Religious Persecution Research Articles

Depression Among Resettled Karen Refugees in the United States: An Exploratory Pilot Study

Due to prolonged ethnic and religious persecution, the Karen have endured numerous traumatic experiences including systematic violence and mistreatment, resulting in long-term psychological sequelae. This study examines the prevalence of depression among Karen refugees from Burma ( N = 37) using a culturally grounded mental health screening tool within a primary health care community clinic in the southern United States. A total of 48.60% met the clinical cutoff for depression. The researchers identified three themes: (a) manifestations of depression, (b) depression linked to post-migration stressors, and (c) importance of support and education about depression. Family service organizations and resettlement agencies can assist Karen refugees by connecting them with social and tangible support, as well as providing education about depression. Future research should include Karen refugees from various parts of the United States to improve generalizability.

From Exile to Integration: Immigration Patterns and Cultural Identity of Chinese and Jewish Communities in the United States

The Chinese immigration experience began in the mid-19th century, driven by economic opportunities and marked by significant challenges. In contrast, Jewish immigration, primarily occurring in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was driven by severe religious and racial persecution in Europe. Jewish immigrants sought refuge from violence and the Holocaust, finding a relatively open environment in the U.S. to maintain their religious and cultural traditions. This paper examines the immigration patterns and cultural identities of the Chinese and Jewish communities in the United States, highlighting their distinct historical backgrounds and experiences. This study applies theoretical frameworks from sociology and anthropology, including Everett Lee’s “Push-Pull Theory,” Stuart Hall’s cultural identity theory, and Anthony Giddens’ theory of modernity, to analyze how these communities’ immigration patterns have influenced their cultural identities. The study compares the Chinese community’s economic-driven integration and the Jewish community’s diverse approach to cultural preservation. The findings provide insights into the complexities of cultural identity within the U.S. multicultural landscape and highlight the varied strategies adopted by different immigrant groups. Limitations of this study include its focus on Chinese and Jewish communities, which may not fully represent other immigrant experiences. Future research should consider a broader range of immigrant groups to enhance understanding of cultural integration and identity.

Этапы вьетнамской миграции в США во второй половине XX века

An analysis of the Vietnamese migration to the United States in the second half of the 20th century was carried out in this paper. Vietnamese migration is largely a result of US involvement in the Vietnam War. After reunification of the country, Vietnamese refugees fled the country due to political and religious persecution and were resettled in the United States through international resettlement programs.

EXPLORING POSTCOLONIAL RAMIFICATIONS IN NADEEM ASLAM‟S SEASON OF THE RAINBIRDS

This study examines the postcolonial implications in Nadeem Aslam’s Season of the Rainbirds (2007). It explores the aftermaths of postcolonialism and its enduring impacts on culture, religion, and language within Pakistani society. The study adopts a postcolonial lens, reflecting the enduring influence of colonial legacies on identities, religious dynamics, and social structures. It also examines the religious persecution of minorities and depicts the social and political reality in Pakistan, where religion serves as an instrument of tyranny. Furthermore, English serves as an emblem of privilege, highlighting the enduring effects of linguistic imperialism as the novel depicts the power dynamics between indigenous and colonial languages. This article contends that these themes depict how the postcolonial condition in the novel reflects overarching issues of identity, marginalization, and power dynamics that endure long after independence.

Politics and Education in Nigeria: Issues and Consequences

This study examined Politics and Education in Nigeria: Issues and Consequences. Three research questions guided the study; descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 73,400 academic staff of the public universities in South-East Nigeria. The sample comprised 1,040 academic staff of the universities. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain Professors and Readers given that the record number of lecturers that participate in politics and management of elections. Then proportionate sampling technique was used to obtain 10% of Professors and Readers to give rise to 700 Professors and 340 Readers. Data collected were analyzed using mean. Findings of the study showed that the importance of education for those participating in Nigerian politics includes; it Increases political participation, Increases political awareness ; some of the major issues in Nigerian politics includes ; Ethnic bigotry, Religious bigotry, Corrupt Leaders and the consequences of the major issues in politics in Nigeria are failure in governance, poor economic indices, multi-dimensional poverty, insecurity, poor education outcome, unemployment and other vices. The study recommended that government should address different issues that have to do with education sector as a means of building its capacity in order to ameliorate the issue of politics in Nigeria through the means of human capacity building, widening, deepening knowledge on different political issues confronting the nation and government at all level should eschew politics in governance and face governance properly in other to salvage what is left of the nation from the major issues that has to do with politics in the country.

