Digital Commons Network^™

Islamic Law Without Legal Authority: Sharia And State Governance In Kazakhstan, Duman Saifullin, Temur Amankul, Laura Toktarbekova, Erkinbek Daken

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the role and status of Islamic law (Sharia) in Kazakhstan, a Muslim-majority country that has consistently maintained a strictly secular legal order. The background of the study is grounded in the apparent paradox between Kazakhstan’s Islamic historical heritage and the complete absence of Sharia from its formal legal system. The objective of the research is to explain how and why Islamic law has remained confined to private, moral, and ritual domains while being excluded from state legislation and judicial practice. Methodologically, the article employs a qualitative legal-sociological and historical approach, combining analysis of constitutional norms, legal regulations, …

Interview With Orca Award Winner Margaret Jacobs, Unl History; Indigenous Child Removal, Mark Griep, Margaret D. Jacobs

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Dr. Margaret Jacobs was awarded the ORCA in 2021. She was born in San Pedro, California, but grew up in Colorado. Something in her youth must have sparked an interest in history because she earned a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate in that subject with a focus on the interactions between Indigenous peoples and settlers. Her bachelor’s was from Stanford University in California, while her master’s and doctorate were from the University of California, Davis. After teaching history at New Mexico State University, she joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004 as professor of history and director of the Women’s and …

J Am Coll Dent 2026 92 2a

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This special issue of the Journal of the American College of Dentists responds to a growing but long-underrecognized demand for humanities and ethics in dental education, practice, and scholarship. It emerges from the work of the National Collaborative on Humanities and Ethics in Dentistry (NCHED), a multi-institutional partnership formed in 2023 to address the persistent exclusion of dentistry from broader health humanities conversations. Through national webinars and scholarly collaboration, NCHED has demonstrated substantial interest in ethical reflection, historical analysis, narrative inquiry, and the arts as essential to understanding oral health and dental care. The unexpectedly strong response to the call …

2026 Sundance Film Festival: Introduction, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

2026 Sundance Film Festival: Introduction

In The Blink Of An Eye, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of In the Blink of an Eye (2024), directed by Andrew Stanton.

Perilaku Semantis Preposisi Min (مِنْ) Dalam Surat Al-Baqarah Juz 3, Salsabilla Raihana, Basuni Imamuddin

Multikultura

This study focuses on the analysis of the use of the preposition مِنْ /min/ in Surah Al-Baqarah Juz 3. The preposition min is one of the Arabic prepositions that carries a variety of functions and meanings. In the Qur’anic text, the diversity of meanings associated with the preposition min has direct implications for the understanding and interpretation of verses. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method with a linguistic analysis approach by examining all verses in Surah Al-Baqarah Juz 3 that contain the preposition min, followed by an analysis of its grammatical functions and contextual meanings based on al-Ghalayini’s …

Frank & Louis, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Frank & Louis (2025), directed by Petra Biondina Volpe.

The Only Living Pickpocket In New York, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of The Only Living Pickpocket in New York (2025), directed by Noah Segan.

The Ai Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist (2026), directed by Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell.

Jane Elliott Against The World, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Jane Elliott Against the World (2026), directed by Judd Ehrlich.

Tuner, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Tuner (2025), directed by Daniel Roher.

Ghost In The Machine, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Ghost in the Machine (2026), directed by Valerie Veatch.

Hold Onto Me, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Hold Onto Me (2025), directed by Myrsini Aristidou.

See You When I See You, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of See You When I See You (2026), directed by Jay Duplass.

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! (2026), directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka.

Terrence Dean, Mark Naison, Steven Payne, Pastor Crespo Jr., Akilah Shedrick

Oral Histories

No abstract provided.

Assessing Universal Basic Income: An Islamic Historical And Maqāṣidī Perspective, Abdulazeem Abozaid, Saqib Hafiz Khateeb

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics

The constant concern for ensuring that the basic needs of every human are met has prompted various steps with an aim to promote equality. This concern has eventually led to an increasing demand to guarantee a reasonable standard of living. Some economists have recently revisited the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) that has caught the interest of some governments and policy makers. This paper investigates the concept of UBI from historical, legal (Islamic), and Maqāṣidī perspectives. It traces the conceptual origins of UBI back to the Islamic society since the early Islamic history. Adopting a conceptual–analytical methodology, the paper …

