Religious Denominations Research Articles

Religious service attendance and consumer financial outcomes: Evidence from a longitudinal survey

Previous literature has pointed to strong links between religion and economic outcomes. However, little is known about how individual consumers ’ religiosity is related to their financial management outcomes. Using longitudinal data from a national representative survey of households in Poland (more than 90% of believers declaring Roman Catholic religious denomination), we examine the associations between religious service attendance (RSA) and three subsequent consumer financial outcomes: savings, debt, and financial satisfaction. Social contacts, general trust, and risk tolerance have been tested to mediate these associations. The results indicate that RSA is prospectively associated with all three consumer financial outcomes: savings (positive), debt (negative), and financial satisfaction (positive). Only one mediation effect was found: the association between RSA and savings is mediated by social contacts. This implies that religiosity, as measured by RSA, is prospectively associated with financial outcomes, and socialcontacts have some potential to mediate the process.

Quality of newborn care and associated factors: An analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey.

Kenya one of the African countries has pledged to reduce neonatal death as per the 2030 World Health Organization target. Providing high-quality newborn care is critical in minimizing neonatal mortality. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the quality of newborn care in Kenya. Secondary data from 11,863 participants of the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) were analyzed. The participants were chosen using two-stage stratified sampling. The quality of newborn care was operationalized as receiving all components of newborn care after childbirth, as reported by the mother. Using SPSS (version 29), univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the data. In this study, 32.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.0%-34.5%) of the mothers reported that their newborns had received all components of quality neonatal care after childbirth. Mothers who spent an average of one hour accessing the health facilities compared with those who spent less than half an hour were 1.33 (95%CI: 1.01-1.75) times more likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care. Mothers who gave birth in a non-government organization health facility were 30.37 (95%CI: 2.69-343.20) times more likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care compared with those who delivered from a faith-based organization. On the contrary, in terms of regions, mothers who lived in Nyanza, Eastern, and Rift Valley provinces compared with those who lived in the coastal regions were 0.53 (95%CI: 0.34-0.82), 0.61 (95%CI: 0.39-0.94), and 0.62 (95%CI: 0.41-0.93) times less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care, respectively. Mothers who subscribed to other religions or faith (0.28 (95%CI: 0.10-0.76) compared with those from the Christian faith, were less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care. Finally, mothers who gave birth through cesarean section were 0.44 (95%CI: 0.32-0.61) times less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care than mothers who gave birth through spontaneous vaginal delivery. The study indicates that about a third of the neonates received quality newborn care and that facility-related and parental social factors were associated with receiving quality newborn care. Stakeholders need to pay more attention to newborn babies whose mothers come from certain regions of Kenya where the quality of newborn care was found to be low, minority religious faith denominations, and those who delivered by ceasearen section. Stakeholders also should focus on strengthening collaborations with NGO health facilities and achieving universal health coverage to improve the quality of newborn care provided in health facilities.

The Tragedy of the confrontation: the religious factor in the Russian Civil War

The article analyzes a collective monograph edited by A. S. Puchenkov and devoted to the consideration of the role and significance of the religious factor during the Civil War in Russia. According to the reviewer, the authors, based on the unique material collected in 22 Russian and foreign archives, were able to show and prove the need to take into account the phenomenon of the religious factor, rightly defining it as «a set of many components affecting the social, socio-political, spiritual, cultural and national life of society, determining the order of functioning of religion and its institutions in the system of relations between the state and society, as well as the influence of religion as a social institution on non-religious forms of public life». According to S. L. Firsov, the authors have made a successful attempt to draw a detailed picture of the state of religious denominations (primarily the Orthodox Russian Church) during the Civil War. In his opinion, the reviewed monograph can be called a kind of encyclopedia of the spiritual life of Russia during the Russian Troubles of the early 20-th century. The authors of the monograph made a worthy contribution to the study of the moral and moral state of Russian society by writing a deep and useful work for all those interested in both the history of the Orthodox Russian Church of the era of Revolution and Civil War, and the history of the Russian Troubles of the early twentieth century as a whole.

