Religious Tensions Research Articles

Manajemen Lembaga Dakwah FKUB dalam Mewujudkan Moderasi Beragama di Kota Medan

This study examines the management strategies of the Forum Kerukunan Umat Beragama (FKUB) in promoting religious moderation in the multicultural society of Medan City. As a key institution fostering interfaith harmony, FKUB utilizes managerial functions—planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating—to design and execute programs such as interfaith seminars, conflict mediation, and capacity building for religious leaders. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the research explores the challenges and impacts of these strategies through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and document analysis. Results indicate that while FKUB's programs significantly enhance interfaith communication and reduce religious tensions, challenges such as societal resistance to moderation concepts, limited funding, and low community participation hinder broader implementation. This study underscores the importance of enhancing FKUB’s resource capacity and outreach strategies to strengthen social harmony. The findings provide practical recommendations for FKUB and similar institutions to effectively implement religious moderation programs within diverse communities.

Religious Tolerance in Southeast Asia: Issues and Challenges

In the contemporary global landscape, religious tolerance has emerged as a critical issue across both Muslim-majority and non-Muslim countries. Shared concerns, such as freedom of religion, conversion, freedom of worship and propagation, and violence stemming from religious misunderstandings—including extremism and terrorism—have garnered significant global attention. Addressing these issues is vital for fostering peaceful coexistence and understanding among diverse religious communities. The objective of the study is to understand the concept of tolerance and how it is applied in Southeast Asian countries, particularly in the national policies of Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. These policies provide public space for religious tolerance, thereby opening the door for the protection of freedom of religion and addressing other religious issues currently taking place in the region. Given the socio-political and religious dynamics in the region, this study aims to investigate the underlying causes of conflicts, insurgencies, terrorism, and religious tensions. By identifying these root causes, the research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex factors driving instability and violence in the area. This study offers a thorough analysis of various perspectives on religious tolerance within the ASEAN region, framed through the lens of multiculturalism. By integrating contemporary literature with detailed field observations, the study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how religious tolerance is reflected and practiced in the constitutions, national laws, and policies of the member countries. The study reveals that instances of intolerance, extremism, conflict, and violence observed across the region are predominantly influenced by economic, social, and political factors, rather than being primarily motivated by religious concerns. In summary, the study argues that attributing conflict, violence, and extremism to the teachings of a religion—which typically promotes love, peace, and mutual respect—misconstrues the root causes. The findings suggest that economic and social inequalities, ethnicism, and political policies are more significant factors contributing to the national instability experienced across the region.

Latino Religious Shift: Causes and Impact on the U.S. Political System

The article focuses on the religious shift of U.S. Latinos, identifying the difficulties in measuring their religious affiliation, the religious tendencies in their community, and the reasons behind the shift. It reveals the political views of Catholics, Protestants, and the nonreligious within this demographic. The research establishes a direct correlation between religious affiliation and political choices, noting an increasing degree of polarization based on this factor. The religious shift may cause a partial transformation of their party preferences, which challenges the traditional Democratic electoral base.

ВЛИЯНИЕ НА СТРАХОВАТА КОМПОНЕНТА ВЪРХУ РЕЛИГИОЗНАТА ДИСПОЗИЦИЯ ПРИ СТУДЕНТИ ОТ СПЕЦИАЛНОСТ „ТЕОЛОГИЯ“ ПРИ ШУМЕНСКИЯ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

The paper presents results of a research conducted among students of humanities at Shumen University. The purpose of the study is to find out whether there is any relationship between fear and religious disposition. To the posed research question: What is the degree of representativeness of personal religious constructs in correlation with the levels of anxiety and depressive states?, answers were sought by surveying 2 groups of students: one from the Theology major and one with students from other humanities majors. The proposed paper presents the results of the conducted research.

Agency, Personal Autonomy, and Transformation in Tagore’s Malini

This paper examines agency, personal autonomy, and transformation in Rabindranath Tagore’s Malini (1896). An Indian poet, writer, and philosopher, Tagore (1861-1941) wrote Malini, referencing Buddhist philosophy, initially written in Sanskrit. Malini, the little girl and protagonist of the play, uses her agency and personal autonomy to transform and resolve the religious tension between Hinduism and Buddhism in Kashi. How Malini uses her agency to transform the Hindu kingdom Kashi into secularism for the equal treatment of all religions and how much the characters’ agency and personal autonomy contribute to changing the play is searched. This is qualitative research and collects data from the play Malini. It uses Michael Garnett’s “Agency and Inner Freedom” and Margaret S. Archer’s “Resisting the Dissolution of Humanity” as the theoretical framework. It concludes that agency and personal autonomy are the keys to the transformation that engenders inner freedom in the agent and empowers them to resist human tyranny.

