Religious Arguments Research Articles

SEKULYARİZMDƏN POSTSEKULYARİZMƏ: PARADİQMATİK DƏYİŞİKLİK?

This article explores the idea of postsecularism and the concept of post-secular society, focusing on the evolving relationship between religion and contemporary society. In the contemporary world, the interplay between religion and public life has undergone significant transformations due to globalization, multiculturalism, and the persistence of religious influence in social and political spheres. The study highlights the limitations of secularism, which advocates for the separation of religion from public and political life, and contrasts it with post-secularism, which acknowledges the enduring relevance of religion in modern societies. Habermas characterizes post-secular societies as those where religion retains a prominent role despite the processes of secularization. He argues that religious communities must adapt to modernity by engaging with scientific knowledge and secular laws, adopting a reflexive stance. Simultaneously, secular citizens should recognize the social value of religious beliefs rather than dismissing them as archaic remnants. This reciprocal adjustment fosters a dialogic space where religious and secular perspectives coexist and contribute to public discourse. The article outlines the differences between secularism and post-secularism. Secularism seeks to marginalize religion to the private sphere, emphasizing rational and scientific thought in public decision-making. In contrast, post-secularism integrates religion into the public sphere, viewing it as a source of moral and cultural values. Habermas proposes a "translation process," where religious arguments in public debates are reframed in universally accessible, secular language. To summarize, the article emphasizes that post-secularism offers a more inclusive framework for democratic societies, balancing religious and secular perspectives while addressing global challenges collaboratively.

Abortion Law as Premeditated Murder: Assessing the Equality of Human and Fetal Rights to Life

Abortion is a complex issue that involves legal, ethical, and religious debates regarding the right to life. This article argues that abortion should be treated as premeditated murder because it involves the deliberate termination of a human life. By examining the concept of the right to life as outlined in international law and bioethical perspectives, the article explores whether fetuses have the same rights to life as fully developed humans. It further delves into the implications of abortion as a violation of the right to life and the potential legal consequences of treating abortion as a premeditated crime. The article also reflects on how different countries’ abortion regulations align with or contrast the notion of protecting the fetus’s right to life.

Transnational Tactics and National Pushback

This paper examines the strategic two-level approach employed by anti-gender movements in Latin America to counter progressive legislation and human rights frameworks. At the national level, these movements target gender equality initiatives through discursive attacks on the so-called “gender ideology,” while at the international level, they work to undermine the very human rights bodies that guarantee these protections. Through comparative case studies of Guatemala and Paraguay, the research analyzes how these movements mobilize religious and secular arguments to frame gender equality as a foreign imposition, threatening national sovereignty and traditional values. The paper demonstrates how these movements have evolved from religious opposition to strategic secularism, allowing them to broaden their appeal beyond reproductive rights to oppose diverse gender equality initiatives. The findings reveal coordinated transnational networks that simultaneously dismantle progressive policies domestically while strategically infiltrating international organizations to weaken human rights protections from within.

Islamic Religion's Oral Dakwah in Socialised Halal Product Certification in The District of Kejaksan, Cirebon City

Verbal da'wah (da'wah bil oral) is a verbal communication method used by Islamic religious counselors to convey Islamic teachings, including the socialization of halal product certification. In Kejaksan District, Cirebon City, public awareness and business actors' compliance with halal certification still needs improvement. Religious counselors play a crucial role in providing an understanding of the urgency of consuming halal products in accordance with Islamic teachings and applicable regulations. Through a persuasive communication approach, logical arguments, emotional appeals, and ethical considerations are the primary strategies in verbal da'wah to increase public awareness and adherence to halal products. This study aims to describe the strategies employed by Islamic religious counselors in socializing halal certification, focusing on three aspects: (1) the presentation of logical arguments based on the Qur'an, hadith, and relevant regulations; (2) the emotional approach through inspirational stories and real-life experiences to build a connection with the community; and (3) ethical preaching that emphasizes politeness and persuasive methods to ensure message acceptance without resistance. This r esearch employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive method and a case study design. Data collection was conducted through observation, interviews, and documentation. The findings indicate that religious counselors present logical arguments regarding the obligation of consuming halal products and their relationship to health and blessings. The emotional approach is implemented through inspirational narratives that foster empathy within the community. Meanwhile, ethical and persuasive preaching, as recommended in Surah An-Nahl: 125, ensures that the message is well received. This study recommends further exploration of the effectiveness of verbal da'wah in socializing halal certification through digital platforms, such as social media and Islamic educational applications. A comparative study in different regions is also suggested to assess the effectiveness of da'wah methods in diverse social and cultural contexts. The findings are expected to contribute to innovations in da'wah and expand the reach of halal certification socialization.

