Major World Religions Research Articles

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 Divergent Pathways to the Divine, God: A Comprehensible Research Article on the Convergences and Divergences of the Divine Pathways in the Three Major Religions within the Framework of Religious Diversity

The current research article seeks to explore the convergences and divergences in the approaches to reaching God across the three major world religions within the context of religious diversity. The current article implements a review of the existing literature as a research method in order to gather conclusive and evidence-based data with the aim of systematically evaluating these approaches in order to address the research objectives effectively. Throughout history, religions have focused on the concept of God or a divine being, yet the approaches to understanding or reaching this concept have varied dramatically among these three different religions. By comparing the understandings of God or divine reality in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism along with the methods of reaching this understanding, the study reveals the fact that the theological and ritual structures of each religion are uniquely established. Furthermore, the common themes and fundamental differences among the approaches to reaching God in these religions are scrutinized. The findings of the study reveal both similar and different aspects of the roadmaps among the three major religions, and in this context, it is concluded that the cultural, historical and theological backgrounds of each religion shape their respective approaches to the Divine, that is, the ultimate absolute being, God.

Spiritual Values In Buddhism And Christianity: A Philosophical Study

The spiritual values of Buddhism and Christianity, are two major world religions with profound influences on the lives and beliefs of millions of people. Buddhism, originating over 2,500 years ago with Siddhartha Gautama, "the Buddha," and Christianity, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, offer rich spiritual values centered on compassion, love, morality, mindfulness, and forgiveness. Through an in-depth examination of these values, the study unveils their significance and influence in guiding the lives of adherents. Compassion, regarded as the cornerstone in both Buddhism and Christianity, drives the alleviation of suffering and ethical living. Love and charity are paramount in Christianity, while Buddhism emphasizes generosity. Moral conduct is fundamental in both, with Buddhism placing strong emphasis on the Noble Eightfold Path. Mindfulness is a shared practice, that promotes self-awareness and inner peace. Forgiveness, crucial in Christianity, emphasizes reconciliation and restoration. These values, though differently interpreted due to their theological foundations, demonstrate a universal theme of empathy and interconnectedness. This study further accentuates the relevance of these shared values in the contemporary world, fostering dialogue between Buddhists and Christians to cultivate a more compassionate and understanding society. It delves into the practical implications of these values for personal growth and ethical decision-making, offering insights into their potential to bridge differences and promote empathy. By highlighting these shared spiritual compasses, this study encourages the pursuit of virtuous and righteous living within the diverse contexts of Buddhism and Christianity and paves the way for an enriched interfaith discourse.

Uterus transplantation: what the world’s religions have to say

Uterus transplantation (UTx) has evolved from a purely experimental procedure to a clinical treatment option available outside the clinical trial context, offering women with absolute uterine-factor infertility an opportunity to experience pregnancy. As UTx becomes better established and more widely known and performed, it is likely to be sought out by geographically and culturally diverse patients, particularly those whose religious beliefs impose barriers to other paths to achieve parenthood, such as gestational surrogacy and adoption. Many religions do not currently have official positions on UTx, meaning that clinicians involved in screening candidates can expect questions about how the UTx process aligns with various religious beliefs. This article provides a broad background on the current positions major world religions have taken on UTx (or its components) and the alternative paths to parenthood of gestational surrogacy and adoption. It is intended to help clinicians communicate the information necessary for individuals interested in uterus donation or transplantation to determine—in consultation with their spiritual advisors or religious authorities when needed—how these options align with religious beliefs or teachings.

Pilgrimage Insights from Major World Religions

Pilgrimage Insights from Major World Religions

Interreligious Views on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Indigenous Knowledge for Environmental Preservation

