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The aim of this article is to challenge an ideologically overestimated view of diplomacy as a universal self-sustaining value and remedy for unpredictably chained and escalated conflicts in the world. The article shows the necessary connection between diplomacy and the fragility of human ethical decision-making, including in the areas of strategy, international politics, and military defense. This more modest approach also applies to proposals for diplomacy built on direct or indirect religious inspirations. The article calls for a nuanced critical approach to religious diplomacy and the positive transformation of the limits of human rational negotiation by the paradoxical "power of the powerless" and transcendental mystery. The final part provides three biblically-inspired Christian opportunities for this transformation: endurance of faith, voluntary self-denial (kenosis), and the complex "two level"—both protective and eschatological—pursuit of peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistani is a diverse society, and media are vital in highlighting their identity, presence, and contributions. Newspapers play a pivotal role in shaping perceptions of ethnic minorities, highlighting the need for impartial and responsible journalism. This study examines the role of newspapers in this context, focusing on the portrayal of ethnic minorities through a content analysis of 84 news articles from leading Pakistani Urdu‐language newspapers (Daily Jang, Daily Express and Daily Khabrain) to scrutinise the portrayal of ethnic minorities. The study aims to uncover the patterns and themes in the portrayal of these communities. Findings reveal that patterns in coverage allocation, with Christians dominating news coverage compared to other religious groups. The portrayal of non‐Muslim groups is predominantly positive, yet the articles featured anti‐Ahmadi content, reflecting complexity. The findings emphasise the well‐being of minorities, showcasing a positive trend. The news articles accentuated the positive contributions of non‐Muslims, and a significant majority (85.7%) covered religious events of minority groups. Positive representation aligns with societal discourse acknowledging diverse contributions and cultural expressions. Critical inquiry is prompted by editorial decisions, journalistic priorities, and societal dynamics shaping media narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research disclosed the narrative of a police evangelist facilitating the moral recovery among offenders. Researchers utilized a qualitative single-case study design, employing one police officer who conducts spiritual services inside jail facilities chosen through a purposive sampling technique. This study aimed to motivational factors, experiences, and insights of the police-evangelist in journeying towards moral recovery among offenders. Researchers gathered the data through an in-depth interview and analyzed the data using thematic analysis to create themes and core ideas. Three emerging themes were created on the motivational factors of the police evangelist: driven by faith and compassion, responding to the call, and PDL’s eagerness to be taught. Four themes emerged from the experiences of the police evangelist: conduct of spiritual services, getting support, joy in changing one’s life, happiness and fulfillment, and dealing with PDL’s different emotions. Three emerging themes were found in the insights of the police evangelist: volunteerism in sharing God’s words, God’s words change lives, and doing what you learned. This study substantiates the Social Learning Theory. Practical implications for the police officers, police stations, jail facilities, religious groups, and local government units were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The French colonial state created an increasing number of artisanal training workshops for rural Algerian women during the interwar period. In earlier eras, some similar workshops had been managed and run by individual settler women or religious groups, but a new model of state control over these workshops emerged in the 1920s and 1930s. Throughout the French colonial project in Algeria, the state had resisted working to improve Algerian women's status, claiming that to do so risked provoking the ire of Algerian men. This article examines the brief interwar moment in which the colonial state targeted Algerian women. It draws on an underexamined archival source base from both Algeria and France to explore how administrators used workshops to transform rural Algerian women into waged workers and inculcate them with French culture. Women's workshops were thus at the intersection of multiple state projects, including racial capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs qualitative textual analysis to examine framing dichotomies in mainstream local news coverage of a series of attacks on Amish residents in Ohio carried out by a breakaway Amish group in 2011. Using Stuart Hall's understanding of narrative binaries and the anthropological concept of the other within the other, the study argues portrayals of both the victims and the perpetrators of those crimes employed common stereotypes of Amish groups. The study describes the negative consequences of the "good Other" representation applied to the victims of the crimes and argues for more nuanced news coverage of non-mainstream religious groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myanmar’s political system during the 2010–2021 period shares much in common with the political systems of neighbouring India and nearby Sri Lanka, and so this article identifies all three as ethnocratic, arguing these polities represent a variation of ethnocracy which leans authoritarian and is specifically Islamophobic. This article builds on discourse about the nature of ethnocracy to introduce the label ‘Saffron Ethnocracy’, which is used to identify the specific Islamophobic variation of ethnocracy