Evangelical Friends of Israel and Right-Wing Movements in the US and Brazil

Abstract In political demonstrations, conservative Christian groups frequently include Israeli flags and speeches in support of Israel. This is in line with a long-standing trend, which links peculiar interpretations of apocalyptic texts with the future of Jewish people, resulting nowadays in a movement known as Christian Zionism. The diffuse association between the religiosity of Jewish people and the modern state of Israel has made it easier for conservative Christians to legitimize with religious arguments their support for political parties and politicians who declare unrestricted support for the state of Israel and its policies, even if they radically deny many other core values of Christianity. In the US, they support the Republican Party’s international policy on the state of Israel; in Brazil, Christian Zionism gives strong support to Jair Bolsonaro and his radical right movement. In this article, I intend to show the origin and some characteristics of the apocalyptic interpretations in the US and Brazil and how they contributed to linking conservative evangelical Christians with the radical political right. To conclude, pointing out some political tendencies of the alliance between Christian Zionism and the radical right, especially in positions concerning international relations regarding the state of Israel.

TAHLILAN’S REPERTOIRE IN SEBUAH CERITA TENTANG BID’AH DI DUSUN KAMI

This research aimed to examine these short stories in order to dissect the themes, characters and plot to reveal the tahlilan repertoire. To achieve this goal, this research used Wolfgang Iser's Aesthetic Response theory. This research was qualitative in nature, the primary data came from the NUonline page and the secondary one in the form related previous texts. The data obtained was analyzed through several stages, namely identification, classification and interpretation. This study identified two key repertoires, namely the repertoire of religious norm, which described the concept of heresy and it's legal basis, and the repertoire of social norm, which explained the negative and positive perspective of tahlilan from two religious groups. Among these, the repertoire of religious norm was the most dominant, as it served as the foundation for the conflicting perspectives in the narrative. This research highlighted how different groups' interpretation of tahlilan based on religious arguments and social traditions, shaping the broader discourse on religious practices in society.

Public Reason and Injustice: Analysing Rawls’ and Habermas’ Requirements for the Introduction of Religious Arguments into Public Discourse

Abstract The relationship between public reason and religious voices is an issue that never loses its relevance in liberal democracies. In recent decades, there has been much debate about what the place of religion might be in deliberations on crucial political issues. Such reflection has often been directed at what John Rawls calls a well-ordered society. This article starts with a different approach and asks the question: what can the role of religious voices be in the public reason of states that are confronted with injustice on a daily basis? The analysis takes its cue from the theories of John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas and identifies a list of requirements—common to both philosophers—that religious believers should fulfil in their interventions in the public sphere in order to make the sapiential resources of their traditions generative without disrespecting citizens from a different background.

Self-Instruction in Islamic Religious Education Learning: Improving Critical Thinking and Student Motivation

This study aims to explore the effectiveness of the Self-Instruction technique in improving students' critical thinking skills and learning motivation in learning Islamic Religious Education (PAI). With a library research approach using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, the study analysed various academic sources, including relevant journals, textbooks and research reports. The results showed that the Self-Instruction technique contributes to building students' thinking independence, enhancing analytical understanding of Islamic concepts, and encouraging deep reflection on the application of religious values in daily life. This technique allows students to be more active in analysing religious arguments, developing rational arguments, and strengthening systematic thinking skills in understanding Islamic teachings. In addition, the application of this technique is proven to increase students' learning motivation and confidence in exploring their religious understanding more critically and reflectively. The findings of this study have important implications in the development of more innovative and self-reflection-based learning strategies in PAI learning, and can be the basis for PAI teachers in applying more effective methods in building learning motivation, as well as analytical and argumentative mindsets in students. Highlights: Critical Thinking – Strengthens independent analysis and reasoning in Islamic studies. Learning Motivation – Boosts confidence and reflective exploration of religious concepts. Innovative Teaching – Supports self-reflective and analytical learning in PAI. Keywords: Critical Thinking, Learning Motivation, Pai Learning, Self-Instruction

