cosmos. Yet this Gnostic quest fosters in him a moral negligence that leads to the deaths of two family members. Indeed, Ben’s tragedy stems precisely from his Gnostic prizing of secret lore and indifference to the Christian lessons Papaw himself most values—lessons not in god-like knowledge but in the practice of faith, humility, and love.

Faith as a Mechanism for Health Promotion among Rural African American Prostate Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Examination.

Conceptualized using critical race theory as a theoretical underpinning, this study analyzed the lived experiences of older, rural, African American male prostate cancer (hereafter referenced as PrCA) survivors’ faith and health promotion practices within Northeast Louisiana. Qualitative data from journaling, observations, and semi-structured interviews were obtained from ten older, African American male PrCA survivors residing in four rural parishes of Louisiana. The data analysis employed a two-stage approach known as Polkinghorne’s analysis of narratives and narrative analysis using an art-based methodological approach. Framed as composite character counterstories, survivors’ narratives revealed how survivors made sense of and gave meaning to their PrCA diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and survivorship. Specifically, their counterstories indicate that centering and honoring the unique and often taken-for-granted perspectives of older, rural, African American male PrCA survivors offered a deeper understanding of the multiple factors influencing their quality of life, as well as the sociostructural mechanisms impacting their survivorship care. Faith was examined as both a secular and sacred source of support that these men viewed as central to the acceptance of their diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and survivorship.

Take-home and digital Lenten filter ashes for Ash Wednesday: creative ritual practices of faith during COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, previous research cautioned that complex and meaningful quotidian rituals involving intimate touch need re-evaluation as these pose a hygienic concern in pandemic culture. Faith-based practices entail human-to-human contact that could inevitably cause the virus infection contagion if not appropriately addressed. In a World Health Organization document, the crucial role of inter-faith collaboration and sharing of best practices to combat the spread of the virus are encouraged. In this correspondence, we assert that taking home ashes and launching digital Lenten ashes filter are non-traditional yet creative ways for the Catholic Church to perform the ritual practice in celebrating Ash Wednesday. We argued that such creative ritual practices changed the landscape of faith-based practices and implied trans-local participation of the Catholic community as witnesses of faith while upkeeping public health.

Penerapan Pendidikan Karakter dan Penerapannya Perspektif Hadis Tarbawi

A person's character is the process of how parents choose a life partner until they are born into the world and then associate with their environment. Good character is a process of journey from time to time that needs to be taught from childhood to growing up. The purpose of this research is to examine how the concept of character education, types of character education and its application of the hadith tarbawi perspective with the hope that parents, educators, and students can understand, understand, and implement the concept of character education taught by the Prophet Muhammad based on the hadiths that have been narrated from various schools of thought through the practice of faith, disrespect and discipline in order to create a character with noble character, noble character, and love one another. In addition, this research can change the perspective and thinking of parents and teachers in educating children through the sunnah of the Prophet SAW through the teachings of Islamic law which have been clearly described and strengthened by the Al-Qur'an.

Faith-Based Coping Among Arabic-Speaking Refugees Seeking Mental Health Services in Berlin, Germany: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

Background: The benefits of faith-based coping or using religious and spiritual beliefs as a stabilizing force for interpreting stressful or distressing events are largely unexplored among the exodus of Arabic-speaking refugee populations from Muslim-majority countries, particularly those resettled in Europe. The present study aimed to explore the manifestation of faith-based coping strategies among Arabic-speaking refugee adults seeking mental healthcare services in Berlin, Germany and explore how favorable faith-based coping strategies can be optimized from a mental health service-delivery and broader integration perspective.Methods: A total of 17 qualitative interviews were conducted with Arabic-speaking refugee adults (six females, 11 males) seeking mental health services at the Charité Universitaetsmedizin in Berlin. Research questions aimed to solicit comprehensive perspectives from refugee adults on their mental health, with an emphasis on faith-based coping, and how this facilitated or impeded their integration into German society. Interview transcripts were translated to English from Arabic and analyzed using MAXQDA (2018) to highlight thematic patterns using a grounded theory approach.Results: Findings were structured into four themes, including: (I) faith-based coping methods during flight, (II) changes in faith practices upon arrival, (III) faith-based coping methods to address distress during integration, and (IV) advice for German mental healthcare providers. Participants who demonstrated a stronger commitment to faith were more likely to utilize faith-based coping strategies when seeking mental health services and facing the challenges of displacement and integration. Examples of faith-based coping included prayer, supplication, reciting scripture, and seeking help from a local religious leader.Conclusion: The findings suggest how faith and faith practices play a significant role in the mental health and integration of refugee populations in Germany and provide insight on how mental healthcare can be delivered in a culturally-sensitive manner, providing alternatives to the social, cultural, and linguistic barriers posed by the German health system. These findings are particularly relevant for mental health professionals, non-governmental organizations, and humanitarian aid agencies providing mental healthcare to Arabic-speaking populations recently resettled in Western contexts.

Editorial

The Pentecostal movement has since its inception been a dynamic movement in which the theology, practice, and expressions of faith have shifted. This is primarily, but not solely, due to four central factors. First, it is a movement and not a centralized organization, meaning that there is no central authority that governs how it develops, when and how new congregations or churches are formed, and how these evolve. As a movement, it is a loose collection of churches and groups, some of which do not specifically self-identify as Pentecostal, but are categorized by academics as Pentecostal due to their theology and/or practices. The article by Podolecka and Cheyeka explores this reality in Zambia where some churches consider themselves Pentecostal while other Pentecostals do not recognize these churches as part of the movement. In a different vein, Aidoo examines the phenomena of cursing prayers in which pastors criticize each other and claim other pastors as not being Christians in their prayers. Second, there is no centralized canonical theology determined by a particular body or group with authority to establish and enforce rules or regulations, meaning that the groups and churches in the movement are free to development their own theologies. The article by Resane explores this idea as he examines the impact of the Shepherding Movement within Pentecostalism and how a group of five men in the USA established a model for how churches should be run, but the movement was problematic and fell apart in the 1990s.