This paper employs a qualitative narrative analysis to explore interreligious perspectives on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to address environmental challenges. It delves into the viewpoints of three major world religions – Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism – highlighting their distinct yet complementary stances. Christianity, grounded in the principle of stewardship, emphasizes humanity’s divine-given duty to care for the Earth. Within this framework, AI is seen as a promising tool to enhance environmental knowledge, sustainable practices, and conservation. Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ lays down principles, stressing the interconnectedness of creation, that can guide AI integration. In Islam, the concept of “Khalifa” signifies human stewardship of the Earth. Though opinions on AI vary, there are those who view it as a means to improve environmental knowledge and resource management. Islamic teachings encourage seeking wisdom from diverse sources, including indigenous knowledge. While recognizing AI’s potential for ecological understanding, Buddhism raises concerns about excessive reliance on AI-generated information. Emphasizing interconnectedness, compassion, and mindfulness, it encourages a balanced approach where AI complements personal connections and mindfulness in experiencing nature. In summary, these religions appear to recognize AI’s potential while emphasizing ethical, cultural, and spiritual aspects. This interplay fosters holistic and sustainable environmental preservation, where technology and Indigenous Knowledge coexist. It invites further collaboration to ensure that technological advancements align with ethical and environmental values, promoting a just, equitable, and harmonious coexistence with our planet. Keywords: interreligious perspectives, artificial intelligence (AI), indigenous knowledge (IK), environmental challenges

뉴에이지 운동의 기원과 할리우드 영화의 상호 영향

The New Age Movement (NAM) emerged in Western society in the 1970s as a decentered religious and spiritual social phenomenon. Although New Age Movement ideas are inspired by the world's major religions (Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism), they are particularly influenced by Western occultism, Eastern religions, and neo-paganism, and have developed widely. The broad inclusiveness of the New Age movement's ideas made it more accessible to the general public, and it spawned a variety of literary works. Hollywood movies in the 1970s can be seen in most of the works of the New Age Movement, and the subject matter of the movies can also be widely extended because of the New Culture Movement. Examining the relationship between the New Age Movement and Hollywood movies makes it easier to understand the reasons for the rapid growth of the movie industry in different time periods.

Unveiling Magnetic Charisma of Islam: A Multifaceted Exploration into the Allure and Impact of Muslim Culture and Society

This article unveils the magnetic charisma of Islam, offering a multifaceted exploration into the allure and impact of Muslim culture and society. It begins by providing a brief overview of Islam as a major world religion, its historical roots, and its contributions during the Golden Age of Islam. The article delves into the pillars of Islamic culture, highlighting the significance of faith, spirituality, and the Five Pillars of Islam, as well as the joyous celebrations and festivals that shape Muslim culture. It further examines the diversity within Muslim society, including its global reach across continents and the rich tapestry of customs, traditions, and cuisines that define different Muslim cultures. The article emphasizes the role of Muslim women, their diverse roles, and their contributions to education, activism, and positive change in their communities and beyond. Challenges and opportunities for Muslim culture are addressed, including the impact of modernization, globalization, and Islamophobia. Despite these challenges, the article underscores the resilience of Islamic culture, its ability to preserve identity while adapting to changing times, and its positive influence on interfaith understanding and cooperation.

Religious Moderation in Constantinople in the Resolution of Political Conflicts in the 14th Century

The Islamic conquest of Constantinople in the 14th century is a captivating historical episode in history that continues to intrigue historians. It stands out due to the involvement of two major world religions - Islam and Christianity. Furthermore, this conquest marked the end of the Roman civilization. One notable aspect of this conquest was the harmonious relationship between Muslims and Christians, which persisted before and after the event. This study aims to explore the implementation of religious moderation in Constantinople to resolve political conflicts. Adopting a historical methodology, the research collects data through extensive documentation and literature studies, employing a socio-political approach. The findings highlight that religious moderation played a crucial role in conflict resolution during the 14th century in Constantinople. The concept of religious moderation was not only applied before the conquest, but also after it. Before the conquest, the value of moderation was demonstrated through peaceful negotiations between the Islamic kingdom and the Catholic prelate in Rome. Several treaties were agreed upon, emphasizing the importance of faith and peaceful dialogue over resorting to military confrontation. Following the conquest, Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih exemplified religious moderation by engaging in negotiations with the inhabitants of Hagia Sophia. They agreed an agreement allowing Christians to continue practicing their faith despite being under Islamic rule. Additionally, al-Fatih displayed respectful treatment towards the prelate and Christian warlords, further exemplifying the value of moderation. The findings of this study shed light on the significance of religious moderation in resolving conflicts and offer a fascinating insight into the history of Constantinople during this period

