Belief Systems Research Articles

Infrasecularity in Stardew Valley

ABSTRACT Stardew Valley is a role-playing and farm simulator video game released by sole creator Eric Barone (online alias ConcernedApe) in 2016. This paper aims to apply an infrasecular (della Dora, V. 2018, “Infrasecular Geographies: Making, Unmaking and Remaking Sacred Space.” Progress in Human Geography 42 (1): 44–71) lens to the analysis of sacred spaces in Stardew Valley. Della Dora’s (2018. “Infrasecular Geographies: Making, Unmaking and Remaking Sacred Space.” Progress in Human Geography 42 (1): 44–71) work on infrasecularity stresses the layered nature of sacred spaces. Different belief systems may be present in a single sacred space that interact with each other over time. This paper analyzes some of the game’s spiritual spaces, including magical ritual spaces, as well as spaces dedicated to reverence of in-game deity “Yoba”. This paper’s methods include auto-ethnography and narrative analysis.

Beliefs of Pentecostal pastors concerning the use of antiretroviral treatment among Pentecostal Christians living with HIV in a suburb of Cape Town-South Africa: a community health systems lens.

The global public health community accepts antiretroviral therapy (ART) for controlling and managing HIV. However, within some communities, claims of faith or miraculous healing of HIV and AIDS by Pentecostal pastors continue to spark controversies. This paper reports on an exploratory qualitative study to explore the beliefs held by Pentecostal pastors regarding the use of ART among Pentecostal Christians who are living with HIV (PCLH). Twenty Pentecostal pastors from two informal settlements in Cape Town, South Africa, were purposefully selected. Open-ended, semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted on their religious beliefs concerning ART adherence. Interviews were conducted in English, audiotaped, and transcribed verbatim before being imported to the Atlas-ti 2023 software program for thematic data analysis. Since our study was guided by the relational community health system (CHS) model a hybrid deductive-inductive thematic analysis was used. Two contrasting themes about the influence of the religious beliefs of Pentecostal pastors were identified: The first theme and its associated subthemes highlight the lack of basic HIV and ART knowledge among pastors. Consequently, these pastors tend to nudge their Christians to rely more on faith and spiritual healing at the expense of adherence to ART. The second theme and the associated sub-themes suggest that some pastors possess some basic HIV knowledge and understand the role of ART and how it works. This group of pastors advise their congregants to use ART and other healthcare services in tandem with spiritual rituals, faith, and prayers. Our findings highlight the need for functional community-based structures, such as community health committees (CHCs) and health facility management committees (HFMCs), in settings where complex interaction within the belief systems, practices, and norms of some stakeholders can influence people's health-seeking behaviours such as adhering to chronic medications like ART.

This Ship Prays: The Southern Chinese Religious Seascape through the Handbook of a Maritime Ritual Master

Long kept in the British Library, a liturgical manuscript from the port of Haicheng, Fujian, holds details of the rich system of beliefs that Chinese sailors held. Originally untitled, the text by the shelfmark OR12693/18 is usually referred to as “Libation Ritual (for Ship Safety)” ([An Chuan] Zhuoxian Ke [(安船)酌献科]). Formerly, it was given scholarly attention mostly due to its addended lists of maritime placenames, which follows Qing-era sea routes across China’s coasts and to the South China Sea. Further inquiry into the manuscript’s terminology, deity names, and maritime knowledge confirms its deep relation to sailors’ lore. By tracing this text into a wide range of sources, this paper demonstrates how manuscript OR12693/18 reflects a cohesive maritime system of beliefs and knowledge. Manifested within the prayer are a hierarchical pantheon, ritual practices, and a perceived sacred seascape. Moreover, it is evident that the manuscript belonged to a tradition of sailing ritual masters who were regular members of the crew onboard junks. As such, this paper offers an analysis of a religious-professional tradition with trans-local aspects, shedding new light on seafaring in pre-modern China.

Exploring the Mechanisms that Allow Incompatible Beliefs to Coexist in the Cognitive System.