Analisis Al-Iqtibas pada Ayat Al-Qur’an dan Hadist

his study aims to analyze the concept of al-iqtibas in verses of the Qur'an and Hadith. Al-iqtibas is a technique of quoting or borrowing parts of texts found in the Qur'an and Hadith in various contexts, both in literature and speeches. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach with textual analysis methods to understand how al-iqtibas is utilized in both classical and contemporary Islamic traditions. The findings show that al-iqtibas plays an essential role in strengthening religious arguments and enhancing the aesthetic value of texts, while also serving as an effective medium for conveying moral and spiritual messages. Furthermore, the study finds that the use of al-iqtibas is not limited to religious contexts but also extends to cultural and social realms. This research is expected to enrich the understanding of intertextuality in the study of the Qur'an and Hadith and contribute to the development of Islamic linguistic studies.

Manastırlı Mehmed Rifat’ın Manzum İlmihal’indeki İman Bahsi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme

Literature has interacted with religion throughout history. This has sometimes been achieved by using religious arguments in literary texts and sometimes by explaining religious issues through literature. Religious themes also occupied a large place in the literature that developed with the Turks’ acceptance of Islam. Many religious literary genres such as tawhid, munacat, na’t, mawlid, hilya, qisas-i enbiya, and menaqibname have emerged based on Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur’an and Sufism. Although the existence of independent works based on faith, worship and morality dates back to earlier times, it is known that verse texts written in the form of catechism date back to the 16th century. It has been seen that many poems have been written that deal with some of the subjects of Fiqh or Theology as well as basic religious information that needs to be known in general, such as 32 fard and 54 fard. In this study, the issues of faith in the Mamzum İlmihal of Manastırlı Mehmed Rifat, who came to the fore as a general, statesman, linguist and playwright in a period when the innovation movements in the Ottoman Empire gained momentum in the second half of the 19th century, were discussed. The section of the poem, which consists of 22 chapters and 247 couplets in total, is the section where the first 114 couplets, which explain the condition of faith, are discussed together with the Introduction. It has been seen that this work, which does not aim to appeal to a wide audience, aims to enable students in primary schools to learn the principles of belief and worship of Islam in an easy and memorable way. As a matter of fact, it has been determined that this issue, which was mentioned at the beginning of the work, was realized by using simple and understandable language throughout the text. The issue of whether the style and style of this text can be used in today’s religious education activities has been discussed. In addition, a comparison is made with the relevant parts of Birgivî’s Vasiyetnâme, which was written before the text and is one of the most famous examples of its kind, and the similar and different aspects are generally emphasized. * This article is the revised and developed version of conference presentation entitled “An Evaluation of the Subject of Faith in the Manzum İlmihal of Manastırlı Mehmed Rifat”, orally delivered at the 4th Turkish Symposium of Social Sciences.

Religion and Antislavery in Revolutionary France and Saint-Domingue

ABSTRACT The movement for the abolition of slavery during the French Revolution has usually been seen as inspired more by secular arguments about natural rights than by religious concerns. Although explicitly religious arguments played little role in the major debates about the issue during the Revolution, there were several religious figures other than the well-known abbé Grégoire who made important contributions to the French movement, and religious ideas certainly were a major factor in the Saint-Domingue insurrection.

