Real Existence Research Articles

The Church in the Public Space: Lessons from the Exodus Church in Jürgen Moltmann’s Theology of Hope

The ecclesial community's call to duty and ability to carry out its mission is centered on how relevant it must become to the existential realities of those living in the public sphere. Jürgen Moltmann makes what can only be considered as a concise statement when he states that, to make Christianity accessible to the masses, theology must openly uphold the universal concerns of God's coming Kingdom. The church, following its own faith principles, must demonstrate "general concern in the light of hope in Christ for the kingdom of God" by becoming "political in the name of the poor and the marginalized in a given society, by thinking critically about the religious and moral values of the societies in which it exists." Christian theology continues to be the mouthpiece of the church. This article's goal is to discuss Jürgen Moltmann's straightforward explanation of the church's public relevance in helping people remember why it exists in all forms of human sociality. This article's reflections aim to highlight the fact that the Christian church can only be seen to be fulfilling its mission when it is perceived as the voice of the voiceless, bringing God's fullness to human flourishing, and providing true meaning to human tranquillity in a difficult and uncertain world.

The YMCA (Yes, Magellanic Clouds Again) survey: Probing the outer regions of the Magellanic system with VST

Context. The Magellanic Clouds (MCs) are the Milky Way’s most massive dwarf satellites. As they also represent the closest pair of galaxies in an ongoing tidal interaction while simultaneously infalling into the Milky Way halo, they provide a unique opportunity to study in detail an ongoing three-body encounter. Aims. We present the YMCA (Yes, Magellanic Clouds Again) survey: Probing the outer regions of the Magellanic system with VST, based on deep optical photometry carried out with the VLT Survey Telescope (VST). Methods. The YMCA survey targeted 110 square degrees, in the g and i filters, in the periphery of both MCs, including a long strip in between the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The photometry of YMCA is sufficiently deep (50% complete down to g ≃ 23.5 − 24.0 mag) to allow for a detailed analysis of main-sequence stars in regions of the MCs that have remained relatively unexplored at these faint magnitudes. Results. The resulting colour–magnitude diagrams reveal that the outskirts of the MCs are predominantly characterised by intermediate-age and old stellar populations, with limited or negligible evidence of recent star formation. The analysis of the age distribution of star clusters (SCs) within the surveyed area, both already known and newly discovered candidates, hints at a close fly-by between the LMC and SMC that occurred ≃2.5 − 3.0 Gyr ago, in agreement with previous results. We also report the discovery of candidate SCs with ages within the so-called age-gap, thus questioning its real existence.

Food, Migration, and Place Consciousness in Chika Unigwe’s Better Never than Late

ABSTRACT In this study, we examine the multidimensional facets of food, migration, and individuals’ sense of otherness and dis/connection to place as represented in selected fictional works from Nigeria. The article pays attention in particular to Chika Unigwe’s short story collection, Better Never than Late (2019), which explores the experiences of a group of Nigerian migrants and Europeans living in Belgium through connected stories. Drawing on the theoretical insights of postcolonialism, negofeminism, and affect theory, we explore the connectedness of African migrant personae and their sensitiveness to food and place in the fictive universe of this short story collection. We disentangle the manner in which food and the occasions of meals creatively catalyze different forms of migrant and diasporic consciousness and embodied experiences, including gender consciousness, personhood, and sociocultural angst. The article traces the representation of food in different but connected narratives of estrangement within the African diaspora. The representation of food in fictional works allows for reflection on the psychosocial and existential realities of Africans in a fluid late modern world.

The Humanity of Faith: Kierkegaard’s Secularization of Christianity

The nature and practice of Christianity is a major, if not the primary, topic in Kierkegaard’s authorship. What it means to live a Christian life is a persistent topic in many of his major works, and yet, he spends most of his authorship criticizing traditional ways of practicing Christianity. While his critique of institutionalized Christianity and merciless unmasking of the hypocrisy of self-proclaimed Christians is rather clear, namely that they are not actually Christian, it is more difficult to get a clear idea of Kierkegaard’s alternative. What is a true and sincere Christian life for Kierkegaard? The argument of this article is that Kierkegaard’s famous existential approach to Christianity amounts to a secularization of Christianity and as such can be seen as a critical development of and not a rejection of the Enlightenment critique of religion. The article uses Kant as an advocate of the Enlightenment critique of religion that Kierkegaard inherits and develops critically, and after having examined Kierkegaard’s existential dialectics, an outline of Kant’s transcendental approach is, presented against which Kierkegaard’s existential alternative is examined in more detail. Kierkegaard’s existential approach is radical with its insistence on “that single individual” and on the existential challenges of human freedom that Kant banned from his analysis of both morality and faith. While Kant presents us with the transcendental possibility of faith, Kierkegaard is concerned with the existential reality of faith. It is argued that Kierkegaard’s existential analysis of faith helps us to find the connection between radical individual choice and the rational morality that is not always evident in Enlightenment—and especially Kantian—accounts of morality.

