Religion Commons^™

Country Snapshot North Macedonia, Mariglen Demri

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A brief summary of the history and current status of religion in North Macedonia.

Country Snapshot Serbia, Belgrade Open School

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A brief summary of the history and current status of religion in Serbia.

Elite Survey Reports - Introduction

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Survey Report Bosnia And Herzegovina, Lejla Hodžić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

In assessing the role of religion in Bosnia and Herzegovina and analysing the multiconfessional context of the country, the report relies on the findings from an opinion survey and a range of secondary sources. The survey, administered during April 2019, aimed at gathering the opinions of influential figures in political, cultural and economic sphere in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the role of religion. It is based on a questionnaire which was distributed to over 50 influential figures, of which 30 provided quantitative and qualitative answers to questions addressing religion’s impact on society.

Survey Report Serbia, Nenad Zekavica

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

During March and April 2019, a survey was conducted as part of a regional project which deals with the role of religion in the Western Balkan countries. The survey was conducted as the research part of the project and it was conducted among members of cultural and political elite members of society. Its purpose is to give a sketch of the religious topography of different societies in the Western Balkans.

The Interfaith Council For Social Cohesion In The Western Balkans, Ylli H. Doci

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

With the demise of the communist governments in the Balkan region in the early 1990s, we have entered a phase in which serious religiously related issues challenging the social cohesion of our societies need serious analysis and action at different levels. Interfaith councils as a way of engaging the different religious communities in one society are not new and not the same. Nor are they unquestionably accepted or easily dismissed as ineffective in addressing challenges of peacebuilding and social cohesion in a religiously pluralistic society. There are political, cultural, ethnic and national considerations beside religious and educational ones which figure …

In Pursuit Of ‘Twin Toleration’: Democracy And Church–State Relations In Serbia And Montenegro, Marko Veković

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper explores the relationship between church and state in Serbia and Montenegro by examining the development of ‘twin toleration’. In particular, it aims to explain why there is still no ‘twin toleration’ in these states, and why it is important to impose such institutional arrangement in church–state relations. The ‘Twin toleration’ concept suggests that institutional arrangements between the state and religious communities in a democratic society should be based on mutual autonomy, in which the state should not interfere in the matters of religious communities, and vice versa. However, since the fall of communism and resurgence of religion, both …

The Struggle Of Kosovo Policymakers To Upgrade The Law On Religious Affairs, Jeton Mehmeti

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Apart from guarantees over freedom of religion, in the last two decades, authorities in Kosovo have made little progress in advancing its legal framework to accommodate the emerging needs of religious communities. The only law that regulates religious affairs in Kosovo is the 2006 Law on Freedom of Religion. The law is framed in very broad terms, and has received a lot of criticism for failing to properly regulate the status of religious communities. Representatives of these communities have consistently asked for changes to legislation that would grant them the status of legal entities. Without legal entity status, religious communities …

Religions As Loci Of Conflict Prevention: Local Capacities Of Bosnia And Herzegovina’S Religious Communities, Julianne Funk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Conflict and coexistence remain in a tense balance in the Western Balkans. Latent conflict, in which one’s ethno-religious community denotes which side you are on, persist after the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. These frozen and potential lines of conflict were laid decades and centuries ago, when religious affiliation diversified. At the same time, these religious, ethnic and national communities have a history of suživot: everyday relations with one another, or coexistence. The close geographic proximity of communities makes functional relational systems, which determine when, where and how people tend to interact, a practical necessity.212 As a result of this necessity …

Frontmatter (Volume 39, Issue 7), Beth Admiraal

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

The Making Of Secular Islam In Yugoslavia And Reis Ul-Ulema Džemaludin Čaušević, Muhammed Al-Ahari

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

"The 1920s and 1930s was labeled the Golden Age of Bosnian Islam. Arabic, Persian, and Turkish were widely used by Bosnian Muslim scholars and there were several attempts to modernize and Europeanize Bosnian Islam. Among them were attempts to develop a separate Bosnian Muslim identity linked to the history of Muslims in the Balkans and changes in the education system for Muslims in the area that would become Yugoslavia."

