Religious Traditions Research Articles

“Licensed” and “underground” religious revival in postwar northern Soviet Kazakhstan

The patriotic fervour surrounding the "Great Patriotic War," amplified by Soviet propaganda, led to concessions for some religious groups, though still constrained by Soviet anti-religious legislation, while others were excluded entirely. This paper argues that ethno-religious groups that aligned with the Soviet narrative, which mythologised the war effort, were able to engage in limited religious activities. In contrast, communities excluded from this narrative were compelled to maintain their religious traditions clandestinely for a prolonged period. These excluded groups were also deprived of any centralised religious organisations or church structures. Consequently, unlike in Central and Eastern Europe, the struggle for religious freedoms in this context did not follow the typical church vs. state model, but rather a citizens vs. state dynamic. This phenomenon is particularly evident in northern Kazakhstan, where the deportation of various nationalities resulted in the coexistence of ethno-religious groups with vastly different statuses.

Assessing And Mitigating The Impact Of Fake News In Nigeria

\The high rate fake news - news (presentation) that has been distorted or totally false - in the Nigerian media space is at the moment of concern to communication scholars, journalists, publicists, and political leaders. Like most fake products, fake news is made to look like or to have the characteristics of the original product – magnitude, timeliness, novelty, proximity, etc., thereby having the lethal impact of propaganda. The present study examines the sources, patterns of fake news dissemination, impact of and solutions to fake news in Nigeria. Questionnaires were randomly administered online to 398 heavy users of social media (257 bloggers; 97; regular users of social media who are non-professionals; 37 journalists and 7 others based on their followership ratings. The investigation revealed that most fake news in Nigeria revolve social, entertainment, and religious issues and are reported more often in “text” and “videos” on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The main sources of fake news in Nigeria are non-professional journalists and the high rate of fake news has largely been due to the skilful framing by their disseminators, lack of time and skill to fact-check fake news by the audience, and lack of effective enforcement of best journalism practices.

Undisciplining the Museum: Indigenous Relationality as Religion

What does it mean to decolonize or undiscipline the anthropology museum? What happens when the museum is confronted by Indigenous and descendant communities who demand an ethic of care rooted in relational ontologies and epistemologies? This article features Indigenous creativity as it has disrupted ‘business as usual’ in anthropology museums. This is primarily evidenced by Fork Peck Tribes who confronted the University of Montana to enact a long-overdue repatriation. Additional examples from The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard demonstrate diverse expressions of relationality among Indigenous and descendant communities. These interventions are analyzed through Critical Indigenous Theory to specify the ways in which Indigenous religious traditions refuse the narratives and norms of settler colonial knowledge production and undermine the imperial museological practices of preservation. Instead, relationality is prioritized in the caretaking of and connection with more-than-human entities and materials in the museum. This article emphasizes relationality and repatriation as religious acts that challenge assumptions embedded in imperial and settler colonial approaches to history and science. From various social locations and through multiple strategies, we see the active undisciplining of the museum by Indigenous and descendant communities.

An Introduction to the Difficulties in Translating Sacred Texts

Religious translation contributes significantly to the development of translation as a subject. In the field of religious translation, the most frequently translated documents are sacred texts since sacred texts are central to a religion. However, due to complicated and sensitive cultural elements sacred texts contain, the translating processes of any sacred texts are filled with difficulties. To produce more adequate translation of sacred texts, the potential difficulties are ought to be studied and understood. This article will introduce the major difficulties in translating sacred texts and, briefly discuss current methods utilized in sacred text translation, and provide suggestions. Contents will be provided in the following order: reasons for translating sacred texts (introduction), linguistic difficulties in the sacred text translation, religious issues in the sacred text translation, current translation method of the sacred text, and conclusion with suggestions on the potential methods of sacred text translation depending on a translation’s target audiences.

Poisoning with Local Anesthetics Following Circumcision : A Case Report

Introduction: Circumcision or posthectomy is the removal of the foreskin, this act seems commonplace practiced by paramedical personnel or unqualified traditional practitioners who may cause significant complications. Objective: Our work aimed to highlight one of the complications of this act which must remain a supervised medical act. Observation: We report the case of a 2-month-old infant who presented with complications related to anesthesia. the clinic was dominated by convulsions and alteration of the state of consciousness 15 minutes after circumcision in this well infant carrying without any particular history. The evolution was favorable thanks to support rapid and urgent about 20 minutes with the cessation of convulsions and a return to consciousness, the patient was monitored for 48 hours then return home was indicated due to the absence other complications. Conclusion: Circumcision is a widespread act throughout the world either by medical necessity or by religious tradition. its trivialization and its practice by non-experts, explains the multiple complications observed.