Despite assumptions that people strive for consistency between their beliefs, endorsement of mutually incompatible ones is not rare - a tendency we have previously labelled doublethink, by borrowing from Orwell. In an attempt to understand the nature of doublethink and the underlying mechanism that enables incompatible beliefs to coexist, we conducted two preregistered studies (total N = 691). To do so, in Study 1, we first explored how doublethink relates to (1) thinking styles (rational/intuitive, actively open-minded thinking, and need for cognitive closure), (2) a set of irrational beliefs (magical health, conspiratorial, superstitious, and paranormal beliefs) and (3) its predictiveness for questionable health practices (non-adherence to medical recommendations and use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine). We then additionally expanded the set of health behaviors in Study 2, and related doublethink to trust in two epistemic authorities - science and the wisdom of the common man. Finally, in both studies, we explored whether those prone to inconsistent beliefs are also more likely to simultaneously rely on conventional and alternative medicine, despite their apparent incompatibility. While doublethink was positively related to need for cognitive closure and different irrational beliefs that easily incorporate contradictions, as well as negatively to actively open-minded thinking, we did not find it to be predictive of the use of non-evidence-based medicine nor of its simultaneous use with official medicine. It seems that this novel construct can be best understood as a feature of the cognitive system that allows incompatible claims to enter it. However, once beliefs are within the system, they are compartmentalized, without any cross-referencing between them. This is further reflected in non-evidence-based beliefs persisting within the belief system, irrespective of their content.

Examining the Concept of Reincarnation in African Indigenous Religion Through the Lens of Pentecostal Eschatology

Reincarnation is the belief in ongoing birth and rebirth. The philosophy of African Traditional Religion centres on birth and rebirth, where previous life quality affects both. Infants are seen as resemble deceased grandparents, implying they may be reincarnated. This interpretation assumes that the departed ancestor lived a morally virtuous life and died at an advanced age to qualify for reincarnation in the family lineage. Conversely, a family member is hesitant to associate with someone who has lived a morally repugnant life. The aforementioned intellectual construct is related to Christian eschatology. Thus, eschatology and reincarnation must be thoroughly examined. This paper explains the similarities between African Traditional Religion and Pentecostal eschatology and sheds light on African philosophy. This study examines reincarnation in African indigenous religion through Pentecostal eschatology. The relationship between these two belief systems is examined to determine their similarities, differences, and potential effects on religious understanding and practices. The study employed a qualitative methodology, strictly descriptive analytical perspective and concludes that African indigenous religion and Pentecostal eschatology affect people's beliefs about the afterlife and spirituality. The study further shed light on religious syncretism, amalgamation, and how multiple belief systems interact within African spirituality.

The Belief in Pullayar among Agrarian People in Ampara District, Sri Lanka

Worship of deities takes a specific position among the religious beliefs related to agriculture. The Pullayar deity belief with agriculture specially can be seen in Northern Province and Nuwarakalaviya in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The study investigates the significance of the Pullayar deity belief among the agricultural community in Ampara District. It also focusses on the ways in which the agricultural practices of farmers, socio-cultural identities, and customs are influenced by the deity belief system. The main objective of the research was to examine the contemporary condition of Pullayar deity belief associated with agriculture in the Ampara District. The two Grama Niladari (GN) divisions of Galahitiyagoda and Udayagiriya belonging to Uhana Divisional Secretariat in Ampara district were used as the study areas. Data required for the research was collected using forty (40) farmers selected from the study area under random sampling method. Participatory observation and unstructured interviews were used to gather data. Pullayar worship is closely linked with the agricultural practices of Ampara district. Here farmers perform specific rituals for a successful harvest. Among the farming folk beliefs of Ampara, the Pullayar deity worship is uniquely adapted to protect the land from fertility and natural calamities. According to the farmers in this area, it is customary to worship the Buddha as well as Gambara Devi before doing any task in the paddy fields. As a special offering for pullayar deity, farmers offer coconut and let the pots overflow with milk as a ritual. It is performed by them for the protection of their fields and cattle. Pullayar rituals foster collective social cohesion. Strengthens community bonds through shared spiritual practices. Worship as well reveals a gendered division of religious duties, with men leading agricultural rituals and women maintaining household shrines. Therefore, this society reflects a balanced role of spiritual practices across genders. Though, Pullayar deity worship can be regarded as a particular cultural aspect that is unique to the agrarian economic system in this area and still exists now.