Taking Issue with Le Poidevin’s New Agnosticism

Le Poidevin’s ‘new agnosticism’ concerns partaking in religious life while being uncertain whether religious discourse is fictional or not. Le Poidevin has offered two distinct versions of the new agnosticism, ‘semantic agnosticism’ and ‘meta-linguistic agnosticism’. I suggest that the first, ‘semantic agnosticism’, should be rejected, mainly because it involves a highly questionable view of truth and fails to properly distinguish fictional existence from real existence. The second, ‘meta-linguistic agnosticism’ seems acceptable as a view of religious discourse but not as a foundation for a religious life. A meta-linguistic agnostic will not be able to take the proper attitude towards religious propositions, since what is the proper attitude varies greatly between realism and fictionalism. Even more importantly, she will not know when it is rationally permissible to perform religious actions, because she will not know whether real-life concerns should take precedence or not. Le Poidevin’s meta-linguistic agnostic is also a truth-agnostic, and I conclude that adding meta-linguistic agnosticism to truth-agnosticism only complicates matters without offering any benefits.

Four theories to empower black men's existence: Meaning making in dehumanizing contexts

AbstractMost theories used to explore existential realities of clients were developed and informed by White Eurocentric philosophers, who overlooked the impact of race and racism on identity. At a time when Black men continue to experience threats to their survival, such as through the epidemics of racial violence and health disparities of COVID‐19, it is critical for professional counselors to appropriately incorporate racial and gendered perspectives into existential conceptualizations of client experience. In this paper, we identify four theoretical frameworks for clinicians to adopt in working with Black men's existential realities: Black existentialism, Black liberation narrative therapy, critical race theory, and radical healing psychotherapy. We locate these theories within the context of impacts from the dual pandemics of racial trauma and COVID‐19, applying mini‐vignettes to demonstrate how each theory can be responsive to the existential needs of Black men.

Exploring the Impacts of Social Media Simulation in Lockwood’s No One Is Talking About This: A Socio-psychological Analysis

The present study interrogates hyperreality and social media simulation in the novel ‘No One Is Talking About This’ by an American novelist Patricia Lockwood. The plot of the selected novel centers on a woman who lives more of a reel life than a real existence and is constantly online. Lockwood’s ‘No One is Talking About This’ has been analyzed to find out such type of issue of human beings by theory of Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard. The selected novel shows the influence of hyper-reality and social media problems on human mind and psyche. This novel focuses on the hyperreality and social media problems. Through simulacra and simulation, people create and articulate reality, then present it as genuine. Through his theory of simulacra and simulation, Jean Baudrillard makes it clear to the world that we are never sure what is artificial and what is genuine. We now live in a hyperreal world where simulations of reality feel more real than actual reality, akin to a global village. The widespread adoption of digital gadgets and social media has rendered the internet appear and feel more authentic. The barrier that separated picture from reality has crumbled. Hyperreality is a central theme that underscores the protagonist's experiences and perceptions. The selected novel highlights apprehensions about the veracity of our relationships and experiences in a hyperreal world and serves as a warning about the possible risks of an over-reliance on technology and virtual encounters. Additional investigation may be conducted to examine the effects of hyperreality on particular demographics, including teenagers, who are more likely to be extensively involved in social media and virtual reality activities. The data in this framework was chosen by the researcher using non-random sampling methods. The study's findings demonstrate that simulations and similacros create an environment that is utterly unlike from human reality. Its findings also demonstrate how hyperreality impacts people's lives. In this investigation, the researchers have emanated the conclusion that hyperreality has now taken the place of reality and that reality itself has entirely transformed. The protagonist's absorption in "the portal," a digital environment akin to social media, effectively illustrates Jean Baudrillard's idea of hyperreality, where the line between reality and simulation blurs. The researchers draw attention to the significant socio-psychological effects of detachment between real and the virtual worlds

The Origin of Geomagnetism

The paper clarifies that a magnetic field is not a real material existence and concludes that a magnetic field is essentially a contracting electric field in motion. Based on this new principle, all electromagnetic laws can be derived and proven. Experiments confirm that there is indeed an electrostatic field around a static magnetic field, which is a powerful scientific proof of the new principle that a magnetic field is a contracting electric field in motion. The paper believes that the westward movement of negative ion-containing air in the Earth's upper layers is the fundamental reason for the generation of geomagnetism. Due to the fact that a magnetic field is a contracting electric field in motion, the author determines that people in different motion situations will see different moving electric fields on the Earth, namely, they will see different geomagnetic fields. He further determines that an observer outside the Earth who is stationary relative to the Sun will see a strong geomagnetic field with the North Pole being the South pole.