SIMBOLISMO DA GEODIVERSIDADE NAS RELIGIÕES AFRO-BRASILEIRAS

If, throughout evolutionary history, an analogy is made between humans and nature using elements of geodiversity, symbolic processes will emerge for human beings. They construct a sacralized nature revealed in their worship, practices, and beliefs, where nature becomes a symbolic element imbued with meaning. These elements of geodiversity are found in various religious traditions, with notable examples being Indigenous/Shamanic practices, Umbanda, Candomblé, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, among others. As a result, this article focuses on African rituals which represent their original matrix and a tradition primarily marked by orality (in contrast to the main Western monotheistic religions that have sacred texts) and direct religious learning through daily practice in the “terreiro” (the place of worship). The analysis of geodiversity and its use in these religious manifestations leads to the reflection that it is still necessary to recognize and disseminate geodiversity and its various uses more extensively, as it assists us in appreciating understanding and interpreting religions from a different perspective, providing more consistency and authenticity. Keywords: Afro-Brazilian Religions; Geodiversity; Simbolism.

Is God a Woman? Female Faces of God in Contemporary Cinema

Film, as a medium, serves not only as a significant source of entertainment but also as a powerful instrument in shaping attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, social norms, and identities. Since its inception, cinematic art has been closely intertwined with religious themes, with many film narratives drawing implicitly or explicitly from biblical texts and religious traditions. Consequently, theologians and ecclesiastical authorities were quick to identify film as a potential locus theologicus. Given film’s ability to spark debates on deeply ingrained views and beliefs, feminist theology, which critically reflects on gender power relations within religious communities and theological texts, finds it intriguing to explore how cinematic narratives can challenge the millennia-old depiction of God as a man. This article aims to examine how the art of cinema contributes to theological reflections on the female metaphors of God, particularly through female Christ-figures and God-figures, which occasionally appear in films such as Chocolat, All That Jazz, Always, Dogma, and The Shack. These characters defy traditional religious language, which often employs masculine imagery and metaphors for God, portraying female God as an independent chocolatier, a single mother, an elegant hairdresser, a beautiful young seductress, a curvaceous African American bread maker, and a witty, clownish girl. In these cinematic depictions, female God is compassionate, empathetic, kind, witty, forgiving, and profoundly in love with her human creations. At the same time, all of these female characters are powerful, assertive, strong, and self-confident.

Race and Faith: The Role of Congregations in Racial Justice

AbstractFollowing the killing of George Floyd, some congregations more fully entered the conversation on race. Although sometimes reinforcing institutional racism, many religious traditions also have tools for conflict resolution, repentance, and reconciliation. Given this ambivalence, how do congregations engage questions of racial justice, and how is this engagement influenced by race and religious tradition? Our answers come through multimethod data collected over 2 years: (a) Surveys of 2,293 congregants from 35 diverse congregations find that race relations is the issue they most want their place of worship to address, while revealing exhaustion among some Black members; (b) 90 sermons from 15 congregations reveal how clergy talked about race in the weeks after Floyd's murder depended largely on the race of the congregation; and (c) 21 clergy interviews illustrate differences in how clergy use religion to engage race. These diverse data reveal key differences, based on race and religious tradition.

Humanist Proselytizing in Distruptive Era Based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)

