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Islamic Themes In Us Hip-Hop Culture, Anders Ackfeldt

Music & Performance in Muslim Contexts

Explores how Islam is produced in American hip-hop culture by both Muslims and non-Muslims

Islam has been a part of hip-hop culture since it sprang from New York’s street culture in the 1970s. Today hip-hop has evolved into a global artform with a diversity of Muslim Islamic discourses expressed. Using tools from the field of social semiotics, this book examines how Islamic themes feature in US hip-hop culture, maintaining a particular awareness that both Muslims as well as non-Muslims participate in their production.

Anders Ackfeldt analyses a collection of lyrics, sounds and images to show how Islamic themes are featured …

Religious Reenactment As A Framework For The Camp Of Israel, Thomas Kendall Buchmiller

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

During the early days of the Restoration, many Saints saw themselves in the stories of the Old Testament. They felt a kinship with God’s ancient people and believed God would deliver them just as he did his ancient saints. As a result, they used those Old Testament stories as models for how to conduct themselves and how to react to their circumstances. We see this principle of narrative reenactment specifically in the events of the Camp of Israel. Though from the outside the Saints were seen as antagonistic and fanatical, they saw themselves as replicating the events of Joshua and …

Joseph Smith Jr. As A Translator: The Book Of Abraham As A Case Study, Stephen O. Smoot

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

This paper examines Joseph Smith’s approach to translation, using the Book of Abraham as a case study to explore the interplay between divine revelation and human participation in scriptural production. While the Book of Abraham incorporates both ancient and modern elements, its unique synthesis resists simple categorization as either an unblemished Abrahamic autograph or a purely nineteenth-century pseudepigraphon. Drawing on historical evidence and textual analysis, this paper aims to illuminate Joseph Smith’s role as both translator and revelator, offering insights into how Latter-day Saints might understand the complex process of producing sacred texts.

Full Issue

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Interview With Byu–Hawaii President John Kauwe Iii, Fred E. Woods

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

This interview with President Kauwe traces Kauwe’s path from his time as a student at BYU to his appointment as the eleventh president of BYU–Hawaii. Kauwe shares insights into his Hawaiian heritage, academic and professional accomplishments, and his aspirations for the university. He underscores the vital role of faculty inbuilding students’ confidence, the distinct intercultural setting of BYU–Hawaii, and the centrality of the gospel in education. Reflecting on the rapid progression of his career, Kauwe also speaks about the importance of following divine guidance in our lives. The interview captures his dedication to promoting intercultural harmony and his deep testimony …

Full Issue

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

“There Is Law” Joseph Smith’S Use Of Arbitration To Protect The Book Of Mormon, Jeffrey N. Walker, Andrew H. Hedges, Gerrit J. Dirkmaat

BYU Studies

This case marks the first time Joseph Smith invoked his legal rights to safeguard work connected with his prophetic calling from abuse or exploitation. The case arose from Abner Cole’s1 January 1830 efforts to publish Book of Mormon excerpts in his newspaper The Reflector, which he printed on the same Palmyra, New York, press that the Book of Mormon was being printed on. The case was evidently settled in Joseph Smith’s favor through arbitration, an out-of- court option for adjudication that New York law considered legally binding.2

This Branch Of The Church The Early Development Of Local Administration In The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Part 2, The Church In Flux, 1846–1851, Brandon Plewe

BYU Studies

A primary concern of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the spiritual and physical welfare of its members, and local congregations have always been the primary mechanism for that ministry. However, the structure and leadership of local administrative organizations has changed significantly over the history of the Church, most significantly under its first two presidents, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. During these years, the terms and structures that are familiar to us—wards, presidents, bishops, stakes, and so on—emerged, but so did many practices that did not survive the 1877 Priesthood Reorganization.

Religious Bias And Texas’S Bluebonnet Learning English Language Arts Lessons, Mark Chancey

Religious Studies Research

In November 2024, after months of heated public debate, Texas approved new English language arts reading lessons for public elementary schools (kindergarten through fifth grade) that devote notably more attention to the Bible than to other religious texts and to the Christian tradition than to other religions. This article describes the controversy over these lessons and provides examples of the various ways in which they privilege Christianity over other traditions.

