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The article discusses psychological practices and knowledge from the Tenetehar-Tembé (an Indigenous people who live on many riverside regions in the states of Pará and Maranhão, Brazil) tradition. Their rites and narratives carry processes of construction of women as leaders. We argue that, through the community processes of construction of the person, Tenetehar-Tembé women effectively become references for decision-making inside each community and in the articulation between their communities. That is, through the rites and narratives, women become more deeply engaged in caring for the people in their communities. Women are progressively recognized for these practices among families and villages, where they actively participate in productive and political activities. Indigenous psychology, therefore, broadens the understanding of the processes of construction of the woman leader devoting attention to how participating in rites and sharing Indigenous narratives constitute the experiential basis for people's feelings, thoughts, and actions reflexively oriented in the communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book Biserica de alături [The church next door] addresses some of the lesser-known rites of the shepherds from the Romanian Carpathians, such as the marriage at the fir trees, the confession, the prayer at the tree, and eating tree buds at Easter. Laura Jiga Iliescu describes these rites following long-term research on the mountain plateaus and in the hearths of the pastoral villages at the foot of the mountains.

This article examines the cemetery as a site imbued with religious manifestations, cultural expressions, and sacred symbolism, presenting the relationship between beliefs and cultures expressed in response to death through burial grounds. Based on empirical research at the Municipal Cemetery of Serrolândia, Bahia, the study discusses mortuary rites and the ways in which the cemetery space is appropriated, grounded in the symbolic expression of the sacred and its connections with religious representations. These expressions also manifest in human behavior towards the specifics of death, stemming from religious culture that guides human understanding of mysteries incomprehensible from a rational perspective. The qualitative approach was employed for this study, utilizing observation, oral interviews, and photographs to comprehend the cultural, religious, and social meanings of cemeteries as hierophanic sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An eco-theological analysis of African Initiated Churches (AICs) has revealed that most of these churches use water for a myriad of rituals ranging from baptism to consecratory rites. Their affinity with water even qualifies them to be dubbed water-based churches; yet, the world is faced with an imminent scarcity of this natural resource. The United Nations echoed that access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene are the most basic human needs for health and well-being; but it has observed that unless the water situation improves, by 2030, billions of people will lack access to these services because of climate change. Given this reality, there is a genuine need to examine the possibility of having the eco-theologies of AICs adapted to suit these emerging realities. The paper explores how water is used in the religiosity of the AICs in an effort to elucidate the possible challenges to be encountered because of climate change. It then examines the possibility of realigning the water uses to the current climatic trajectory. The article is largely based on desktop research which utilises secondary sources. Contribution: This article makes a critical contribution to the body of knowledge by making an analysis of the adaptability of AICs’ conceptualisation and use of water in a climate change context. An eco-theological analysis is crucial as it enables the nuancing of AICs’ theologies so that they conform to a world in a climate crisis.