Aim/Purpose: The disruptive era is an uncertain condition in social, political, and religious life that creates a new trend regarding monolithic religious understanding. A suitable proselytizing approach based on sustainable development goals is needed to improve the dignity of human life. Background: Social media plays an important role in the spread of a more monolithic religion. This triggered a significant conflict, so efforts are needed to improve religious understanding and experience, one of the fields affected by the disruptive era. Methodology: Various scientific research materials are reviewed to understand how proselytizing strategies are used in the disruptive era. Secondary data analysis was carried out for this qualitative and descriptive study. Contribution: This paper helps understand the right proselytizing strategy to minimize conflicts in the disruptive era by utilizing social media. Findings: The practice of humanist proselytizing through religious moderation and the strengthening of preachers is fundamental to strengthening literal religious understanding in the disruptive era. This study finding helps us understand how to apply proselytizing appropriately in this era of uncertainty. Recommendation for Practitioners: Implementing humanist proselytizing through religious moderation can reduce the monolithic understanding of society due to one of the negative impacts of social media. Recommendation for Researcher: To ensure the relevance of research studies, practitioners and researchers must maintain a collaborative approach with research insights to apply relevant proselytizing strategies in the disruptive era . Impact on Society: Analyze how the proselytizing approach is relevant to society in a disruptive era due to the dark side of social media in the religious. Technology evolves, so society must proactively address this problem with more literacy. In addition, the role of government policymakers, clerics, and ulama is important to reduce the monolithic understanding and cause conflict. Future Research: The study's scope will be better if it can determine the effectiveness of humanist proselytizing through religious moderation with a quantitative approach. In general, this study discusses the best proselytizing strategy in the disruptive era. The significant role of the media can be analyzed to dive deep. Similar studies could be conducted on other religious issues because of technological advancements.

Социально-экономическая и религиозная проблематика в обращениях российских эмигрантов в Архиерейский Синод Русской зарубежной церкви в 1930-х гг. (по материалам Государственного архива Российской Федерации)

This article examines the correspondence of representatives of the Russian Orthodox emigration with the Synod of Bishops and personally with Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) during the 1930s, preserved in the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF). The range of issues reflected in the materials is quite diverse. Primarily, this includes a complex of socio-economic difficulties related to obtaining refugee status or new citizenship, employment, and social assistance. The second most important topic of appeals concerns family issues, particularly the high incidence of divorces, new marriages, and cohabitation deemed unacceptable from a Christian point of view. The actual religious issues are represented by questions about the calendar reform, which gave rise to difficulties in synchronizing the secular and ecclesiastical rhythm of life. In this situation, the Russian Church Abroad represented a unifying center in the lives of emigrants, helping to maintain ties with the motherland, striving to ensure ideological stability, maintaining cultural traditions, giving hope for the future, as well as providing all possible financial assistance.

Religious Approaches to Bioethical Reasoning: Bridging Values and Ethics

Religious traditions exert a profound influence on bioethical reasoning, shaping how different communities approach complex ethical issues like end-of-life care, genetic manipulation, and medical interventions. This study investigates the diverse methodologies employed by various religions, focusing on how scriptural interpretation and ethical principles inform their bioethical frameworks. By conducting a comparative analysis across major world religions, the research highlights both the distinct and shared approaches these traditions take toward navigating bioethical dilemmas. Case studies and contemporary examples are examined to illustrate how religious moral reasoning influences decision-making in areas such as ventilator use, feeding tubes, and genetic interventions. The study shows that although religious traditions offer a strong basis for ethical reasoning, their values frequently clash with secular perspectives, making consensus difficult in multicultural societies. Resolving these conflicts is vital for cultivating ethical harmony and encouraging cross-cultural dialogue.

The Semiotic Dimension of Men's Fashion in Modern Eras

This research was conducted to study the semiotic relationship between historical men's costumes in modern times from the 17<sup>th</sup> to the 19<sup>th</sup> century and some functional (the intended function of the costume) and aesthetic (the art of fashion design) values. From a semiotic perspective, the research sample was determined by studying and analyzing four men's costumes in each of the three centuries. It was divided into four periods from the beginning to the 1920s, from the 1920s to the 1950s, from the 1950s to the 1970s, and from the 1970s to the end of the century. The research relied on the historical-analytical approach in addressing concepts related to the semiotics of historical men's fashion. This research aimed to: Describe and analyze men's fashion in modern eras from the 17<sup>th</sup> to the 19<sup>th</sup> century, clarify the symbolic significance of the form of men's fashion clothing in modern eras and its relationship to the functional values represented by the intentional function of the costume from a semiotic perspective and explain the symbolic significance of the form of men's fashion in modern eras and its relationship to the aesthetic values represented in the art of fashion design from a semiotic perspective. The results of the study were the following: The clarity of the symbolic significance of the form of men's fashion clothing and its relationship to the functional values represented in the intentional function of the costume, the aesthetic values defined in the art of fashion design from a semiotic perspective, and the reflection of historical, social, political and religious events, customs and traditions semiotically on the function of men's fashion and the art of its design.