Some Characteristics Of Interethnic Contacts Of Women In A Post-War Divided City – Kosovo Case, Ivana Milovanović

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper is a result of perennial theoretical and methodological studies and empirical research of the impact of social changes on the daily life of women in a post-conflict social environment. Keeping in mind that this paper is part of a more extensive field research, it focuses on some characteristics of interethnic contacts, which at the same time, are interreligious contacts between Orthodox and Muslim women (Serbian, Albanian and Bosnian). Characteristics of interethnic contacts of women in a daily life contextual framework are described and explained within the Kosovar post-war divided city Mitrovica/Kosovska Mitrovica, with special emphasis on the grassroots …

Frontmatter (Volume 38, Issue 5), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Husein Djozo And His Fatwa On Collection And Distribution Of Zakat Funds, Hazim Fazlić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

With the end of the Second World War, Yugoslavia became a de facto communist country. One of the policies of the new communist regime was to relegate religion entirely to the private sphere and to reduce the influence of religious communities in the public sphere. As a number of its legacies were expropriated, the Islamic Community of Yugoslavia was in need of new sources of funding. In order to reform a centuries-long practice of collection and distribution of religious contributions, zakat, and sadaqat al-fitr, a theoretical framework was needed to allow for that reform. This paper examines the …

Present Condition And Role Of The Catholic Church In Poland, Alfred Marek Wierzbicki

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

My remarks about the present condition and role of the Catholic Church in Poland are not based on formal sociological research, for I am not a sociologist. I would like just to share some observations and concerns about the situation in which I live as Christian and priest. My report is mostly based on the personal experience, but in spite of the subjective perspective I seek to objectivize my views as much as possible by taking into account a broader context.

Religion And Globalization: Crossroads And Opportunities, Alexander Chumakov, Mikhail Sergeev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A conversation between the First Vice-President of the Russian Philosophical Society, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of Moscow State University, Alexander Chumakov and the editor of the special series "Contemporary Russian Philosophy" at Brill, the Nertherlands, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Mikhail Sergeev.

Steve & Anita, Steve, Anita, Tsos

TSOS Interview Gallery

Steve and Anita Canfield helped the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Turkey. They helped send blankets, coats, and washing machines to Syrian refugees. They were assigned to Frankfurt to assess refugee camps, soup kitchens, warehouses, and immigrant communities. The couple visited refugee camps and soup kitchens all over Europe to determine what was needed most by refugees.

The Canfields established the Friendship Center in Rome. The center offers classes in Italian, English, Italian, and a Red Cross course. It also has a gospel choir, a popular activity for primarily African refugees. The LDS Church has plans to …

Renegado: Immigrant Identities And Aspirations Of White Muslim Converts In Morocco, Paul Williamson Kiefer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

If one turns over enough stones in Morocco, they will come across hundreds of Western converts to Islam, most of whom are white. Some are obvious: one might spot a blue-eyed Belgian wearing a jellaba on a train to Fes or a Danish woman in a hijab running a bakery in central Casablanca. Others might be mistaken for tourists, like an American woman with her hair pulled back into a ponytail seated in the corner of a high-end café in Rabat. These converts are immigrants, and most chose to live in Morocco as a form of hijra, or migration for …

Church And State: The Impact Of Christianity On South African Politics During And Post-Apartheid, Calista Struby

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Within the South African context, there exists an intimate relationship between religion and politics. South Africa by definition is a secular society however data indicates that the South African population that is overwhelmingly religious. According to a General Household Survey published in 2015, 86% of the South African population identifies with some form of the Christian faith (“General Household Survey,” 2015). Historically religious civil society has played a prominent role in shaping the political climate and the political involvement of South African citizens. During Apartheid, Christianity played an influential role in the ideological formation and justification of the Apartheid political …

Restoring Eden: The Role Of Christianity On Environmental Conservation: A Case Of Karatu District, Arusha, Tanzania, Taylor Allen

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In order for environmental conservation to be effective it must have a method of translating to people’s everyday values. Developing countries which include mostly bio-diversity hotspot areas are important to maintain sustainable development. Due to most of these countries following an organized religion, predominantly Christian, an alternative method of conservation may be successful to motivate citizens to participate in efforts. In order for this to be successful, members of the congregation must agree that there is a religious obligation to care for the environment. For Christianity this obligation is discussed by the creation story in the bible. This paper will …

Sufis In A 'Foreign' Zawiya: Moroccan Perceptions Of The Tijani Pilgrimage To Fes, Joel Green

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this ISP is to investigate Moroccan perceptions of sub-Saharan members of the Tijaniyya during the completion of their religious pilgrimage to Fes. The relationship between Moroccans andTijani pilgrims is particularly complex as it occurs at an intersection of various identities, most prominently including race, religion, class and nationality. This project focuses on Moroccans who work in the area surrounding the shrine of Ahmed al-Tijani and either market their business towards Tijani pilgrims or frequently serve Tijani pilgrims as customers. In the course of interviews with five Moroccans, three major themes emerged: 1. Condemnation of Tijani religious practice. …

