Religious Faith Research Articles

Causal analysis with multidimensional treatments: A brief review with application on religious profiles and substance abuse among emerging adults

Religious faith is indispensable in the socialization of adolescents as it provides emerging adults with a framework of guidelines that shape individual behavior. Numerous studies have shown that religious involvement is often associated with lower levels of substance use. However, existing research often treats religiosity as a homogeneous measure that fails to capture the complexity of an individual’s religiosity comprehensively. Little research has been done to examine the causal effects of religious belief on substance use. To bridge these gaps, we aim to establish the causal link between multidimensional religious profiles and illegal substance abuse among young people transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. To achieve these goals, we propose a fusion approach that integrates state-of-the-art techniques to analyze the multi-waves National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY97) data. We review three major threads of methods in causal inference with multidimensional treatments. Finally, we estimate the causal effects of multidimensional religious profiles on substance abuse through regression adjustment, inverse probability weighting, and nonparametric Bayesian modeling technique.

Psychological perspectives on faith-driven persistence in self-employment: The mediating role of mental health and well-being

ABSTRACT This study builds on research at the intersection of religion and entrepreneurship by examining the psychological underpinnings of how religious faith promotes goal persistence among self-employed individuals. Applying random-effects and structural equation modeling on a sample of 725 self-employed individuals in the United States drawn from two time periods, we examine the effects of religious coping on the mental health and well-being and goal persistence of the self-employed. We introduce a fully mediated psychological model of faith-driven persistence highlighting the influential role of three dimensions of mental health and well-being (purpose in life, personal growth, environmental mastery) in linking religious faith to goal persistence. We reveal that religious affiliation alone is not enough but that individuals must hold and use religious faith to experience this psychological effect. Altogether, this study contributes to the limited research on the psychological aspects of religion in entrepreneurial well-being and entrepreneurial persistence literature

Development and Validation of the Scale of Motives for Faith in Japan.

Previous religiousness scales have been developed in Christian contexts; we developed in Japan, where diverse religions coexist, the Scale of Motives for Faith comprising novel dimensions to facilitate intercultural comparison studies between Western and Eastern religions including monotheistic, polytheistic, and atheistic ones. In Phase 1, items were extracted using an adapted Delphi method; in Phase 2, validity and reliability were tested in a nationwide survey. In Phase 1, twenty experts representing Buddhism, Christianity, Shinto, Islam, and new religions extracted 16 items; in Phase 2 using a pilot scale, 1093 respondents' beliefs were analyzed. After one item was excluded, confirmatory factor analysis evaluating the 15-item-5-factor model indicated acceptable goodness of fit. In hypothesis testing, 78% were accepted. Cronbach's alpha ranged 0.79-0.93 and the intraclass correlation coefficient ranged 0.50-0.65. The Scale of Motives for Faith may serve to compare motives for religious faith worldwide and to identify motives for faith in relation to social, psychological, and health impacts across countries, religions, and cultures.

A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF U.S. FAMOUS PEOPLE’S TWEETS ON THE OVERTURN OF ROE V. WADE (1973)

Abstract: The overturn of Roe v. Wade (1973) in 2022 has triggered a rally as to abortion rights in the States, flooding both the news, online discussions and debates. On the day of the decision, 80 U.S. famous people instantly reacted through their tweets. This paper qualitatively analyzed these tweets using Fairclough’s CDA framework. Three prominent patterns were found regarding these people’s political ideologies on abortion rights. First, the sole pro-life tweeter maintained that pro-choice were only hypocrites, and the constitution text was the most legitimate reference for the Supreme Court’s work. Second, the other 79 tweeters’ ideologies were identified as convergent in that: (1) pro-life was grounded in blind religious faith and filled with conservative hegemony; (2) anti-abortion was associated with resistance to democracy, justice and social progress; (3) voting for the Democratic would be the solution to the problem; and (4) the celebrities’ advocacy of pro-choice was righteous. Third, the representation of pro-choice ideologies among these 79 tweeters were found to be differentiated due to the tweeters’ various backgrounds and expertise. Many tweets also used paradoxical argumentation such as the idea of democracy that excluded pro-life individuals. The discussion of the research findings suggested that the participants’ short expressions on Twitter not only proved ineffective for compelling social mobilization in such a case like this but also reinforced polarization as the mediated perspectives overtly showed intolerance.