La crisi familiare e le giurisdizioni religiose negli Stati Uniti: tensioni tra separatismo e pluralismo nel sistema delle ADR

Familiar crisis and religious jurisdictions the United States: tensions between separatism and pluralism in the ADR system ABSTRACT: In the United States, religious denominations play a central role in the out-of-court resolution of disputes. In fact, religious groups provide negotiation facilitation, mediation and arbitration services, according to models of increasing procedural complexity and binding nature. The contribution will illustrate case law guidelines about law enforcement of Jewish and Islamic judgements in familiar matters. I will focus on attempts of secular courts to mediate between opposing demands: the security of legal statuses, the maintenance of social stability and public order, the protection of rights of the individual, the deflation of civil litigation, the greater confidence of litigants towards the minister of religion acting as judge. In the conclusion, I will evaluate the impact of these trends on the intercultural paradigm that characterizes the American pluralist legal system. SOMMARIO: 1. Le ADR religiose negli Stati Uniti tra luci e ombre - 2. Pactum suprema lex esto? Il riconoscimento dei lodi arbitrali emessi dai tribunal rabbinici in sede di divorzio - 3. Il diritto familiare musulmano tra ostracismo e neutralità - 4. E pluribus unum? Il molteplice e il singolo di fronte allegiurisdizioni religiose nella società americana

Missio Inter Gentes: A Pastoral Response for The CICM Religious Missionaries in Doing Mission in Today's Pluralistic World

In a world where rivalry, jealousy, hatred, and competition among religions are taking root in the heart of our society, the Church needs to look for a new trajectory to bring together the people of God. Therefore, The suggestion of the new paradigm inter gentes, defined as mission among the nations, would contribute to a peaceful interreligious dialogue. This paradigm involves understanding and respect, building bridges between different faiths, and fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere among religions. This article presents missio inter gentes as a CICM's pastoral response to doing mission in today's pluralistic world. The CICM (Congragatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae) is an international religious missionary dedicated to the Incarnate Word under the name and patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is a missionary Congregation founded to participate in the mission Jesus entrusted to the Church. As the world evolves, the Church also evolves and, therefore, seeks new ways to relate with others. CICM missionaries play a vital role as agents of reconciliation for interreligious dialogue as the Church faces pluralism of religions. They facilitate dialogue among the leaders of other religious denominations by promoting respect and harmony for peaceful coexistence.

Religion, personality, or none of them? Exploratory evidence on their correlations with economic preference parameters.

Previous empirical research in the social sciences suggests sizable differences across religious denominations for various outcomes of interest, such as educational attainment, marital stability, wealth, or fertility. A small body of previous experimental literature has investigated possible differences in economic preference parameters (including time preference and risk attitude) between religious denominations that might explain those differences. This research adds to the extant literature on religion and preferences by including information on subjects' Big Five personality traits and analyzing potential correlations with loss aversion. It combines experimental data from incentivized choices with information on religious affiliation during high school and Big Five personality traits to test for possible correlations of religious denomination with risk attitude, time preference, and loss aversion, using Bayesian analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bayesian regression analysis. Bayesian ANOVA results suggest no preference differences between the religions analyzed in this research. When controlling for Big Five personality traits and a host of other background variables, Bayesian regression results suggest no effects of either religious affiliation or Big Five personality traits measures on the three economic preference parameters analyzed here. These findings highlight the complexity of the relationship between religion, personality traits, and economic preference parameters, suggesting that previously observed differences may be influenced by the preference measures used or other unobserved factors.

Faith, Climate, and Energy Frugality: Unravelling the Nexus in European Perspectives

This study explores the relationship between religious beliefs, perceptions of climate change, and preferences for energy frugality in Europe using data from the November 2023 European Social Survey across 22 countries. The research reveals a predominant inclination toward median values in addressing climate change, with subtle variations based on levels of religiosity. Lower religiosity tends to be associated with a nuanced attribution of climate change to human activity. There is a complex interplay between religiosity and the perception of personal responsibility in mitigating climate change, indicating some polarisation but an overall increasing sense of accountability. Religious affiliations show distinct attitudes, with Protestants more inclined to attribute climate change to human causes. Roman Catholics are closer to some Protestants, while other Christian denominations exhibit flexibility and common ground with Islam and Judaism. However, it is concluded that demographics and political alignment play a more pivotal role compared to religiosity levels or religious denominations.

