Religious Influences Research Articles

Spiritual psychosis in a Balinese patient with cultural and religious influences

Spiritual psychosis in a Balinese patient with cultural and religious influences

Introduction to the Special Issue “Focusing on the Elusive: Centering on Religious and Spiritual Influences within Contexts of Child and Young Adulthood Development”

The religious is not elusive because it lurks behind ordinary phenomena, but because it is woven into the phenomena [...]

The Influence of Diverse Cultures on Nutrition, Diabetes Management and Patient Education

Background/Objectives: Providing relevant, patient-centered care starts with recognizing that patients living with diabetes are racially and ethnically diverse, which will influence their dietary behaviors. Methods: The authors draw upon literature descriptions and personal experience in clinical practice dealing with ethnically diverse populations and include guidance offered in the literature regarding how to address these unique aspects when managing and educating patients with diabetes. Results: Proper interviewing techniques are described when dealing with culturally diverse populations, including ascertaining cultural, religious, and ethnic influences on dietary choices, and advice is given on how to improve nutritional behavior in these patients while acknowledging and validating these influences. Conclusions: When a proper nutrition interview is conducted, such as using motivational interviewing, aspects of the patient’s cultural, religious, ethnic, and other influences can be ascertained, and appropriate advice can be given to the patient on how to modify these influences to achieve a healthier nutritional behavior.

Beyond Eyeball Tests: A Methodical Rebuttal to Fillon et al.'s Commentary.

In our original study, "Consumed by Creed" (Adam-Troian & Bélanger, 2024), we established significant and consistent associations between obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity and radical intentions across four distinct U.S. population samples-Environmentalists, Republicans, Democrats, and Muslims-partially or fully mediated by obsessive passion. Fillon et al. (2024) challenged our findings, alleging methodological errors and an excessive degree of researcher flexibility, which they claim could lead to false-positive results. In this response, we critically examine Fillon et al.'s commentary, arguing that it exemplifies flawed meta-scientific critique. We demonstrate that their approach relies on a series of unsupported and misleading claims, including a misinterpretation of the literature, unjustified reliance on visual data inspection, speculative assumptions about religious influences on our findings, and a shifting of the burden of proof. Through rigorous re-analyses, we reaffirm the robustness of our original results and address the unfounded allegations regarding our methodological practices. We also critique Fillon et al.'s approach, highlighting the necessity of domain-specific expertize in meta-scientific evaluations and cautioning against the risks of speculative and defamatory criticism in academic discourse. This exchange underscores the importance of maintaining rigorous standards in both original research and its critique, ensuring that scientific debate remains grounded in evidence rather than conjecture.

Optimizing Systematic Land Registration (PTSL) to Enhance Legal Certainty of Land Ownership Rights: Collaboration with Religious Value in Indonesia

Research Problem: Land disputes between the public and various stakeholders frequently arise in Indonesia, often due to limited public trust in the Complete Systematic Land Registration Program (PTSL). This distrust results in low participation in PTSL, affecting land security and legal ownership. Research purposes: This study aims to analyze how religious institutions and values can help optimize PTSL to provide stronger legal guarantees for land ownership while supporting the legal protection of land rights within the community. Research methods: A qualitative approach with descriptive-analytical methods was applied to explore the relationship between PTSL implementation, public trust, and religious influence on land registration. Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that the implementation of PTSL has been effective in promoting land certification, which strengthens legal protection in compliance with existing laws. Moreover, the involvement of religious institutions has been shown to foster public trust by aligning PTSL with community values rooted in faith, making the program more widely accepted. Research Implications and Contributions: The research highlights the importance of religious institutions in enhancing public trust in government programs like PTSL. By integrating community beliefs into the implementation of PTSL, the program not only functions as a mechanism for legal protection but also aligns with ethical and religious principles. This study provides a conceptual foundation for the government to incorporate religious and community values into policy implementation, ultimately enhancing legal certainty and protection of land rights.

