Religion Commons^™

Exploring The Growth And Impact Of Contemporary Mindfulness Programs In Japanese Society, Shreya Wagh

Japanese Society and Culture

In today's fast-paced world, mindfulness practice offers a peaceful way to enhance awareness and find clarity in the mind. This practice, rooted in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, aims to achieve spiritual enlightenment. In the late 20th century, mindfulness was adapted into secular, evidence-based therapeutic interventions in the West, leading to its widespread inclusion in healthcare, education, and corporate settings globally. The Westernized version of mindfulness has also been reintroduced to its countries of origin. Japan is no exception. The purpose of this article is to comprehend the rise and growth of mindfulness programs in Japan by analyzing existing literature, particularly …

Spirituality And Ptsd Outcomes Among Service Members And Military Veterans, Jennifer Urbina Dmsc, Pa-C

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and debilitating condition among military service members and veterans, often co-occurring with moral injury (MI) and spiritual distress (SD). While conventional PTSD treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure-based therapies, and pharmacological interventions, growing evidence suggests that spirituality may play a vital role in improving PTSD outcomes. This paper explores the integration of spirituality in PTSD treatment, examining its potential to mitigate symptoms, enhance resilience, and facilitate post-traumatic growth. Military chaplaincy, spiritually integrated therapies, and Department of Defense (DoD) holistic health models provide frameworks for addressing the spiritual dimensions of PTSD. Studies indicate …

Resonances Of Universalism In Tolkien's Legendarium, Nick Polk

Journal of Tolkien Research

Presented at the inaugural Holy Moot, a survey of a collection of passages from Tolkien's writings that demonstrate having the resonances of patristic universalism is conducted. It is then argued that all Tolkien’s writings be investigated separately in their context, comparing the location of each item under investigation with one another, and explore their connections without syncretizing them into a monolithic construct. To do this, it is argued that a hermeneutical theory rooted in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead is necessary. Concluding is a connecting of Whitehead's understanding of the expression of language with Tolkien’s own understanding of expression …

Marginalized, Secularized, And Popularized? The Prevalence And Patterns Of Paranormal Belief In The United Kingdom, Tom Clark, Joseph O. Baker, Christoper D. Bader

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

There is growing recognition of the prevalence of paranormal beliefs in Western countries. However, most of this interest has been focused on the United States and robust, comparative data remain limited. This study extends this literature to report findings from a national survey of the United Kingdom designed to assess the prevalence and patterns of paranormal beliefs. Although there are many similarities to previous research, the results also suggest that there are significant differences in the scope, clustering, and patterns of paranormalism across contexts. The study makes four contributions to research on the paranormal by a) reiterating the continuing popularity …

The Role Of Religious Associations Of Ukraine In The Development Of Civil Society, Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

In Ukraine, over the years of independence, a diverse religious environment has formed based on the legislatively guaranteed right to freedom of conscience and religion and the principle of religious pluralism. This environment consists not only of individual religious organizations but also of interfaith institutions, which play a significant role in Ukraine's development and contribute to resolving important societal issues. Their existence is compelling evidence of the church's strengthened position, the growing social role of religion, and the increased activity of religious organizations within Ukrainian society. Interfaith councils, which engage in a broad range of interests and activities, have facilitated …

The Zooarchaeological Assemblage From The French School On Yefet Street, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 513–527), Nimrod Marom

'Atiqot

A small assemblage of 158 identified animal bones was retrieved from Crusader- and late Ottoman-period contexts at the French School. The bone samples from both periods consisted mainly of cattle and caprines, as well as some pig, donkey, horse and chicken bones. The relative frequency of pig bones in the Ottoman period might point to a religious tolerance toward the consumption of equid and wild boar. This may attest to a poverty-stricken Muslim population, or to the presence of immigrants from the Maghrebi Islam.

Human Skeletal Remains From The Magen Avraham Compound, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 375–378), Yossi Nagar

'Atiqot

Human skeletal remains of at least ten adult individuals were found in the Magen Avraham Compound. Some of the bones were found scattered, while others were anatomically articulated, indicating primary burials, possibly in simple pit graves. The graves’ layout could not be traced, and no burial goods were retrieved; therefore, the dating of the finds is problematic.

A Byzantine-Period Funerary Chapel In The Newe Yam Dalet Neighborhood In Ashqelon (Pp. 147–158), Yulia Ustinova, Gregory Seriy

'Atiqot

Excavations in Ashqelon’s Newe Yam Dalet neighborhood revealed a remarkable funerary chapel.The funerary complex comprises a courtyard, a tomb and a roofed chamber. The chamber floor was paved with mosaics, containing three Greek inscription; a fourth inscription was found on a marble slab in secondary use.The epigraphic evidence endorses the interpretation of the site as a cultic complex, perhaps aprivate memorial site of an individual venerated by the community.