Konsep Persaudaraan dalam Pandangan Islam dan Budha

This research aims to find out what is meant by brotherhood and find out the agreements and differences in the concept of brotherhood in the views of Islam and Buddhism. This research method uses library research. Library research is a type of research conducted by reading books or magazines and other data sources to collect data from various literature, both libraries and other places. This researcher uses the Sociology of Religion approach. The sociology of religion approach is an approach that discusses one of the social phenomena, namely religion as a social manifestation. The results of this research show that brotherhood in Islam shows a way that can be taken to build communication on the one hand, and on the other hand, it also gives new enthusiasm to simultaneously carry out teachings in accordance with the instructions of the Qur'an and the examples of the Prophets and Messengers - His. Brotherhood in Buddhism is part of the happiness of life. Loving-kindness or brotherhood is the wish for the happiness of all beings without exception, which is often said to be a pure intention to wish the welfare and happiness of other beings. Brotherhood is the most important part of human life. Fraternity gives rise to positive enthusiasm and motivation, even though in reality not always in the name of brotherhood human life will run in an orderly, good and harmonious way. As major world religions, Islam and Buddhism have their own unique teachings, believed by their adherents on the basis of faith. Universal Islamic teachings and tolerant Buddhist teachings are standard forms that cannot be compared.

Akbar's religious world: the two reconstructions in Mobad's Dabistān

AbstractIn the early 1650s in Mughal India ‘Mobad’ (Kaikhusrau Isfandyār) wrote a remarkable work, titled Dabistān, devoted to a description of the world's major religions. He adopted an avowedly objective approach that he strives to maintain throughout. An account of the religious tendencies under Akbar is offered in a long concluding chapter, dedicated to Islam. The account is given in two nearly totally different versions. In Version A, Akbar is credited with supernatural powers, with many anecdotes offered of their exercise. In Version B, all such anecdotes have been deleted and replaced by an extensive account of inter-religious debates held under Akbar, in which Christian (and Jewish) objections to Islamic traditions figure prominently. This version also seems to have been the major source of the belief current in later times that Akbar established a sect of his own under the designation of dīn-i ilāhī. In both versions the section on Akbar closes with the insightful observation that Akbar's policy of forming a nobility composed of diverse racial and religious elements was designed to protect the monarchy from any possibility of a unified aristocratic opposition.

UḶAVIḺIPPUṆARVU PAṞṞIYA AUTTA ISLĀMIYA KALANTURAIYĀṬAL: ŌR PAKUPPĀYVU [A STUDY ON RIGHT MINDFULNESS IN THE VIEWS OF BUDDHISM AND ISLAM: AN ANALYSIS

UḶAVIḺIPPUṆARVU PAṞṞIYA AUTTA ISLĀMIYA KALANTURAIYĀṬAL: ŌR PAKUPPĀYVU [A STUDY ON RIGHT MINDFULNESS IN THE VIEWS OF BUDDHISM AND ISLAM: AN ANALYSIS

The Integration of Islamic Values in Daily Clinical Practice among Healthcare Professionals: A Scoping Review

Islam is a major world religion that has a universal system encompassing every aspect of daily human activities. In this regard, Islam also provides principles and values related to the practice of medicine. However, it is not known how much of the practices have been practiced in daily clinical settings. Therefore, this paper aims to chart the overview of the studies and publications that have been done related to the integration of Islamic principles and values being incorporated in clinical practice. This paper is a scoping review. Databases like PubMed, PLOS, BMJ, Cochrane, EBSCo, Emerald, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and ACI were used to conduct the literature search. MeSH terms like “Islam," “religion and medicine,” and “attitude of medical staff” are among the keywords used, along with synonyms like “Islam," “Islamic," “Muslim," “medicine," “clinical," “practise," “healthcare," “professionals," “Islamic medical practise," “doctor," “nurse,” and “healthcare professionals.” The Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” were applied during the search. In addition to databases, manual internet searches were conducted to find relevant papers. The review has found that Islamic concepts and ideals have been sporadically incorporated into medical practice worldwide, whether by Muslim or non-Muslim healthcare professionals. The three key themes related to Islamic practice in medicine: are (a) attitude and character of healthcare professionals, (b) clinical decisionmaking, and (c) holistic spiritual care. There is still a big gap and differences in integrating Islamic values into clinical practice. Further work on defining and constructing a framework for a holistic Islamic medical practice is warranted.