Demand and supply side factors that drive delayed referrals from traditional birth attendants to public primary healthcare facilities: Insights from three states in Nigeria.

Despite global efforts encouraging institutional deliveries with skilled attendants, many pregnant women in developing countries such as Nigeria continue to rely on traditional birth attendants (TBAs) for child delivery. Attempts at weeding off TBAs have been firmly resisted by their clients who have developed confidence and trust in their services and herald them as first and trusted responders to child delivery cases. Unfortunately, recent evidence has shown that TBAs in servicing public trust and for other reasons, often do not timely refer their clients to the closest source of formal healthcare-primary healthcare centres (PHCs). Looking into the motivations for these reasons is the crux of the current study. Data were collected through qualitative interviews with 85 respondents across three states in Nigeria. The qualitative data comprised of 73 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions. Respondents were TBAs and other informal health providers, formal health workers, policymakers, community leaders and service users. Data were analysed thematically to explore the demand and supply determinants of referrals from TBAs to the formal healthcare providers. Demand side factors that constrain referrals from TBAs to PHCs were community preference for TBAs, and cultural and religious inclinations of the consumers to TBAs' practices of infusing religious teachings and rules into the process of child delivery. Supply-side factors were infrastructural deficits, staff shortages and lack of sanctions for poor practices in PHCs. Demand and supply-side factors constrain the referral of pregnant women from TBAs to the PHC facility for child delivery. These factors should be addressed, and innovative interventions used to link the TBAs to the formal health system for increased institutional deliveries with skilled birth attendants. The interventions could include incentives to TBAs to encourage early referrals.

Cultural Tension and Large- and Small-Scale Internal Conflicts

This study analyzes how cultural tensions (i.e., ethnic and religious) affect various internal conflicts (e.g., civil war to civil disorder) across different regions. The study also examines the role of governance in mitigating the effects of cultural tensions on the emergence and escalation of conflict. The comprehensive study has 136 countries from 1990 to 2021, and panels are separated by region and OECD status. The study uses two-way fixed effects with Driscoll and Kraay standard errors to account for heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and cross-sectional dependence. Although there are some regional variations and nuances, the results indicate cultural tensions are significant determinants of (1) the broad measure of internal conflict, (2) civil wars/coups d’état, and (3) political violence/terrorism. Therefore, one implication is that cultural tension continues to drive internal conflict. A second implication is that even in OECD countries, where institutions and governance structures are robust, cultural tensions can still significantly contribute to the emergence and risks of internal conflict. However, ethnic and religious tensions are less influential in smaller-scale conflicts, such as civil disorders, where government stability is a more important determinant. Furthermore, the study finds that government strength is vital in moderating all forms of internal conflict, indicating that even moderate cultural tensions can escalate into significant conflicts in the presence of weak governance. The study underscores the ongoing importance of addressing ethnic and religious tensions. Policy recommendations to reduce cultural tensions include (1) promoting cultural inclusiveness within societal/political dimensions, (2) promoting tolerance, (3) allowing some autonomy to cultural enclaves, and (4) actively monitoring cultural tensions and policy initiatives.

Factors influencing the ability of family caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients within Iranian families to continue and persist in their caregiving roles: a qualitative study

