Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 9 of 9

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Rethinking Assimilation Through The Lens Of Transnational Migration, Bo Yong Lee Nov 2011

Rethinking Assimilation Through The Lens Of Transnational Migration, Bo Yong Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given the changing global environment and different experiences of the new immigrants, it is necessary to delve into the question of how the notions and patterns of immigration and assimilation change through the lens of transnational migration that focuses on the connection of immigrants to the context of both sending and receiving countries. Recognizing the transnational religious activities and creative adaptations of the new immigrants to new environments can enrich the study of assimilation, which reflects the changing picture of multilayered American society and its constituents. To examine the assimilation process of Korean immigrants through their transnational religious activities, my …


Re-Visioning The Semantic And Semiotic Registers In The Study Of Culture And Religion, Gary S. Bedford Aug 2011

Re-Visioning The Semantic And Semiotic Registers In The Study Of Culture And Religion, Gary S. Bedford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term `God' may be understood as the desire for the complete epistemological condition of thought; language expresses this condition in statements of `meaning.' `Religion' expresses this desire in texts and ritual practice which may be examined by in academic study; however, because the `third term' of religio is understood as the condition of being `bounded to or by,' the study of religion is itself bounded to or by this desire for the completion of thought. This desire cannot be understood as an `alterity' of thought but is rather the internal native or `alter-native' condition of thought itself. …


American Denominations And Christian Service: The Relationship Between Theology And Service, Jonathan Barkley Murphy Jan 2011

American Denominations And Christian Service: The Relationship Between Theology And Service, Jonathan Barkley Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although a primary tenet of Christianity is service to others, the level to which denominations extend such assistance greatly varies. Recent research attributes this variance to differences in church theology. Evangelical theology stresses anti-structuralism and de-emphasizes the ethical teachings of Christianity while the opposite is true of non-evangelical theology. These differences are thought to limit assistance to others in evangelical churches and to promote such assistance in non-evangelical churches. Using data from the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, I test these ideas by examining the relationship between type of denomination (evangelical vs. non-evangelical) and whether or not churches have programs such …


The Pursuit Of Divinity: Religious Faith And Fear In Late Victorian Women's Poetry, Sharon Lee George Jan 2011

The Pursuit Of Divinity: Religious Faith And Fear In Late Victorian Women's Poetry, Sharon Lee George

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The relationship that the Victorians had with their God(s) was not an easy one. Despite the age's oft mocked attachment to religiosity, many individuals underwent profound re-evaluations of their faith, spurred by the combined forces of legislation that challenged the monolithic Anglican Church and the burgeoning fields of High Criticism, scientific inquiry, and technology. For some, religious introspection led to profound spirituality and a deeper understanding of their Christian faith. Others were drawn to alternative systems of faith characterized by a fluidness of belief. Most found the process of navigating their faith to be terrifying because religion was a high-stakes …


Divergent Responses To The Human Predicament: A Case Study In New Comparativism, Mark Toole Jan 2011

Divergent Responses To The Human Predicament: A Case Study In New Comparativism, Mark Toole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The enterprise of comparison has been regarded by some as one of the most vital characteristics of a healthy academic study of religion. However, the failed legacy of Eliadian Comparativism has caused others to suggest that the art of comparison has not yet lived up to its promise. This study brings together the best tools of what the author calls "Smithian New Comparativism." In order to demonstrate concretely a rigorous and responsible critical comparative analysis, and to chart a course for future academically beneficial cross-cultural comparisons, this project presents a case study that compares two religious traditions' doctrinal responses to …


Is Religion "Just" Supernatural Agency, Social Support, Or Meaning?, A. Taylor Newton Jan 2011

Is Religion "Just" Supernatural Agency, Social Support, Or Meaning?, A. Taylor Newton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is longstanding tension in the study of religion between those who believe religion can be reduced to general psychosocial processes and those who think that religion is somehow unique. One way to test these two possibilities is to compare religious versions of mechanisms to nonreligious versions. If religion is somehow unique, then the religious versions should explain variance in outcomes that the nonreligious versions do not. Three studies confirmed religion's independent predictive power. Exposure to a religious supernatural agent reduced cheating more than exposure to a nonreligious supernatural agent (Study 1), receiving religious social support during a stressful task …


Framing Racial Inequality Reassessing The Effect Of Religion On Racial Attitudes, Jerrold C. Kaufman Ii Jan 2011

Framing Racial Inequality Reassessing The Effect Of Religion On Racial Attitudes, Jerrold C. Kaufman Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Building on previous work on racial attitudes among the religious, this study reassesses the effects of religion on individuals’ beliefs about racial inequality. This study relies on recent developments in the sociology of culture, which conceives of culture as a frame through which individuals interpret the world in which they inhabit (Benford and Snow 2000; Harding 2007; Small 2002, 2004). Religion is held to be an important social institution that provides substance to the frames that individuals employ for interpreting racial inequality. Two particular developments from this literature inform this study: first, that individuals can employ different, even contradictory, frames …


Encountering Questions Of Religion In Psychotherapy: A Hermeneutical-Phenomenological Study Of Religious Patients' Experiences, Jonathan Ahern Jan 2011

Encountering Questions Of Religion In Psychotherapy: A Hermeneutical-Phenomenological Study Of Religious Patients' Experiences, Jonathan Ahern

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a hermeneutical-phenomenological investigation of having one's religious or spiritual views called into question in psychotherapy. A review of the literature revealed very few studies exploring the experiences of religious or spiritually devoted psychotherapy patients and a complete lack of studies describing the lived phenomenon of having one's religious or spiritual views called into question in psychotherapy. Three self-described "religious" or "spiritually devoted" former psychotherapy patients provided in-depth descriptions of having their religious views or practices called into question in psychotherapy. Participants' descriptions--gathered first in writing and then by way of a hermeneutic interview--comprised the empirical qualitative data …


Religion And Sex A Look At Sexual Frequency As It Relates To Religious Affiliation, Religious Attendance, And Subjective Religiosity, Doris Elaine Stanley Jan 2011

Religion And Sex A Look At Sexual Frequency As It Relates To Religious Affiliation, Religious Attendance, And Subjective Religiosity, Doris Elaine Stanley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research addresses the relationship between sexual activity and religion. In particular, the analysis focuses on the impact of religious affiliation, religious public participation and subjective religiosity on the frequency of sexual activity. Religious categories are operationalized as conservative Protestants, moderate Protestants, liberal Protestants, black Protestants, Catholics, Jews, non-affiliates, no religious preference, and other Protestants. The results of the analysis indicate that conservative Protestants and black Protestants are more sexually active than other religious categories. Attendance at religious services has a negative effect on the frequency of sex activity. Subjective religiosity is not related to sexual frequency. Conclusions and directions …