The impact of religious diversity on the Kurdish identity within a geopolitical framework

Importance. The Kurds are currently dispersed across four countries (Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq), which are quite negative towards them, trying to suppress expression of their identity. Historiographically, the Kurdish issue is usually perceived as another obstacle to regional stability in the Middle East, but the uniqueness of their position forces us to look at the situation from a different perspective. The aim of the study is to prove that the experience of asymmetric interaction of Kurds with various social actors can be extrapolated to address the problem of long-term stability in the Middle East and the resolution of other conflicts.Materials and Methods. The research is based on the principles of historicism and objectivity; chronological and structural methods and comparative analysis are used.Results and Discussion. The novelty of the study is that it allows us to consider the religious heterogeneity of the Kurds as a possible positive factor that can be used to build a new Kurdish identity. The peculiarities of the situation of the Kurds in different territories, including in a religious context, are also analyzed. The trends in ethnic relations in the territories of four nearby countries (Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey) are determined.Conclusion. The eclectic nature of Kurdistan’s religious composition has greatly influenced Kurdish political identity, and despite external divisive factors, the diverse Kurdish population is united due to its culture of tolerance, which stems from its long history of diverse religious traditions. At the same time, it complicates their interactions with the neighbouring states that are intolerant of dissent and other faiths.

Affirmative action and government initiatives to improve gender equality in India: a retrospective view

PurposeThis paper discusses the problems of gender equality in society, the workplace and the household in the specific context of India. It explicates the past and the present gender diversity initiatives by government machinery to bring gender equality through affirmative action.Design/methodology/approachThe design, methodology and approach involve a general review.FindingsDeveloped countries have taken initiatives for gender equality almost in the pre-20th century and were partially successful. Despite gender diversity and affirmative action and legislation, bias still prevails in varied forms. In the case of India, the movement for gender equality started post-independence (1947). Still, there is a high disparity between men and women in society as well as in various occupations, as it is evident through a huge difference in salary, responsibilities, perquisites, recognition and promotions offered to men and women. India needs more transformation in the culture, statutory bodies and the mindset of patriarchal societies, to achieve gender equality. The legislative changes have faced resistance in their implementation due to social, cultural and religious issues, and the expectations and perceptions toward females have not been changed by the patriarchal society.Originality/valueThis paper deciphers the gender equality movement in developing countries like India, and how the planning commission of India focuses on women’s development and government machinery tries to bring down the gender gap through affirmative action. Why, in spite of all these efforts, India is not able to minimize the gender gap and concludes with reasons and implications.

Analyzing effective interventions against female genital mutilation across different regions

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a critical human rights issue affecting millions of girls and women. FGM is deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions, posing significant challenges to its elimination. The trauma inflicted by FGM extends beyond physical pain, leading to severe psychological and emotional consequences. Addressing this complex issue requires a comprehensive approach that integrates legal, educational, medical, and community-based interventions. The paper examines the dynamics of FGM across multiple countries, utilizing third-party data from the United Nations Population Fund. By presenting a comprehensive analysis of these strategies, this paper aims to contribute to the fight against FGM, offering insights and recommendations for policymakers, activists, and practitioners dedicated to ending this practice. The eradication of FGM requires sustained, multi-dimensional efforts to ensure the protection and empowerment of girls and women.

Navigating faith transitions: A 4-year longitudinal examination of religious deidentification among LGBTQ+ latter-day saints.

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals raised in conservative religious traditions present to therapy with questions about how to navigate tension between their sexual/gender and religious identities. For therapists, having accurate information about (a) the typical process of religious deidentification, (b) its antecedents, and (c) its outcomes is critical to empowering these clients to make the decisions that are best for them. We present data from a preregistered 4-year longitudinal study of 164 LGBTQ+ people who were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (CJCLDS) at baseline to examine the phenomenology, antecedents, and outcomes of religious change. Across the 4 years of our study, we found that two thirds of our sample religiously deidentified to some degree. On average, participants shifted their attendance at the worship services from weekly to a few times a year, and 40% of participants disaffiliated with the CJCLDS. Longitudinal multilevel models suggested that age predicted deidentification with younger participants deidentifying more quickly than older participants. Religious deidentification was positively related to engagement with LGBTQ+ communities, and follow-up cross-lagged panel analyses suggested that engagement with LGBTQ+ communities was predictive of subsequent decreases in service attendance rather than vice versa. No relationships were observed between religious deidentification and mental health or well-being. These data suggest that religious deidentification is normative and developmental for LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saints, this process is most active among younger individuals, and connecting with other LGBTQ+ people is a key facilitator for this process. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