observable in India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The saffron label recognises the common use of saffron clothing as identity markers by Hindus and Buddhists, the dominant religious groups in each country. While all three South Asian countries were certainly procedural democracies during the period studied, majoritarianism strongly impacted their political systems, affecting citizenship laws and practices, contributing to assertions about civilisational uniqueness of dominant groups, empowering religio-political institutions of the dominant groups, dramatically curtailing freedom of expression and severely undermining the standing of minorities, particularly Muslim populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAgeing in a non-native land brings numerous challenges that may complicate adaptation and health for older Latin American immigrants in Australia. While religiosity emerges as a protective factor for mental health, there is scarce research focused on exploring the multifaceted dimensions of religiosity in this population. As part of a broad Constructivist Grounded Theory study, the aim of this qualitative descriptive analysis was to explore and understand this population’s religious practices and experiences, focusing on the impact on their mental health. Following ethical approval, 23 Spanish-speaking Latin American immigrants aged 60 and older living in Australia were interviewed. Data analysis was performed on a constant comparative basis and concurrent with data collection to understand the findings. Three key categories were identified: “Being involved in religious groups and communities,” “Connecting with God,” and “Changing how one lives one’s faith.” Regardless of their religious practices, all participants engaged in social activities that helped them integrate into their communities. Several barriers to religious practices were identified. The findings add to the field of religiosity as a protective factor in older Latin American immigrants’ mental health. Future research should identify barriers to religious practices and targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between social activity and depressive symptoms among older widows in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was conducted that recruited 256 older widows in southern Taiwan. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, self-rated health, instrumental activities of daily living, social activity, social support, and depression. Multiple linear regressions performed examined whether social activities and social support were significantly associated with depressive symptoms and which types of social activity were significantly related to social support and depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses performed tested the mediation effect of social support between the number of different types of social activities performed (termed "number of activities" in this study) and depression. Overall, 17.2% of the participants reported having at least two depressive symptoms. The total effect of the number of activities on depressive symptoms was significant (p < .001). The direct pathway from the number of activities to depressive symptoms remained significant (p < .001), and the mediation pathway (from the number of activities to depressive symptoms through social support) was also significant (Bootstrap CI = −.072, −.003). These findings demonstrated that older widows had more social support when they participated in more social activities, which could then decrease depressive symptoms. In addition, informal community group activities and religious group activities were the most effective at increasing social support and reducing depressive symptoms among the older Taiwanese widows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent years have witnessed an increase in highly publicized attacks targeting members of ethnoracial and religious minority groups. To date, existing research has primarily focused on the tendency for such "trigger events" to generate violent aftershocks. We argue that beyond such ripple effects, highly salient trigger events significantly increase hate-crime related stress among racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally, we explore whether these effects are limited to the group most clearly targeted, or if they "spill over" to other minoritized communities. Methods: To study reactions to hate crimes, we draw upon national survey data (N = 1,122) in combination with a natural experiment involving the Unite the Right rally and vehicle attack in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017. We employ an "unexpected event during survey" design to estimate the causal effect of the Charlottesville rally on stress about hate crimes. Results: We first show that there was an increase in anti-Black hate crimes in the 2 weeks following the Charlottesville incident. We also find a corresponding increase in stress due to the perception of personal vulnerability to hate crimes among African-Americans. However, we do not observe a significant increase in levels of stress following the trigger event among Hispanics and Asian Americans. Discussion: Our results suggest that highly publicized instances of intergroup violence can have significant impacts on stress about hate crime victimization within the target group. However, we find that this effect is short-lived, and that both violent aftershocks and the general climate of fear spurred by hate crimes may be racially bounded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Throughout history, vaccines have proven effective in addressing and preventing widespread outbreaks, leading to a decrease in the spread and fatality rates of infectious diseases. In a time where vaccine hesitancy poses a significant challenge to public health, it is important to identify the intricate interplay of factors exemplified at the individual and societal levels which influence vaccination behaviours. Through