Basotho have historically been victims of culturally devastating pandemics and epidemics which include the rinderpest epidemic of 1898–1902, the Spanish influenza/flu of 1918, HIV/AIDS and of late COVID-19. This spelt disaster on practices associated with caring for the sick and dying but COVID-19 remains the most memorable. This study, which is based on Lesotho experiences, uses the health communication theory, to discuss the effects of the pandemic on sickness, death and funeral rites in Lesotho during the period 2020. The purpose is to extend knowledge of how ordinary people struggled to conserve their everyday ways of life in the face of this existential threat and circulating rumours. Data was gathered through interviews, personal observations and reappraisal of secondary. The study is significant in that it calls to attention negotiating the incorporation of people’s way of life when curtailing pandemics in order to cultivate reasonable cooperation, which in turn cut costs and increases people’s confidence in the government. This kind of working together has generally been elusive in Lesotho’s confrontation with epidemics. The study found that poor communication and perceived government interference with their culture left families affected by the pandemic feeling guilty, distraught, confused, and traumatised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the early intersections between melody, rhythm and harmony, up to the recent emergence of new musical styles. Psychological studies of rhythm have shown that it has played an important role in social and relational experience. At the same time, it creates a sense of bonding between people and can alter the moods of several people at once and lead them in a unified direction. Melody, rhythm and tempo tell the listener that they are in a safe and good place, expressing a psychological need for a sense of security, providing a sense of life's pulse, similarly to the heartbeat. Unfortunately, modern human life lacks the life-like rhythm that God provided for us in creation. Ritual is our identity, our memory, a continuation of the old, an exit from the individual sphere and an entry into a communal one, into a new role, suggesting a transition, accompanied by sounds, rhythm, song, music and dance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Losing a significant other through death is a tragic experience worsened by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To curb this massive increase of deaths, the South African government introduced various rules to regulate the burial process. However, these COVID-19 regulations have caused major ruptures and disruptions on how bereaved families observe and practice cultural rites and customs following death within an African context. Consequently, many bereaved family members, particularly Black Africans, struggle with adhering to the regulations and funerals have been coined ' super spreaders ' of the virus. The concerns raised in this article are twofold, namely, the impact of the Covid-19 regulations on how Black Africans grieve and mourn, as well as the involvement of social workers in formulating regulations that ought to be adhered to. This article explores the fissures and bricolages brought about by COVID-19, ultimately suggesting possible ways of dealing the losses ascribed to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The captivating tribal communities living across the length and breadth of the state of Central India and mostly in Odisha have enriched the cultural heritage of the region by their cultural diversities. Gadaba's religious life reflected through their rich folk traditions of songs, dance, music, rituals and festivals celebrated round the year adds colourful dimensions to their very existence. The amazing conglomeration of traditions, beliefs, sorrows and philosophies that together constitute and vitalize the religion of tribes has descended from antiquity and has been preserved unimpaired to the present day. Every dimension of their life covering round the year activities is intimately connected with religion and the world view associated with it. It is these aspects of their culture that give meaning and depth to their lives and solidarity to their social structure. However, in recent days many changes have been taken place in traditional religious life of Gadaba tribe. Against this backdrop, this paper has tried to explore some of that core structure of Gadaba's religious life as well as the changing dimensions of their religious manifestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article centers around the early translation of the term Li 礼 in the Analects of Confucius (论语). This Latin translation shows that the interpretation of the Confucian term Li 礼 mostly did not include any religious meaning. This article also centers on the personal formation of the Jesuits of that time. Taking Michele Ruggieri as reference, this article details how studies based on the Latin Classics (especially Cicero) provided them with a reference to interpret this term as unrelated to religious worship. When the Jesuits arrived in China, at the end of the Ming dynasty, strong emphasis was given to the proper etiquette towards state officials. This in turn derived from the situation in the imperial court. In this historical environment, the Confucian rites (Li 礼) were interpreted as "good manners". This article also presents briefly the question of whether for Christians, Li 礼 as a proper social behavior inspired by a particular cultural tradition has any connection with or can be a problem for the rituals of the Christian tradition instituted by Jesus as vehicles of divine grace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Society is always looking for means of creation, appearing in different forms in different time situations. The way the individual is incorporated within a certain grouping is of a great importance to be studied in ethnological terms. Ethnology, as a mindset, is related with everyday life, and we live with it every day, creating new ways of superimposing old things. Through some ritual holidays, which define the authenticity of an ancient nation, such as folk calendar holidays, we will try to give some explanations about how man takes from the past, what he carries, how it can be transformed to the new generation, complete, truncated, or completely disregarded. Fortunately, we still have people with good memory who have given us some details about ritual practices. Such a comparison with information from different generations is precisely made as a result of information or inheritance between generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the early intersections between melody, rhythm and harmony, up to the recent emergence of new musical styles. Psychological studies of rhythm have shown that it has played an important role in social and relational experience. At the same time, it creates a sense of bonding between people and can alter the moods of several people at once and lead them in a unified direction. Melody, rhythm and tempo tell the listener that they are in a safe and good place, expressing a psychological need for a sense of security, providing a sense of life’s pulse, similarly to the heartbeat. Unfortunately, modern human life lacks the life-like rhythm that God provided for us in creation. Ritual is our identity, our memory, a continuation of the old, an exit from the individual sphere and an entry into a communal one, into a new role, suggesting a transition, accompanied by sounds, rhythm, song, music and dance.

Purpose of the Study: This research delves into the dynamic evolution of marriage rites within the Krobo community in Eastern Ghana, focusing on the 'la-pomi' and 'fia' ceremonies. Methodology: Employing a qualitative approach, the study utilized narrative analysis to capture the intricate perspectives surrounding the 'la-pomi' and 'fia' marriage rites. Twenty-four participants from Krobo-Odumase and its environs, aged between 20 to 60 years, were purposively sampled and interviewed in two phases. Main Findings: The study unveiled a significant transformation in the Krobo marriage rites, from highly structured ceremonies to more adaptable forms blending traditional elements with modern practices. Key factors driving this evolution include urbanization, the influence of Western education, and the interplay with legal frameworks, all contributing to the rites' ongoing adaptation. Despite these changes, a strong commitment to preserving cultural identity remains evident among the Krobo people, showcasing their resilience and innovative approaches to sustaining cultural traditions. Applications of this Study: By highlighting the adaptive strategies employed by the Krobo community, this research contributes to broader discussions on cultural sustainability, identity, and social cohesion in the face of global changes. Novelty/Originality: This research underscores the complex negotiation process between preserving cultural heritage and embracing change, offering a unique perspective on the resilience and dynamism of Krobo cultural practices in a rapidly changing world.

This article centers around the early translation of the term Li 礼 in the Analects of Confucius (论语). This Latin translation shows that the interpretation of the Confucian term Li 礼 mostly did not include any religious meaning. This article also centers on the personal formation of the Jesuits of that time. Taking Michele Ruggieri as reference, this article details how studies based on the Latin Classics (especially Cicero) provided them with a reference to interpret this term as unrelated to religious worship. When the Jesuits arrived in China, at the end of the Ming dynasty, strong emphasis was given to the proper etiquette towards state officials. This in turn derived from the situation in the imperial court. In this historical environment, the Confucian rites (Li 礼) were interpreted as “good manners”. This article also presents briefly the question of whether for Christians, Li 礼 as a proper social behavior inspired by a particular cultural tradition has any connection with or can be a problem for the rituals of the Christian tradition instituted by Jesus as vehicles of divine grace.