BackgroundUnderstanding the motivations driving family members to continue caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease is crucial for enhancing social support programs within community health systems. This study specifically explores the factors influencing Iranian family caregivers’ ability to persist in their caregiving roles.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis with 22 participants in 2022 in Babol (a city in northern Iran). The inclusion criteria for the study included caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients who had been the primary caregivers for at least one year for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The sampling method was purposive, ensuring maximum variation in social position, demographic status, and stages of Alzheimer’s disease after the onset of symptoms. In this research, data were collected from caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients through semi-structured interviews and in-depth individual interviews. The data were analyzed using MAXQDA software.ResultsOne category and four subcategories were identified to explain the continuity of the caring role in family caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. The category was “on the Fence of the Caring Role.” The subcategories included Commitment to Care (Being Determined, Being Indebted, Feeling Dutiful), Coercion to Care (Giving in to the Caring Role Due to Family Requirements, Patient Care Due to Financial Problems), Socio-Cultural Beliefs and Concerns (Spiritual and Religious Tendencies, Social Stigma and Social Fears), and Attachment and Love for the Patient (Feeling Pity, Feeling Nostalgia for Kinship).ConclusionFamily caregivers are deeply engaged in their roles, often feeling trapped by various pressures. Recognizing these dimensions can inform policymakers and health practitioners in developing targeted interventions, such as respite care programs, financial support, and community resources, aimed at alleviating caregiver burden and enhancing the quality of care for patients. By addressing the complexities of the caregiver experience, effective strategies can be implemented to support both patients and their caregivers, ultimately improving health outcomes within the community.

On the Links Between Exposure to Traumatic Events in Religious Contexts, Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, and a Positive Perception of God's Image Among Jewish Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals in Israel.

This study constitutes one of the first investigations aiming to examine the association between traumatic experiences within religious settings and symptoms of post-traumatic stress among religious lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Furthermore, the study tested whether the anticipated positive link between those traumatic experiences and post-traumtic stress is influenced by a positive perception of God's image. The sample consisted of 146 Israeli Jewish lesbians, gays, and bisexuals who professed a belief in God or demonstrated religious inclinations either presently or in the past. They completed self-report measures via an online questionnaire, assessing traumatic experiences within religious settings, post-traumtic stress symptoms, and positive perceptions of God's image. The findings revealed a significant and robust positive connection between traumatic experiences within religious settings and post-traumtic stress. A positive perception of God's image exhibited a negative correlation with post-traumtic stress but did not moderate the relationship traumatic experiences within religious settings and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. These findings highlight the significance of traumatic experiences within religious settings as a distinct potential risk factor of post-traumtic stress among lesbians, gays, and bisexuals and underscore the necessity of enhancing awareness among mental health professionals, religious leaders, and legal entities regarding the detrimental effects of those expereinces.

The Fragility of Democracy: Political Conflict in South Asia

The complex interplay between political conflict and democratic fragility in South Asia is the focus of this research paper. The study examines South Asia to understand how conflict catalyzes and hinders democratic progress. The research delves deep into the root causes of conflict, including socio-economic disparities, ethnic and religious tensions, and institutional weaknesses. It analyzes how conflict can trigger democratic reforms through popular mobilization and erode governance and institutions. The study highlights the fragility of democratic systems in the face of deep-rooted conflicts and the challenges of balancing competing interests. It underscores the need for South Asian nations to address underlying grievances to strengthen democratic institutions and foster inclusive dialogue to navigate conflict constructively and secure a stable democratic future. The research employs a qualitative approach, relying on a comprehensive literature review and case study analysis to draw insights into the multifaceted relationship between political conflict and democratic development in the selected region.

Study on the Interactive Mechanism between Racism and Terrorism in Europe

Given the growing racial and religious tensions in Europe and the frequent occurrences of terrorist activities, studying the correlation between the two can provide a theoretical basis for preventing terrorist activities. This study aims to explore the logical relationship and interaction mechanism between them. Taking the Paris terrorist attack in 2015 as an example, adopting the analytical dualism theory, this paper analyzes the mutual influence paths between racial discrimination and terrorist activities and discusses from cultural and structural perspectives the conditions under which racism becomes the hotbed for extremism, as well as the ways terrorist organizations manipulate racial issues to expand influence. The study concludes that racial divides in Europe provide a real basis for the spread of extremism, while extremist organizations also manipulate racial, customary, and religious emotions through online and offline means to expand influence, and the two reinforce each other. To thoroughly break this vicious cycle, positive multicultural identity needs to be promoted, structural discrimination between races needs to be eliminated at the social system level, and the independent thinking abilities and subjectivity of minority ethnic groups need to be enhanced to block the conduction of resentful emotions towards terrorism at its root.