Pr Activities Of Muslim Organizations In Slovakia: Political And Communication Analysis, Vadym Sluysar, Oleh Sokolovskyi, Serhii Kostiuchkov, Mykola Slyusar

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is dedicated to analyzing the PR activities of Muslim organizations in Slovakia, taking into account the political, social, and communicative context. The authors explore the impact of digital technologies on religious communication, examining the use of social media and traditional media to shape the public image of Islamic organizations. Significant attention is given to the issue of islamophobia and the informational strategies aimed at overcoming negative stereotypes about Muslims. The PR campaigns of the "Islamic Foundation in Slovakia" are analyzed, including their role in interfaith dialogue and combating hate speech. The study addresses political challenges, particularly the populist …

Disorienting "Western" Viewers With Nacer Khemir's Desert Trilogy, Kristian Peterson

Philosophy Faculty Publications

In this essay, I explore tensions that arise when creating alternative cinematic visions of Muslim life, specifically frictions emerging from the goal of shifting public perception of the community and patterns of self-orientalization. Here, I complicate assumptions about the representation of Islam by looking at a self-articulated presentation of Muslims through the narrative feature series the Desert Trilogy, by Tunisian director Nacer Khemir (born 1948). I argue that Khemir is ensnared by ahistorical Islamic nostalgia and largely reinforces romantic orientalist aesthetics in his films. While his portrait of Muslims is much more “positive” than those in the broader archive, it …

The Ever-Present Nature Of Christ In The Title Of Jehovah, Dan Belnap

Faculty Publications

In January 2000 the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bore testimony to the world of the reality, humanity, and divinity of Jesus Christ in a document titled “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.” Among its many truths was the following: “He [Christ] was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament.”1 Though this was not the first time Church leadership had declared Christ to be Jehovah, the pronouncement does reemphasize this teaching. It also emphasizes the centrality of Christ in the Old Testament. In fact, the …

The Social Policy Of Churches In Ukraine Today: Theoretical Foundations And Practical Implementation, Oleksandr Sagan, Mechyslav Yanauer

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the engagement of Ukrainian churches in addressing social challenges, emphasizing historical continuity and contemporary responses, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. The study highlights diverse social services provided by religious institutions, including chaplaincy, rehabilitation, advocacy, and humanitarian aid, noting significant contributions during pivotal moments such as the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, and the recent military conflict. Religious organizations notably support military personnel, displaced persons, and trauma victims, and actively participate in international advocacy through diplomatic channels. The article explores the current state of social doctrines, highlighting the ongoing development and adaptation process …

The Massai People And Wealth: A Stewardship Of Totality, Youssry Guirguis

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

The concept of wealth among the Massai people differs significantly from the traditional understanding in contemporary societies. To the Massai people wealth is not measured by money as commonly perceived by people today, but rather exhibits itself by land, social status, and livestock. This article examines a few terms used by the Massai people to define the idea of wealth in order to comprehend their unique cultural dimensions. Terms that are related to wealth will be investigated, such as “land” (enkop), “red God” (enkai Nanyokie), “black God” (enkai Narok), “cattle” (inkishu), “goats and sheep,” “wealth” (emali), and “dowry” (Inkishu/ Olpisiai). …

Art As Witness: Carrying Christian Iconographies In The Works Of Henry Ossawa Tanner During The Gilded Age To Contemporary Autobiographical Testimonial Art, Ziona King

Pomona Senior Theses

Culminated in a solo exhibition of three works titled the prodigal daughter and The Great High Priest, Baptism, and The Lord of Hosts, this research explores the implications of the Christian methodologies and iconographies in the works of Henry Ossawa Tanner to influence testimonial artwork containing personal Christian iconographies of water baptism, spiritual encounter in everyday life, the lion of Judah, bowls, and more interpretive motifs.

Disrupting The Timeline: Challenging Notions Of A Singular, Linear Early Muslim Historiography, Grayson D. Shaw

Pomona Senior Theses

Few historical events have received the same attention in the formative years of Islam as the so-called “‘Abbāsid Revolution” in 132 AH/750 CE. In both the medieval and modern contexts, this event has been recognized as a monumental formation from which the rest of Islamic history comes downstream from. Problematically, there are no cohesive historical sources from the losers of this conflict; the Umayyads. Utilizing numismatic and architectural evidence, I argue that the alleged rupture between the Umayyads and their ‘Abbāsid successors is overblown by historiography two centuries after the fact. Then, I further analyze what this continuity means for …

Religion In The Republic Of Georgia, Emma L. Lilyea, Alexander Lorenz

University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal

This article examines the role of religion in the Republic of Georgia, emphasizing the historical and contemporary influence of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) on the nation’s identity, politics, and society. Drawing on multiple sources, including the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Georgia, the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, and works by Giuli Alasania, Ramaz Shengelia, Lika Kobeshavidze, and Stephen R. Hussar, this study analyzes the religious demographics of Georgia and the relationship between church and state. The findings reveal that Orthodox Christianity remains dominant, with 83% of the population identifying with the …

Records Of The American Society Of Missiology Arc2017-003 - Finding Aid, Ats Special Collections And Archives

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Papers Of James E. Hamilton Arc2025-003 - Finding Aid, Ats Special Collections And Archives

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

"Caesaropapism" In The Religious And Political Struggle For The Restoration Of The Orthodox Church In The 20th And Early 21st Centuries: Parallels Between The Roc And The Ukrainian Church, Bohdan Synchak, Iryna Vakulova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article characterizes the phenomenon of caesaropapism as a model of state governance in which the church and its structures are entirely dependent on secular authority. Within the context of the stated issue, the primary periods and contexts of the religious and political struggle for the restoration of the Orthodox Church in the 20th and early 21st centuries are identified. Parallels are drawn between the struggle for the legitimization of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC)'s fight for self-governance and independence from the Moscow Patriarchate. In the church-historical context, the article describes several declassified KGB …