“Reconstructing Conservatism”: The Place of Christianity in the Work of Gerd-Klaus Kaltenbrunner

The article explores the complex reconstruction of the views of Gerd-Klaus Kaltenbrunner — one of the most influential conservative essaywriters and theorists in post-war West Germany — on the political significance of Christianity for his project of ‘reconstructing conservatism’. This project, initiated in the 1970s, continues to influence German right-wing and conservative circles today. The author highlights the ambivalence in Kaltenbrunner’s attitude toward Christianity as a foundation for conservative political theory after the Second World War. The social, political and intellectual shifts of the first half of the XX century, including new trends in philosophy and theology, compelled the Catholic conservative to seek more rational and empirically grounded justifications for a conservative political stance. At the same time, Kaltenbrunner opposed the politicization and instrumentalization of Christianity by the left, which had become widespread in various forms. His reliance on anthropological argumentation aligns his ideas with classical XIX century conservative thought. However, the impossibility of invoking otherworldly justifications of the conservative position in the modern world led him to turn to secular philosophical anthropology, whose arguments Kaltenbrunner actively employed for polemical purposes. This anthropological framework later became pivotal for many German right-wing and conservative intellectuals, while religious argumentation completely lost its relevance. The present research is part of a series of publications examining the history as well as philosophical and political foundations of German post-war conservatism and the German New Right

Medical Discourse on Suicide in Post-War Britain - To Decriminalize Suicide and Attempted Suicide.

This study aims to reconstruct the medical discourse on suicide in the late 1940s and 1950s and identify the strategies employed by medical professionals to decriminalize suicide. Despite the emergence of suicide as an important social issue in post-war Britain, the subject remained largely outside the purview of the public, policy makers and various specialist groups. However, the medical community approached the topic from a professional perspective, formed collective opinions as a specialist group, and sought to change the status quo and existing laws related to suicide. As a result, they became the only group actively engaged in the movement for suicide law reform. The strategies devised by medical professionals proved effective. They distanced themselves from moral and religious debates, framing suicide as a practical and value-neutral issue. They also adhered to a deterministic paradigm, defining suicide as the result of uncontrollable and, therefore, excusable circumstances. Factors such as mental illness, social isolation, and specific familial background were identified as major contributors to self-destruction. By focusing on cases of attempted suicide, rather than completed suicides, they shifted the debate in their favor. Finally, they argued that decriminalizing suicide would not weaken social control but instead provide a solid foundation for more efficient and powerful regulation. This discourse produced by medical professionals ultimately culminated in the passage of the Suicide Act 1961.

ON THE SPECIFICS OF TEACHING, SCHOOLS AND INTELLECTUAL CENTERS OF PALESTINE OF LATE ANTIQUITY

Background. Late Antiquity is a specific and unique historical period that has been actively studied in recent decades, with certain topics that still require detailed researches. The educational system of this period had many transformations and remained an important part of the cultural and spiritual development of an individual. The cities of Palestine took a special place among the educational and intellectual centers of the Roman and Byzantine empires, where classical, Jewish, and Christian traditions intertwined. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to summarize the results of many researches on Palestinian educational and intellectual centers and to highlight regional characteristics of their development that have not been subject of any specific study yet. Materials and methods. This study is based on the concept of Late Antiquity, which sets boundaries for researching events, processes, and phenomena of the 3rd – 7th centuries. This concept reviews those events and processes as changes required by the time, which cannot be assessed in a one-sided negative way, and emphasizes the importance of studying the cultural aspects of the era. Results. The image of the intellectual and educational centers of Palestine is vivid, where debates and discussions continued almost until the end of the era of Late Antiquity. These centers combined the legacy of antiquity, Christian traditions, and local cultural peculiarities. This image is quite different from the information that could be found in biographies and teachings of the ascetics of the Holy Land. The people of Palestine could choose different methods and teaching styles. The popularity of rhetorical schools in Palestine was driven by several factors: the goal of the student was to acquire various skills and abilities that could be useful in a time of change; the general cultural reason – the practice of oral instruction was applied in Hellenistic, Greco-Roman education, and in rabbinic scholarly circles; and in the era of Christological disputes and the spread of different religious teachings, an important skill was the ability to speak in public, deliver speeches, and preach. Although theological traditions were often present from the beginning in the schools of Palestine, there was not a separate and strong theological school, unlike neighboring Syria and Egypt. Lacking its own firm foundation, Palestine was influenced by the religious and intellectual ideas of neighboring theological schools and often found itself at the center of religious debates. At the same time, the educational and intellectual centers represented one of the most harmonious traditions of combining and symbiosis of Christianity and antiquity. In the sharp intellectual disputes about Christianity, «soft power» of persuasion could be applied, which involved using terms and authority figures familiar to the opponent. Finally, the ability to engage in intellectual debates required the presence of libraries: one of the most famous and largest libraries in Palestine – the Caesarean library, which appeared at a historically important and complex moment, i.e. during the era of persecutions.

