Religious Beliefs Research Articles

Informal social support for families with children with an intellectual disability in Karachi, Pakistan: A qualitative exploratory study design

BackgroundIntellectual disability (ID) is a developmental disorder that causes considerably below-average intellectual performance and adaptive behaviour. In the context of the present study, families raising a child with ID are reported to experience multiple challenges that appear not to be well documented in Pakistan. Methods and proceduresPakistan, which was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, followed participatory action research, in which the researcher and participants examined their existing experiences of informal social support and then created, implemented, and evaluated actions to strengthen this informal social support. A total of five families (n = 25) participated in the study. These participating families comprise parents, siblings, and significant others, i.e., aunts, uncles, and grandparents, living with the child with ID. Families with children with ID were selected through a school for children with ID who are under 12 years old. This qualitative action research was conducted in two distinct parts, i.e., a) exploratory part and b) action part. This paper presents the findings of the first exploratory part of the study. AimThe exploratory phase aimed to explore and examine the experiences and challenges families may experience with informal social support while caring for a child with an intellectual disability in Karachi, Pakistan. FindingsParents often sacrifice their personal needs and aspirations for their children, leading to decreased tolerance and anxiety. Lack of communication, support, and assistance from family members is another significant issue. Stigmatisation and discrimination from school, relatives, and friends can cause depression and distress. The study emphasises the need for a unified and coordinated approach to support and care. Religious beliefs, siblings, and close friends provide comfort and well-being. When parents manage to connect with similar families, they have the opportunity to express a collective commitment to caregiving. ConclusionTo strengthen the situation, families propose enhancing intimacy and competency within homes and taking action at the governmental level. Governments must provide appropriate services, such as nurses supporting families, support groups, and religious traditions, to promote acceptance and holistic development for intellectually disabled children.

Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against Women in the Tamale Metropolis: The Role of Religion

This study examined the complex role religion plays in both promoting and ending sexual and gender-based violence against women in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. While major religious traditions emphasize equality and non-violence, certain interpretations of religious texts and cultural traditions have enabled patriarchal norms that subjugate women. Qualitative data from interviews with 18 respondents across Christian, Muslim, and traditional African religious communities revealed ongoing oppressive practices like forced marriage and early marriage of young girls, divorce, physical abuse such as wife battering, sexual abuse, and victim-blaming. However, religious institutions are increasingly initiating efforts to combat this violence through advocacy, education, counselling services, and partnerships with civil society groups. While these initiatives exist, significant challenges remain in transforming deeply entrenched sociocultural norms that enable violence against women. These initiatives demonstrate how religious institutions can leverage their moral authority to transform sociocultural norms enabling violence against women. The study highlights the need for sustained engagement with religious communities, reinterpretation of doctrine promoting gender equality, and collaborative efforts across sectors to eliminate this pervasive human rights issue. Harnessing the influential role of religion through a progressive, rights-based approach is crucial for addressing sexual and gender-based violence in the Tamale Metropolis and similar contexts. By delving into this intricate dynamic within the context of the Tamale Metropolis in Ghana, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how religious beliefs, interpretations, and institutions can either perpetuate or combat this form of violence. Keywords: Sexual Violence, Gender, Religion, Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Parental Experience on Female Circumcision in East Coast of Malaysia

INTRODUCTION: Female circumcision (FC) is a deep-rooted tradition in Malaysia, influenced by religious, cultural, and health beliefs. However, it has drawn criticism for its similarities to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Africa, particularly during the 2018 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by the United Nations Human Rights (UNHR). Amidst this backdrop, this study aimed to investigate parents' perspectives and experiences concerning female circumcision, as well as the factors driving its persistence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative study used phenomenological approach and 20 in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire until data saturation were reached. We employed convenience and snowball sampling methods. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo 12 software. We used thematic analysis to identify key themes in the data. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) FC is a ‘fitrah’, (2) maintaining good health is the main influence; and (3) FC causing no harm. The main influences on this practice are religious, cultural, and health factors. Parents described the procedure as simple and harmless for the baby and themselves, both physically and emotionally. CONCLUSIONS: This research shown that FC in Malaysia is not solely religious but deeply embedded in culture. The blend of cultural and religious aspects makes it a crucial practice for some.