Study Multiculturalism Based on The Koran

Multiculturalism is an understanding of differences, tolerance, mutual respect, and respect between human beings. Islam is a religion of Rahmatan Lil-Alamin throughout human life and the Qur’an is a guide for Muslims in it contains multicultural values. The importance of multicultural education is expected to be a solution to the reality of a diverse society both in terms of religion and culture as a potential development process that can appreciate the plurality and heterogeneity of religion, language, and culture. Philosophically, this multiculturalism departs from the assumption of human dignity and honor. And this principle is found in all the world's major religions. Because humans have a noble position, the rights attached to them must be respected and protected. The desecration and violation of these human rights are the suppression of universal humanity. To that end, there are several ways proposed by the Qur'an to respect differences and avoid conflict in a multicultural society. This paper aims to reveal the solution efforts of the Qur'an in realizing harmony in a multicultural society so that prolonged social friction does not arise.

Organ Donation and Transplantation and Their Ethics in the Light of Islamic Shariah

Purpose: Organ donation and transplantation are practices that are supported by all of the world's major religions, including Sikhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism. Recent developments in the fields of organ donation and organ transplantation have sparked a renewed sense of optimism for the treatment of critical illnesses. The jurists permitted organ transplants on the basis of certain principles, including ownership and categories of property. On the other hand, moralists strive to deny the ownership of human organs by using principles such as faith and Almighty Allah’s absolute authority. Then main objective of this research paper is on one hand to identify and emphasize arguments for and against organ donation and transplantation in the framework of scared provisions of Islam and its corresponding legal requirements and on the other hand to understand and teach the people that not only Islam allows organ donation but also encourage its followers to assist one another and make an effort to promote organ donations in society.
 Methodology: The doctrinal methodology. Explanatory and analytical research approaches are used in this work. It is worth mentioning that this research study is entirely based on library sources. Most of the sources are reputable and trustworthy textbooks, scholarly published and unpublished journal articles, law reports, and online websites related to the research area.
 Findings: According to the arguments as well as clear and explicit rulings, principles and authentic evidence from the Holy Quran, it is clear that the donation and transplantation of human body organs is permissible. The Holy religion of Islam persuades its followers to participate in charity, assist people, and donate organs to save the lives of those patients who are waiting for organ transplant.
 Recommendations: Theoretically, this work is very useful in contributing to the existing body of literature of knowledge. Practically, this work identifies the circumstances in which Muslim jurists not only allow but encourage its followers to assist one another and make an effort to promote organ donations in society in order to save people’s life. It is recommended that both the donor and the recipient of an organ must belong to the same nationality or legal jurisdiction in order to prevent the growth of an international organ trade, which would be far more difficult to regulate. Additionally, in order to protect the health of both the recipients and the donors, it is imperative that transplants from unknown sources be prohibited.

(518) Common Ancient and Modern-Day Religious Teachings Regarding Sexual Dysfunction

Abstract Introduction Sexuality and religion are intricately intertwined. Although religion is associated with sexual taboos, religious texts are among the first and most consistent sources to discuss sex, and more specifically, sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction has always been widely prevalent, and a cause of individual, social, and spiritual distress. As sex and society continue evolving within frameworks of religious thought and practice, it is important to understand what religions have historically taught regarding sexual dysfunction and how it may impact their communities today. Objective To provide a broad overview and comparison of how clinical literature illustrates major world religions’ understanding and management of sexual dysfunction, both in their historical texts or traditions and in the modern day. This study aims to illustrate that sexual dysfunction has been addressed by religions since their inceptions. Due to their widespread and historical popularity, we explore Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Methods We conducted a literature search through the OVID (Medline) database using the terms “sexual dysfunction,” “erectile dysfunction,” “religion,” “Islam,” “Christianity,” “Buddhism,” “Judaism,” and “Hinduism,” with a particular focus on articles that addressed foundational ancient texts, historical teachings, or what is being taught today. From these findings, we identified any articles that explored specific religions’ perceptions and teachings (modern day or ancient) regarding sexual dysfunction. Due to the expansive and idiosyncratic nature of religious belief and practice, we cannot fully represent the unique complexities and perspectives that any of these religions may offer with respect to this topic. Instead, we emphasize the common denominators generally shared within and between religions, as well as those which were available in the literature. Results The religions of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism all acknowledge sexuality as an integral part of human society and individual expression. These religions all address sexual dysfunction as a potential threat to the ideal participation of the affected person within their community. This is universally true, despite variances in the specific statutes and guidelines defining ideal sexual practice for each religion. In addition, despite frequently opining on the management of women’s bodies, particularly the bodies of women of reproductive age, we found a relative deficit of discussion regarding sexual dysfunction among women in religious literatures. Also, we identified a possible tendency to conservativism, with religious discourse acknowledging the changes in sexual medical and surgical practice over time, but often delaying (or less frequently, declining) their integration with religious mores. Finally, we highlight the cyclical nature of many religions' discussion, or lack thereof, regarding sexual dysfunction. Conclusions Ultimately, our findings identify a constant concern with sexuality and sexual dysfunction across major religions worldwide, which is characterized by a cyclical progression and regression in the incorporation of secular biomedical attitudes, diagnostic, and therapeutic options for sexual health. Awareness of these patterns and religion-specific beliefs about sexual dysfunction has potential to optimize patient-centered care and advocacy within and on behalf of different patient populations. Disclosure No