China's Response to the Expansion of U.S. Influence in Asia: The Intersection of Religion and Governance in Afghanistan (2011-2019)

Research Problem: The article addresses China’s concerns regarding the expansion of U.S. influence in Asia, particularly focusing on Afghanistan's strategic importance in the geopolitical competition between the two powers. The U.S. military presence and Afghanistan’s religiously influenced governance pose a significant challenge for China, which must navigate both political and religious dynamics to secure its interests in the region. This research investigates how these factors shape China’s foreign policy and its interactions with Afghanistan. Research purposes: The study aims to explore how China’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan has evolved in response to the geopolitical and religious landscape influenced by U.S. actions. Specifically, it examines China’s strategic calculations regarding Afghanistan’s religious governance and how this affects its efforts to engage with Afghan political actors, such as the Taliban, while maintaining its broader geopolitical and economic goals, including the Belt and Road Initiative. Research methods: The research employs a historical and analytical approach, drawing on data from 2011 to 2019 to examine China's foreign policy shifts in response to U.S. actions in Afghanistan. The study relies on secondary sources, including policy papers, academic works, and governmental reports, to assess China’s evolving role and strategies concerning the religiously influenced political structures in Afghanistan. Results and Discussion: The findings show that China’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan is significantly influenced by its concerns over U.S. military presence and alliances in the region. China’s engagement with Afghanistan has been shaped by the need to navigate the religious-political dynamics, particularly with the rise of religiously motivated actors such as the Taliban. China’s strategic responses include strengthening diplomatic ties, economic investments, and engaging with both Afghan religious and political leaders to secure its geopolitical interests. The article discusses how China's secular approach to governance contrasts with Afghanistan’s religious influences, affecting its foreign policy strategies. Research Implications and Contributions: This study contributes to the broader understanding of how religion, politics, and governance intersect in Afghanistan’s international relations, particularly with China. It provides insights into how China adapts its foreign policy to account for religiously motivated governance, while also pursuing its geopolitical goals in the region. The research offers valuable perspectives for policymakers and scholars on the interplay between religion, governance, and foreign policy in a strategically significant context like Afghanistan.

Religious, Cultural, and Modern Influences on Tibetan Thangka Paintings

This research paper explores how cultural, political, and religious contexts have shaped the tradition of Tibetan Thangka paintings. The Tibetan Thangka acts both as religious sacred objects and as an artwork. My interest in this subject began when I first saw a tangka painting in real life, and I was so curious about this art style which led me to further investigate this topic. This research paper analyzed journal articles, looked at many thangkas from different time periods in different styles, and interviewed Tibetan and non-Tibetan people about their perceptions of a few Thangka paintings with varied styles. This study found out that Tibetan thangkas have changed by a lot of influences globally and locally, including political influences of mainland China and the western cultural influences. This research highlights the importance of preserving the spiritual and the culture of the Tibetan Thangka paintings and acknowledges that some are slowly adapting to become more modern.

Examining the Sustainability of Food Consumption Based on Religiosity Dimensions in Urban and Sub-Urban Communities

Research Originality: This study offers a new perspective on the relationship between religiosity and sustainable food consumption in urban and peri-urban communities in Lampung, Indonesia. Research Objectives: The objective was to examine the differences in sustainable food consumption between urban and peri-urban communities, exploring the role of religious beliefs in shaping consumption behavior.Research Methods: A quantitative approach using comparative analysis was used. Data were collected from 250 respondents using purposive sampling, analyzed through statistical tools such as the Shapiro-Wilk Normality Test and Independent Sample t-test.Empirical Results: This study found that there were no differences in consumption behavior between urban and suburban communities with the dimensions of religiosity in the aspects of beliefs and practices. There were differences in consumption behavior between urban and suburban communities with the dimensions of religiosity in the aspects of knowledge and behavior.Implications: This study highlights the need for policymakers and businesses to consider religious factors in promoting sustainable consumption, suggesting that urbanization and access to religious education influence food choices based on religiosity.JEL Classification: D12, D19