Dialogue With Religious Life In Asia, Lily Kong, Junxi Qian

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Over the past decade or so, debates on the advent of a postsecular present have moved center-stage in social and cultural theory. These exchanges have made commendable achievements in analyzing the increasing relevance of religion to public politics and policies. Theorization of the postsecular makes for a hefty intellectual agenda, and a comprehensive review of this agenda is clearly beyond the scope of a single contribution, addressed, more appropriately, in a collective way by this Handbook. Nevertheless, we would like to contribute a few ideas to help delineate the broader permutations of the postsecular turn in social sciences, which serve …

The Theology Of Reconciliation As A Contemporary Political Theology: The Present State Of The Balkan Region And Its Possible Outcomes, Sergej Beuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article aims not only to give an insight into the theological premises of the problem of reconciliation, but it also suggests the practical implementation of this theology within the body of the public policies of the countries of the West Balkans. I have tried to clarify elementary terms inherent in both post-conflict and contemporary theology, especially prominent within the theology of reconciliation which revolves around searching for possible solutions for a lasting and a viable peace. The theology of reconciliation should not remain within the scope of academic speculation, but it should be implemented by religious organizations as a …

Azerbaijan - Sufis And Protestants Raided, Http://Www.Forum18.Org/Archive.Php?Article_Id=2350 Forum 18

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

In December 2017, Sufi Muslim Rashad Abidov, whose home in the northern town of Sheki was raided by police during a religious meeting, managed to overturn the large fine he was handed down for holding a meeting without state permission. Police had brought the case against him rather than the officials of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations.

Frontmatter (Volume 38, Issue 4), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Gorana Ognjenović And Jasna Jozelić'S Education In Post-Conflict Transition: The Politicization Of Religion In School Textbooks, Aleksandra Djurić Milovanović

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

An edited volume entitled, Education in Post-conflict Transition: The Politicization of Religion in School Textbooks, was published by Palgrave Macmillan series in Religion, Politics and Policy and edited by two scholars, Gorana Ognjenović (University of Oslo) and Jasna Jozelić (Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo). This volume focuses on the politicization of religion and the development of religious education in public schools, and the degree of religious liberty and human rights in several, mainly former Yugoslav countries. Apart from an introduction, the volume has thirteen chapters and a conclusion. Chapter authors include scholars from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, …

Is Collective Memory Making The Next Balkan War Imminent?, Nikola Knežević

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Sometimes cultures, religions, and ethnicities that shared the same space for centuries become fierce rivals, forcing their irreconcilable differences to develop to such an extent that they see war as the only option. The Balkans has had its share of conflicts, destruction, and atrocities leaving scars too deep to heal. The question is: have they seen the end of it, or will the frozen conflict lurking beneath the fragile peace unleash its deadly force again?

Tajikistan: Almost Two Thousand Mosques Closed In 2017, Http://Www.Forum18.Org/Archive.Php?Article_Id=2356 Forum 18

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Tajikistan has claimed to have closed almost 2,000 mosques in 2017. Officials claimed they were closed at the request of local residents, but have not been able to explain why they only allow mosques with a capacity far below the possible numbers of worshippers.

Jailangkung: Indonesian Spirit-Basket Divination, Margaret Chan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Chinese spirit-basket divination, which dates to the fifth century, would have been lost to the world had it not been reincarnated as Indonesian jailangkung. The term is the homophonic rendition of the Chinese cai lan gong [菜篮公, vegetable basket deity] and unambiguously links the Indonesian practice with the Chinese. Contemporary Chinese divinatory methods have replaced the clumsy basket planchette with the handier tri-forked branch or a pen held in the medium’s hand, but a spirit-basket still features in jailangkung and remains the key element in involutions of the prototype. For example, Nini Thowong’s spirit-possessed doll, is essentially an anthropomorphic effigy …

Lessons For Life, Andrew Becker

Best Integrated Writing

Andrew’s paper is well structured, and it clearly shows his interaction with the material he chose to read and displays his beginning personal journey in understanding Zen Buddhism. The rewrites and editing of the paper he composed brought him closer to what he was trying to say. The final version of his writing and editing process exhibits the discipline a first-year student can master. Those who research the brain tell us that when a student makes the type of personal connection that Andrew has with the academic material the student remembers the material studied long after the class has ended.