Search

The contemporary #MeToo moment has led to renewed concern about issues of masculinity and gender justice. This moment provides a strong warrant for critically analyzing different programmes for boys and men in relation to their capacity for gender transformation. This paper presents three such programmes located in Victoria (Australia) as case studies (1) an Activist Programme, (2) a Sports Programme, and (3) a Rites Programme. The paper highlights some of the possibilities and contentions for each programme in relation to their capacities for gender transformation through comparative analysis. The paper draws attention to the complexity and diversity of 'promising approaches' for effectively engaging boys and men in respectful masculinities.

This text is a summary of a special issue on the topic of multispecies relations in the sociology of religion. It highlights the shift towards a more inclusive and non-anthropocentric approach in the study of religion, spirituality, and the environment. The issue includes contributions from scholars in various disciplines, such as animal studies, anthropology, feminist studies, indigenous studies, and theology. The aim is to challenge the dominant anthropocentric perspective and inspire new possibilities for research and activism that promote coexistence and well-being with multiple species. The text also discusses the historical and cultural roots of the human-animal relationship and the need for ethical responses to the exploitation and mistreatment of animals. Indigenous knowledge and methodologies are emphasized as valuable resources for understanding and engaging with multispecies relations. The text concludes by emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary and decolonial approaches to studying multi-species relationships. [Extracted from the article]

The 'multispecies turn' in the social sciences and humanities is informing many disciplines including animal studies, anthropology, Indigenous studies and, more recently, sociology of religion. Scholars working on multispecies relations employ various methods and methodologies, many of which are challenging modern, Western, Christian paradigms and practices that are anthropocentric and focus on logos/words/texts/beliefs. This discussion examines new and multiple ways of conducting multispecies focused research, that is critical, reflexive, embodied, affective and intuitive. It begins with an overview of the methods applied by notable scholars – Kimmerer, Tsing and Beaman – researching multispecies relations, and then includes four personal 'riotous' reflections by this article's co-authors, on their own positionality and experiences of conducting such research. The discussion concludes by identifying key challenges in research on diverse worldviews and multispecies relations, and aims to generate creative and scientific responses to further decenter anthropocentrism in academia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conspirituality--the merger of conspiracy theories and spirituality--has attracted significant global media and scholarly attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article expands upon the 'two core' conspiritual convictions proposed by Ward and Voas that '1) a secret group covertly controls, or is trying to control, the political and social order, and 2) humanity is undergoing a "paradigm shift" in consciousness'. We identify an additional ten key convictions central to (con)spirituality, including those that result in vaccine hesitancy and/or refusal. We chose to bracket the 'con' to problematize the term, and to encompass a wider spectrum of spiritual beliefs and practices, including those that are non-controversial, those that may be deceptive cons, and/or those that draw on conspiracy theories. The article presents an analysis of these twelve (con)spiritual convictions, focusing on a sample of 'Aussie Warriors' selling (con)spirituality, and also on influencers attempting to counter the spread of dis/misinformation within wellness circles. In so doing, the article provides a more nuanced understanding of (con) spirituality and vaccine hesitancy, and a greater knowledge of the benefits and risks of spiritual practices and ideas during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on Anna Halafoff being an Associate Professor of Sociology and co-coordinator of the Religion, Society, and Culture Network at Deakin University. Topics include COVID-19 pandemic unleashing not only a life-threatening virus globally but also the spread of conspiracy theories; and Bernard Doherty's article providing a historical account of conspiracy theories in Roman Catholicism.