State of the Field Report XV: Contemporary Chinese Studies of the Scholastic-Aristotelian Soul in Late-Ming and Early-Qing China

AbstractThe Jesuit China mission coincided with a sophisticated attempt to place Chinese and Western concepts of human nature in dialogue with Confucianism. The Jesuits believed that they could facilitate evangelization by drawing upon Confucian concepts to explain the soul. In so doing, they and their Chinese collaborators also pioneered a genre of hybrid philosophical texts, which used Aristotelian conceptions of the soul to critique and supplement autochthonous Chinese conceptions of human nature. These texts are not just of significance for Chinese Christian theology, but also anthropology, psychology, and even medicine, given the role played by the soul in both Chinese and Western conceptions of human physiology at the time. Until recently these texts have been little studied except by missiologists who were more interested in their relevance for mission history than for comparative philosophy. Scholarship has perhaps also been hampered by the immense linguistic demands of studying texts that sit between the Chinese and Western intellectual traditions. Recently, however, a number of Chinese scholars have turned their attention to these texts, intrigued by novel philosophical ideas contained therein and their complex relationship to both the Western and Chinese intellectual and religious traditions. Since many of these Chinese-language contributions are published in volumes which are not easily accessible outside of China, they have not enjoyed great visibility in Western-language scholarship. This article will review the major developments in Chinese scholarship and will conclude with suggestions for future research.

Membangun Karakter Murid Melalui Pendidikan Agama

Religious Education is an education process that has a purpose to form religious character of the religious tradition to individuals. This formation process includes an understanding of the Holy Book, religious traditions, and moral and spiritual development in accordance with religion culture and tradition. This religious education is the basis for students meditative thinking because it plays an important role in shaping human spiritual and moral development. As writers, we are using the literature review approach in writing this article in order to compile a deep understanding to improve the character education of the people based on the principles of religion culture and tradition. The results of this study confirm that Religious Education can form the students personality and character responsible individuals.

The Martijn Trilogy Manuscripts: An Open Dataset for Analyzing Scribal Variation

Abstract The authors present a dataset containing transcriptions of manuscripts of the Middle Dutch strophic poem Martijn Trilogy by the Flemish poet Jacob van Maerlant. Of his very large oeuvre, Maerlant’s Strophic Poems had the longest tradition: originally written in the thirteenth century, copyists and printers continued to disseminate them until about 1500. These ten shorter poems on social, religious, and ethical issues stand out for their unusual and complex stanza form. The Martijn Trilogy was his most successful strophic poem: 17 text witnesses are extant, and the trilogy was imitated and even translated into French and Latin. This dataset contains hyperdiplomatic transcriptions of all witnesses, amounting to a total of 15,814 verses or 79,337 tokens. This open-access dataset abides by the fair principles, is licensed under a cc-by-sa license, and is made available in multiple, complementary file formats. Since these transcriptions are strictly diplomatic, this corpus offers valuable possibilities for research on scribal attributions (scribal profiling), abbreviations, stemmatology, textual stability and more.

Painting workshops for people living with dementia as a means of expression and communication: revelations from our elders

Purpose This study aims to explore art workshops for people living with dementia as a process enabling creative expression and fostering communication with others. Design/methodology/approach To enable detailed exploration of the expressive powers of painting and drawing, the authors draw several examples from a series of painting workshops for people living with dementia, which formed part of the PPI for research into experiences of restraint within care. Findings Artwork enabled personal expression, facilitated conversation with others and revealed hidden knowledge and abilities, but also revealed dangers of miscommunication, specifically here related to technological changes and spirituality. Research limitations/implications Individual differences in responses to painting will exist meaning that the specific findings outlined here are unique to individuals and not always generalisable. This follows from the quality of the individual communication that may be enabled by painting, meaning that close attention to each person is both fostered and required. Practical implications Art activities can provide a means to enable deep personal expression and agency in people living with dementia, which can contribute to countering dehumanisation. Social implications Attention to the process of painting can be beneficial in fostering verbal and non-verbal communication with individuals who have difficulties in communication. Attention to cultural issues in care needs to incorporate understanding of spiritual and religious issues and take note of gaps in understanding related to technological as well as cultural changes between generations. Originality/value Much work in this area explores art activities for people living with dementia in terms of beneficial outcomes. This work explores the creative process inherent in painting, drawing upon insights from art theory and providing in-depth individual insights through case studies. Both researchers in this study are artists and the work drew upon their understanding of the processes of painting.