Sociology of Religious Extremism in The Malay World: An Early Analysis

The Malay World is known as an area inhabited by gentle and peace-loving people. This happens because this area has a history of interacting with foreign nations and major world religions. However, this image of peace changed when extremist movements appeared in the name of salafi jihad. The main objective of this study is to analyze the Islam-based sociology of extremism based on literature sources. It consists of primary and secondary sources produced by extremists and religious authorities. The data from these two sources are analyzed critically and use a historical perspective to identify the details of this religious extremism's teachings. This study found that the religious extremism detected in the Malay world stems from the understanding of the concepts of takfir and jihad that deviate from the teachings of Islam. These two concepts have been brought to life by the neo-Khawarij (Salafi Jihad) movement that uses ICT, especially modern social media. This causes this religious extremism movement to be welcomed by some community members.

The new religions and their human right to religious freedom

There is evidence that the right to religious freedom is threatened in the present times. Despite the achievements of democratic societies and the championing of liberties, this right is still infringed upon. While there are many discourses on infringement on the right to religious freedoms, little attention is paid to the impact on the new religions. Through critical hermeneutic and analytic methods, the paper argues that the new religions have the right to religious freedom like the major world religions. Infringement on the freedom of religion violates human dignity and autonomy and negatively impacts people’s psycho-spiritual good. The paper finds that there is an infringement on the right to religious freedom of the new religions in a disproportionate manner. It concludes that there is a need to safeguard the right to religious freedom of adherents of the new religions. A more harmonious society will be created when this is done.

A Study of the History of the Development of Buddhist Iconography

Nowadays Buddhism is one of the world's major religions, and its means of transmission and artistic approach are diverse. As one of these means of communication, Buddhist statuary has also been passed on to the present day as an excellent form of art. The art of statuary is very rich, with different periods of statuary having different characteristics, which have been handed down from one generation to the next. The art of Buddhist statuary also varies from region to region. They have their own history of development, but they are not independent, learning from each other and from other regions and times. There is no clear lineage of the specific development of Buddha's statues and the specific history of their development in different regions and at different times. The aim of this paper is to trace the history of the development of Buddhist iconography, to sort out its development from Hellenism to its arrival in India and its subsequent introduction to China, and to clarify the influence of Greek sculpture on Indian Buddhist iconography and subsequently on Chinese Buddhist iconography.

Intellectual humility and religious convictions: when does virtue become vice?

ABSTRACT Ballantyne’s call for ‘reality-orientedness’ as a core concept of intellectual humility (IH), though laudable, is too general to unify the field. Rather than pursuing an unlikely consensus, what will likely be more successful in moving the field forward will be greater clarity about how our culturally-based ideologies − discussed as ‘worldviews’ − shape the understanding, experience, and manifestation of IH. Failing to account for these differences, which has heretofore characterized much IH research, leads to problematic results in the existing IH empirical literature. The focus here is on religious worldviews, where the disregard of worldview is surprising given that humility, including intellectual humility, is consistently valued in major world religions. A worldview approach as a way forward for empirical research is illustrated by discussing how two religious/philosophical traditions − a theistic Christian tradition, and a Buddhist tradition − might conceptualize IH. Implications for measurement are discussed through an example of a theistic IH measure.