Vegan Diet: A Novel Trend in Healthy Living

Abstract: An entirely animal-free diet that prioritizes natural plant-origin foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, pulses, and lentils is known as a vegan diet. Lowering persistent diseases like type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and many others offers numerous positive health effects. Different aspects of how a vegan diet affects health are studied, and the dietary pattern is analyzed. Along with the trend of a vegan diet, many people have become aware of the importance of following a vegan diet, and many do this for health reasons or due to religious beliefs. A vegan diet has also been seen to positively affect aging. As vegan diet choices are growing, there are now more options for meat and non-dairy alternatives. Optimization for developing an alternative vegan food product is necessary to produce the most favorable product quality and achieve the best. This paper indicates the vegan diet as a whole and how the vegan diet can help treat chronic diseases. It also reviews vegan products for alternative use and their stance in the food industry.

"I Do Not Believe We Should Disclose Everything to an Older Patient": Challenges and Ethical Concerns in Clinical Decision-Making in Old-Age Care in Ethiopia.

Clinical decision-making in old-age care is a complex and ethically sensitive process. Despite its importance, research addressing the challenges of clinical decision-making in old-age care within this cultural context is limited. This study aimed to explore the challenges and ethical concerns in clinical decision-making in old-age care in Ethiopia. This qualitative study employed an inductive approach with data collected via semi-structured interviews with 20 older patients and 26 health professionals recruited from healthcare facilities in Ethiopia. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Our analysis identified three key themes. First, participants highlighted perceptions that older patients' religious beliefs interfere with the clinical decisions both older patients and health professionals make. Second, older patients often receive limited information from health professionals about their diagnosis and treatment. Third, families of older patients appear to strongly influence clinical decisions made by older patients or health professionals. This research enhances the understanding of clinical decision-making in old-age care within Ethiopia, a context where such research is scarce. As a result, this study contributes towards advancing the deliberation of ethical dilemmas that health professionals who work with older patients in Ethiopia might face. A key implication of the study is that there is a need for more ethics and cultural competence training for health professionals working with older patients in Ethiopia.

STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF A NONPROFIT FESTIVAL IN BINH DUONG PROVINCE, VIETNAM

Festival stakeholders have different power levels in relation to an event, and this depends on their investment or importance to the event’s success. Governments or associations commonly organise non-profit festivals to celebrate a particular event or achieve a specific goal with less profit-making priority. As a long-established festival in Asia, the Tianhou Festival in Vietnam benefits the tourism sector and the local community. This festival is bound to the religious beliefs of local people originating from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China, who immigrated to Vietnam and are now living in Binh Duong Province (BDP), Vietnam. Over the years, the festival’s success has intensified the socioeconomic development of Binh Duong Province. Undeniably, the festival quality can be enhanced with substantial and solicitous collaboration amongst stakeholders. Despite the contributions of such events, thus far, only a few studies have focused on the perceived benefits of non-profit-oriented events. To address this gap, the current study used the qualitative method by using semi structured interviews with key stakeholders to collect data, which were then transcribed by thematic analysis. The findings reveal that organising non-profit festivals may enhance interpersonal skills as well as bring about economic benefits, social incentives, and community cohesiveness. This research envisions the impacts of the Tianhou Festival on the stakeholders of this non-profit-oriented event. The findings of the study can provide guidelines to other key stakeholders in improving the same concept of event management in the future.