Away from Feminist Radicalism

Calixthe Beyala’s creative works and public comments on her artistic productions and her life in general have enjoyed a remarkable attention without any doubt. However, there is a particular aspect of her literary creativity begging for attention. This study, therefore, is set to investigate Beyala’s religious disposition with a view to establishing the fact that African women do not only reject being restricted to the kitchen but also demonstrate that they should be considered when it comes to the matter of exercising their faith. The two novels selected for this study are Calixthe Beyala’s Mama a un amant and La petite fille du réverbère. They can be translated as Mama has a Lover and The little girl under the street lamp. Adopting sociological conceptual framework, data are analyzed using the French explication de texte which can be interpreted as the close reading technique or content analysis of a text, verbal or non-verbal. Findings from the study suggest that the new generation of African female writers focuses on an attempt to establish and reconnect womenfolk with their most fundamental human rights through artistic designs and their creative writings. Besides being a means of socialization, religion is a ritualistic act of worship, and it reflects a significant part of a people’s way of life. The study, however, concludes that there is a need for check and balance between the idea of masculinity and the concept of feminism to curtail the excesses there-in for the progress of human societies.

Cesarean Section and Religious Hierarchies in Fifteenth- Century Europe

In the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, Cesarean section, the medical procedure whereby a child is delivered by cutting through the wall of the mother’s abdomen, was an extremely taut subject. More often that not Cesarean sections were performed as acts of desperation to save the child following the mother’s death, and as such, the procedure was embedded in the popular imagination and imbued with symbolic power. While it was promoted by the Catholic Church to save the souls of the infants through baptism, Jewish communities viewed the procedure with wariness due to its perceived unnaturalness. The coupling of divergent religious views on the procedure, a strained religious environment, and changes in the occupational landscape of obstetrics resulted in the utilization of Cesarean section by Christians as a means to demonstrate the corporeal and occupational inferiority of Jews. Mouat uses the Cesarean section as a springboard into the history of the religious tensions and hierarchies that came to define early modern obstretics.

THE FRAGMENTATION OF IDENTITY: COMMUNAL VIOLENCE AND PERSONAL TRAUMA IN CHAMAN NAHAL’S AZADI

This paper analyzes the fragmentation of personal and collective identities in Chaman Nahal’s Azadi, focusing on the emotional and psychological impacts of the Partition of India in 1947. Set against the backdrop of communal violence, the novel examines the trauma experienced by its protagonist, Lala Kanshi Ram, a prosperous Hindu merchant forced to flee his home in Sialkot due to religious tensions. The paper explores how Kanshi Ram’s displacement erodes his identity, transforming him from a respected figure into a displaced refugee struggling to adapt to post-Partition India. The novel emphasizes how communalism fractures identities, forcing characters to redefine themselves within new religious and national contexts. The analysis further highlights the theme of emotional rebirth as the characters, now refugees, grapple with their losses and strive to rebuild their lives in a fragmented society. By focusing on themes of identity, trauma, and resilience, this paper asserts that this novel is not just a recounting of historical events but a profound exploration of the emotional and psychological impact of Partition on both individuals and the wider society.

Examining the Israeli Product Boycott in Indonesia: Exploring the Intersection of Religious Tensions and Digital Information to Assess its Influence on Global Discourse on Humanity

Examining the Israeli Product Boycott in Indonesia: Exploring the Intersection of Religious Tensions and Digital Information to Assess its Influence on Global Discourse on Humanity

Representation of Social Issues in Indian Graphic Novels

The study intends to uncover the significant commentary these works offer on current themes like gender dynamics, caste discrimination, governmental corruption, religious tensions, and the challenges of modernity, by analyzing a varied spectrum of graphic novels coming out of the subcontinent. We shed light on how these graphic novels not only represent the socio-political environment of India but also question and modify narratives by combining qualitative content analysis and in-depth case studies. Our research highlights the importance of graphic novels as effective social critique mediums in India, echoing wider global trends where visual storytelling goes beyond just amusement to provide insightful social commentary

Saltation Diffusion Penetration: A New Measure of Specific Politico-Economic and Military Relations