Scandal And The Late Ancient Christian Historian, Jennifer Barry

Cultural and Philosophical Inquiry Articles

This article argues that scandal functions as a key narrative technology in late ancient Christian historiography. Rather than treating scandal as anecdote or moral failure, ecclesiastical historians use it as a structured way of arranging deviant bodies, contested practices, and moments of exposure to produce claims about Christian truth. Through recurring controversies, this study traces how biblical stories are reworked by authors such as Eusebius, Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret to stabilize doctrine, police boundaries, and articulate Christian identity. Across these writers, scandal emerges as a method of historical control, not merely a record of past conflict but a means of …

The Spiritual And Emotional Impact Of Color In Luis Barragán’S Convento De Las Capuchinas Sacramentarias, Ivana Martin

MA Theses

This thesis examines how Luis Barragán’s Convento de las Capuchinas Sacramentarias (1955) is a medium for spiritual experience. In his work, Barragán explores the use of color, light, and emotion as central elements and the ways in which they transform sacred space into an embodied, contemplative experience. There is also a comparison to other churches and other similar projects that were done during the same time period, specifically in Mexico. Modernist architecture in mid-century Mexico was largely defined by rationalist and more functional ideals, but Barragán separated himself from these tendencies to create an architecture that privileges silence, intimacy, and …

Part 3: Confluences In Shakers At The Center: Manifesting Spirits & Spectacles In Nineteenth-Century America, Douglas L. Winiarski

Religious Studies Faculty Publications

Introduction to Part 3 of Shakers at the Center: Manifesting Spirits & Spectacles in Nineteenth-Century America

"One of the last inspired message Eunice Bathrick recorded was also one of her longest— and most controversial. One day in November 1851, a Harvard sister “gifted in spiritual sight” informed her that Socrates had entered their room and “wanted to make himself known.” Bathrick hesitated. “I did not feel the least disposed to find out what this Spirit wanted,” she later explained, and so she ignored the presence of the “Ancient Philosopher.” She returned to her employments in the Square House, where she …

Epilogue: Spirits, Spiritualism Spirituality In Shakers At The Center: Manifesting Spirits & Spectacles In Nineteenth-Century America, Douglas L. Winiarski

Religious Studies Faculty Publications

Epilogue to Shakers at the Center: Manifesting Spirits & Spectacles in Nineteenth-Century America

"Exploring the theological, social, and cultural dimensions of one of America’s most ambitious prophetic movements 

The Shakers’ Era of Manifestations ranks among the most astounding events in American religious history. During the 1840s, members of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing embarked on an audacious project of receiving visions, revelations, and other manifestations from the spirit world and convincing both themselves and the world’s people of their reality. Gifted Shakers known as “instruments” surrendered their bodies to possessing spirits and celestial beings who, in …

Going Through The Motions At The Shaker Feast Grounds, Douglas L. Winiarski

Religious Studies Faculty Publications

Sally Bushnell rose unusually early on the Sabbath morning of June 4, 1843. A seasoned Believer of over two decades, Bushnell served as eldress of the gathering, or novitiate, order of the South Family in Canaan, a satellite community of the largest Shaker village at New Lebanon, New York. Although she had participated in all the dramatic events of the Era of Manifestations, she understood this day to be particularly special. The young Believers over whom Bushnell presided had been granted a privilege to visit the Holy Mount, the outdoor feast ground located on a high knob in the Berkshire …

Eastern Languages And Literature Research In Thailand : Past, Present, And Future Perspectives From 25 Years Of Research, Sansanee Ek-Atchariya, Somkiat Chawengkijwanich, Kanokwan Laohaburanakit Katagiri, Aroonwan Kongmebhol, Ruttapond Swanpitak, Sompornnuch Tansrisook, Pitchaya Vipaveenukul, Piyanuch Wiriyaenawat

Manusya, Journal of Humanities

This study examines the evolution of Chinese, Japanese, and Pali and Sanskrit language and literature research in Thailand over the past 25 years (1998–2022). Drawing from research articles, theses, and academic journals, it highlights the unique strengths and trends of each field. Chinese research demonstrates dynamic growth, driven by applied linguistics and educational innovations. Japanese research shows steady development, focusing on education research and analyses of individual literary works. Pali and Sanskrit research excels in cultural preservation and religious studies, reflecting Thailand’s deep-rooted connections with ancient Indian traditions. This comparative analysis underscores the shared focus on applied research and localization …