The Religiosity of the Banyumasan Lengger Dance: Tradition, Transformation, and Contemporary Practices

Lengger Banyumasan dance is a traditional performing art that has been practiced in the Banyumas region, Central Java, for centuries. This dance is known for its distinctive style characterized by graceful and sensual movements of female dancers called "Lengger". Originating from the pre-Islamic era, this dance was originally closely related to the spiritual and religious beliefs of the Banyumas people. This study aims to explore the religious and traditional aspects of the Lengger Banyumasan dance, as well as the transformations that have occurred in its form and function over time. The method used in this study is a qualitative approach with a focus on analyzing the religious and traditional aspects of the Lengger Banyumasan dance. This study involved a literature review covering a variety of academic sources, reports, and cultural resources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical, cultural, and religious context of the Lengger dance. The results of this study indicate that the Lengger Banyumasan dance has strong roots in the religious and cultural traditions of the Banyumas people. This dance was originally performed as part of rituals and ceremonies aimed at promoting fertility, prosperity, and community well-being. Although the dance has undergone significant transformation, from being initially ritual-based to being more entertainment-oriented, it still maintains a strong connection to the religious beliefs of the Banyumas people. The conclusion of this study is that the Lengger Banyumasan dance is a rich and multifaceted performing art, rooted in the religious and cultural traditions of the Banyumas region. Despite changes over time, the dance remains an important part of the social and cultural fabric of the region and is increasingly recognized for its significance as a unique and valuable form of cultural expression. Conservation and promotion efforts for this dance are ongoing to ensure its sustainability as a valuable cultural heritage.

Религиозный фактор в деструктивных социальных процессах (на примере исламизма)

Spiritual and cultural characteristics play a significant role in modern society. The religious factor is one of the key elements that ensure spiritual security, strengthen friendly relations between various ethnic and religious groups, and shape their self-determination. Religion is one of the driving forces of the development of civil society and even determines the degree of its intensity. Due to the increasing influence of religion on political processes, its influence is becoming extremely important for domestic and foreign policy activities, therefore, the government of any state should take into account religious specifics. The religious factor has a powerful consolidating condition in countering the development of destructive processes. At the same time, in order to satisfy personal ambitions and achieve political goals, despite the contradiction of the basic religious principles and doctrines, representatives of destructive religious trends actively use psychological methods of influence, using the faith and beliefs of their followers. The implementation of the proposed measures to ensure spiritual security in various spheres of civil society at all levels of government makes it possible to counteract destructive influences using religious beliefs. The aim of the study is to formulate the main outlines of a balanced policy in the ethno-confessional sphere and based on ideological principles that can provide conditions for agreement and unification of relations between political actors. It is precisely such ideological concepts that can act as a weighty opponent to the destructive process. In this study, methods based on rationalism, dialectics, comparative analysis, historiography were used, structural-functional and civilizational approaches were applied. The results of the research can be used in the development of conceptual documents in the field of security.

Application of Chinese Ethnic Minority Themes in Contemporary Figurative Sculpture Creation

In the field of contemporary sculpture creation, the rich culture and historical depth of Chinese ethnic minorities have attracted the widespread attention of artists. These creations not only emphasize external features such as ethnic costumes, totems, or life scenes but also touch deep spiritual contents including historical stories, religious beliefs, and living habits of ethnic minorities. This paper discusses the integration process of Chinese ethnic minority themes in figurative sculpture creation and the inheritance of the profound spirit of ethnic groups in this process. At the same time, this paper also places the diversified expression and innovative practice of these themes in sculpture art in the context of the new era for investigation and explores the far-reaching influence of its development on promoting cultural inheritance and artistic innovation.

Analisis Intesi Muzakki dalam Membayar Zakat Profesi Kota Medan

This study aims to analyze the intentions of muzaki in paying professional zakat in Medan City. The research explores various factors influencing muzaki's intentions, including awareness of professional zakat obligations, understanding of zakat concepts, religious beliefs, as well as the influence of the social environment and the role of zakat institutions in encouraging compliance. Data were collected through a survey of muzaki in Medan City and analyzed using a quantitative approach with multiple linear regression methods. The results indicate that high awareness and understanding of professional zakat, social support, and trust in zakat institutions significantly influence muzaki's intention to pay professional zakat. Furthermore, the study finds that the active role of zakat institutions in education and outreach positively impacts the compliance of muzaki. These findings have important implications for the development of more effective zakat policy strategies and for strengthening the role of zakat institutions in enhancing compliance with professional zakat in society.

