Sociology of Religion Commons^™

American Civil Religion: An Idea Whose Time Is Past, Frederick Mark Gedicks

Faculty Scholarship

From the founding of the United States, Americans have understood loyalty to their country as a religious and not just a civic commitment. The idea of a 'civil religion' that defines the collective identity of a nation originates with Rousseau, and was adapted to the United States Robert Bellah, who suggested that a peculiarly American civil religion has underwritten government and civil society in the United States.

Leaving aside the question whether civil religion has ever truly unified all or virtually all Americans, I argue that it excludes too many Americans to function as such a unifying force in the …

Buddhist Roles In Peacemaking : How Buddhism Can Contribute To Sustainable Peace, Ronald S. Green, Chanju Mun

Philosophy and Religious Studies

This volume is the fifth in a series about socially engaged Buddhism published by Blue Pine Books. The publisher adheres to high academic standards, requiring strict documentation of sources and coherence of ideas. Readers will find in these articles some of the best resources available for understanding socially engaged Buddhism and peacemaking. We live in a world of conflict. Even though theorists had believed scientific and technological advancement would end suffering, the applications of these developments had just as often perpetuated the problem. In contrast, Buddhism is widely thought of as a way of peace and tranquilly for individual practitioners. …

"To Educate, Agitate, And Legislate": Baptists, Methodists, And The Anti-Saloon League Of Virginia, 1901-1910, Mary Beth Mathews

Cultural and Philosophical Inquiry Articles

Organized in 1901, the Anti-Saloon League of Virginia (ASLVA) became the leading statewide association in battling the liquor forces. The league claimed to be nonpartisan and nonpolitical; its motto was "The saloon must go."3 A variety of white Protestant clergy and laymen staffed the ASLVA, and these leaders kept up a unified front as they promoted their sale stated goal, the eradication of the saloon.

Gregory J. Moore On The U.N. Secretary General And Moral Authority: Ethics And Religion In International Leadership. Edited By Kent J. Kille. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. 2007. 370pp., Gregory J. Moore

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

The U.N. Secretary General and Moral Authority: Ethics and Religion in International Leadership. Edited by Kent J. Kille. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. 2007. 370pp.

Political Repression Of Islam, Amy Swift

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Central Asia, once one of the least known regions in the world, has become important to the United States since 9/11, the resulting U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, and the new “War on Terror.” Tajikistan, often considered the poorest and most obscure of the five Central Asian “Stans,” was thrust into the public view when it became useful to the United States in its 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.

Religion And Semiosphere: From Religious To The Secular And Beyond, Rajka Rush

Dissertations

Religion is a system of structural ideas that involve the natural ability of the mind to engage itself into the process of unlimited semiosis which can be defined as an existential openness of one's consciousness to the universe as a system. This primary religious consciousness becomes limited by language, symbolic, and cultural constraints. The religious semiotic space is a sub-cultural system open to culturally and cross-culturally encoded idioms and concepts. These cultural potentials are interpreted and settled by the religious exegesis expressed in the behavioral patterns of the symbolic actions that reflect a specific worldview of the closed community controlled …

Worship Styles, Musicand Social Identity: A Communication Study, Terri Lynne Johnson, Jill E. Rudd, Kimberly Neuendorf, Guowei Jian

Communication Faculty Publications

This quantitative study investigates music and worship style preferences. A survey measured participants' worship and music preferences in order to further examine the relationship between the two. Multiple and logistic regressions were significant indicating that preferred music genres can be used to predict one's worship style preference. Further investigation used Social Identity Theory to examine the conflict that often occurs within churches over music and worship styles. Therefore, the survey included the Identification with a Psychological Group scale to measure participants' identification with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Multiple regression results showed a significant overall prediction of organizational identity, indicating …

Liberation Theology Of Disability And The Option For The Poor, Scot Danforth

Education Faculty Articles and Research

A liberation theology of disability provides a spiritual discourse that unites a critical analysis of the economic dimensions of disability oppression with an appreciation for the lived experience of disabled persons. This paper builds from prior liberation theology scholarship and the Catholic theological concept called the preferential option for the poor to articulate a liberation theology of disability marked by critical social analysis, humility, hope, and love.