this analysis, we aim to shed new light on the dynamics of vaccine hesitancy among religious groups, contributing to the broader effort to promote vaccine uptake, dispel misunderstandings, and encourage constructive dialogue with these groups. Methods: We used the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) using the 20-point checklist to guide this review. The inclusion criteria for our study were that the literature should be in English, concerned with vaccine hesitancy as the focus of study, study the impact religiosity or religious beliefs as either an outcome or control variable, concerning population levels, and be peer-reviewed. Results: We analysed 14 peer-reviewed articles that included components related to religiosity or religious beliefs and their impact on vaccine hesitancy published until September 2023. All the articles were published in approximately the last decade between 2012 and 2023, with only 4 of the articles published before 2020. Out of the 14 studies included in our review, twelve utilized quantitative methods, while the remaining two employed qualitative approaches. Among the studies included in our analysis, we found various approaches to categorizing religious belief and identity. In most studies when religion is uniformly regarded as the sole determinant of vaccine hesitancy, it consistently emerges as a significant factor in contributing to vaccine hesitancy. All studies in our review reported sociodemographic factors to some degree related to vaccine hesitancy within their sample populations. Our analysis underscored the need for nuanced approaches to addressing vaccine hesitancy among religious groups. Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex issue and driven by a myriad of individual and societal factors among which religious beliefs is commonly associated to be a driver of higher levels among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the atheist population grows globally, understanding how governments treat the growing population is vital. Two theories, group threat theory (GTT) and world society theory (WST), offer differing predictions. GTT suggests increasing atheists may face unfavorable treatment because religious groups perceive them as a threat. Conversely, WST proposes that a more interconnected world culture advances secularism, which promotes positive treatment for atheists. This study explores the interplay between these theories and sheds light on how governments treat atheists across countries. Utilizing a comprehensive panel dataset spanning nearly 200 years, we investigate governmental treatment toward atheists, analyzing data from diverse countries and tracking changes over time. Our results reveal that as the proportion of atheists increases, their treatment by governments becomes more favorable, challenging the tenets of GTT. We also find that embeddedness in political or economic networks is related to more favorable treatment of atheists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, the Italian literature on the genesis and development of anti-gender mobilisation has focussed on right-wing and Vatican strategies, discourses, and alliances. However, in recent years debates around "gender theory" have prompted political and cultural conflicts inside Italian feminist, lesbian and secular left-wing movements and parties. These political fractures – mirrored also in the debate on TERF and "gender-critical" feminism - have become visible in the Italian public debate on the Zan Bill (an anti-homophobia provision rejected by Italian Parliament in 2021). Although "gender critical" feminists do not belong to the anti-gender movement - in Italy largely monopolised by right-wing and Catholic activists - I argue that the unexpected convergences towards the fight against "gender ideology" are relevant for, at least, two reasons. On one side, the idea of "gender theory" has reinforced its role as a keyword orienting Italian public discourse on sexual rights. On the other hand, criticism of various (although inconsistent) definitions of "gender theory" has broadened their cultural circulation outside conservative or religious groups, in both cases associated with processes of ideological colonisation. These two shifts can be considered to enact a relevant normalisation of anti-gender narratives within Italian public and political discourse fostered by media vulgarisation and popular understandings of the meaning of "gender". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text discusses the resilience of Christianity in today's society, highlighting its presence in various countries around the world. It acknowledges both the positive contributions of Christianity, such as promoting equality and democracy, as well as the negative aspects associated with it, such as slavery and a dismissive attitude towards women. The text emphasizes the complex relationship between church and state, noting that Christianity has had a significant impact on social life but was not intended for direct political engagement. The Special Issue book explores the history of church-state relations and their relevance to contemporary society, covering topics such as religious freedom, peace efforts, and the potential of religion to shape public affairs in the future. [Extracted from the article]