At every stage of human existence, the security environment has been marked by various challenges and processes that have passed through the course of its history. The development of societies, changes in socio-economic conditions, technological progress, political and ideological trends also determined the change in the security environment. The unprecedented military, political, economic and ideological confrontation of the Cold War period, as well as the current extremely complex situation in the world, are causing new dynamics in the security environment. New challenges have emerged for world order and security – terrorism and extremism, military and non-military conflicts, economic and political destabilization, ethnic and religious tensions, cyber wars and many more. etc., risks and threats that have a strong negative impact on the social sustainability of our planet. The lack of clear rules for political and economic behavior and the growth of confrontation in international relations have led to a total disorientation of the global modern social system. Dominant in this direction are not only current wars and permanent threats from local and global conflict situations, but also unconventional technologies, methods and means of influence in the internal political life of states. Scientific and expert literature temporarily imposed a new terminological apparatus, with which to name the various processes, phenomena and operations with a markedly political and military character. Despite the existence of this terminological diversity, however, in the last few years there has been a need to fill the "gap" in understanding their nature and metrics. The need for a new meaningful definition of the specific political-economic, technological and social decisions and consequences appeared mostly in social practice. In this regard, in this report we will consider a new measure of specific politico-economic and military relations, which we have called “Striking Diffuse Penetration” (SDP) or Public Diffuse Entropy (PDE). Regardless of the fact that these two definitions, we propose a third linguistic construction that unites the first two and name the following expression form Saltation Diffusion Penetration.

EXPLORING CONTEMPORARY INDIAN SOCIETY: THEMES AND NARRATIVES IN ARVIND ADIGA'S “BETWEEN THE ASSASSINATIONS”

This research paper examines the collection of interconnected stories titled "Between the Assassinations" by Arvind Adiga, published in 2008. The paper explores the various themes and narratives presented in the novel, which provides a snapshot of life in the fictional town of Kittur on India's southwestern coast. The study delves into the captivating portrayal of contemporary India, focusing on themes such as caste discrimination, religious tensions, and the impact of urbanization on small towns. Through a comprehensive analysis of the novel, this research aims to shed light on the social, political, and cultural complexities depicted by Adiga, highlighting the struggles, dreams, and aspirations of diverse characters from different walks of life.

Evolving belief and being human: The emergence of religion in science and theology

Every human society as well as almost all human life is infused with ethics. There is common acknowledgement that morality and ethics are indispensable in addressing the serious global challenges humanity is faced with today. However, we seemed to have lost our grip on what morality is. How do we best understand human morality and ethics? This research argues that responsible ethics rests on a credible understanding of what it means to be human. The following exploration of the emergence of religion within the science and religion discourse formed part of a series of three seminars that have as their main objective to address a giant void regarding ethical and moral reflection within our society. This research was part of the discourse of the first seminar with the following main research question: What do we learn from the empirical study of morality (in the evolutionary sciences, the neurosciences, cultural anthropology, sociology, and moral psychology) about the sources, functions and characteristics of morality, and its relation to religion? This study offers an exploration of our capacity for religious awareness and belief against the background of niche construction theory. The capacity for imagination seems to have contributed to human evolutionary success and consequently our religious disposition. This transdisciplinary study combines perspectives of some of the most prominent interlocutors in the contemporary discourse on the emergence of religious awareness. By integrating the numerous perspectives evident in this study, this research explores how evolutionary thought can be constructively appropriated to interdisciplinary theology and ethics.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article explores the origin of religious awareness and belief as part of a larger discourse on morality in history. The interdisciplinary conversation covers the fields of evolutionary anthropology and theology within the contemporary science-theology discourses.

Does Religion Matter When Investing in Africa? An Empirical Analysis of Moroccan FDI Location Choice in 27 African Countries During the Period 2007-2021

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigate the impact of four religious factors on Moroccan outward FDI in African countries: the religious freedom index, religious tension index, religious similarity, and religious diversity index. Using panel data from 27 African countries between 2007 and 2021, our findings show that religious factors significantly influence Moroccan FDI in Africa. A shared Islamic religion increases FDI likelihood, indicating cultural proximity facilitates multinational enterprise adaptation. Additionally, religious freedom and diversity positively affect FDI, supporting cultural adaptability. However, religious tension negatively impacts FDI. These findings highlight the importance of considering religious factors in FDI decision-making processes. Policy implications include promoting cultural understanding, encouraging religious freedom, fostering religious diversity, and reducing religious tensions to facilitate investment and enhance economic cooperation in African countries.