Body Mass Index, Adherence to a Healthy Lifestyle, and Breakfast Consumption Associated with Religious Affiliation in Peruvian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Despite evidence suggesting a relationship between religiosity and health habits, there is a paucity of studies specifically examining this association in the context of Peruvian university students. This study compared body mass index (BMI), adherence to a healthy lifestyle, and breakfast consumption in Peruvian university students of four religious denominations: Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), Catholics, Baptists, and Evangelicals. A cross-sectional study was conducted online among 4557 students from a Peruvian university. The BMI and the frequency of breakfast consumption were evaluated, and the Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS) was applied. The variables studied were associated using simple and multiple linear regression and Poisson models with robust variance. Baptist (B = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.10-0.78; p = 0.011), Catholic (B = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.12-0.47; p = 0.001), and Evangelical (B = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.64; p = 0.014) students had a significantly higher BMI compared to SDA. Baptist (B = -0.2, 95% CI: -0.37--0.05; p = 0.017) and Evangelical (B = -0.13, 95% CI: -0.28--0.03; p = 0.012) students exhibited a lower mean score on the measure of healthy lifestyles compared to SDA students. Additionally, Baptist (PR = -0.32, 95% CI: -0.92--0.12; p = 0.035) and Catholic (PR = -0.3, 95% CI: -0.99--0.19; p = 0.016) students exhibited a lower probability of eating breakfast regularly compared to SDA students. Health professionals should consider these findings when designing and implementing health promotion programs that are culturally sensitive and respectful of the beliefs and practices of all religious groups in university settings.

Wisdom affinity in the general population

BackgroundWisdom is an important coping resource for difficult and ambiguous life situations. Wisdom trainings have been developed in clinical and non-clinical settings. What has been missing so far are representative data on wisdom affinity from the general population. These are important regarding needs assessments and identification of risk groups with low wisdom affinity and potential problems in coping with difficult and ambiguous life situations.MethodThe study examined a population-representative sample of 2509 persons. Socio-demographic data, presence of chronic and mental illnesses was assessed, and wisdom attitudes by the 12-WD Wisdom Scale. The surveys were carried out by means of interviews and self-report questionnaires at the respondents’ homes, done by an experienced social research company (USUMA GmbH).ResultsOnly 6% of the whole sample appeared to be highly wisdom-affirmative (12-WD mean score 10 on scale 0–10), whereas 4% may appear low wisdom-affirm, due to very low agreement (12 WD mean score 0–4). Most of the moderately wisdom-affirm people had a religious denomination (70.9%), whereas only 57–59% of the high or low wisdom-affirm persons reported religious affiliations. Low wisdom-affirm were most often chronically ill (25%), with mental or physical illness in similar frequency, and had significantly more unemployment times than persons with higher wisdom scores. Wisdom affinity was independent from age, gender and age, household situation, and higher school education.ConclusionIt must be assumed that people with socio-medical risk factors also have impairments in their wisdom-related problem-solving strategies, and that these can be of interest for transdiagnostic wisdom trainings in prevention or rehabilitation, which has shown positive effects.

Possessing and being possessed by the past: on the ambivalences of heritage as religious return

ABSTRACT This paper explores the politics of religious patrimony by comparing two cases where the heritagization of religious sites results in feelings of loss and estrangement rather than return and restoration. We show how shrines can function simultaneously as public and civic places of religious assembly but also as material and sensorial expressions of ambivalent forms of belonging and un-belonging – to the past, to a territory, to a religious denomination, to a domestic environment associated with childhood or previous generations. One case is of Greek Cypriots as they travel to a renovated monastery located in territory lost to them in 1974 after the island’s division. Encounters with the monastery are inflected by a broader, uncanny feeling of reentering a landscape that is familiar yet also estranged, studded by former childhood homes and villages now inhabited by others. The other case follows the experiences of Roman Catholics as they engage with the Christian pilgrimage site of Walsingham in the English county of Norfolk. The site now embodies a fractured heritage and pilgrimage space that recalls spiritual, material and cultural loss extending beyond biographical memory into the time of the Protestant Reformation. In both cases, ambiguities of ‘possession’ are provoked by forms of heritage restoration that embody but also obliterate memory in ways deemed to be deeply problematic by some populations. We argue that possession in these terms has economic and legal associations, referring to ownership of places and things, but it also points to situations where people are filled with an abiding and at times obsessive sense of the continuing urgency of the unsettled past.