Flint tools in Iron Age burials of Tel Erani: Interpretations in the light of mortuary practices

The current study focuses on large geometric flint sickle blades found in association with the deceased unearthed during the excavation of the Iron Age cemetery of Tel Erani. The archaeological meaning and interpretation of such a correlation are examined here through the prism of the system of burials and beliefs of Iron Age communities in the southern Levant and previous periods, where sickles and sickle blades were found in funerary contexts. Flint tools in the southern Levant may be divided into belonging to the deceased and used in life, and those serving as offerings to the dead by the community. The presence of sickles and flint sickle blades in burials of the southern Levant from the Chalcolithic period to the Iron Age may be interpreted as part of a ritual symbolizing a relationship between the deceased and agriculture. A concluding interpretation of these findings is presented here based on anthropological and archaeological parallels.

Essential competencies for healthcare chaplains: insights from hiring managers and implications for chaplaincy education

This first-of-its-kind study explored the essential competencies healthcare chaplaincy hiring managers (HCHMs) sought for entry-level healthcare chaplains (HCCs). We conducted qualitative interviews with 16 HCHMs and using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA), developed nine key themes: interpersonal skills, teamwork, knowledge of family and group dynamics, understanding of the healthcare system, professionalism, proficiency in spiritual assessment, effective communication, commitment to lifelong learning, and knowledge of various religious and spiritual beliefs, extending beyond one’s own faith tradition. These themes reflected HCCs roles as healthcare professionals who contribute to patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and spiritual leadership responsibilities. The study underscored the need for chaplaincy education to integrate healthcare-specific coursework, interprofessional training, cultural and religious humility, and deeper knowledge of diverse belief systems. Developing and incorporating curriculum standards based on these themes could enhance the readiness of HCCs to deliver comprehensive care and meet the dynamic demands of diverse patient populations within today’s healthcare landscape.

Factors influencing consumers' willingness to adopt renewable energy technologies: A paradigm to alleviate energy poverty

Energy poverty is a persistent issue in India, impeding environmental and socio-economic progress. The transition from conventional to renewable energy technology offers the optimal alternative solution to alleviate this significant issue. However, successful adoption of these technologies heavily depends on the consumers' willingness. This study aims to evaluate the factors influencing consumers' willingness to adopt renewable energy technologies to alleviate energy poverty. Additionally, this study added a further novel factor (crime concern) with the existing factors (belief about renewable technology benefits expectation, renewable energy technology cost, environmental concern, subjective norms) to the extended theory of planned behavior. The analysis confirmed that consumers' strong belief system, environmental concerns and subjective norms positively impact the consumers' willingness to adopt reliable and affordable renewable energy. Cost and crime concern negatively influence consumers' willingness to use this optimal technology. Interestingly, the findings of this study indicate that the consumers' willingness to adopt renewable energy technologies has a notable impact on alleviating energy poverty. This study provides significant insights for governments, renewable energy technology manufacturers, and other relevant stakeholders to enhance the widespread uptake of renewable energy technology among consumers to achieve sustainable energy development goals in the context of energy poverty alleviation.

Economic growth versus the environment: government spending, trust, and citizen support for environmental protection

ABSTRACT Support for sustainability activities among citizens will also increase the probability of more sustainable choices being made by governments. In this study, we investigate the relationship between prioritization of environmental protection over economic growth and government spending on environmental protection in 27 OECD countries and more than 65 000 respondents. Drawing on the perspectives of the thermostatic model, complex belief systems and cognitive dissonance theory, we hypothesize that government spending and attitudes towards environmental protection are related. We further argue that this relationship will be moderated by trust in government. To investigate our hypotheses, we employ OECD statistics on government spending in combination with survey data from WVS and EVS from the years 1995 to 2019. Our findings show that increasing government spending on environmental protection is related to attitudes in favor of economic growth at the expense of environmental concerns, a relationship which is significantly strengthened by having low trust in government.