Resonances of Celtic Pantheism in Claire Keegan's Walk the Blue Fields

The relationship between nature and religion has been a matter of philosophical and religious debate for centuries. Nature has been evaluated as a means of reaching God and is considered a reflection of creative power. Pantheism occurs as represented in particular narratives, exploring nature-human coexistence as a manifestation of God. This study aims to explore the elements of Celtic pantheism as a depiction of Christian perception of life, focusing on its attempt to find a reflection of God in nature. Drawing on the terminologies offered by Spinoza, the study analyses Keegan’s story “Walk the Blue Fields” within a conceptual framework of pantheism, associated with a long spiritual tradition that locates divinity within the natural world, challenging traditional Church doctrines and fostering a mutual relationship between nature and culture. The paper examines how the characters disappoint traditional conceptions by seeking God not within institutional organisations but in nature and the natural. Such an attitude revives the sensitivities of Celtic pantheism by blending natural elements with divine reflections and spiriting the material world with fancy and imagination. The paper also discusses how these stories offer new ethical considerations as to what is good or bad: naturalness. The study shows how the characters’ ‘natural life’ and ‘life in nature’ yield a genuine moral expression and perception through unmediated natural experience. The study concludes that envisaging nature as a potential realm of spiritual connection and reflective involvement brings creative power and healing cure.

HAJJ FINANCING, DSN MUI, NAHDLATUL ULAMA, PERSIS, ISLAMIC FINANCE PERSPECTIVES

Examines the varied views on talangan haji (hajj financing) in Islamic finance, focusing on the perspectives of key Islamic institutions like the Dewan Syariah Nasional-Majelis Ulama Indonesia (DSN-MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Persatuan Islam (PERSIS). The discussion highlights the ethical and religious debates surrounding the use of financial assistance for haji, traditionally a duty only for those who can afford it without hardship. Talangan haji, essentially a benevolent loan, is scrutinized for its adherence to Islamic principles, especially regarding interest (riba) and the affordability of the pilgrimage. DSN-MUI supports talangan haji, arguing it meets Islamic guidelines by aiding Muslims in fulfilling their religious duties without involving riba. Conversely, NU and PERSIS express concerns; NU worries about the potential dependency on financial schemes that might contradict self-sufficiency in pilgrimage, while PERSIS questions the moral implications of incurring debt for religious purposes, which could compromise the required financial independence. This exploration provides a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between modern financial practices and traditional religious obligations, enhancing the ongoing discourse in Islamic jurisprudence about the relevance of ancient religious practices in contemporary settings.

The Legitimacy of Abortion: A Socio-Legal Analysis of Islamic Jurisprudence and Indonesian Law

Navigating the intersection of religious doctrines and legislative frameworks poses a significant challenge in the abortion discourse, particularly in Indonesia. This study investigates the legitimacy of abortion through the dual perspectives of Islamic jurisprudence and positive law within Indonesia’s intricate socio-cultural and religious milieu, where Islamic principles deeply influence legal interpretations and societal views. The study aims to dissect the complex legal and religious debates surrounding abortion in Indonesia, offering a thorough analysis of its legitimacy under both Islamic jurisprudence and state law. Current literature reveals a fragmented legal landscape marked by diverse interpretations and applications of Islamic principles and state laws, resulting in inconsistent legal outcomes. Adopting a qualitative methodology, this research utilizes doctrinal analysis of primary and secondary legal sources, statutory laws, judicial decisions, and Islamic legal texts. Findings highlight a stark dichotomy between strict prohibitions in traditional Islamic jurisprudence and more lenient, context-specific interpretations by contemporary scholars. The Indonesian legal system, heavily influenced by Islamic values, nonetheless displays flexibility in cases involving maternal health risks or severe fetal anomalies. Ultimately, this study advocates for a nuanced, context-sensitive legal framework that harmonizes Islamic jurisprudence with positive law. It proposes a balanced approach that respects religious values while addressing modern societal needs and medical realities, aiming to ensure legal clarity and safeguard women’s rights in Indonesia.