Religious Trends among Arab Muslims, 2010–2022: Continued Revival, Polarization, or Burgeoning Secularization?

The “Islamic revival” of the latter 20th century entailed a surge of religious faith among Muslims in Arab countries. But few studies have investigated religious trends in more recent decades—specifically, whether revivalist trends are holding strong, or religiosity is beginning to fade. Using survey data from 11 Arab countries, this study finds that religiosity was becoming weaker in the mid-2010s, but this religious decline was confined to men and youth, while women and elders largely maintained their existing levels of religiosity. This was followed by a sharp rebound in religiosity during the COVID pandemic (2020–2021), supporting arguments that people turn to religion for comfort during times of crisis. As the pandemic eased, religious decline resumed and occurred comprehensively among many demographics. This study also found evidence for religious polarization in recent years, whereby the number of secular, non-religious Arabs has grown alongside an expanding group of highly religious Arabs. Finally, values that entail a role for Islam in government, also known as political Islam, do not appear to be fading among Arab Muslims, even during periods when personal religiosity is in decline.

Influence of the Strength of Faith, Emotional Intelligence, and Post-COVID-19 Psychological Well-being in Peruvian Adults

The strength of faith and emotional intelligence can be predictors of good mental health in survivors of the COVID-19 pandemic in sociocultural contexts such as Peru. This study aims to explore the influence of the strength of faith and emotional intelligence on psychological well-being in Peruvian adults post-COVID-19. A total of 390 adults (Mean: 39.36; SD: 13.91) participated, responding to the Santa Clara Religious Faith Strength Questionnaire, Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, and Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5). The instruments showed good structural validity and adequate reliability levels (> .70). The strength of faith has a significant and positive effect on psychological well-being (β = 0.23; p < 0.05). Emotional intelligence has a significant and negative effect on psychological distress (β = -0.53; p < 0.05) and a significant and positive effect on psychological well-being (β = 0.48; p < 0.05). The overall model fit indices indicate favorable and acceptable indicators (RMSEA = 0.031; CFI = 0.990; TLI = 0.989). This study highlights the positive influence of the strength of faith and emotional intelligence on the psychological well-being of COVID-19 survivors. These findings underscore the importance of considering the spiritual dimension and the development of emotional skills in recovery and psychological support efforts.

‘Age should never be a barrier to pursuing our passions’: older adults’ conceptualization of subjective well-being in Ethiopia

Objectives While several studies from the gerontology and lifespan development perspective address the well-being of older adults, studies that directly pertain to the subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults from a resource-poor context are lacking. This study was conducted to gain insights about older adults’ conceptualization of their SWB in Ethiopia. Method We employed an exploratory qualitative approach to investigate older adults’ perspectives of their well-being. Thirty-one participants, 20 men and 11 women, were purposively selected for the study. We used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to collect data. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Results The analysis yielded six prominent themes: physical and mental health, family and social interactions, financial stability and security, optimism and autonomy, religious faith and practices, and the opportunity to work and contribute to the community. Conclusion The study provided insights about older adults’ conceptualization of well-being from a low-income country context. Older adults viewed their well-being holistically as a combination of physical, mental, family, social, financial, religious, and community dimensions. The findings point to a need for comprehensive and contextually-relevant psychosocial and economic interventions and rehabilitative plans to enhance older adults’ well-being.

Menstruation, Segregation and Religious Faith: A Case Study of Chhaupadi in Far Western Nepal

Menstruation, Segregation and Religious Faith: A Case Study of Chhaupadi in Far Western Nepal

‘I just don’t belong’: White Christian privilege and older immigrants’ experiences with religion

A growing body of research shows that older immigrants have a heightened vulnerability to loneliness and social isolation. Religion can help mitigate loneliness and cultivate belonging. This article draws on 42 qualitative interviews with a diverse group of older immigrants living in and around a mid-size city in the Southeastern United States. Participants shared that religious involvement, faith, and spirituality were important resources for coping with adversity and adjusting to new contexts. Ethno-religious communities allowed respondents to maintain their culture and form friendships with people who share their background. Our article examines individual- and structural-level barriers that may inhibit older immigrants’ ability to utilize these resources. Our findings highlight the crucial role of White Christian privilege in shaping older immigrants’ experiences, including implications for acceptance and belonging.