Social Capital And Religion: A Quantitative Analysis Of The Relationship Between Religious Participation And Social Capital, Kyshawn Smith

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to confirm the existence of a positive correlation between religious participation and social capital, and to show that such a correlation varies considerably when specific demographic variables, and denominational and organizational dynamics are accounted for. Beginning with the early theoretical works of James S. Coleman, The World Bank and Robert Putnam, research has shown the importance of studying the philosophy and science of social capital, and the significance of measuring interrelated concepts like community volunteerism, political involvement, and religious participation. However, much of this research surveys national audiences and either completely ignores or spends …

Creating Space For Dialogue, David L. Coppola

SHU Faculty Publications

Judaism, Christianity and Islam teach that it is God’s will that all people live in peace with each other. Peace will be adequately advanced only when religious people and religious institutions are integral to the processes of social justice in every part of the globe. It is religion that can help to reach into the depths of humanity’s struggles and the heights of human accomplishments to salve such injuries. Unfortunately, dialogue for the sake of building mutual respect, understanding and ultimately, peaceful coexistence seems more difficult than ever, in part due to the resistance and obstruction by some who claim …

American Conversations With(In) Catholicism, Richard W. Garnett

Journal Articles

CATHOLICISM AND AMERICAN FREEDOM: A HISTORY. By John T. McGreevy. New York and London: W.W. Norton & Co. 2003. Pp. 431. $26.95.

John T. McGreevy's Catholicism and American Freedom tells the story of how America or, more particularly, American liberalism has reacted and responded to Catholic claims about the nature and purpose of freedom. It also addresses how these claims were, in turn, shaped by Catholicism's own interactions with, internal conversations about, and adjustment to American liberalism. As McGreevy shows, for many people and for many years, the Roman Catholic Church served as a foil for American values and …

Towards Heterogeneous Faith Communities: Understanding Transitional Processes In Seventh-Day Adventist Churches In South Africa, Alan Parker, Ph.D.

Faculty Works

This dissertation examines racial transition toward heterogeneity in three Seventh-day Adventist congregations in South Africa. This dissertation aims to uncover social factors involved in this change as well as to set forth a theological direction with application to the local faith community.

The first section examines recent studies and literature on multiracial congregations, indicating a possible breakdown between theory and practice. Using insights from Kuhn, Gadamer, Habermas, and Geertz, a critical correlational approach is proposed using narrative, community-based praxis, dialectical thinking, and eschatological vision. The theological methods of Groome and Browning are combined to suggest a four-phase approach to practical …

God And Man In The White House: Implications For Going To War, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article highlights pertinent psychological research on the relationship between a national leader’s religious beliefs and that leader’s decision making on going to war.

Why Religious People Believe What They Shouldn't: Explaining Theological Incorrectness In South Asia And America, D. Jason Slone

Dissertations

Cross-cultural descriptions of religious thought and behavior in South Asia and America show that people commonly hold ideas and perform actions that seem to be not only conceptually incoherent but also “theologically incorrect” by the standards of their own traditions. For example. South Asian Theravada Buddhists are taught that the historical Buddha is unavailable because he attained enlightenment and achieved parinirvana (“complete extinction”) and yet conceptually and ritually represent him as if he is present and available for petition. Similarly, American Protestants represent the Christian God as having absolute divine sovereignty and yet reveal confidence in an inner locus of …

Kesan Poligami Terhadap Keluarga Islam : Suatu Kajian Di Langkawi Kedah, Sa'diah Abdul Samad

Student Works (2000-2009)

Kajian berbentuk tinjauan ini bertujuan untuk mclihat apakah kesan-kesan amalan poligami di kalangan penduduk sekitar Langkawi terhadap keluarga. Kesan yang ditinjau adalah terhadap suami sendiri sebagai pengamal poligami, terhadap isteri atau isteri-isteri dan juga anak-anak di dalam keluarga terbabit. Secara khususnya kajian ini bertujuan untuk mencari jawapan kepada soalansoalan berikut: (i) Berapa ramaikah orang-orang Langkawi yang terlibat dengan amalan poligami? (ii) Apakah motif dari perkahwinan kedua atau seterusnya? (iii) Apakah reaksi isteri apabila mengetahui suami mereka berkahwin lagi? (iv) Bagaimanakah hubungan kekeluargaan di dalam keluarga yang mengamalkan poligamj di Langkawi? (v) Apakah masalah-masalah yang timbul di dalam sesebuah keluarga yang …

Hermeneutics, Culture, And The Father Of The Faithful, Lael O. Caesar

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Mut'ah : Pelaksanaannya Menurut Akta Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1984, Azman Yusof

Student Works (2000-2009)