Icons versus tughra: Eremia Chʻelebi Kʻēōmiwrchean’s (1637–1695) textual passage on popular Muslim religious practices

Armenian polemical literature with Muslims from the early modern Ottoman context is very scarce. Unlike in Safavid Persia, public debates were not encouraged in the Ottoman Empire. Official polemical treatises from the Armenian milieu are lacking; little has survived in the historiographies, neo-martyrological accounts, and poetry about how Miaphysite (non-Chalcedonian) Apostolic Armenians positioned themselves within the cohabitation system of Ottoman society. Even less has survived in Armenian sources about popular Muslim religious practices. Therefore, a brief account of this matter provided by the 17th c. Armenian Constantinopolitan historiographer Eremia Kʻēōmiwrchean acquires great importance. The present article aims to explore the information provided by Eremia on popular Muslim religious practices, not only because it is a rare material preserved in the Armenian sources but, most importantly, because it reveals the topics of religious debates between Christians and Ottoman Muslims in everyday life.

INTEGRASI NILAI-NILAI KEISLAMAN DALAM TRADISI SAKAI SAMBAIAN PADA MASYARAKAT LAMPUNG : STUDI LIVING QUR’AN

This research is aimed at describing the Sakai Sambaian tradition that exists in Lampung society and to look at the religious arguments regarding musawah wa mahabbah that are implied in the Sakai Sambaian tradition. The research method used in this research is qualitative with a phenomenological type. In the phenomenological concept in this research, the living Qur'an theory is used to describe the religious postulates implicit in the Sakai Sambaian tradition. The result of this study is that the Sakai Sambaian tradition carried out by the people of Lampung is carried out when a resident holds a big event such as the demolition of fields or rice fields, the construction of houses and weddings. Then the religious postulates that show the values to Islam in the tradition are implied in the Sakai Sambaian activity which has 3 activity patterns, namely; 1) Sakai Sambaian is done sincerely without any strings attached, 2) Sakai Sambaian is done by all citizens regardless of ethnicity, race and religion and 3) Sakai Sambaian is done as proof of gratitude for the blessings given.

Religious Phenomena in the Digital World: Expressions and Narratives of Moderation on the Website tanwir.ID

Exponential technological developments are driving the transformation of society to the digital world. Data published by domo.com shows 6.3 million searches occur on Google every minute in 2023. Realizing the importance of adaptation in the digital world for da'wah and religious propagation, the Islamic world began to develop various social media channels, applications and websites. Moreover, content and narratives exposed to extreme thinking are also amplified by this technological sophistication, this adds to the urgency of the presence of moderation content as a counter-narrative to this reality. This research takes the tanwir.ID website as the object of research, a website that is quite prominent and managed by Muhammadiyah, which is one of the largest Islamic organizations in Indonesia. The homepage compiled by tanwir.ID consists of Tafsir, Ulumul Qur'an, Insight, Indept and Video. However, in this study the author limits it to posts that discuss moderation in religion and related to it. The analysis technique was carried out by collecting research data through articles written on the tanwir.ID website since its inception, until posts in June 2024. The purposive sampling technique was used to sort out articles relevant to the theme of moderation. This data was then analyzed using narrative analysis techniques to identify the main themes and strategies for conveying ideas. The results of this study show that tanwir.id contributes to narrating moderate attitudes in religion through the articles it publishes through various narrative strategies, such as book reviews, interactive discussions, religious text-based arguments (tafsir), and contextualization of religious texts with current phenomena. Published articles often emphasize the importance of reconciliation (peace) both intra and inter-religious, fair and proportional attitudes, and avoiding extreme, fanatical and exclusive attitudes.