How Can Digital Maps of Religions Inform Us about Fractionalization and Polarization in Post-Communist Romania?

This study explores religious diversity in Romania and how the trends of indices of religious fractionalization and polarization manifest at the county level in a post-communist period. The county level was selected as the relevant level for analysis due to its more clearly visible spatial dynamics with regard to religions. Recent studies have revealed that the erosion of diversity is an important aspect for any country and needs to be considered as an important aspect of democracy. This paper highlights how digital mapping of religious polarization and fractionalization in Romania has been generally maintained, although the regions of Transylvania, Banat, Dobrogea and Western Moldova remain areas in which there are different religions. Other than the general aspect of religious diversity depending on ethnic trends, there has been a rise of Pentecostals and Baptists at the county level. This aspect has further implications for our study, which calls for creating new institutions for dialogue between majority Orthodox communities and Protestants, not only so that potential conflicts do not appear between Orthodox and emerging religious communities but also to ensure objective, cultural, religious coherence. Our maps revealed the distribution patterns and the temporal evolution of religious denominations for the 1992–2011 period. The major line of originality in our research rests in the findings that after conducting a bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis of religious fractionalization and polarization, we were able to identify two distinct clusters with spatial overlap over historical provinces.

Exploring the impact of religious diversity on market performance and financial growth in developed economies

This paper investigates the relationship between religious diversity and financial market efficiency through an empirical analysis spanning multiple (50) countries and time periods. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset compiled from various sources, including religious demographics and financial market indicators, we employ advanced econometric techniques to examine the impact of religious diversity on market efficiency. Our findings suggest a nuanced relationship between religious diversity and financial market dynamics, with significant implications for investors, policymakers, and societal stakeholders. The analysis reveals that regions characterized by higher religious diversity tend to exhibit lower levels of market efficiency, as measured by volatility, liquidity, and price informativeness. Furthermore, our results indicate that religious diversity and market efficiency vary across religious denominations and geographical regions. Our research's implications extend beyond finance, offering insights into the broader societal implications of religious diversity and its impact on economic outcomes.

კონკორდატის სამართლებრივი ასპექტები

The Concordat is a constitutional agreement signed this year between the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia and the state. It remains disputed due to legal norms inconsistent with the Constitution and technical or content issues. Nevertheless, this is why it stands out as one of the most intriguing documents, stirring interest not only among lawyers but also among a significantly broader part of society. The purpose of the article is to showcase and analyze the deficiencies within the constitutional agreement, which will make the relevance of the problem more visible. Additionally, it seeks to identify the privileges granted to the Orthodox Church compared to other religious denominations within the constitutional agreement.

Perspectives on religious denominations and social crises in Romania

The relationship between social crises and religious cults in Romania is a topic neglected by the specialized literature. In this paper, we propose a series of analyses regarding how social crises have influenced religious life in Romania and the mechanisms by which religious cults have played a role in solving or amplifying them. We will refer to the Romanian Orthodox Church, the majority religious denomination, and some of its positions on events/stages of these social phenomena between 1990 and 2023. This text does not propose a thorough examination of these relationships but attempts to sketch perspectives of analysis in response to the following research questions: What do Romanians think about the Church's involvement in the life of society and implicitly in social crises? Why is it important to understand the position of religious actors on the evolution of social crises? How have religious denominations influenced the improvement/aggravation of some dimensions of social crises? Official stances of Religious Cults during different social crises were examined, alongside instances of informal religious practices aimed at enhancing societal conditions. In Romania, religious cults have been essential partners of the State in reducing social crises, providing support through their rich infrastructure and human resources or their symbolic position in society. However, there have also been cases in which religious cults have generated conflictual social states and tension, producing or aggravating social crises.