What’s God got to do with it? The relationship between religion, sadism, and masochism

Although “BDSM” (i.e., bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism) has become increasingly present in popular media in recent years, much remains unknown about the etiology and correlates of BDSM. Research has demonstrated a relationship between religion and sexual behaviours/attitudes; therefore, religion could also be associated with sadism and masochism. To address gaps in existing knowledge, we conducted an online survey of 515 participants who answered a questionnaire on sexual life and behaviour, including questions on arousal in response to sadism and masochism scenarios, associated negative impacts, and religion. We found a higher prevalence of arousal in response to sadism scenarios amongst non-religious participants (64.6%; n = 228/353) than religious participants (54.7%; n = 88/161) with a small, but potentially meaningful effect size (Φ = -.095, p = .032). Increased impact of religious beliefs on sex life was associated with slightly lower sadism arousal, r(499) = -.080, p = .075. This association was strong enough to be considered a potentially meaningful factor but was not statistically significant. There was also a small negative correlation between masochism arousal and impact of religious beliefs on sex life and behaviour, r(500) = -.129, p = .004. Based on these findings, we conclude that there could be a limited but meaningful relationship between religion and sadism/masochism arousal. Further research should explore specific religious affiliations and beliefs as potentially associated with sadism and masochism arousal.

Peace Project: Promoting Peace Awareness and Tolerance among Religious People in Jakarta, Indonesia

The study investigates Muslim youth responses to the Peace Project, an initiative by Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Indonesia aimed at fostering peace and tolerance among religious believers. Focusing on visits to Sion Church and Candra Prabha Temple, thirty Muslim participants engaged in this qualitative research through observations and surveys. The findings reveal: 1) the Peace Project effectively facilitates inter-group contact among religious youth; 2) Muslim participants expressed enthusiasm for the activities, suggesting longer durations and visits to additional places of worship; and 3) the need for academic speakers to guide discussions on respecting diverse religions. This study offers recommendations to enhance interfaith initiatives, improve activity planning, contribute to religious tolerance knowledge, and raise public awareness of interfaith engagement for a more tolerant society, based on the positive reception among Jakarta Muslim youth.

Circumstances leading to home childbirths among women living in Winterveldt, Tshwane Municipality of South Africa.

Childbirth complications, which may include maternal and perinatal mortality are common among women giving birth at home compared to those giving birth at health care facilities. Increasing access to childbirth in health care facilities improves the maternal and perinatal health outcomes for both the mother and child. There are however reported cases of home childbirth and decreasing numbers of health care facilities' births in developing countries. The researchers identified an increase in number of babies born before arrival in several health care facilities and therefore explored this phenomenon in order to understand circumstances leading to this practice. The findings of the study have a potential to inform interventions and strategies to strengthen community health education and engagement on maternal and child health issues. Information gathered through this study will also be important in informing decision making on prioritization of key interventions to incorporate Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) services in reproductive health care. An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was used to conduct in-depth interviews amongst women of childbearing age living in a semi urban area of the Tshwane municipality in South Africa. The sample of this study was made of 21 purposively selected women who had experienced home childbirth. Thematic content analysis was used for data analysis. Many women made a choice to give birth at home due to religious and cultural beliefs. However, some women wished to give birth in a health care facility but due to unintentional factors such as lack of transport, failure to identify labour pains, and fast labour; they ended up giving birth at home. Some of the women indicated harsh treatment in health care facilities compared to the pleasant birthing experience at home as reasons for opting for home childbirth.