Materialization of Ritual: The Example of Alevi Belief System

Rituals are symbolic and physical elements of beliefs and experiences. Individuals' and societies' relationships with nature and struggle for survival within nature have led to the creation of various practices. All these practices, when manifested symbolically within the context of belief systems, are called rituals. Therefore, every change in the relationship between the individual, society, and nature results in a change in rituals. Migration, urbanization, technological advancement, and globalization cause many elements concerning individuals and society to change. Changes that affect societies' social, cultural, economic, and religious lives have led to functional and structural changes in rituals performed within the traditional context. Thus, rituals passed down in traditional societies with their traditional and symbolic structures have undergone semantic and formal changes in rapidly changing modern societies. At the core of these changes lies the necessity for individuals to adapt to contemporary socio-economic conditions. Rituals has a power that shapes community in many ways with their mythic and theological backgrounds. Rituals determine the doctrinal and social structure of Alevi belief system. For the Alevi community, rituals hold the power to transmit cultural and social values, as well as to define the belief system with its mythic and theological background. Traditional Alevi rituals shape the entire lives of their followers. Members of the faith learn and transmit all components of their socio-cultural and economic environment through ritual-centered practices. Despite all political and social events, Alevi communities managed to sustain their ritual-centered traditional belief systems and lifestyles until the 1960s. However, migration after this period rapidly led to the transformation and alteration of ritual-centered life. Alevi communities experienced a culture shock due to their rituals not being accepted by the “other”s. This situation compelled them to conceal their beliefs and remain invisible. The process experienced after migration and urbanization has resulted in the weakening of traditional belief systems among Alevi individuals. During this period where non-governmental organizations are increasingly dominant and influential, the social and cultural demands of Alevi communities who come together under the leadership of non-governmental organizations in the city have led to the transformation and reconstruction of traditional Alevi rituals. Therefore, the traditional structure and rituals of the Alevi belief system have undergone a transition from their traditional context to a new world influenced by factors such as migration, urbanization, modern life, and the rejection of dominant authority. This article discusses the change and re-creation of rituals away from the traditional context in urban life following social and economic demands in the context of fieldwork conducted in Türkiye, Germany, and Austria.

Buffering the Effects of Students’ Perceived Task Difficulty on Cognitive Engagement in EFL Writing Classrooms: The Role of Foreign Language Enjoyment and Growth Mindset

Submitted Currently, research on second language acquisition (SLA) and psychology of language learning has conceived foreign language learning as a complex system of beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions that contribute immensely to shape students’ learning experiences. The significance of such research lies in the fact that they provide a holistic perspective of FL learning by considering the multiple and interrelated interactions of beliefs, emotional and cognitive factors, rather than examining any single variable in isolation. Therefore, this study seeks to provide such insights by examining the interaction between perception of task difficulty and cognitive engagement in an EFL writing classroom, taking into consideration the possible effects of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and mindset on such relationship. Data were collected from 218 Saudi undergraduate students using a questionnaire. Results revealed that: a) students’ perception of task difficulty is linked to their cognitive engagement; b) FLE acts as a buffer against the negative effects of difficult EFL writing tasks on students’ cognitive engagement; c) growth mindset has no moderating role in the relationship between perceived difficulty and cognitive engagement.

What do adults know about public education?

Adults’ beliefs and knowledge about the state of the U.S. education system drive decisions about policy, funding, program adoption, student participation in programs, and the selection of decision makers to elected positions. Amie Rapaport and Anna Rosefsky Saavedra share national survey data showing that U.S. adults have little knowledge about what is being taught in schools, express neutrality about belief systems undergirding education policy, and report experiences misaligned with hard-data trends on student academic progress in recent years. With adults reporting they learn about issues crucial to our education system mainly from “personal experience,” better information has the potential to improve U.S. education.