Archaeozoological Finds From The Abbasid Period, From Danny Mass Street, Ramla (Hebrew, Pp. 129*–131*; English, P. 121), Moshe Sade

'Atiqot

The excavation on Danny Mass Street, Ramla yielded faunal remains dating to the Early Islamic period, comprising domesticated, as well as wild animal bones. Pig bones found in the assemblage probably attest to the existence of a Christian population in the city.

New Archaeological Finds From Kursi-Gergesa (With A Contribution By Gabriela Bijovsky) (Pp. 175–197), Vassilios Tzaferis

'Atiqot

Two areas were opened (Areas C, D), exposing a stepped tunnel, a bathhouse and a cemetery. The stepped tunnel, which was unearthed in the 1970–1971 season of excavations, was found to end in a narrow leveled space, above which was a vaulted entrance leading to a spacious underground room. A compact Roman–Byzantine bathhouse was exposed, comprising five distinct units: a water-supply unit, a heating installation (praefurnium), heated-water pools, a hot room (caldarium) and a cool room (frigidarium). It is evident that the bathhouse was connected to the hostel building excavated in 1970–1971. The pottery from the bathhouse was similar to …

Temple Furniture From A Favissa At ‘En Hazeva (Pp. 107–175), Sara Ben-Arieh

'Atiqot

The finds from the favissa at ‘En Hazeva represent a cultic assemblage that had been used in a temple that existed at the site at the end of the Iron Age and was intentionally buried. The objects retrieved from the favissa included anthropomorphic statues, cylindrical stands, bowls, goblets, tripod cups, pomegranate-shaped pendants, stone altars and a stone human statue. The cultic vessels are well-grounded in the religious iconography of the Ancient Near East in general and the Levant in particular. These finds resemble those from Ḥorbat Qitmit, where they were defined as Edomite. However, no indication of the deity worshipped …

“God’S Image Carved In Ebony” : African-American Women In The Holiness Movement, Robert A. Danielson

Academic Books

No abstract provided.

The Rise And Fall Of Religion: An Agent-Based Model Of Secularisation, Security And Prosociality, Ivan Puga-Gonzalez, F. Leron Shults, Ross Gore, Konrad Talmont-Kaminski

Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems (CSICS) Publications

The relationship between religion, society, and individual behaviour has been a subject of extensive inquiry, drawing upon a rich collection of historical and contemporary perspectives. The scientific study of religion at the social level has often found its roots in the foundational work of Durkheim (Durkheim, 1912), who posited that religion serves as a catalyst for social order and the promotion of prosocial behaviour. At the same time, Malinowski’s observations regarding the connection between ritual and anxiety have led to a number of lines of inquiry that have come to extend to other aspects of religion. Yet, taken together, these …

Revelations: Spirituality As Privileged Perspectivism In Magical Realist Distortions, Isabella Scala-Kazanecki

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the role of spiritual beliefs in the literary mode now known as magical realism in Cuban Alejo Carpentier’s The Kingdom of This World (1949), Indian-Born British and American Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses (1988), and a lesser-known novel, Household Saints (1981) by Francine Prose, an American writer. The Kingdom of This World, itself the originator of the mode of magical realism, has allowed me to conclude with Carpentier that magical realism arises from “privileged revelations,” as he notes in the preface to his seminal book. But these revelations in magical realism are not necessarily always of the …

Ideas Of The "Russian World" And Ukraine: Value Epicrises On The Ukrainian Orthodox Church Under The Moscow Patriarchate, Oleksandr Brodetskyi, Iryna Horokholinska

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Against the background of the identity, jurisdictional, and institutional crossroads in which contemporary Ukrainian Orthodoxy finds itself, the authors analyze the mental, value-related, and personal (linked to the “human factor”) influences in Ukraine of the destructive and militant ideology of the “Russian World” (Russkiy Mir), as well as the degree of involvement of leading functionaries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the dissemination of these influences.