Factors of Ethnic Distance: A Systematic Scoping Review

Identifying factors determining ethnic distance is a perennial quest in ethnic studies. This is important not only from a theoretical perspective but also as a basis for developing practical interventions aimed at decreasing ethnic distance, which could, in turn, lead to increased tolerance and social peace. Building on existing research, we conducted a systematic scoping review of 30 studies to identify prevalent factors and variables that significantly impact individuals’ ethnic distance. According to our study, the most relevant variables are gender, education, income, age, interethnic contact, war experience, following news in the media, religious commitment, religious denomination, and political orientation. The analysis has shown that these variables can be grouped into four distinct factors: sociodemography, exposure, religion, and politics. However, none of the factors and variables identified were found to be universally applicable, as the cause of ethnic distance is multifactorial and context-dependent. We mapped the characteristics of existing studies, focusing on any indication of psychological mechanisms driving the changes in interethnic (in)tolerance. Most of the studies reviewed were based on the Bogardus scale, a commonly used tool for measuring ethnic distance.

Interaction of politics and religion as a factor in shaping the religious culture of Kyrgyzstan’s youth

Democracy and frequent changes of government in Kyrgyzstan contribute to the spread of various religious movements in the country. Social processes, political shifts and the spread of radical religious ideas among young people emphasize the relevance of this study. The purpose of this article is to assess the impact of Kyrgyzstan's religious policy on the religious consciousness of contemporary youth. The study used general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization, historical and critical, comparative, dialectical, as well as empirical methods of surveys and questionnaires. The study showed that the religious policy of Kyrgyzstan is characterized by democracy and liberalism, based on the secular nature of the state. Kyrgyzstan is a multi-confessional country, with more than 30 religions. The vast majority of Kyrgyzstan's population are Sunni Muslims, and the second most common religious denomination is Orthodox Christianity. Since 1991, Kyrgyzstan has witnessed a process of Islamization, and non-traditional religious movements, both Islamic and other religious doctrines, have also penetrated and gained popularity in the country. The state's liberal policy in the field of religion facilitates the penetration of non-traditional religious organizations from abroad into Kyrgyzstan. Young people are particularly susceptible to new religious movements. This phenomenon can lead to the spread of radical religious ideas among the youth of Kyrgyzstan. In this regard, the state should pay closer attention to the policy in the field of religion. The practical value of the work is determined by the fact that its results can be useful in further research on this issue.

Religious Organizations as Racialized Organizations: Loose Coupling and Symbolic Allyship Between Denominational Racial Justice Statements and Congregational Practice

In the post-Civil Rights era, many predominantly white religious denominations issued statements denouncing racism and challenging their congregations to take organizational action to undo racism, but do these statements translate into actions? New institutionalism theorizes that loose coupling between statements and actions is normative for organizations as they balance signaling support to their external environment while simultaneously maintaining the good faith of internal membership, but Ray contends that because organizations are racialized, this disconnect maintains racial inequality. Building on new institutionalism, I develop the concept of symbolic allyship: symbolic actions that mark the organization as an ally, but these symbolic actions vary in the degree to which they pose organizational risk in maintaining member confidence. Using a nationally representative sample of American congregations within predominantly white denominations that have implored their congregations to act to address racism, I employ latent class analysis to test the prevalence and shape of congregational loose coupling between symbolic statements and symbolic actions. Results suggest that loose coupling between statements and actions is the norm. Further, results provide some evidence that congregations trend toward engaging in symbolic actions that have lower potential costs to the good faith of members. Because these forms of symbolic allyship signal support to the outside world, they may also mask lower levels of organizational change and reinforce racial inequality. Finally, regression analysis illustrates that the ideological mismatch between more progressive denominational statements and more conservative local political and theological cultures helps in understanding this pervasive loose coupling.