This research explains the actual concept of mut'ah as stated In al­-Quran and al-Hadith by taking into consideration the opinions of fuqaha' from different teachings. The research emphasizes on the practice of the division of mut'ah after divorce in the Mahkamah Syariah Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur with reference to the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984. This research also covers a few procedures and judgments in cases of mut'ah in this court. The research finds the practice which ensures the rates of the claims parallel the needs of Syarie Law. If there is an argument over the rates of …

Pemakaian Asas Astronomi Dalam Menentukan Arah Qiblat Di Malaysia : Suatu Pendekatan Hukum, Mohamad Amin Abu Bakar

Student Works (2000-2009)

This research is about the belief of native of Kelantan Society towards Nur Muhammad doctrine which is well-accepted doctrine amongst those who practice Islamic mysticism (Sufism) particularly in the Malay Archipelago. The purpose of this research is to see how far the impact of this doctrine on the religious belief of the native of the stated It is also aimed at seeing how much other philosophies, teachings and religious beliefs have absorbed into the Islamic belief resulting in the birth of various polemics in the religious practise among the native of Kelantan in particular. This research is divided into five …

Peranan Institusi Dakwah Dalam Menangani Masalah Murtad Di Lembah Klang, Norhafizah Musa

Student Works (2000-2009)

The research discussed extend of misionary by the Missionary institutions in the Klang Valley 10 eradicate apostasy issue especially in the Klang Valley. Apostasy problem is the greatest degree of problem that can be fafed by a muslim. Based on media views and latest/uo to date reports by various parties, the rate of apostasy amongst muslims in the Klang Valley is increasing from time to time. Hence, this dissertation focused on two important aspect; First, to study the management and role of major Missionary institution such as JAKIM, JAWI JAIS, PERK.IM and ABIM in implementing their programs. 1n producing this …

Tahqiq Kitab Ghayat Al-Maram Mengenai Haji Dan Umrah Karangan Syeikh Daud Abdullah Al-Fatani, Nawi Mamat

Student Works (2000-2009)

This dissertation is a study on manuscript of "Kitab Ghayat al-Mar'am" by Syeikh Daud bin 'Abdullah al-Fatani which is catalogued as MSS 2838 in Malaysia National Library. It is selected on the basis that there is no study yet in great depth in the Malay Language with regard to the haj and 'umrah pilgrimage. The analysis is made using the transliteration method. In this method, the original text is rewritten in romanised Malay, where the sentences arc restructured, important words are explained, problems are examined and the sources of the prophet's sayings (hadith) and recitations of prayer (doa) are confirmed. …

Sejarah Perkembangan Ajaran Sesat Di Hulu Besut, Terengganu, Abdul Haris A. Hamid

Student Works (2000-2009)

Lately, the problem of cult in our country is becoming very serious. It's not only broke our relationship, but also threaten our lives as happened at Sauk by the Al-Ma'unah group and others a few years ago. The people do not understand the emerging of the cult and the continuity from the past and the modem cult. This thesis is trying to study the history of cult since the emerging of Islam brought by our prophet, Muhammad s.a.w. The issues studied are as the follow: 1. The Besut background in term of location, social, education and the way of believers …

Emansipasi Wanita : Suatu Kajian Terhadap Pandangan Wanita Islam Di Universiti Teknologi Mara (Uitm), Kampus Seksyen 17, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Bateriah Alias

Student Works (2000-2009)

Woman's emancipation refers to the western feminism and the movement of women's liberation with the objective of seeking an equal rights between women and men before law, in politic, education and social. History has witnessed the oppression against women by men either traditionally or under certain laws since the time of the ancient Greek. After centuries, women have evoked against this oppression and extremely criticized the patriarch system which has been said as the root of the problem. Nowadays, even though this movement has already succeeded in many of their demands, various new phenomenon aroused in western society out of …

Doktrin Sadd Al-Dhara'i' Dan Pemakaiannya Dalam Membendung Ajaran Sesat : Suatu Kajian Di Jakim, Wan Zulkifli Wan Hassan

Student Works (2000-2009)

This dissertation is entitled: 'The doctrine of Sadd al-Dhara'i, and its usage in preventing deviationist teachings: A study at JAKIM" The doctrine anses from a statement that sources of the Islamic Law are the basis to determining any legal matter and in solving human problems especially in the matter of deviation of belief. In order to arrive at an academic conclusion. this dissertation attempts to identify the said sources through al-Qur'an, al-Hadith or ijtihad of the Jurist. This study is conducted by elaborating the doctrine of Sadd al-Dhara'i,' in term of us definition, conditions, fundamentals, scope and its position as …