This paper explores the adaptations Buddhism has made to digital payment methods in the context of the Chinese mainland. To provide the audience with a relatively comprehensive understanding of the general context in which the new method of donation is applied, this paper first introduces the development and digital landscape of the internet and third-party payments in the Chinese mainland. Then, statistical analysis is used to make large-scale claims by analyzing 1328 donation records made to Donglin Monastery in Mount Lu with the statistical software SPSS to determine whether the digital donation method is linked to the purpose of donations, or the amount of money being donated, and to what extent it substitutes for traditional donation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Who are the religious Nones, given their representation as both a minority and a majority group within the religious landscape? This article presents findings from a comparative study of Italian and Uruguayan youth (n = 2047, with 844 Nones), focusing on sociodemographic profiles of "Nones", their spirituality, religious belief, practice, and atheist and agnostic identities. The findings suggest that regardless of cultural context—whether in predominantly Catholic Italy or more secular Uruguay—young "Nones" tend to be males, hold beliefs, and engage in religious practices, albeit with varying degrees. Among participants in this study, those originating from Uruguay exhibit a stronger degree of belief and slightly more pronounced engagement in private prayer and attendance of religious services compared to their counterparts from Italy. Additionally, the endorsement of spiritual identity is notably stronger among religious Nones in the Uruguayan sample than in the Italian one. Instead, atheism is more prevalent among Italian Nones, whereas agnosticism constitutes a larger proportion within the Uruguayan sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid socio-cultural ecologies that reflect historical events and their actors have led to particular religious groups being promoted or persecuted. This article explores how religiously minoritized youth are identified considering local and global contexts. I apply a phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST) to understanding regularities and variations in development through a person-centered, relational, holistic lens that considers the intersection of multiple identities. Relatedly, I outline broad conceptual tools that center on how orientations to in-group vs out-group religious and intersecting identities and related experiences align with a range of research methods to reflect such complexity. I suggest ways to study religious and spiritual influences of religiously minoritized youth that are specific to the faith tradition and particular youth's circumstances in a holistic manner when these issues are a focal area of study, and when they emerge as relevant to other inquiries. Finally, I consider how understanding religiously minoritized youth, their peers, and mentors can be applied to educational, health care, and community settings to inform equitable practice and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the making and unmaking of a shared shrine culture at an integrated religious site in north India, known for the entanglement of Hindu and Islamic religious figures. In particular, what prompts Hindu devotees to protect 'the otherness' of two Muslim saints from the attacks of right-wing Hindus who, after recent political developments in India, began to challenge the religious others' presence next to Hindu sacred figures, Shiva and Hanuman. Following Carla Bellamy, it is shown that Muslim saints represent power ready to be used and harnessed by Hindus if they are willing to transcend their religious boundaries, which in turn, following Levinas, creates an ethics of responsibility for 'the other' demanding protection of the Muslim saints' ontological being and their symbolism of devotion and unique power among Hindus. Hindu devotees, it is argued, exercise cooperative segregation and emphasize the importance of distinction to save the religious culture associated with the two Muslim saints and preserve the symbolism of otherness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have found restrictions on minority faith-based communities to be related to the onset of violent religious hostilities. Absent from this work, though, is a consideration of the fact that minority religious discrimination can take different forms, and, consequently, may encourage violence in different ways. This paper seeks to fill this void by examining different forms of minority religious restrictions and their relationship to religious violence. Specifically, we analyze the comparative strength of three basic types of religious discrimination—restrictions on minority religious practices, restrictions on minority religious institutions, and restrictions on conversion and proselytizing —on violence carried out by both religious majority groups and religious minority groups. Interestingly, our analysis shows all three forms of restrictions encourage violence from religious majorities, but not from minorities. We supplement the statistical analysis with a case study of faith-based discrimination and violent religious hostilities in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: This systematic review aims to summarize the current body of evidence concerning the prevalence of obesity among clergy (i.e., the officially designated leaders of a religious group) in the United States. Method: From November 2022 to February 2023, five databases, one data repository, and gray matter were searched for articles and data sources. The search was restricted to articles published or raw data collected from 2001 to 2021. Study quality was assessed with a template, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The protocol for this review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022376592). Results: Forty‐seven studies of clergy obesity involving 35,064 individuals were eligible. The pooled prevalence estimate of obesity across studies was 34.