The Differences between Chinese and Western Names and Their Cultural Implications

Names serve as more than mere identifiers; they embody cultural values, identity formation, and societal norms. This study examines the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western naming conventions, exploring how these practices reflect broader cultural, historical, and religious influences. Drawing on the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, the research investigates how language—and consequently names—shapes worldviews and social structures. In China, naming conventions often emphasize familial ties, cultural heritage, and philosophical principles rooted in Confucian values and ancient traditions. In contrast, Western naming practices tend to prioritize individualism and personal expression, reflecting values of freedom and equality. The study highlights the importance of names in shaping identities and social interactions, particularly in a globalized context. Understanding these distinctions promotes intercultural dialogue and enhances mutual respect between Chinese and Western cultures. The findings suggest that names function as cultural markers, bridging personal identity with collective heritage, and tradition with modernity.

A faith in science: Gardner Murphy and parapsychology

Historians have noted that many 19th-century founders and members of psychic societies were clergy, or had fathers who were clergy, seeking evidence for the survivalist hypothesis. One such member, psychologist Gardner Murphy, was influenced in childhood both by the Episcopalian faith of his father and the Transcendentalism of his mother's hometown, Concord, Massachusetts. We propose that these religious and philosophical influences, as well as his childhood experiences informed his life's work. They also prompted Gardner Murphy to focus on the survivalist hypothesis and commit to discovering a scientific approach that might yield evidence of paranormal phenomena. Murphy was highly respected for his biosocial theory of personality and his contributions to the discipline of psychology, even while he persisted in studying parapsychology, an area of contention in the relatively new science of psychology. He drew on the potential synergy of world religions and philosophical traditions as a means of understanding human behavior – in each case revealing him as the polymath and ethical humanist for which he is remembered. Like William James, he viewed reported psychic experiences as simply another human phenomenon to be examined using the scientific method. His ability to entwine these interests seems motivated by his religious upbringing and academic training in the sciences.

Religion, Extraction, and Just Transition in Appalachia

This paper employs approaches from religious studies and Appalachian studies to examine the history, influence, and future of a multifaceted ethos of extraction, particularly as it influences the coal industry, in the Appalachian region of the United States. While many studies of extraction and the coal industry focus on their economic and political dimensions, by examining a broader ethos of extraction, this paper highlights multiple religious influences, including the entanglements between religious communities and extraction-based industries, the powerful moral narratives that serve to interpret and justify extraction, and the dynamics involved in shaping local identities and perceptions of place that enable this ethos to influence post-coal transition efforts. The result is a broad survey of the influences and impacts of resource extraction in Appalachia that challenges many of the longstanding stereotypes that can still be commonly found deployed about the region. In examining these influences, the paper also describes how academic interpreters have helped to shape popular conceptions of the Appalachian region that ultimately support ongoing extractive practices. Building upon insights from grassroots, anti-extractive activist communities in the region, the paper concludes by suggesting some ways that academics might adopt restorative ethics and practices in their work to address the entanglements between extractive scholarship and exploitation and devise alternative paths for just futures.

Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of High-Grade Cultural Heritage in the Region Surrounding Mount Song

Situated in central China, the region surrounding Mount Song is a pivotal area within the Central Plains, renowned for its extensive and high-grade cultural heritage. This study aims to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of this heritage using advanced spatial pattern analysis methods, including the Average Nearest Neighbor Ratio and Kernel Density Estimation within ArcGIS. Our findings reveal a distinct continuity in temporal distribution and a pronounced clustering in spatial terms. By investigating the underlying factors such as the geographical setting, historical political capitals, cultural and religious influences, water transportation systems, and traditional Fengshan ceremonies, this research elucidates the dynamics shaping this distribution. This study’s outcomes provide essential insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in the protection and revitalization of cultural heritage, ensuring informed decision making for sustainable cultural conservation.