Material culture in the Old Testament: Conflict and propaganda with Missionary Christianity

Cultural materiality as evident in the Old Testament (OT) was borne out of personal and corporate experiences of ancient Israelites with YHWH (Ex 16:32–34; 25–36; Nm 16–17, Jos 3–4). At the dawn of Christian Missions, certain indigenous religious objects became ‘idolatrous’, but across the Atlantic Ocean, they were works of art kept in museums and art galleries. This negatively impacted biblical reception by the locals. This work investigates select OT icons and wades into their ontological and existential significance in relation to the conflict and propaganda of Missionary Christianity towards indigenous icons. The narrative criticism and the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) including Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were engaged in the study while the Symbolic Interactionism was the theoretical framework. The objects preserved by ancient Israel were to serve as relics for future generations who were to have an existential knowledge of YHWH’s dealings with their forebears. Western missionaries claimed to have transmitted biblical messages to Africa, yet their approach led to conflicts in biblical reception by the indigenous people who struggled between being detached from their existential realities, and accepting the gospel with its Eurocentric biases. The Western missionaries’ inability to transmit the biblical understanding of cultural materiality in their dealings with Africans invites suspicion in the missionaries’ efforts with a pretentious display of ignorance of the ontological significance of indigenous materiality.Contribution: This article offers insight into the conflict and propaganda inherent in the Western missionaries’ approach in transmitting biblical messages of cultural materiality, and challenges of biblical reception among indigenous people in Nigeria.

Teaching/Learning Philosophy In High School: Case Of Congo

This article is a study and research carried out among students in final year literary classes and Philosophy teachers, at the Nganga Edouard high school in Brazzaville Congo), during the 2019-2020 school year. We wanted to answer the following question: what are the didactic and pedagogical problems that philosophy teachers encounter in the transmission of knowledge related to existence and its problems? This question is linked to the didactics and pedagogy of philosophy in high school. Propose didactics and pedagogy of philosophy, more adapted to the theme entitled “the philosophical teaching of existence and its problems”. We arrive at the following results: the difficulties of philosophical teaching on existence and its problems in literary final year classes are linked to the misuse of didactics and pedagogy by teachers; the theme of existence and its problems is not well taught in high school because of the limitations experienced by teachers regarding the methodical explanation of the subjects; the teaching of this theme is too theoretical and far from the real existence and daily experience of learners. We suggest an interactive didactic approach; a participatory pedagogy; an integration of the real problems of the learners' existence, in the content of the lessons.

INTRODUCTION OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES IN MUSEUMS: CREATING AN ELECTRONIC ARCHIVE AND DATABASE

In the context of museum communication with visitors, the primary goal is interactive communication. Currently, the most relevant aspect is not the instrumental role of cutting-edge technologies, but rather their potential for enhancing traditional museums. Moreover, it is particularly intriguing to assess whether these technologies can fundamentally impact a conservative museum institution, open new horizons in virtual space, and attempt to envision the museum’s future—undoubtedly closely tied to the overall course of cultural evolution. Introducing people to the museum, fostering their attachment, and making them regular visitors and friends of the museum remain steadfast objectives for its successful existence. The presence of a museum in a social network makes both its virtual and real existence visible and tangible. Museums and their collections can be presented from a new perspective while preserving their individuality and relevance for a new audience. The application of innovative technologies and the implementation of automated systems significantly enhance the efficiency of solving tasks that museums encounter throughout their existence.

No good choices, only hard decisions: the delicate nature of team family communication in pompe disease

Objective: To describe the experience of a family going through the palliative care decision-making for a child with Pompe disease. Method: Qualitative research, case study design, approved by Ethics Committee (CAAE: 58643816400005327), conducted between 2017/2018. The setting was the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital in Brazil. Participants were family members of children admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and referred for palliative care. Results: The case study relates the decision-making on palliative care for a child with Pompe disease. The parents, surrounded by the palliative care available for the situation, experience the existential reality of the decision-making process to adopt palliative care for their child, together with the multi-professional team. Conclusions: Understanding the concept of quality of life that each family develops when faced with the seriousness of their child's illness, when the possibilities of cure have been exhausted, is fundamental to the decision making process for adopting palliative care. It is essential to include the participation of the child's or adolescent's parents and other family members in the palliative care decision-making process, in order to give the family a voice, minimising their doubts and suffering, as well as offering shelter in a situation of extreme existential vulnerability.