Food culture, lifestyle & traditional food festivals: a narrative on the public health relevance of the traditional yam recipes in the Afikpo New Yam Festival

Food culture has over the years remained the centre for socio-cultural linkages among people in a community, with generational transmission giving birth to cultural affinity and cultural heritage. Besides its primary aim of nourishment, enhancement of growth and body functions, it also defines religious and traditional belief systems. Several communities, tribes and nation states such as China, Italy, Japan, India, Europe and Americas, have been associated with unique food cultures. In North and West African countries like Tunisia and Nigeria respectively, food cultures abound. In South-East Nigeria, the Igbo tribe conduct yam rituals as food cultural festivals. Afikpo, a community in the Igbo-speaking part of Nigeria, celebrates an annual yam ritual called Ikeji Festival, part of which, as the new yam is harvested, is preparation of traditional yam recipes. This article reviews the nutritional content of the various traditional yam recipes consumed in such ceremonies and the associated drinks. A literature search revealed that yam, an energy-giving food with a carbohydrate content of 15 – 40.6%, could be prepared with vegetables, legumes, fish, meat, melon seeds, red palm oil, African black beans, pumpkin fruit pulp, eggplants, African oil bean, piper guineese, plantain, solanum americanum, vitex donians, pterocarpus santalinoids, which are sources of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, dietary fibres and polyunsaturated fatty acids, all of which have been documented as beneficial in the management of chronic diseases. Alcoholic and various soft drinks are consumed with the yam recipes during the ceremony and there are possibilities that if awareness is not created, overindulgence could constitute to abuse.

Шахматы как отражение культурного пространства Арабского халифата

The article examines the phenomenon of chess culture in the era of the Arab caliphate. It is shown that the golden age of shatranj (the Arabic version of chess) coincided with the rapid development of Arabic culture and science, thus reflecting the socio-cultural realities of that time. It is revealed that the treatise “The ethics of Chess” by the Arab thinker Raghib Ishafani demonstrates philosophical ideas in relation to the game of chess. The popularity of shatranj, which was demonstrated by the interest of state leaders and the holding of the first chess competitions in history, is noted, and attention is focused on the reason for its widespread use. The similarity of the rules of chess and the religious beliefs of the mutazilites, manifested in the concept of freedom of choice, is demonstrated. The reasons preventing the further development of the shatranj in the Arab caliphate are explained. It is shown that this fact was due to the religious mentality of the Arab-Islamic type of culture and the slow nature of the development of the social institutions of the East. It is noted that the further filiation of ideas from the Arab world to Europe led to the development of chess not only as a game, but also as a model reflecting the cultural and social processes taking place in society.

MODERASI BERAGAMA DI INDONESIA SEBAGAI BENTUK PENGUATAN IDENTITAS NASIONAL

Religious moderation is an approach that prioritizes tolerance, discussion, and respect for the diversity of religious beliefs. It is important in Indonesia, as the country has many different cultures and religions. The goal of religious moderation is to maintain stability, create a strong and inclusive national identity, and prevent religious conflict. This study investigates how religious moderation helps strengthen Indonesia's national identity. The method used is a literature study by analyzing various related literature. The results show that religious moderation promotes justice, tolerance, and openness, which helps create social harmony. By accepting religious diversity and strengthening national commitment, religious moderation strengthens national identity. Implementing religious moderation is expected to create an atmosphere of inter-religious harmony in Indonesia and improve the overall quality of life of the community. Research on the religious moderation movement and its relationship with national identity needs to be conducted further to gain more information.

Professional ethics and ethical challenges related to nurses and patients: A narrative review

This study was conducted to evaluate professional ethics and ethical challenges related to nurses and patients. The study establishes a strong link between nursing, spirituality, and ethical performance, with nurses' religious beliefs significantly influencing their approach to patient care. Ethical decision-making is vital in nursing, with patients' rights and information disclosure being top priorities. The shortage of nursing staff and its impact on ethical practices are acknowledged. Rewarding ethical conduct and providing ethical education are recommended to promote ethical behavior among nurses. Ethical distress arises when organizational factors hinder ethical actions, affecting nurses' job satisfaction and patient care quality. Younger and married nurses may experience higher ethical distress, while experience may mitigate it. Overall, nurturing ethical behavior is crucial for better patient outcomes. Nurses often face ethical issues in their clinical practice. Ethical decision-making is now integral to professional nursing, requiring nurses to recognize ethical dilemmas and demonstrate ethical sensitivity in all patient interactions and during interventions, ensuring high-quality patient care and upholding the nursing profession's integrity.