Att samtala om det omätbara

This article seeks to explore Jonna Bornemark's philosophy and epistemology to see if it can help us find a language for existential questions that take both religious faith and reason seriously. Bornemark stands in the phenomenological philosophical tradition. She uses the epistemology of Nicholas of Cusa and her philosophy is sometimes close to theology, even if she always keeps a safe distance from religious beliefs. She thinks that an epistemology that builds on scientific evidence alone leads to a reductionistic worldview. Instead, she wants to see the particularity in life. Everything in life cannot be reduced to a general truth. Humans cannot get the whole picture, but always need to relate to what is unknown. I argue that Bornemark's epistemology can be a bridge between reason and faith. Both philosophy and theology would be enriched by a mutual dialogue. What she lacks is a deeper understanding of how religion works in people's lives. She tends to see all religion as an attempt to answer existential questions and wants to reduce it to a relation to the things humans cannot understand. Such a view of religion takes it out of its context and puts it in an abstract philosophical worldview. I argue that faith needs both a relation to the things that are larger than the human mind and a relation to people's lives.

Adaptation of the Short Version of Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire in Türkiye.

The present study was conducted to adapt the short version of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire into Turkish and to examine the validity and reliability of the scale. This methodological study was conducted between January and May 2024 with 283 individuals aged 18 and older in Turkey. Data were collected online by using "Personal Information Form" and the "Short Version of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire". It was found that all participants believed in God. According to the study results, item-based content validity index (I-CVI) was between 0.87 and 1.00, and the scale-based content validity index (S-CVI) was found to be 0.98. Factor loadings of the scale items vary between 0.570 and 0.840. Fit indices of the scale were calculated as follows: X2 = 9.64, df = 4 (p < 0.05), X2/df = 2.41, RMSEA = 0.071, CFI = 0.99, SRMR = 0.021, TLI = 0.98, RMR = 0.012, AIC = 31.64. The overall Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was 0.860, and the Omega reliability value was 0.866. Short Version of the 5-item Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire was validated without any changes to the original form. The Turkish version of the Short Version of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring individuals' strength of religious faith.

Lived Experiences of Stress and the Coping Mechanisms of Assistant Coaches in the National Basketball Association (NBA)

ABSTRACT This study investigated the stress, stressors, coping strategies, and support interventions experienced by NBA assistant coaches. Twenty male NBA assistant coaches participated in semi-structured interviews regarding stress and burnout. Data analysis revealed three core themes: Experienced Stressors and Burnout, Personal Coping Strategies, and Organizational Support. Participants reported high stress levels, sometimes moderated by family, organizational support systems, and religious faith. Unanticipated findings included stressors related to being a minority coach and the fear of failure. The findings indicate a need for enhanced stress reduction, coping strategy training, and systematic organizational support to help assistant coaches manage stress and avoid burnout.

Why Do They Persist? Understanding Living Kidney Donors and Persistence.

Why Do They Persist? Understanding Living Kidney Donors and Persistence.

The impact of community listening sessions on navigating life challenges and enhancing resilience in older adults