Understanding COVID-19 birth-pangs’ theological responses and the promised Parousia of Jesus

Jesus in Matthew 24 presaged to his disciples about the eschatological birth-pangs that would be occurring in the world in the interim of his departure and his promised Parousia and the end of this age. It is a theological concern how the disciples of Jesus in every era are to be responding to eschatological birth-pangs in the light of Jesus’ promised Parousia. This study is based on the existential reality that many Nigerian professing Christians do not understand how they are to be responding to an eschatological birth-pang like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in relation to the promised Parousia of Jesus. How then are the elects in Nigeria to be responding to eschatological occurrence like COVID-19 and as well be preparing for the Parousia of Jesus? Therefore, using redaction criticism approach of conducting biblical exegesis, this study focusses on theologically interpreting the context of Matthew 24:15−51, to unveil and recommend pragmatic theological Christian responses that underline how Nigerian Christians are to be righteously responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as an eschatological birth-pang, and as well be preparing for the promised Parousia of Jesus.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: In the Olivet-discourse, Jesus in advance informed his disciples how they are to be responding to the birth-pangs, and also be preparing for his Parousia. This study explored Matthew 24:15−51 and unveils how the church in Nigeria is to be responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as an eschatological birth-pang in the light of Jesus’ promised Parousia.

Revolutionary Confucianism? Neo-Confucian Idealism and Modern Chinese Revolutionary Thought

This article explores the relationship between materialism and philosophical idealism in the political philosophy of Marxist revolutionary movements, by illuminating the influence of Neo-Confucian idealism on the sinification of Marxism. Although they had virtually no access to the writings of the young Marx, Li Dazhao and Mao Zedong incorporated idealist philosophical ideas into their sinified Marxism. I argue that three elements of Neo-Confucian idealism contributed to the sinification of Marxism that emerged by the 1940s: (1) acknowledgment of the real existence of the material world as apprehended by the mind-and-heart in Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism; (2) emphasis on human will and consciousness, drawn from Wang Yangming’s Neo-Confucianism; and (3) recognition of an autonomous, even decisive role of consciousness and culture in revolutionary change. The resulting sinified Marxism constituted a revolutionary New Confucianism, highlighting the most universal, humanistic, liberative elements in the Chinese philosophical tradition. These community-affirming and spiritually rich elements can be mobilized against authoritarian forces to support the continuing struggle for human rights and democratization within and well beyond China today.

Ens reale, ens rationis, or Something In-Between?

Abstract The ontological status of esse cognitum was at the center of complex debates throughout the Scotist tradition (Alnwick vs. Aesculo, Mastri vs. Punch). This article investigates the Scotist Angelo Volpe’s discussion of esse cognitum enjoyed by possible creatures in the divine intellect. Volpe responds to two religious warnings, one against assuming any eternal real being for merely possible creatures, and a second against depriving God’s eternal knowledge of a corresponding object, since that would endanger this knowledge itself. Volpe opts for a solution that allows possible creatures the status of beings of reason (entia rationis) due to their own ontological merit, and the status of real beings (entia realia) due to God’s knowing that they as possibles are not in opposition to real existence. He rejects the view that esse cognitum is a kind of being that holds a middle position between real being and being of reason. Volpe’s historical significance is emphasized.

Seeking Ourselves in the Strange: Self-Knowledge in the Nietzsche’s Genealogy

In the nuanced tapestry of Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morality, the exploration of self-knowledge emerges as a central, yet subtly presented, theme. This paper delves into the profound depths of this theme, uncovering the intricacies and challenges inherent in Nietzsche’s portrayal of the self’s quest. Nietzsche’s work not only critically deconstructs the fallacies entrenched in conventional self-awareness but also charts an unorthodox path toward a more authentic understanding of the self. Embarking on this intellectual journey, the paper scrutinizes the notable juxtaposition found between the first and second sections of the Genealogy’s preface, shedding light on the intricate relationship between moral constructs and self-realization. It then interprets the profound ramifications of Nietzsche’s assertion, particularly in the preface’s first section, that true self-knowledge is perennially shrouded in unfamiliarity. This study meticulously examines key terminologies such as ‘sought’, contextualized within Nietzsche’s broader philosophical oeuvre, to trace the implicit, yet profound, pathway to self-knowledge that Nietzsche advocates. Ultimately, this exploration asserts that Nietzsche’s Genealogy extends beyond merely exposing the inadequacies of conventional moral doctrines. It emphatically champions a perpetual pursuit of openness and an exploratory spirit in the odyssey towards self-discovery. This process involves embracing the unfamiliar and courageously engaging with the ebb and flow of one’s existential reality, as part of the continual quest to understand and define the self.