Evolution of the Minangkabau Inheritance System and its Relevance to Gender Justice in Islamic Law

The inheritance system in Minangkabau, known for its matrilineal lineage, offers a unique perspective on property distribution, especially when contrasted with the patrilineal structure of Islamic inheritance law. This research delves into the historical and cultural evolution of the Minangkabau inheritance system, examining how it has adapted over time due to various social, legal, and religious influences. While Minangkabau customary law (adat) traditionally prioritizes female heirs, particularly through maternal lines, Islamic inheritance law advocates a more balanced approach, emphasizing the rights of both male and female heirs based on predetermined shares. The contrast between these two systems raises important questions about gender justice and the equitable distribution of wealth. Through a detailed exploration of Minangkabau customs and Islamic jurisprudence, this study investigates how these systems have coexisted and the efforts made by scholars and legal authorities to reconcile the differences. A significant focus is placed on the role of reformist thinkers within the Minangkabau community, who have sought to align local practices with the broader principles of Islamic inheritance law while preserving cultural identity. The research also examines the practical implications of these reform efforts, particularly in light of the evolving role of women in Minangkabau society and the growing calls for gender equality. The findings offer valuable insights into the potential for developing an inheritance model that respects both cultural traditions and Islamic values of justice, ultimately contributing to a broader discourse on gender equity in inheritance laws across diverse Muslim societies.

Marriage Institution and Christianity in Nsukka, Nigeria: Between Acculturation and Syncretism, 1970-2013

Religious influence on marriage institution in Nsukka society has not enjoyed robust scholarly investigation. The upsurge of different Christian denominations with the competitive drive for evangelization of Nsukka opened new vistas for disconnects in some institutions. Christianity, in its acculturation effort, has become increasingly syncretic with respect to the sacredness of marriage institution. This study is an attempt at an insightful interpretation of traditional control mechanisms that have sustained marriages for both Christians and traditionalists. The study submits that Christians’ profane attacks on the indigenous religion; notwithstanding, it has at the centre-stage controlling the dynamics of marriage institution among the Nsukka Igbo.

Health Workers Perception On The Key Drivers Of Maternal Mortality

Maternal mortality remains a critical public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Health workers play a pivotal role in addressing this challenge, offering insights into the key drivers of maternal deaths. This study explores the perceptions of healthcare workers on the systemic, socioeconomic, cultural, and healthcare-related factors contributing to maternal mortality. Health workers identify systemic barriers, including understaffing, lack of resources, inadequate training, and inefficient referral systems, as significant contributors. Cultural and religious influences also impact maternal care, with societal norms often discouraging women from seeking professional healthcare. Additionally, socioeconomic factors like poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment further exacerbate the problem, limiting access to quality maternal care. Health workers’ insights are crucial in designing effective interventions, emphasizing the need for improved training, better healthcare infrastructure, and community engagement to address cultural barriers. This study highlights the importance of empowering healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality maternal care, suggesting that systemic reforms, including enhanced emergency obstetric care and better access to medical supplies, are essential for reducing maternal mortality rates. Understanding these perspectives can inform policies and programs aimed at improving maternal health outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings

The Impact of Religious Belief Culture on Legislation: In Regions of EU and Fujian

The interplay between cultural beliefs and legislation is a critical area of study, particularly in regions where religion significantly influences societal norms and values. This paper explores the influence of religious beliefs on legislation by examining key theoretical perspectives and empirical case studies. It begins with an analysis of the ideas of prominent philosophers--Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Karl Marx, and Max Weber--who provide distinct viewpoints on the role of religion in shaping law. This paper then delves into two different empirical studies: the influence of Christian animal welfare on European Union (EU) legislation and the Mazu Mediation Room in Fujian, China. Understanding how deeply the cultural religious principles shape legal frameworks provides foundations considering human rights and social justice, and how religious culture cooperates with the enforcement of law. By studying and comparing these contexts, this paper focuses on analyzing these religious influences on legislation, investigating their impacts, and suggesting the future development of laws in religious regions. Ultimately, the paper wants to contribute to a broader sense of the relationship between religion and legislation, discovering the need for a legislative approach that respects local religious culture while upholding universal human rights and social justice.