The article reveals the mechanisms of the corrosion of spirituality among the ecclesiastical elites of Russia and their satellites in Ukraine. This corrosion is manifested in the substitution of the Church’s …

Repurposing The Land Of An East Los Angeles Church: The Discovery Of How Small And Medium Sized Churches Through Affordable Housing Can Combat Homelessness While Revitalizing Its Nonprofit Status, Donald Cook, Donald Ray Cook Ii

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

In order to live, humans need to sleep; therefore, sleep is mandatory, but unfortunately, everyone does not have the option of sleeping inside. Subsequently, many homeless encampments have developed in many countries. The perspective that people have often determines their response to homelessness. One person might view a homeless encampment as a problem that needs to be removed while someone else can view it as an opportunity to serve the least of these. Not only did Adam and Eve experience homelessness when removed from the Garden of Eden, but Mary, Joseph, and Jesus experienced first-hand the rollercoaster of inadequate housing. …

Submit Yourself: Religious Beliefs, Gender Roles, Self-Control, And Alcohol Use’S Influence On Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence, Carina J. Pawlak

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Religious beliefs bear a great significance in many individuals’ lives, as they shape our personal belief systems and affect our relationships with others. Limited research has explored the relationship between religion and intimate partner violence (IPV), an increasingly prevalent issue that persists in our society. The traditional values, such as male gender roles associated with patriarchal societies and traditional religious beliefs, may magnify the prevalence of IPV perpetration. Other variables that may be associated with positive attitudes toward IPV include self-control, alcohol intake, and belief in divine control. This analysis used preliminary data from the Crime, Health, and Intimate Partner …

Antillia, Kelsie Ogden

English Undergraduate Honors Theses

History, Mythology, and Fantasy are all considered to hold different ideas surrounding truth. More often than not, it is harder to draw this line than one might think. Through this thesis, an argument is made surrounding the legendary island Antillia and where this mythical island falls into more categories than one. Through the carefully crafted journal writings of the Viking, Ragnar, and the wondrous diary entries of Medieval widow, Ivette, the search for this island comes to a head. What waits upon this island, however, is a cure to the very essence of these two characters and others like them– …

The Role Of Creation On Mediating Grace For The Purpose Of Spiritual Formation, Pam H. Zolczer

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

During a very difficult time in my life I found emotional and spiritual healing during time spent immersed in creation. My guide on this journey, other than the human companions who were concerned for me during my loss, has been a horse. While I thought I was learning to care for and ride a horse, I learned something much more significant: I learned how to give my pain away and I rushed breathlessly into a new phase of my love for God. I also rushed into a new vocation. And all of this is because I ride Cooper.[1] This …

The Qualitative Study Of The African American Pastors' Perceptions Of Marriage And Family Therapists, De Angela Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigates African American pastors' perceptions regarding mental health practitioners' roles. The research aims to comprehend the perspectives and experiences of ten participants, allowing them to select the location for data collection. This study investigates the relationship between interpretive phenomenon analysis and the perceptions of African American pastors using the hermeneutic phenomenology framework established by influential thinkers such as Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre (Smith et al., 2022). As a philosophical discipline, phenomenology emphasizes the importance of an individual's lived experiences and worldview. Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre have contributed to this discipline by emphasizing the inseparable relationship …

Addiction, Spiritualité Et Religion, Bechir Aouad, Père Edgard El Haiby

Horizons et Conjonctures

L’étude examine comment le vide spirituel mène aux addictions aux substances et aux comportements compulsifs comme substitut à la transcendance authentique. Elle analyse les dépendances comportementales telles que le jeu ou la sexualité compulsive et met en évidence l’influence de la dimension religieuse. Elle conclut sur l’importance d’intégrer la spiritualité dans le traitement pour offrir la force et la résilience nécessaires au rétablissement durable.

Mots-clés

Dépendance, Spiritualité, Religion, Addiction, Substance, Santé mentale, Réhabilitation, Toxicodépendance, Prévention, Support psychosocial, Substance psychoactive

الاعتقاد ضمن السياق المؤسّسي: النهج الفلسفي في مؤسّسات الإيمان, مرغريت الأسمر بو عون

Horizons et Conjonctures

خلاصة

يستكشف هذا المقال مفهوم الاعتقاد في الإطار المؤسّسي، مع التركيز على الجوانب الفلسفيّة للمؤسّسات العقائديّة أو الإيمانيّة. يتناول الجزء الأوّل فهم جوهر مؤسّسات الاعتقاد، ودراسة كيفيّة تشكّل هذه الهياكل المنظّمة وتوجيهها للمعتقدات الفرديّة داخل المجتمع. أمّا الجزء الثاني، فيتناول كيفيّة التلاعب بالمعتقدات داخل هذه المؤسّسات، مع تسليط الضوء على الآليّات والقضايا المرتبطة بإدارة المعتقدات الجماعيّة من خلال أمثلة واقعيّة.‏