In the community health nursing context, informal listening sessions are opportunities for engagement toward understanding and responding to health and issues that relate to or impact health status. They are a source of information, affirmation, and observation from the community’s perspectives. This study aimed to explore how community listening sessions enhance resilience among older adults facing life challenges. Qualitative descriptive design was employed, and purposive sampling was utilized. Listening sessions were conducted by trained professionals in the two communities in an urbanized city in the Philippines with a total of 33 informants who were at least 60 years old and have experienced or are experiencing significant challenge/s in life which allowed for the gathering of enough information to reach saturation. Collaizi’s method of data analysis was used. Findings are summarized based on the word Resilience: Religious Faith and Spirituality, Emotional Support from Family, Social Engagement, Independence and Self-Efficacy, Learning through Listening, Inner Strength and Coping Skills, Encouragement and Positivity, Networks of Community Support, Challenges in Health and other areas and Engagement in Meaningful Activities. The study highlights the critical role of listening sessions in community health, providing a safe, nonjudgmental platform for individuals to share their resilience and healthspan experiences. This concludes that resilience is a dynamic, multifaceted construct influenced by various factors, including faith, family support, social interactions, personal strengths, and community networks. These findings highlight the need for community health initiatives to adopt a holistic, inclusive approach that considers the diverse elements contributing to resilience.Trial Registration/Exemption Determination University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board (STUDY23020119).

Assisted dying legislation: challenges and considerations for community nurses.

The article focuses on assisted dying, its legislation process and why it might be a political priority for UK lawmakers at this time. The author also raises questions about what the implications of this bill for nurses, particularly community nurses. The article mentions places outside the UK where assisted dying is already a feature of healthcare. 'Bill' or 'bills' should be taken to mean the draft legislation at the time of writing this article; these are subject to revision or even rejection in each jurisdiction either in the short or long term. It is important for nurses to think about the issue in general terms now, as it returns to the political agenda every few years. Nurses need to be able to discuss it professionally as professional standards, training and regulation will change. The questions presented give rise to polarised and strongly held views. It is important to examine any bill from a theoretical standpoint, to provide valid reasons for the position that professional nurses take, for or against these concepts in principle. There are questions of conscience and religious faith, which are challenging, but it is vital to look at the issue in an unemotional manner.

Experiences of Affluent Parents with Drug-Abusing Adolescent Children: A Case of Borrowdale West, Harare

This study examines the lived experiences of affluent parents in Borrowdale West, Harare, whose adolescent children abuse drugs. The research aimed to explore four key aspects: (1) how adolescent drug abuse affects parents’ psychological well-being, (2) its impact on marital and familial relationships, (3) its implications for parents’ societal status, and (4) the coping mechanisms adopted by these parents. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was utilized, employing semi-structured interviews with ten participants selected through snowball sampling. Findings revealed that parents endure significant emotional distress, including guilt, shame, excessive worry, and hopelessness. Marital and familial relationships were often strained, but in some cases, strengthened by shared efforts to tackle the problem. Social perceptions of parents ranged from stigma and judgment to sympathy and understanding. Parents coped using a mix of strategies, such as problem-solving approaches, religious faith, and professional support. Recommendations include the integration of psychiatric nurse support for parents, school-based drug prevention programs, community awareness initiatives to reduce stigma, and further research to examine experiences across diverse socio-economic groups.

Scepticism towards Islam or religiosity? An experimental approach to exploring scepticism towards Muslims in Norway

Abstract Muslims in Europe tend to have an immigrant background. Consequently, they often face a twofold challenge: they are subjected to the prejudice and discrimination immigrants in general face alongside prejudice directed toward them as a religious minority. In this study, we explore the role of Muslims' religiosity and how it relates to scepticism towards Muslims. We apply an online split-sample survey experiment conducted in 2021 to investigate Norwegians' attitudes toward individuals with different strengths of religious faith, ranging from a moderate to a strong Muslim faith. In addition, we explore how attitudes towards Muslims compare to the same attitudes towards individuals with similar Christian beliefs. Three main explanations are proposed for explaining these attitudes: socio-demographic aspects, religiosity, and scepticism towards immigration. We find that there is considerable scepticism towards Islam within Norwegian society, also when compared to other religions. Moreover, we find that those who are sceptical of immigration view Muslims in general as inherently strongly religious. In contrast, those who hold more positive views of immigration tend to consider Muslims in general as inherently moderate. This may suggest that an underlying aspect of why discussions surrounding Muslims within contemporary Europe seem to be so polarized is because different segments of society have a different understanding of what a Muslim actually is.