Dato' Haji Ismail Yusoff : Sumbangannya Terhadap Perkembangan Islam Di Kelantan, Ahmad Faisal Abdul Hamid

Student Works (2000-2009)

Disertasi ini merupakan sebuah penulisan biografi seorang tokoh ulama' Kelantan dalam era pasca merdeka. Anak kelahiran Kg. Gong Kemuning, Pasir Putih pada tahun 1915 dan telah pulang ke rahmatullah pada 9hb. Julai 1988. Beliau adalah Mufti Kerajaan Kelantan. Dalam usaha mengumpul data-data yang bersangkutan penulis telah menggunakan metode dokumentasi, interview dan observasi. Metode dokumentasi digunakan untuk mencari, mengumpul dan menilai keabsahan dokumen yang berkaitan dengan subjek kajian. Antara dokumen yang berkaitan ialah buku-buku, kertas kerja dan artikel tulisan Dato' Haji Ismail. Metode interview dan observesi digunakan bersama dengan bertolak dari informen pangkal yang menjadi sumber asas untuk mendapatkan data dan …

Paradigma Al-Imam Al-Nawawi Dalam Pembangunan Insan : Satu Kajian Teks Terhadap Kitab Riyad Al-Solihin, Kamarul Azmi Jasmi

Student Works (2000-2009)

The ideal and perfect human development is one of the development that is always discussed among the Western and Muslim scholars. Therefore, this research tries to reveal one of the processes in human development according to Al-Imam Al Nawawi's paradigm by doing text study of Kitab Riyad al-Solihin. The main objective of this research is to observe and to discover the different definition of human development according to Western and Islamic view and then to try to compare that definition with the definition of human development and its methodology according to Al-Imam Al-Nawaw1's paradigm. This research will also try to …

“Normal Church Can’T Take Us”: Re-Creating A Pentecostal Identity Among The Men And Women Of Victory Outreach, Arlene M. Sánchez Walsh

Journal of Hispanic / Latino Theology

This article examines the re-creation of Pentecostal identity among the men and women of a drug rehabilitation ministry called Victory Outreach. It considers how that identity changes when members reinforce traditional gender roles commonly found in Latino culture, while defining Pentecostalism as a religious salve to soothe social ills. The author considers how Victory Outreach members work from a theological pedagogy that affirms the image of their church as marginalized, and proclaims educational attainment as a force for empowerment.

Towelheads, Diapers, And Faggots: Reviving The Turban, Jasbir Puar

Center for LGBTQ Studies (CLAGS)

In the days and weeks following the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on September 11, there has been a rapid proliferation of mocking images of a turbaned Osama bin Laden, not to mention of the turban itself. In a photo-montage circulating from Stileproject.com, even George Bush has been sporting a bin Laden-esque turban. Another internet favorite is a picture of bin Laden superimposed into a 7-11 convenience store scene as a cashier. Posters that appeared in midtown Manhattan only days after the attacks show a turbaned caricature of bin Laden being anally penetrated by the Empire State building. The …

Does The Black Church In West Virginia Speak With A Prophetic Voice?: A Sociological Analysis Of The Black Church As An Agent For Social Change, James Lewis Patterson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research examines the function of the black church in African American Society in general, and its function in the African American community in West Virginia in particular. Determining what the black church sees as its overall mission is my primary concern. Specifically, the research examines the relationship between themes that emerge from black pastor’s personal ministry philosophies, and themes that appear in priestly ministry and prophetic ministry. Determining whether the black church views its primary mission as (priestly) caring for the spiritual needs of its congregation, or (prophetic) calling for changes in societal structures that foster oppression and racism …

Religiosity And Delinquency: A Test Of The Religious Ecology Hypothesis, S. Cory Harmon

Theses and Dissertations

Research testing the relationship between adolescent religiosity and delinquent behavior is inconclusive. Some studies show a significant negative relationship while others indicate no relationship. Stark (1996) asserts that the relationship between religiosity and delinquency is a function of community religiosity as opposed to personal religiosity. Thus, in areas of high religiosity, there will be a strong relationship, while areas of low religiosity will show no relationship. This study looks at the relationship between religiosity and delinquency of LDS youth in four different religious ecologies: Utah County (high religious ecology), the East coast (moderate religious ecology), the Pacific Northwest (low religious …

If You Know Everything There Is To Know About Timbuktu: Faith And The Integrative Nature Of Culture, Larry L. Lichtenwalter

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.