Comparative Analysis Of Youth Religiosity In Kazakhstan And Poland: Navigating Faith In Modern Societies, Arailym Zhanabayeva, Myrzakhmet Juzei, Nagima Baitenova, Zhanna Zhurgenbayeva

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper explores the complex relationship between religion and youth culture, focusing on Kazakhstan and Poland. Kazakhstan, with its ethnic diversity and dominant Islamic faith, is navigating a post-Soviet search for identity and renewed interest in traditional spiritual practices. Poland, deeply rooted in Catholicism, is experiencing secular trends and global influences that are reshaping youth religious engagement. The research aims to enrich discussions on youth religiosity and the evolving interplay between spiritual belief and modern life across different political and cultural contexts. The primary objective of this study is to examine the evolution of modern Kazakh society's approach to religion, …

Blazing Turquoise And Coral Light Jewels Of Veiled Empowerment: Buddha Ye Shes Mtsho Rgyal (ཡེ་ཤེས་མཚོ་རྒྱལ) And Saint Hildegard Von Bingen In The Lotus Of Ever-Excellent Feminist Dialogue, Janice Leigh Poss

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This Women's and Gender Studies in Religion dissertation seeks to restore awareness of women's religious leadership using the actual embodied experience of Yeshe Tsogyal and Hildegard von Bingen embedded in the philosophical terms Erlebnis (German), Padartha/Bhava (Sanskrit), and srid pa (Tibetan). Brief definitions are: Erlebnis as enthusiastic, lived experience and awareness, Padarthas as categories of real things or actualities, Bhava as the act of emotional or spiritual feeling, and Srid pa as becoming in possibility. Drawing on the above four terms encapsulated in a feminist transnational and intersectional methodological framework, this project reinforces women’s authority and influence in religion as …

Blood And Belonging: Remembering Massacres Of The American West In The Twentieth Century, Mountain Meadows And Sand Creek, Kenzie Burns

Honors Theses

The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries marked a turning point in mainstream America’s sense of national identity. A wave of nostalgia for the American Frontier enshrined the region’s idealized nineteenth-century past as myth. A key part of the story is romanticized violence—often depicted through cultural imagery of cowboys, gunfights, and battles with American Indians. This project seeks to understand more about how violence is represented in the cultural memory of the American Western past. Within the past twenty years, scholars of the American West have begun to incorporate the study of memory into their scholarship, frequently with how cultural …

Meiji And Myth: The Emperor, Totemic Principles, And Unity, Ella Jean H. Fernandez

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the complex relationship between religion and state during the Meiji era (1868-1912). Specifically, how central governmental and religious figures craft a sense of unity and national identity. The primary research question of this study is: How did the Meiji Emperor’s development as a totem unite the people and grant credibility to the Meiji era (1868-1912)? A totem in this context is a functioning symbol that is both representative and sacred. This study was conducted through the analysis of primary source documents, Imperial shrine activity, and historical context sources. Through analysis of these …

Natalist Incentives And Stratified Reproduction: Framing Of Reproductive Policies Under The 2025 Trump Administration By Print News Media, Sadie K. Marsh

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In this research, I seek to analyze the reproductive policies set forth by the Donald J. Trump Administration in the year of 2025. In this analysis, I ask, what role stratified reproduction plays in the framing of the natalist policies by the news media. Secondly, I ask the following questions: 1) What reproductive health issues were centralized in the print news coverage of the 2025 Trump Administration? 2) Does the mainstream news media identify how President Trump’s policies differentially benefit and marginalize individuals in a manner that privileges some mothers over others? To answer these questions, I conducted a qualitative …

Introduction To Shakers At The Center: Manifesting Spirits & Spectacles In Nineteenth-Century America, Douglas L. Winiarski

Religious Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Competitive Dance And The Adolescent’S Body: Considering Pedagogical Approaches To Teaching Competitive Dancers, Catri E. G. Barba

Dance (MFA) Theses

Diving into the past and researching for the future, this thesis explores the development and perpetuation of hyper-sexualized adolescent bodies through the competitive dance scene. Drawing on dance theorists, educational theorists, and embodied research (i.e., the author’s body archive), this thesis explores how the competition gaze is performed for and by a capitalist patriarchy. Specifically, this thesis critically reflects on the author’s career as a young competitive dancer in the greater Los Angeles, California, area during the 1990s and 2000s, as well as a competition dance instructor and K-12 educator for two decades, and how those personal experiences have shaped …