Assessing gaps in predoctoral dental curriculum for LGBTQ+ specific content.

Despite growing recognition of health disparities faced by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or Questioning) (LGBTQ+) population, significant gaps remain for inclusion of LGBTQ+ content in health professions education, particularly dental curricula. This study aims to address these gaps by investigating the integration of LGBTQ+ content in a midwestern dental school curriculum. Curriculum mapping and focus group discussions were utilized to identify gaps and recommend integrating LGBTQ+ content into a predoctoral dental curriculum. The Doctor of Dental Surgery program was mapped to identify LGBTQ+ specific content relevant to cultural competency. A focus group of ninefaculty members provided insights and recommendations, with data transcribed and analyzed for themes. Out of 121 courses, 28 included or had potential for LGBTQ+ content, with 16 already inclusive and 12 involving direct patient interaction. Integration varied, highest in the first year (28.6%) and lowest in the fourth year (5%). Focus group themes included the need for broader awareness and education about LGBTQ+ health, integrating topics into basic and behavioral science courses, and addressing practical clinical skills (e.g., using pronouns). Barriers included personal discomfort, lack of formal training, and potential conflicts with personal or religious beliefs. This study highlighted the need for increased faculty awareness and enhanced inclusion of LGBTQ+ content throughout the predoctoral dental curriculum to prepare future practitioners for culturally competent care.

Muslim Indonesian prospective biology teachers’ acceptance and typology of the theory of evolution

BackgroundMuslim Indonesian prospective biology teachers have different views on evolution theory. Muslim prospective biology teachers suspect that differences in their understanding of the theory of evolution stem from their religious beliefs. This study aims to investigate Muslim Indonesian prospective biology teachers’ acceptance and typology of evolution theory.MethodsAn explanatory sequential design was combined with mixed techniques. Out of 185 potential biology teachers, 153 (16 males and 137 females) completed the questionnaire during the quantitative phase. We interviewed 5 males and 28 females in the qualitative phase to determine the typology of engagement, and all participants filled out an open-ended questionnaire to complete the previous data.ResultsThe findings demonstrated the validity and reliability of the tools employed, as well as the high degree of acceptance of evolution among Muslim Indonesian aspiring biology teachers. The results also showed that there is a predominant typology of engagement reconciliation among Muslim Indonesian prospective biology teachers, with few explorers and resistors.ConclusionsMuslim Indonesian prospective biology teachers do not differ in their conceptual understanding of theory evolution from their religious beliefs.

'A good ending but not the end': Exploring family preparations surrounding a relative's death and the Afterlife - A qualitative study.

Adequate death preparation positively influences families' experience before death and during bereavement. However, how to prepare families in non-Western cultures has received scant attention. To explore family caregivers' experiences in preparing for a relative's death in specialist palliative care in Taiwan. A qualitative study employing reflexive thematic analysis of data collected from semi-structured interviews was conducted. Twenty-two family caregivers from seven hospitals participated. The overarching theme was 'getting everything right to have no regrets between the dead and the living'. We developed two themes to explain preparations for the time surrounding and after the death, including the deceased' afterlife: (1) 'having a good ending but not the end of the relationship', which addresses preparations for the death itself, the funeral, the afterlife and maintaining connections and (2) 'using religious beliefs and cultural norms to guide preparation', which explores perceptions of a good death, including refrain from strong emotions before and after the death. Funeral arrangements, enhancing the deceased's afterlife and maintaining connections to the deceased are crucial for families' experiences which can be impacted by actions they take as they prepare for the death. A culturally appropriate death is beneficial for the dying relative which includes preparing to not show strong emotions during and after the death. These insights inform the importance of the cultural context in death preparation in Taiwan and provide perspectives for palliative care beyond Western culture, potentially benefiting Chinese populations, predominantly East Asian and Buddhist societies.