Cultural Heritage and the Social Dynamics of Building Strong Institutions in Nigeria

Several scholarly debates have proven the fact that, without solid Social Institutions, a society cannot realize even the basic societal task of growth and sustainable development. In a situation such as this, the tendencies for citizenry to tilt towards heinous crimes and other harmful practices would certainly be high. Therefore, interrogating the social dynamics that enable nations realize their past history, know what to preserve and how to connect such with existential realities of contemporary times becomes a necessary proposition especially in Nigeria. From a feminist perspective, if the dominant ideology in social institutions craves for women to be perceived as second fiddle and subservient to men in a society already experiencing Globalization, cultural diffusion and technology, then there will be suppression of the female gender, such as inheritance rights. The paper argued that, even in contemporary times, the Nigerian nation still lacks solid Social Institutions, and by means of that still struggling to adapt to new cultural conditions with dominant ideology that can help maintain powerful social, economic and political interest for both sexes. Needless to say that, in recent decades, there has been a lot of exchange of ideas and concepts, through a worldwide integration of cultures, social movements; government policies that the Nigerian nation is yet to key into. Using qualitative descriptive analysis of primary and secondary data centered on conflict theory which lays emphasis on the importance of interest over norms and values and how societies are characterized by inequality, the paper assert that, strong Social Institutions as mechanisms of social order should be encouraged to produce social needs such as family, education, healthcare, religion, and politics.

Development of the judicial system as a subject research in post-non-classical science

Social concern with issues of justice, objectivity, independence and effectiveness of justice has accompanied humanity since the time of the need to resolve disputes that arise by turning to a third independent judge. Much has been said about this in the writings of ancient authors during the existence of classical scientific rationality. In non-classical scientific rationality, this discourse acquires its specific characteristics, and the achievements of post-non-classical science objectify the need for further transformations in the judicial sphere, the legitimacy of justice. This is due to the fact that the structure of the judiciary is in a relationship of functional dependence on social systems as one of the substructures of state power, which has a huge impact on the economic, political, rule-making, cultural and moral spheres of social practice. For the judicial system at all times, the attributive properties are not only the continuity of its existence, but also the dynamism of its own structures or individual institutions, which at various stages of real existence are characterized by transformational changes, sometimes cardinal. In order to increase the efficiency of the social functioning of the judicial system, to meet its needs of legal development, it is necessary to generalize scientific ideas about judicial transformations as a real historical and legal phenomenon that accompanied the existence of state power. The article characterizes the essential features of the concepts “judicial system”, “judicial reforms”, “judicial reform”.

Intimate Contact in the Landscape of Mortality: Commentary on Papers by Rachel Kozlowski and Kirsten Lentz

ABSTRACT The following is a discussion of papers by Kozlowski and Lentz that explore the presence of mortality in the analytic relationship. The author reflects on challenges to the dyad, the vulnerability of the analyst, and how the individual and analytic pair may confront their existential reality separately or together. The author includes the idea of “death origin stories” to emphasize that mortality has a presence throughout the life of the individual; she suggests how psychoanalytic theory and technique may be enhanced by including an explanation of the earliest penetration of death into consciousness and whether this lens may enhance our sensitivity to mortality and our ability to manage loss and endings.

An Analysis of The Luo Sacrificial Rite: A Phenomenological Approach

I. Introduction As we prepare to handle the concept and practice of sacrifice among the Luo community in Kenya it is important for us to outline the difficulties appertaining to the concept of sacrifice as a religious act in general. There are many theories that have been propagated about sacrifice. These theories are just but an attempt to give an explanation to the reason as to why sacrificial action has to be performed, and in some cases they are not getting to the real background of the sacrificial event. Despite all this, sacrifice has always remained one of the most problematic issues in the history of comparative religions, not exactly because it puts in doubt its real existence in history, but first, because it is difficult to find a consensus on the nature and concept of sacrifice, in as much as this category is not able to define a class of homogeneous and distinct phenomena.