The Role of Religion in Shaping Social Attitudes towards LGBTQ+ Rights

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the role of religion in shaping social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of religion in shaping social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. Preliminary empirical review revealed that religious beliefs significantly influenced individuals' perceptions and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals and their rights. It found that conservative religious denominations often held negative views towards LGBTQ+ individuals, while more liberal traditions embraced inclusivity and equality. Religious institutions and leaders played a significant role in shaping public discourse and policy debates surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, with varying degrees of support or opposition. The study also highlighted the intersectionality of religion with other social dimensions, such as race and socio-economic status, in shaping attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. Overall, the findings underscored the complexities of the relationship between religion and social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights and emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue, education, and advocacy to promote greater acceptance and inclusion. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Identity theory, Social Learning theory and Cognitive Dissonance theory may be used to anchor future studies on role of religion in shaping social attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights. The study made several recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It suggested further research to advance theoretical frameworks that elucidate the complex interplay between religion and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights, emphasizing the need for intersectional analyses. In practice, the study recommended promoting dialogue, education, and advocacy within religious communities to foster greater understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals. From a policy perspective, it underscored the importance of legislative initiatives that protect LGBTQ+ rights while respecting religious freedom, as well as targeted interventions and support services tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals within religious contexts. Additionally, the study emphasized leveraging media and communication channels to promote positive portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals and amplify their voices within religious communities. Overall, the recommendations provided a comprehensive framework for advancing acceptance, inclusion, and equality for LGBTQ+ individuals within religious settings and society.

Untangling the Paradoxical Relationship Between Religion and Business: A Systematic Literature Review of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Religiosity Research

Despite numerous chief executive officers (CEOs) citing their religious convictions as the primary guiding framework for their decision-making, leadership behavior, business philosophy, and motivation to contribute to society, the impact of CEOs’ religious convictions is relatively limited in the business literature. However, the widespread yet potentially ambiguous impact of CEO religiosity, encompassing both a CEO’s religious denomination and level of religiosity, on individual, organizational, economical, and societal levels remains a neglected area of research. This gap is attributed to challenges in conceptualizing and measuring this multifaceted construct, with existing research scattered and predominantly confined to the ethics domain. Notably, this oversight is significant given the pivotal role that CEOs, as primary decision-makers, play in organizational dynamics. This article aims to address this gap by conducting a systematic literature review of 50 articles focused on CEO religiosity, seeking to enhance the understanding of personal religion in the business world. Through an analysis of publication trends, methodological approaches, theoretical frameworks, and empirical findings, the review not only offers insights for future research and theorizing but also proposes a conceptual framework for understanding and advancing CEO religiosity research. Additionally, this review identifies specific areas warranting further investigation, thereby highlighting existing research gaps and providing explicit starting points for future research. Through these contributions, this article provides a blueprint for future research on CEO religiosity and holds significant implications for management practice.

“El embarazo está en la cabeza, no en el útero”: el oráculo del <i>diloggún</i> y el despertar de la fertilidad en la regla de ocha cubana

Religions are often acknowledged for their ability to provoke social, psychological, and physiological transformation, prompting recurrent studies in social and human sciences. Within this analytical domain, understanding ailments and methods of healing through various practices —rituals, cosmologies, and divinations— has been extensively explored. However, research on female reproductive ailments and corresponding intervention methods remains nascent in certain religious denominations, such as African-derived religions like the Regla de Ocha (Santería) in Cuba. The purpose of this article is to shed light on the healing of female reproductive ailments through the diloggún oracle utilized in the Regla de Ocha. Conducted between December 2022 and January 2023 in Santa Marta, Cárdenas, Cuba, our research adopts an ethnographic and narrative approach, placing reflexivity on our experiences at the forefront of our discussions. The research, from which our arguments derive, was conducted between December 2022 and January 2023 in Santa Marta, Cárdenas, Cuba. Methodologically, it adopts an ethnographic and narrative approach, placing reflexivity on our experiences at the forefront of our discussions. Consequently, it not only delineates the processes inherent in the practice of this oracle and its socio-spiritual impacts concerning potential realms of well-being but also advocates for conceptual and theoretical-methodological enhancements regarding healing. The article contributes to the evolving the incipient understanding of the connections between female fertility and healing within the Regla de Ocha and the intricate relationships among well-being, discomfort, and spirituality intrinsic to this religious system.