A Systematic Literature Review on Religiosity : The Social and Economic Determinants of Religious Intensification

Religion plays a vital role in human life, yet many studies focus on its consequences rather than the factors influencing religiosity and religious intensification. This study examines the social and economic determinants that shape religious faith through a literature review of 25 relevant studies from the Scopus database. The findings reveal that social factors predominantly drive religious intensification. These factors include the family environment (parental religiosity, closeness to parents), socialization (religious exposure in childhood), and social conditions (trauma, religious freedom, and societal attitudes). Social demographics such as gender, age, and marital status also play a role. Conversely, economic factors tend to negatively influence religious practices. These factors include income levels (relative and absolute), macroeconomic conditions (GDP per capita, trade volume, and travel costs), socio-economic status (employment, education, and social insurance), and economic development in countries of origin and destination. The study highlights the complex interplay between social and economic factors in shaping religiosity and religious intensification. These findings underscore the need for policies that balance social and economic considerations, promote religious pluralism, and address societal vulnerabilities to foster inclusive approaches to managing religious dynamics in diverse com­munities.

PENDEKATAN TAFSIR A. HASAN: ANALISIS TEKS

This article examines the context and method of tafsir by A. Hasan Bandung (1887-1958) based on socio-cultural approaches and the essence of his juristic and hermeneutical views and epistemological postulate, which raises important aspects of socio-legal and ethical reform as its leading voice and proponent. This is highlighted from his interpretative work of Qur’anic exegesis such as Tafsir al-Furqan, Tafsir al-Hidayah, Tafsir Surah Yasin, al-Djawahir, as well as from his column in local magazine and journal such as Himayat al-Islam, Pembela Islam and etcetera. The research is qualitative in nature, of the type of literature/library research, and hermeneutical survey. The finding shows that A. Hasan has outlined an unprecedented method of contextual interpretation of the Qur’an that reflected his rational understanding of the text. This is manifested from his arguments that celebrated the views of classical and contemporary jurist on broad aspects of Islamic law, jurisprudence, speculative theology, philosophy, religious faith, spirituality and Shariah. His interpretation was intrinsically presented in the context of structural kalam in the form of question and answer that addresses and debates diverse communal issues. It reveals the strength of his views based on ijtihad (independent reasoning) that formulate the entire juristic opinion from broadly authoritative and argumentative construct of maslahah (the common good) dan maqasid syariah (the higher objective of Islamic law).

Empathy - Angel of Humanity against Dehumanization - the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse

This study sought to provide a better understanding of the way Jewish population used a series of internal resources to resist, survive and continue thereafter to lead a life as close to what we consider normal as possible. Trying to identify a theory in order to explain human behavior in situations of terror drove to Terror Management Theory. Despite the diversity of cultures around the world there are some psychological defense mechanisms which have a unique role: defusing awareness of death through a set of beliefs that give meaning and value to life (Solomon, Greenberg &amp; Pyszczynski 1989). The starting point of this theory is the book written by Ernest Backer whose central idea was that awareness of death has a devastating effect, with the risk that the fear of death paralyzes the person (Becker 1976). To check how the situation of the Jews imprisoned in concentration camps or work camps fits this theory I have used 15 interviews selected from the archives of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. I have done an initial encoding of 5 interviews obtaining several themes and subthemes. Next, I extended the coding to the rest of the interviews following only the most relevant 6 themes: genocide awareness, leadership, manifestations of empathy, heritage, faith and religious practices, gratitude. Religious beliefs (the promise of immortality, the belief in resurrection, eternal soul and surviving through legacy) seem to support individuals during traumatic experiences and I have examined them in the overall context of religious faith by performing a subsequent qualitative interpretation. Also, I considered following two of the essential virtues from the theory: empathy and gratitude for the preservation of life. The results of this qualitative research confirmed only in small measure the theory with regard to Holocaust situation. I assumed two possible explanations for this result: either the terror to which Jews were subjected surpassed the intensity of terror assumed by the theory or the time was a determinant factor (the amount of time during which they were subjected to dehumanizing treatment was too long for most protective mechanisms). Manifestations of empathy probably remain the most important resources.