Religious Persecution and Practical Toleration in England (1500-1640) The Social Context of Tolerance Between Neighbors (Principle and Practice)

Religious Persecution and Practical Toleration in England (1500-1640) The Social Context of Tolerance Between Neighbors (Principle and Practice)

ENTRE RUÍNAS E SILÊNCIOS: AMORALIDADE X DOGMAS RELIGIOSOS EM SEM GENTILEZA, DE FUTHI NTSHINGILA

We know that violence caused by gender and social inequalities is historically constituted as a ‘plastered’ element in the most diverse relationships and cultures. In this way, this work proposes an investigative analysis of the female representation of the protagonist character, Mvelo, in the novel Sem Gentileza (2016) by South African writer Futhi Ntshingila, with the aim of understanding how the writer aesthetically describes these inequalities in the narrative, especially in the context of violence against women, highlighting, for this section, the South African context of black women. From this perspective, we will discuss themes that we consider pertinent, such as religious dogma and the free will of the moral act, which are absent in the characters that make up the narrative, and we will also consider the necropolitics latent in the social context of the characters. In order to carry out this descriptive analysis from a phenomenological point of view and establish a coherent view of the discussions and characters, we will use the studies of Biko (1990), Baur (2000), Hick (2018), Revel (2005), Mbembe (2016), Fanon (2022), Hill-Collins (2019), Hooks (2020), Arendt (1997, 2004), Almeida and Teles (2012) and Saffioti (2004, 2015) among other scholars and theorists as theoretical anchors. Methodologically, this is a qualitative, bibliographical study with a descriptive analytical approach. Through this description, as a preliminary result, we conjecture that the way Ntshingila delineates violence in her poetic texture produces a certain ‘subtlety’ for such grotesque moments.

Sufistic Self-healing: The Intersection of Sufism and Psychology

Humans always desire to know themselves, know the world around them, and know their place in the world. This search has taken humanity from religious dogmas to philosophical discourse and the empirical sciences. Although human civilization has progressed in various alternatives for understanding the self about nature, the answers remain elusive. Spirituality, whether related to a particular religion or another, has been practiced for a long time and is claimed to provide answers to “unresolved doubts” (S. Haque Nizamie, et al, 2013). In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in spirituality, and advances in neuroscience have provided an opening to understand it from a more scientific viewpoint and place it in the proper perspective. In various cultures, spirituality is an important part of the belief system of the majority of society. This affects mental well-being and understanding of mental illness in terms of etiology, meaning, and self-healing modalities. It seems important for mental health professionals to be aware of how spirituality influences the mental well-being of individuals in both health and illness. This paper will outline the basic foundations of Sufism, how Sufism affects the mental well-being of individuals associated with it, and its relationship with psychology.

Analisis Nilai Sosial Dan Religi Dalam Naskah Drama"Sebelum Sembahyang” Karya Kecuk Ismadi C.R: Studi Mimesis

<p><em>The objective of this study is to attain a comprehensive comprehension of the social and religious values imbued within the dramatic manuscript "</em>Sebelum Sembahyang<em>" authored by </em>Kecuk Ismadi C.R.<em> through a mimetic inquiry, as a concerted endeavor to elucidate the interplay between literary creations and quotidian existence. Employing a qualitative paradigm with a descriptive methodology, this investigation undertakes data gathering via document analysis, subsequently subjecting the acquired data to mimetic scrutiny. The research outcomes evince that: (1) The nexus between social values and societal actuality within this manuscript manifests through the depiction of societal realities, interpersonal conflicts, moral rectifications, and the transformative processes and educational undertakings of its personages. (2) Likewise, the correlation between religious values and societal actuality is discernible through the portrayal of religious rituals, the dissemination of religious tenets via the Kiai character, the spiritual metamorphosis of the protagonists, and the thematic emphasis on contrition and absolution as integral components of the narrated discourse.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Keywords: </em></strong><em>Analysis, Social Values, Religious Values, Drama Manuscript </em>“Sebelum Sembahyang”</p>

RESESI SEKS : ANTARA KEBEBASAN INDIVIDU DAN HUKUM ISLAM

Developed countries, a sexual recession has become a new trend among the community, manifested in the form of concerns about family responsibilities. The high regard for the legality of marriage by all religions is gradually shifting with the times. The institution of marriage is considered incompatible with the current lifestyle of society, especially in some non-Muslim majority developed countries. This article aims to examine and analyze how a sexual recession can occur, and what are the factors and implications of the sexual recession in the era of disruption. This research is qualitative and descriptive, collecting data through library research and observing phenomena by obtaining evidence through the internet and various social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Google, and others. The article shows that sexual recession is prevalent in some developed countries such as Japan, the United States, South Korea, China, and so on. This is due to a decline in interest in sex, marriage, and having children. Sex and religion, especially Islamic law, seem to act as constraints on individual freedom, leading to a decline in population from all aspects of life This serves as evidence that the sexual recession in some countries, especially developed ones, is heavily influenced by religious dogma and free association. Therefore, a study is needed that confronts the epistemology of religious dogma, especially when confronted with Islamic law and individual freedom within marriage.