The Mythic Seeds Of Human Rights, Joshua Mackenzie Luna

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

In this thesis, I propose a causal relationship between ancient societies’ mythic corpuses and their law codes. I begin by presenting the histories and historiographies of ancient Israel and Mesopotamia to highlight important themes in their development. Then, I place their creation and flood myths side-by-side for comparison, yielding key differences in the way each group conceptualizes human form, value, and purpose. Once these key differences have been established, I compare each group’s set of slave laws to demonstrate how each law code remains philosophically consistent with its respective set of myths and diametrically opposed to the set from the …

A Wesley Bibliography. -- Fourteenth Edition, Kenneth J. Collins

Academic Books

No abstract provided.

To Encounter The Other? How Journalists Make Catholic Faith-Based Organizations In Mexico And Russia (In)Visible, Xochiquetzal Luna Morales

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Catholic Faith-Based Organizations (CFBOs) in Mexico and Russia are unique entities of study and comparison to understand the power dynamics between majority/minority institutional religions and their media representation. Although both countries recognize their religious diversity, Catholicism is still the major religion in Mexico, not only because of its large number of adherents but also its significant cultural and political capital. In contrast, in Russia, Catholicism is considered a minority religion and is often viewed as foreign to Russian values and traditions. These conditions influence how CFBOs have been featured in the news media in both countries. However, no single factors …

Unveiling Trauma And Seeking Justice: Exploring Mass Atrocities Against Tamils Through The Lens Of Religion, Culture, And Global Justice, Arrabe Vigneswaran

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This paper examines the mass atrocities committed against the Tamil population in Sri Lanka, analyzing them through the interconnected lenses of religion, culture, and global justice. It explores how Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism, codified through legal and constitutional mechanisms such as the Sinhala Only Act and state-sponsored cultural erasure, facilitated the systemic marginalization, displacement, and dehumanization of Tamils. The study investigates the legal, political, and cultural underpinnings of these acts ranging from war crimes and ethnic cleansing to potential genocide while assessing the reluctance of both domestic and international actors to enforce meaningful accountability. Drawing on hybrid court models, transitional justice theories, …

A Personal Exploration Of The Cultural Impact Of Shinto And The Meiji Shrine On Japan, Ashley Uitermarkt

Honors Program Theses

This project is a personal exploration regarding the cultural impact of Shinto in Japan, specifically exploring the Meiji Shrine. Shinto is a commonly practiced “religion” or tradition that is a part of the identity of the Japanese people. Like many Americans, I have had exposure to pieces of Japan through popular media like anime and manga. I have also visited Japan on three occasions. These avenues have given me some understanding of Japan but often lead to misconceptions and gaps in understanding of the culture as a whole. Shinto is intertwined with Japanese tradition in a way that many Westerners, …

Sunrise In The Heartland: The Ahmadiyya Movement And The Foundations Of African American Islam, Hazel Videon

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

During the early 1920s, an immigrant missionary from colonial India named Muhammad Sadiq established headquarters in Chicago for a branch of Islam called the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam (AMI). The AMI became the first institutional expression of Islam in the United States to draw a significant number of American converts and was particularly popular among African Americans. Following the Second Great Migration, Black migrants to the urban Midwest sought new ways to express their identity, fulfill both spiritual and material needs, and resist racist violence. The AMI became attractive to them as an alternative to respectability politics and drew upon …

"See How He Loved Him": Lazarus Of Bethany As The Beloved Disciple In The Gospel Of John, Jared M. Pannell

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Traditionally, the “disciple whom Jesus loved” from the fourth of the Christian gospels has been identified as John the Apostle, one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, since at least the late second century. In recent scholarship, however, this position has come increasingly under question. Questions of John the Apostle’s literacy and capacity to write the gospel and doubts about the veracity of the eyewitness claims in the gospel have shifted the landscape of scholarly inquiry. As such, a wide variety of alternative candidates have been proposed. This thesis puts forward Lazarus of Bethany as a serious candidate for …

I Have Learned For Myself Teaching The First Vision To The Rising Generation, Jess Jones

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

Latter-day Saint youth learning about Joseph Smith’s First Vision can draw inspiration and courage from his example to “ask of God,” as James directs, and seek heavenly wisdom. But Joseph’s faith did not end with that singular experience in the grove—world-changing though it was. Instead, here lied on scripture, personal sacred memories, and family relationships to build the spiritual resilience that sustained him throughout his life. Those who leave the Church may draw on narrative arcs from their abandoned religious past, finding parallels in Joseph’s feelings of confusion, discontent, discord, and uncertainty about the truth. Therefore, teachers must emphasize that …

Full Issue

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.