Postmodernism and Faith: An Evaluation of the Auto-Positioning of Pentecostalism and its Sacred Boundaries in Ghana

The past 30-40 years have seen a growth in Pentecostalism in Ghana. It has been good news for the growth of Christianity, but it has also not eluded the postmodernist influences on faith, belief, and theology. Part of this influence which is redefining the precincts of Christianity can be attributed to the concepts of ‘narrativism’ and ‘postsecularism’, which are described as ramifications of postmodernism. This work examines the current religious atmosphere in Ghana and other influences which expound the dynamisms that are changing the basis of Chrisitian faith, religion, and socio-cultural practices. The foremost interest is to analytically use the postmodern concept to explain the new phase of religion and other influences of Pentecostalism in Ghana today. And how the determinants of postmodern tendencies have influence local and microscopic forms of religious undercurrents in society. It brings to light the new theological and philosophical grounds on which new philosophies can enhance new directives and conjectures for the understanding and growth of religion and culture in the African context. Keywords: Pentecostalism, Narrativism, Christianity, Postmodernism, Postsecularism, Religion.

Synergies of Devotion, Compassion, and Wisdom in Śāntideva for Buddhists and Christians

This essay will focus on three kinds of practice that help structure Śāntideva's Bodhicaryāvatāra (BCA): (1) practices of faith and devotion, (2) practices for cultivating compassion, and (3) practices for cultivating the nondual wisdom of emptiness. We will explore how these three types of practice, as explained in the BCA text, function synergistically to inform and empower each other on the path of a bodhisattva. I will draw on selected verses of the BCA to illustrate this point, and then relate it to recent writings on Śāntideva by Christian theologians Perry Schmidt-Leukel and Mark Heim.

Critical Religious Pluralism in Higher Education: A Social Justice Framework to Support Religious Diversity by Jenny L. Small

Reviewed by: Critical Religious Pluralism in Higher Education: A Social Justice Framework to Support Religious Diversity by Jenny L. Small Saran Donahoo Critical Religious Pluralism in Higher Education: A Social Justice Framework to Support Religious Diversity Jenny L. Small New York, NY: Routledge, 2020, 104 pages, $59.95 (hardcover), $20.95 (ebook) Building on her research on faith, religion, and spirituality among college students and in student affairs, Jenny L. Small concludes that higher education remains a site of Christian privilege. Elements of Christianity continue to influence campus holiday and academic schedules; decorations and menu items; and events and celebrations. Even though institutions frequently use nonreligious terms such as winter break, the schedules continue to revolve around Christmas with little consideration to holidays such as Hanukkah and those of other religions. To that end, Small outlines the critical religious pluralism theory (CRPT) as an instrument colleges and universities can use to examine and improve their approaches to and support for religious pluralism. As a Black woman, I am accustomed to being an outsider to most forms of privilege; however, Small's discussion of Christian privilege reminds me that this is not always the case. Unlike my race, sex, and other characteristics, my identity as a Christian allows me to benefit from religious privilege, which becomes evident every time someone says "Merry Christmas." There are a wide array of greetings cards for every occasion that connect with my religion. It is with ease that I can find a place to practice my faith each time I move to a new community. Knowing how it feels to experience other forms of marginalization, I concur with Small's effort to challenge inequality instead of "allowing it to continue to reproduce" (p. 12). In Critical Religious Pluralism in Higher Education, Small details the pervasiveness of Christian privilege and its connection to higher education. This work challenges the exclusionary foundation of our institutions that are built on Christianity and pushes the individual beneficiaries of this privilege to recognize and reduce its role in oppression. The book contains five chapters, each written as individual essays. Chapter 1 helps to explain the need for a new theoretical model for examining and supporting religious pluralism by identifying the existence of Christonormativity (Christian privilege) in the US and how higher education maintains this privilege. Historically, many US colleges and universities began as religious institutions or were affiliated with a church to establish legitimacy and obtain financial support (Geiger, 2014; Turpin, 2020). While public and several private institutions no longer have designated religious affiliations, Small asserts that these institutions continue to privilege Christianity (and to a lesser degree, Judaism) in academic planning, calendars, and organizational spaces on or near campus properties. Such privilege exposes the weaknesses of religious tolerance as Christianity continues to dominate academic and social spaces. Recognizing the failure of religious tolerance, Small proposes CRPT to help those affiliated with higher education institutions to dismantle this privilege and thereby create environments that embrace those who practice any faith, as well as those who lack any religious association. Chapters 2 and 3 further establish the foundation for CRPT. With a review of literature of religion, spirituality, and faith practice and [End Page 383] their decline among college students, chapter 2 covers religion as a socially constructed identity. Providing a theoretical foundation in chapter 3, Small examines critical race theory (CRT) and Latinx critical theory (LatCrit) as challenges to the status quo that help pave the way for critical thought about religion. Both CRT and LatCrit are helpful in analyzing the ways that structures and social arrangements promote and maintain racial oppression. Small also highlights that these theories give limited attention to religion, thus creating the need for an additional mechanism in this area. Small devotes the last two chapters of her book to defining and suggesting applications for her theory. In chapter 4, Small describes the seven tenets of CRPT (p. 62): • US society has institutionalized Christianity in various aspects of society including higher education, which subordinates other religions and anyone who does not have a Christian affiliation. • CRPT provides a way to examine religion, its connection to and influence on culture, and its intersections with all other forms...