A CRITICAL STUDY OF ACTS 2-4 IN THE LIGHT OF KARL MARX’S “RELIGION IS THE OPIUM OF THE MASSES”

Karl Marx’s analysis and critique of religion captured in his statement: Religion is the opium of the masses is perhaps one of the most famous and most quoted by theists and atheists. Unfortunately, most of those doing the quoting do not really understand exactly what Marx meant, probably due to an incomplete understanding of Marx’s general theories on economics and society. Marx’s theory on religion as the opium of the masses is based on his belief that religion had certain practical functions both positive and negative to perform in the society. Such practical functions are seen and observed in the contemporary world. His theory was critically examined in the light of Acts 2-4 in order to discover its effect and implications for church and society using economic strait. The methodology adopted is historical critical method and redaction criticism in biblical scholarship. However, many factors are considered responsible for oppression and social disorder. In agreement with some aspects of Marx’s view on religion, this paper observes and recommends need for psychological emancipation from religious dogmatism.

The Thousand and One Ghosts: Stories as Revenants in Salim Bachi’s Amours et aventures de Sindbad le Marin (2010)

This article examines the ghostly representation of a particular tradition of Arabic storytelling in contemporary francophone literature, one that emphasizes cross-cultural mobility and endless adaptation. Building on Derrida’s hauntologie , it argues that Salim Bachi’s modern Sinbad tale mobilizes the uniquely dialogic and metatextual focus of the Thousand and One Nights to foreground the spectral indeterminacy and malleability of (oral) stories and myths, thereby demonstrating how their salvific capacity lies in their ability to be continually resurrected and reincarnated in different forms across time and space. This dynamic conception of storytelling presents a counter to fossilized state narratives and religious dogma that risk imposing a singular and reductive sense of national identity on a population. Set in a dystopic future Algeria, the novel raises provocative questions about the relationship between storytelling and survival, casting stories—whether historical, political, personal or literary—as powerful but duplicitous “revenants”, whose haunting influence can either immortalize or stifle a country’s progression.

49 Paradogmas that will be Broken by the Ulianov Theory

The Ulianov Theory (UT) postulates a fresh perspective that could potentially be the stepping stone towards a genuine Unified Theory. However, its journey to widespread acceptance faces substantial challenges. Scientific progress often revolves around paradigms: widely accepted beliefs or theories that serve as the foundation for further scientific exploration. Over time, some paradigms become so entrenched that they transcend their provisional status, becoming immutable truths, like religious Dogmas or ”Paradogmas” (scientific paradigms that becomes immutable trusts like religious dogmas). This article list 49 Paradogmas that will be break, when the UT new paradigms becomes always accept.

The Plight of Syrian Refugees in the United States: Between Indifference and Dehumanization

Forced or voluntary migration worldwide and the quest for a safer and better life has not always resulted from armed conflicts or any form of political, ethnic, or religious persecution. Natural disasters have often enticed waves of deprived people across sovereign national borders. The present study investigates the plight of Syrian refugees in the aftermath of the 2011 upheavals which shook the Arab World, not as much because it poses unprecedented humanitarian and political challenges, but principally because it laid bare the double standard policy pursued by certain Western governments scapegoating Arab/Muslim stocks as a lingering menace to their security. To reconfigure the boundaries of decent debate and break down taboos over such a controversial issue, the paper raises a number of questions with regard to the essence of humanitarian work and how, over the past few decades, it has been politicized by ruthless politicians and unscrupulous technocrats to determine the resettlement of displaced masses or the allocation of funds to international relief organizations based on national, religious, and even racial standards. It takes the United States as a case in point to show how, despite being the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees, it has resettled only a tiny fraction of such a group compared to poorer contiguous states. The paper posits, finally, to contribute survey-based argument to available literature which, to some degree, has not sufficiently explored the hypothetical connection between refugee flows and transnational terrorism to demonstrate, ultimately, that not every Arab/Muslim refugee is a terrorist-in-waiting.

Communalism and Relevance to Nazrul

Kazi Nazrul Islam, renowned for his poetry and literary works, championed Hindu-Muslim unity and secularism in India. Born into poverty and influenced by revolutionary ideals, Nazrul's writings emphasized humanity over religious divisions. He critiqued both Hindu and Muslim extremism, promoting a universalistic approach to religion. His literature sought to bridge communal divides, advocating for the harmony of souls and the recognition of truth across faiths. Nazrul's legacy of secularism remains profoundly relevant today, offering guidance in a world still grappling with religious intolerance and division. His efforts in fostering unity and challenging religious dogma remain relevant today as communal conflicts persist, highlighting his enduring legacy as a flow of harmony and social justice.