كلمات مفتاحيّة

الاعتقاد، مؤسّسة الإيمان، الخطاب الديني والسياسي، الدين، فلسفة الدين‏

Résumé

Cet essai philosophique explore le concept de croyance dans un contexte institutionnel, en se concentrant sur les aspects philosophiques des institutions de croyance ou de foi. La première …

In The Face Of God: Analyzing The Influence Of Religion On Social Dynamics And Cultural Preservation In Pniël, Joohee Na

South Africa: Multiculturalism and Human Rights

This research paper examines the role of religion in fostering community cohesion, cultural preservation, and governance in Pniël, a small South African town with deep historical and religious roots. Drawing on interviews with community members, it explores how religious practices and spaces function as mechanisms for maintaining collective identity, transmitting values across generations, and addressing social challenges like modernization and gentrification. The study highlights the interplay between tradition and change, emphasizing the importance of preserving religious heritage and cultural narratives in a secularizing world. It also discusses the implications of these findings for safeguarding the histories and identities of small …

The Embrace Of Religion And Spirituality In Indonesia, Olivia Cotton

Indonesia: Arts, Religion, and Social Change

This thesis offers a contemporary investigation of the extent to which historical contexts contribute to Indonesian people’s reservations towards political conversations and social movements, such as protests and demonstrations. The historical contexts in question are focused on the Soeharto dictatorship from 1966-1999 and its long reign of censorship, citizen violence, and general human rights violations. The research employs a mixed-methods approach focused on cultural and participant observation, social media analysis, and interviews. Social media analyses offer insights into activism, particularly that of students and the youth, that are not generally available in scholarly sources. Interviews with Indonesian citizens and local …

Measuring Religious Evil: Examining The Use Of Single-Item Measures In Religious Research, Tom Clark, Scott A. Desmond, Christoper D. Bader

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Multiple-item indexes are ubiquitous within the sociology of religion. However, there are a growing number of articles in other disciplines that have advocated the use of single-item measures in specific circumstances. Using quantitative survey data taken from the United Kingdom, this paper contributes to this literature by exploring the impact of single and multiple item measures of religious evil on a series of social and political attitudes. The findings suggest that belief in the devil is the most consistent predictor within a multiple-item measure of religious evil and the multiple-item measure does not significantly outperform single-item measures. Indeed, the item …

Reshaping Identity Politics: Capitalising On Shari‘A Debate In The Sudan, Musa Adam Abdul-Jalil

The Journal of Social Encounters

The relationship between religious identity, ethnic identity, and politics has always been a problematic one, especially in plural societies like Sudan. This article is an attempt to understand the reasons behind the insistence of the popular parties of the Muslim majority in Northern Sudan on establishing shar’ia law as the law of the land. By using secondary data on party programmes, public opinion, and an analysis of political events, I reconstruct the evolution of the debate in order to identify its prime movers. My conclusion is that this debate emerged as a result of the quest for a national identity …

David Lloyd George: The Politics Of Religious Conviction (Book Review), Keith C. Sewell

Pro Rege

Reviewed Title: David Lloyd George: The Politics of Religious Conviction by Jerry L. Gaw. University of Tennessee Press, 2023. 405 pp. ISBN: 9781621907640.

Evaluating Bad Theology And Making A Case For The Ethical Priority Of Religious Diversity In Tolkien Studies, Nick Polk

Journal of Tolkien Research

Presented at Oxonmoot in 2024, the aim of this paper is to present a selection of theological Tolkien criticisms for the purpose of evaluating them through practical theologian Leah Robinson’s definition of bad theology. The point is argued that bad theology in Tolkien Studies needs to be identified and understood as unethical and replaced with the openness of theologian John Thatamanil’s criteria for religious diversity. Concluding will be a promotion of religious diversity as an ethical priority and evaluative tool for future theological engagements within Tolkien Studies.

Houchens, Dylan Thomas, B. 1996 (Fa 1419), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1419. Audio interviews by WKU student Dylan Houchens concerning the history of White Plains Baptist Church, Allen County, Kentucky. Two of the interviews include transcripts, and two include an index/log.

Youth Engagement In Religious Practices Within Macedonian Society, Ruzica Cacanoska, Ivan Blazevski Phd

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Official statistical data and various research studies indicate that a significant portion of the Macedonian population identifies as religious. However, these studies also reveal that many of these individuals are nominal believers, adhering to traditional practices without deep engagement. This trend has sparked an interest in exploring the religiosity of the younger generation, which, though often superficial, has gained prominence in recent years. Existing research, albeit limited, has examined young people's religiosity, their perceptions of religion, and the influence of religious values on their daily lives and practices. To gain a comprehensive understanding of young people's attitudes towards religion in …