Religious influences on integration within U.S. refugee resettlement

ABSTRACT This study examines how religion influences integration among refugees resettling to Utah, in the western United States (U.S.). In-depth interviews were conducted with 88 refugees an average of 11 years post-resettlement. Qualitative analyses led to identification of key themes, including: 1) belief in a higher power guided integration and 2) religion influences services and relationships in Utah. Additional themes emerged regarding how religion informs integration over time, including: 3) religious conversion, 4) coping with racial exclusion, and 5) embracing religious pluralism. Findings have implications for incorporating attention to religious coping and religious freedom among displaced populations adapting to new environments.

Exploring the impact of religious culture on financial constraints: The moderating role of environmental responsibility, innovation, and law enforcement on SMEs

This study explores the role of religious culture in alleviating financial constraints for SMEs, emphasizing the moderating effects of environmental responsibility, innovation, and law enforcement. By analyzing data from 2,833 SMEs across diverse geographic regions with varying religious influences from 2011 to 2020, we discovered that firms in areas with strong religious cultural networks experience fewer financial constraints. The moderating mechanisms of enhanced environmental responsibility and innovation contribute to a more favorable economic policy environment. These findings suggest that financial products tailored to respect religious cultural dimensions can more effectively address the financing challenges faced by SMEs. Therefore, policymakers and financial institutions should consider cultural factors when designing economic support mechanisms.

Poor, brainwashed and immature: prevalent gender stereotypes in Indonesian preventing violent extremism (PVE) and counterterrorism (CT) efforts

ABSTRACT The root causes, nature and impact of Indonesian women’s involvement in terrorism has yet to influence Indonesian Counter Terrorism (CT) and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) policies. Through a feminist discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews with 28 Indonesian government representatives, this article argues that Indonesian CT and PVE policies continue to rely on gender stereotypes rather than addressing the gendered realities of Indonesian women’s relationship with violent extremism. This reflects broader global discourses regarding women and terrorism but are shaped by unique religious, cultural, political and historical influences within the Indonesian context – the Indonesian gender order. This article finds that the stereotypes – depicting female extremists as immature, brainwashed and poor – lead to a generalised applicability of the one-size-fits-all approach of income generation, overlooking female extremists’ culpability, focusing on protection of “women and children”, neglecting the roles diverse actors in CT and PVE efforts, and reinforcing the Indonesian gender order.

Selection into higher education and subsequent religious decline in a United States cohort

Extant research reveals an inconclusive relationship between higher education and religiosity, which might be due to the selection effect, or to the different religiosity measures used. To address this, we analyze data of a cohort of adolescents from the 1997 National Longitudinal Study of Youth to investigate the association between religion and education. First, we assess the relationship between the child's religious environment and their likelihood of attending college. Second, we investigate how college attendance and completion affect subsequent changes in religiosity as they age into young adulthood. Results suggest that adolescent religious environment significantly predicts subsequent college enrollment. Completing college is associated with subsequent decline in private religiosity index, after accounting for adolescent religious influence, peer influence, and early family formation; suggesting robustness against selection effects. Enrollment or completion of college has a complicated association with subsequent religious attendance. Fundamentalist Christians do not experience the same declines in religious attendance as other religious traditions after enrolling in college, but additional research is needed to confirm the robustness of this finding. Our study contributes to the nuanced understanding of the relationship between higher education and religion by adopting a life course perspective that reveals the heterogeneity of the relationship by religious affiliations and the socio-cultural norms associated with them.