The Pathways to Nurturing Children’s Growth Mindset in Family Education

In family education, both parents and children have a belief system to construct the world and interpret experience. Some of these beliefs point to a dynamic self and a dynamic world with the possibility of growth, while others point to a static self and world with fixed qualities. These beliefs are part of the motivational system and strongly influence what goals people pursue. The cultivation of children’s growth mindset in family education can help children construct their desired life and study and maintain flexibility. No matter whether things are fulfilled or not, it will inject enthusiastic attempts and efforts into children’s life and study. These attempts and efforts can help children live a determined life, solve problems actively and discover their potential.

The impacts of attitude, knowledge, and belief on carbon neutrality: Evidence from Hong Kong

This study employs the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Theory of Reasoned Action to investigate the relationships among belief, attitude, knowledge, and intention towards carbon neutrality. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze data from a sample of 392 respondents. The results indicate that knowledge and belief positively influence the intention to adopt carbon neutrality, which is consistent with previous research. However, contrary to expectations, the study does not find significant correlations between knowledge and attitude or between attitude and behavioral intention. Belief is found to play an important mediating role in the relationships between knowledge and intention, as well as between attitude and intention. The research highlights the importance of contextual variables in understanding the relationship between knowledge, belief, and attitude towards carbon neutrality. The findings have significant implications for policymakers and marketers who seek to promote carbon neutrality and emphasize the need to develop and promote belief systems that prioritize carbon neutrality. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the factors which affect the intention to adopt carbon neutrality.

RITUAL BELA DIRI KUTAU DALAM MASYARAKAT DESA SURO, KABUPATEN MUSI RAWAS

This paper discusses the Kutau martial arts ritual practiced by the people of Suro Village, Muara Beliti District, Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra Province. Kutau is one of the ancestral heritages consisting of a set of rituals. Kutau takes the form of traditional martial arts that has been developed by the Suro Village community. Applying the qualitative approach, this study aimed to systematically document all forms of rituals in Kutau and its functions within the Suro community. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, which were then analyzed using Victor Turner’s ritual approach and Talcot Parsons’ function approach. Results show that Kutau is a medium of communication between the community and their ancestors to pass down the Kutau knowledge, which is closely related to Suro people’s belief system. Kutau still prevails thanks to the latency function of the Kutau community, so that the whole system is able to survive and adapt to the current society.

Physicochemical Analysis of Historical Ordu Taşbaşı Church Mortars and Recommendations for Restoration

Throughout history, the architecture of worship structures has been shaped based on different cultures and belief systems during the Roman, Seljuk, Anatolian Principalities, and Ottoman periods. Additionally, it is understood that the sociocultural and ritual structure in which the worship place is built plays a significant role in church architecture. In province of Ordu, rich in historical and cultural heritage, historical structures outside the city center have not been well preserved. In recent years, neglected historical structures have been restored through various methods with public investments, aiming to reintegrate them into urban life. Through chemical and mineralogical (by microscopy) examinations aimed at determining the types of historical structural materials used for this purpose, the preservation of historical structures in Ordu province and their transfer to future generations is targeted. Church structures, holding a distinct significance in the region’s history, exhibit various characteristics in terms of location, climate, and sociocultural and ritual aspects in the Black Sea region. In this regard, the restoration of the historical Taşbaşı Church in the Altınordu district of Ordu province has been carried out considering scientific techniques and methods, serving as a guide for similar studies in the region in terms of laboratory analysis, studies, planning, project development, and implementation stages.