‘Freedom within the framework’? The everyday politics of religion, state repression and migration in Vietnam’s borderlands and beyond

ABSTRACT How do peripheral, ‘voiceless’ people engage with politics in authoritarian contexts where formal politics is not a viable option? This article demonstrates the value of applying an everyday politics perspective to grassroots religious activity and mobilities, by providing an in-depth case study of a recently Christianised ethnic minority group based in Vietnam’s politically sensitive borderlands. In the face of religious persecution and social conflict sponsored by an overbearing state, hundreds of thousands of ordinary ethnic Hmong Protestants subtly resist, evade and/or support religious policies through mundane, everyday behaviour which have unintended geopolitical consequences, collectively undermine state legitimacy and can be credited with substantial policy changes over time. Based on rich qualitative data, I argue that a careful investigation of everyday spaces as sites of political contestation not only highlights the agency of non-elite religious actors but can also reveal insights about the nature of the ‘top-down’ forces they engage with.

Religion, authority and denunciation in the paradigm of mediatization: The case of the Congolese diaspora of the Salvation Army

The article aims to explain denunciation as a form of communication with regards to contestation. It examines this object within the limits posed by the conceptual triangle that associates religion, authority and media. The empirical field investigated considers the case of two virtual communities of the Congolese diaspora of the Salvation Army. Denunciatory occurrences were identified using the thematic analysis of occurrences with the aim of understanding the function and communicational substance of the public denunciation of the respective religious leadership, as well as the major issues that focus the questioning of the authority of this leadership on social media. Findings indicate that the influence of mediatization on religious diasporas have produced a challenge to religious authority that is forged through practices of public denunciation in digital media. Religious leadership, religiosity, doctrines and dogmas are subject to a communicative intention which makes them vulnerable.

Gustav Oppenheim (1882-1937) and the Discovery of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

The discovery of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is frequently attributed to Dr. Gustav Oppenheim-a man who has been largely passed over in history. Oppenheim's clinical and neuropathologic research covered a variety of disorders, but his name is best known for his work on senile dementia and CAA. Although Oppenheim was in fact not the first to discover CAA, his neuropathologic observations and inferences on neurodegenerative disease proved to be remarkably faithful to our modern understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. As a neurologist, he served in the First World War and was later subjected to religious persecutions in the leadup to the Holocaust but was not fortunate enough to emigrate before his death. The life, social impact, and previously overlooked contributions to science and medicine by Oppenheim are detailed.

Integrating Faith and Fashion: How Muslim Women in Ghana Are Redefining Workplace Dress Codes

This study assessed the interplay of fashion, religion, and employment among Muslim women in Ghana’s formal sector. It examined their fashion consumption behaviors and how religion influences their attire choices, focusing on their awareness of Islamic fashion laws. Employing a concurrent mixed method approach, the study targeted Muslim women in various formal institutions in Accra, Ghana. Data collection involved questionnaires, observations, and interviews. Descriptive and Regression analysis was conducted to test hypotheses. The study discovered a significant association between contemporary fashion features in Muslim women’s styles and their knowledge of Islamic fashion laws. It also revealed that Islamic and contemporary fashion characteristics influence their understanding of clothing regulations under Islamic law. The study suggested the integration of religious beliefs in the fashion industry. It recommends involving professionals with religious and fashion expertise in education, promoting current trends in fashion that align with Islamic laws, and enforcing workplace rights for Muslim women. This study provides unique insights into how Islamic laws influence the fashion choices of Muslim women in Ghana’s formal sector, bridging a gap in understanding the intersection of faith, fashion, and professional life. Additionally, the findings highlight the dual impact of fashion and religion not only on personal identity but also on professional engagement within the workplace. These results emphasize the need for a more inclusive fashion industry that respects and reflects diverse religious tenets while supporting women in their career endeavors. This integrative approach could potentially enhance workplace inclusion and boost the career prospects of Muslim women in the formal sector.

Emma Goes to the Arctic

This article tells the story of Emma Burnham Dresser's 1931 voyage on the Soviet icebreaker Malygin. Emma was not interested in Marxism or social experimentation. Nor was she fleeing discrimation or religious persecution. Instead, she wanted an exotic experience; hence, Emma's story introduces a new kind of traveler to the scholarly literature on the history of tourism to the Soviet Union: the wealthy socialite looking for her latest adventure. By focusing on contemporary press coverage of the trip, we can also see how American interpretations of it differ from the narratives offered by Soviet media, and how Emma's actions defied American conceptions of the Arctic as a space where men went to prove their masculinity.