Who thinks ideologically about welfare state reform? Partisanship and attitude consistency in politicians’ and mass public perceptions about the consequences of welfare service privatization in Sweden

When studying attitudes toward the welfare state or evaluations of welfare reforms, research has tended to focus on what people think rather than how they think about specific issues. Moreover, the effects of the mobilizing efforts of political parties on attitudes and belief systems are often theorized separately from the normative institutional feedback effects common to the welfare state literature. In this paper, I propose that elite political rhetoric and institutional norms may exert dual pressures leading to partisan differences in the propensity to think ideologically among the mass public, defined as a positive relationship between holding internally consistent attitudes and taking a partisan issue position. Drawing on the case of welfare service privatization in Sweden, I point out how the rhetoric of the right – emphasizing choice and private property – frequently contradicts norms about universality long espoused by the Swedish welfare state, while the rhetoric of the left – emphasizing equality of access and outcomes – is better aligned with such institutional norms. The analysis of survey data demonstrated that centre-right sympathizers, the prime receivers of conflicting elite versus institutional messages, frequently took a middling position, being neither positive nor negative, to the consequences of welfare service privatization, and that, unlike centre-right politicians and sympathizers and politicians of left parties, this position did not differ according to attitude consistency. Furthermore, political interest enhanced this relationship among right sympathizers but was of little consequence to left sympathizers, implying that in the case of a conflict between institutional norms and political rhetoric, only the most attentive sympathizers are likely to engage in ideological thinking on the basis of partisanship.

Situating Ubuntu Philosophy in Pre-service Teacher Education

Ubuntu African philosophy and its values have been a subject of discussion by stakeholders due to its humanness and communal nature. It embodies African cultural values and belief systems that form the ways of life of indigenous people. These critical attributes of Ubuntu have necessitated its integration into pre-service teacher education to prepare Ubuntu-focused teachers who can contribute to decolonizing the education system in South Africa and beyond. However, efforts must be made to integrate Ubuntu values into pre-service teacher education. This paper reports on an investigation of the relevance of Ubuntu’s philosophy to pre-service teacher education. The investigation adopted the qualitative integrative literature review approach by selecting twenty-four articles from Scopus, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases for review. The authors selected relevant articles using the relevant inclusion criteria and analyzed them under different themes to answer the two research questions formulated for this study. In order to increase teachers’ capacity to support the decolonization of education in Africa, the article suggests that the humanness and communalism approaches to education should be incorporated into pre-service teacher education curricula. That the quest for colonial knowledge over the years in South Africa and, indeed, Africa has been attributed to the Eurocentric and increased domination of African culture of togetherness and ethics of care. The paper also concludes that Ubuntu higher education can serve as a framework for decolonizing the African higher education system. The authors suggest that there is a need to formulate strategies for integrating important values of Ubuntu, like humanness, interconnectedness, and communalism, into the pre-service teacher education program.

An Ethical Analysis of the Online Content of Assisted Reproductive Technology Centers in Bangladesh.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have become a widely utilized medical technology for treating infertility worldwide. However, societies and countries have applied these technologies in accordance with their cultural practices and belief systems. This paper presents an overview of ART providers in Bangladesh and analyzes their online content in addressing potential infertile couples. Examining the topic within the context of socio-economic and public health challenges in Bangladesh, particularly overpopulation, poverty, and lack of education, the research conducted a web content analysis of ART providers in Bangladesh from July 1 to September 1, 2023. Twenty active ART providers were identified using Google searches and an exploratory key. The analysis considered locations, landing page information, ethical standards, quality certification, foreign affiliations, and success rates. The findings revealed a concentration of centers in urban areas, raising concerns about equitable access. The absence of regulation and guidelines, coupled with the lack of ART clinic registration, highlighted potential risks to patient well-being. Landing page statements utilized highly emotive language and ambiguous terms, raising ethical concerns. The absence of explicit mention of quality standards, including ISO 9001:2000 certification, indicated potential gaps in transparency. Foreign affiliations were employed for credibility, raising concerns of misleading advertising. Limited and ambiguous reporting of success rates posed challenges for informed decision-making. Evident exploitative and commercialized practices raised concerns about potentially commodifying reproductive services. The study emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks, transparency in reporting, adherence to ethical advertising, and increased cultural sensitivity to enhance the ethical standards of ART providers in Bangladesh.