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.5–37.2). Obesity prevalence was found to be increasing over time and to vary considerably between clergy from different religious traditions. Compared to national estimates, from 2005 onwards, obesity prevalence was higher than in the US adult population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to provide insight into the formation of religious identity among the millennial generation of the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in the Netherlands, identifying its main influencing factors. Our empirical study identified a dynamic and diverse process regarding the formation of the millennial group's religious identity, expressed dynamically in various aspects of Islamic teachings at the level of religious beliefs, morals or ethics, and practices. The negotiation process between their Islamic and Western identities produced various identity statuses, namely diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and achievement. The process shifts between exploration and commitment. The study concludes that religious identities formed through exploration are more established and more adaptable to environmental changes than those based on commitment with no exploration. Second, the formation of the Indonesian Muslim millennial diaspora's religious identity is influenced by three key factors, namely social environment, reference groups, and role models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Wartime North Africa: a documentary history 1934–1950" is a book edited by Aomar Boum and Sarah Abrevaya Stein that brings together a collection of testimonies and documents from North Africa during the rise of Fascism and Nazism, the impact of race laws and internment during World War II, and the challenges faced by survivors in the postwar period. The book includes a diverse range of voices, including Muslims, Jews, West African soldiers, and European refugees, and the sources are translated from multiple languages. The editors provide contextual introductions and footnotes to support the sources, allowing them to speak for themselves. The book sheds light on the experiences of North African Jews during the war, which has received limited scholarly attention, and aims to foster empathy and solidarity across diverse experiences of violence and deprivation. [Extracted from the article]

The concept of an Islamic state has often been criticized on account of its failure to articulate full and equal citizenship for non-Muslims. It is also often assumed that non-Muslims in Islamic societies would want a form of individualist citizenship modelled on liberal democracy. This article contends that it is mistaken to suppose that non-Muslims in the Islamic world would automatically aspire to a universal form of citizenship founded exclusively on the political thought and political experience of liberal societies in the West. Using contemporary Egypt as a case study, it illustrates that there are points of convergence between the type of citizenship that is advocated by moderate Islamists and the type of citizenship that the Coptic Orthodox Church is striving for. Drawing on Coptic and Islamist political theory as well as the historical struggle of the Coptic Orthodox Church for their rights as a religious group, this paper points to important similarities between moderate Islamist conceptions of citizenship and those of conservative Coptic Christians. This paper considers such points of convergence with reference to communitarian political theory and addresses the implications of a communitarian form of citizenship for narratives that position Islamist conceptions of citizenship as antithetical to the interests of religious minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the reasoning behind the decision of some Muslims to become foreign jihadist fighters and the manner in which they carried out their jihad. Through participant observation and interviews with a religious group in Istanbul made up of active fighters and supporters of the Syrian jihad, this paper's findings suggest that the radicalization process is driven by Islamic ideology, perceived discrimination and injustice against Muslims, as well as by the perceived obligation to defend Muslim communities under threat. However, contrary to popular belief, the objective of jihad is not solely to attain martyrdom or defeat the enemy. Fulfilling daily tasks, such as digging trenches or cooking meals for fellow fighters, can also be seen as ways to attain divine approval. The Syrian Civil War is viewed by many foreign jihadist fighters as a chance to participate in jihad, after which they plan to return to their normal lives, with this process potentially repeating itself multiple times throughout their lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I see the emerging new religious groups in Taiwan as an emerging form of popularism in its encounter with the post-colonial situation. This scenario differs greatly from Western new religious movements, where new religion lies outside culturally established religious traditions, and it is also distinct from other Eastern traditions, such as those found in Japan, where traditionally elite and popular traditions have a larger social and mental distance from each other. In the complex Chinese cultural and historical tradition, there exists a deeper interpenetrating elite-popular relationship, therefore determining a different route for religious phenomena. I use the term 'popular humanism' to label this trend in contemporary Taiwan. Finally, I use two axes to codify the emerging Taiwanese new religions, 'methods in popular humanism' and 'institutional framing', mapping the key new religious movements of Taiwan within these axes to localise each group and their mutual positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarship on religious belonging has overwhelmingly labelled believers' religion in very broad and superficial terms, presuming that individual practices and beliefs are congruent with religious doctrines and official discourses. By splitting up religious socialisation into two crucial phases, the adoption and the adaption of religion, this article offers a more procedural understanding to investigating how young believers develop their own sense of religious belonging. Based on biographical narrative interviews with Viennese believers (aged 16–25) from 7 religious groups, we observe that the adoption of a certain religion is primarily bound to family ties. The adaption phase serves to develop personal approaches towards religion based on two major rationales: adapting one's own religiosity by engaging with religious doctrine and community itself, and negotiating religion within society. We argue that adaption is closely tied to social relations within and across religions and to (secular) society at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the concept of conviviality: the practice and negotiation of sharing space in suburbs with diverse populations. Australia has a growing Muslim population and reports of Islamophobia remain widespread. While there is some evidence, however, that forming intercultural connections can foster more positive attitudes toward religious minority groups, we know little about how Muslim and non‐Muslim communities share space in Australia. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative investigation into how conviviality is perceived in Australian suburbs with high concentrations of Muslim residents. Following qualitative, thematic analysis of 15 interviews with multicultural service providers who work with Muslims in Melbourne, Victoria, we conclude that conviviality is fostered by a sense of community between people who share similar backgrounds as well as increased opportunities to form intercultural social connections. We discuss the scholarly and policy implications of these findings, with consideration of existing arguments about the practices of sharing space in Australian cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article employs interviews and primary and secondary sources to examine the discrimination, securitization, and instrumentalization faced by four main Christian denominations throughout Turkish history: the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Protestant communities. We shed light on how some religious minority groups have been utilized and represented within the framework of Turkish diplomacy and the pursuit of neo-Ottomanism. We contend that the blanket term 'Christian' is less applicable in Turkey's context, where religion becomes intricately intertwined with ethnicity. Thus, it becomes imperative to investigate each non-Muslim community independently, considering their unique trajectories, historical traumas, internal divisions, and relationships with the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored how children's perceptions of social group differences relate to attitudes and behaviour towards real‐world outgroups. We examined Arab‐Christian children living in Israel (N = 231, 52% female, average age 9.8 years) and randomly presented them with either Arab‐Muslim or Jewish outgroup targets. The children performed tasks measuring attitudes and prosocial behaviour towards the outgroup. Additionally, they were asked to describe the differences between their ingroup and the outgroup target. We found that children favoured the Arab‐Muslim outgroup over the Jewish outgroup, and perceived it as having fewer dimensions of difference from their ingroup. Fewer perceived dimensions of difference correlated with more positive attitudes. By the age of 12, however, perceiving more dimensions of difference was linked to increased compensatory prosocial behaviour towards the Jewish outgroup. The findings emphasize the dynamic interplay between cognitive development and intergroup experiences in understanding children's prosocial behaviour towards different outgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the veneration and ongoing interest in Fr. Paul of Moll, a Belgian Benedictine monk. Despite not being officially recognized by the church, Fr. Paul has been revered for 150 years. Some controversial quotes and reported miracles attributed to him have sparked debates and criticisms. However, his association with the St. Benedict Medal and his reputation as a skilled confessor and spiritual counselor have contributed to his continued veneration. The article also mentions the international reception of a book about Fr. Paul, which has been translated into multiple languages. [Extracted from the article]

How do groups reckon with differences in members' identities and beliefs? A tension exists between groups, whose identities are singular and stably positioned, and their members, whose identities are intertwined and constituted in interaction. Existing work shows how this tension is addressed through downplaying difference, but we know less about how differences are played up in group life. Drawing on two years of ethnographic fieldwork and 56 interviews with a racially and politically diverse religious group, I examine how members play up identities and beliefs that are not shared by all and how comembers respond. This analysis reveals two pathways that playing up difference takes: an engagement pathway and an avoidance pathway. The engagement pathway depends on the activation of shared structural, relational, and epistemic foundations. I conclude with a broader consideration of how playing up difference relates to the pursuit of plurality and wholeness in contemporary organizations and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of political exclusion in the world has continued to increase among different ethnic groups, and this has continued to generate tension. However, in Nigeria, the inception of the current democratic dispensation in 2015 led to the politics of exclusion in sheds of opinions of individuals whose contributions are required for the development of the country and in political appointments of people from particular religious and ethnic groups. Though the federal character principle of affirmative action has received reasonable scholarly attention, these studies have failed to examine how non-adherence to this policy initiative has increased the marginalization of the Southeast zone of Nigeria from 2015 to 2019. Based on the expository strength of the social exclusion theory and through a rigorous content analysis of data collected using the documentary method, it was argued that the non-implementation of this principle increased the marginalization of the southeast zone. Tables and figures validated these results in our analysis. Thus, emphasis is not only placed on affirmative action but rather on the manner in which it is performed. Our thought for policy implications considered the urgent need to review extant laws and policies enacted on inclusiveness, focusing on the yearly release of data by the commission across the country and effective sanctions for defaulters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The media often limit religious coverage to reporting on statements, appointments, opinions, and activities, ignoring in-depth treatment and emphasizing negative news. Media, rather than helping to combat prejudice and promote understanding between communities, have contributed to fuelling intolerance towards religious communities. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the presence and treatment of religious issues. Through a combination of content analysis focused on Catalan media publications between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021, and a focus group with 12 journalists specialized in religious coverage for Catalan newspapers, this research sheds light on the prevailing trends, seeking to answer what is the space of religious content, which can include both content messages produced by religious communities that refer to their own or other faiths and/or content that discusses issues related to religions or religious groups. Occupies in the media agenda, how this content is addressed, and which are the perceptions of journalists regarding the coverage of religious issues. Moreover, we seek to unveil potential actions needed to improve it. The results of this study suggest that there is a tendency to publish limited religious content in the media, potentially shaping perceptions of religion. Furthermore, when religious topics are covered, they focus on Catholicism and Islam, marginalizing other faiths. What is more, stereotypes and misconceptions persist, which could be due to their continued priority to cover scandalous or negative events related to religion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In 2018, Ireland conducted a referendum, ultimately supporting the legalisation of abortion. The views of religious minority groups can go unheard 'by an insensitive majority' in national cultural debates. This study explores female Muslim Irish university students' perspectives on abortion and the impact of the 2018 Irish abortion debate on their sense of belonging within Ireland. Methods: Ten female Muslim university students completed semi-structured interviews. The interview comprised seven open-ended questions examining perspectives on abortion and a sense of national belonging. A thematic analysis was carried out on the data. Results: Six major themes emerged: (1) specific circumstances, (2) Islam, (3) family, (4) misuse of new laws, (5) stable sense of national belonging, (6) consequences of historical abortion legislation. Participants were largely supportive of the legal changes. Participants indicated that their sense of national belonging might have been affected if their religious beliefs had conflicted with the referendum outcome. Conclusions: Participants largely supported the legalisation of abortion in Ireland, provided that the new laws aligned with their Islamic beliefs. The research indicated the referendum did not affect young Muslim women's sense of belonging in Ireland. Policy Implications: Many national debates on social issues focus on winning majority support. This research highlighted the importance of canvasing and reflecting on the perspectives of people from minorities in order to reinforce a sense of larger political belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the complex Udmurt religious situation. The Udmurt, a minority group in Central Russia, have an animistic background and live today in different administrative units of the Russian Federation: they have their own Republic, Udmurtia, in which the majority of the population is composed by ethnic Orthodox Russians, but they live also, from West to East, in the Kirov oblast, in the Mari El Republic, in Tatarstan, in Bashkortostan, and in some smaller groups eastwards. In the core territory they were submitted to forced Evangelisation by the Orthodox Russians after their integration into Muscovy, in the 16th century. Eventually, the imposed conversion succeeded, while in regions where the dominant religion was Islam, and where many fled under pressure, they kept their original religious practice. This article investigates this group's religious affiliations and real practice today, between Orthodoxy and Islam, observing that where Islam dominates, animism thrives while where Orthodoxy dominates, different forms of syncretistic religious practice keep the former worldview alive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the role of liturgy, ritual, and pastoral care in responding to collective trauma in diverse communities. It acknowledges the wounds experienced by black, brown, Asian, LGBTQ+, indigenous, and religious groups, as well as victims of wars and natural disasters. The author emphasizes the importance of ongoing discussion, resources, and leadership in addressing collective trauma and healing wounded communities. The article discusses tensions such as natural versus human-caused disasters, accountability versus forgiveness, and cohesive versus dynamic communities. It highlights the need for spaces of lament, protest, and grief, and the importance of adapting liturgical practices to match the specific needs and phases of recovery. The text also raises questions about the relationship between faith and politics, the self-care of religious leaders, and the ongoing work of responding to wounded communities. It concludes by emphasizing the need for curiosity, collaboration, and compassion in addressing the wounds of various communities and exploring new ritual practices. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a special issue of the journal Religions that focuses on the relationship between religion and the media. The issue explores how religion influences traditional and online media, as well as broader social communication processes. It includes studies on the thematizing power of religion in media content, the construction of religious meaning, and the visual components of religious framing. The special issue also contains empirical research from various countries, including Romania, Switzerland, Hungary, and Russia. The studies cover topics such as online religious worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, media coverage of religious communities, and the discourse of Christianity in political rhetoric. The special issue provides a comprehensive overview of the intersection between religion and the media, drawing from disciplines such as media science, philosophy, sociology, and linguistics. [Extracted from the article]

Multinationalism and the presence of many different religious groups in the country can be causes of inter-ethnic and inter-confessional conflicts. A tool to help avoid them is the implementation of an effective legislative mechanism. The research aims to investigate the legal foundations of confessional relations in Kazakhstan, including constitutional norms, norms of laws and bylaws, and the provisions of international acts in the sphere of relations between the state and religion. The system of methods of scientific knowledge of different levels – from the most general methods to special methods of legal science – was used to implement the goal. The study, the model of stateconfessional relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, its basic principles, as well as the existing legal support of this model were analysed and conducted. The authors concluded that the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan regulating confessional relations partially corresponds to international normative legal instruments regulating freedom of religion. In addition, the study showed that the model of state-confessional relations in force in the Republic of Kazakhstan contributes to the observance of citizens’ rights to freedom of religion, the prevention of inter-confessional conflicts among religious groups within the country, and the establishment of peace. The practical significance of the results makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of the current mechanism of legislative regulation of confessional relations and to identify the main problems and ways to resolve them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the effects of relational and instrumental message strategies on US residents' perception of rattlesnakes—animals that tend to generate feelings of fear, disgust, or hatred but are nevertheless key members of healthy ecosystems. We deployed an online survey to social media users (n = 1,182) to describe perceptions of rattlesnakes and assess the change after viewing a randomly selected relational or instrumental video message. An 8–item, pre–and post–Rattlesnake Perception Test (RPT) evaluated perception variables along emotional, knowledge, and behavioral gradients on a 5–point Likert scale; the eight responses were combined to produce an Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception (ARP) score for each participant. We found that people from Abrahamic religions (i.e., Christianity, Judaism, Islam) and those identifying as female were associated with low initial perceptions of rattlesnakes, whereas agnostics and individuals residing in the Midwest region and in rural residential areas had relatively favorable perceptions. Overall, both videos produced positive changes in rattlesnake perception, although the instrumental video message led to a greater increase in ARP than the relational message. The relational message was associated with significant increases in ARP only among females, agnostics, Baby Boomers (age 57–75), and Generation–Z (age 18–25 to exclude minors). The instrumental video message was associated with significant increases in ARP, and this result varied by religious group. ARP changed less in those reporting prior experience with a venomous snake bite (to them, a friend, or a pet) than in those with no such experience. Our data suggest that relational and instrumental message strategies can improve people's perceptions of unpopular and potentially dangerous wildlife, but their effectiveness may vary by gender, age, religious beliefs, and experience. These results can be used to hone and personalize communication strategies to improve perceptions of unpopular wildlife species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The varying perspectives held by Indonesian society often lead to conflicts between religious groups, particularly when one group believes that safety and truth are exclusive to its membership. It is possible to address this issue by intensely studying Islam and adopting a moderation and tolerance mindset. The Islamic concept of moderation is known as rahmatan lil alamin. Islam's spiritual underpinnings ensure global peace, harmony, and fraternity among all peoples. A shallow understanding of religion causes people to act towards extremes, believing that they are right and others are wrong. The results of this research show that kalam science can be a means of contributing to a person's actions and behavior in understanding and realizing the sense of diversity that is khilafiah and give birth to a moderate attitude so that Kalam Science can present a context and paradigm for religious moderation, and not be quick to place blame on others. This issue appears because a person with a deeper understanding of religion (theology) is more knowledgeable of societal inequalities in both the religious and social domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central European countries with a historically dominant Roman Catholic heritage belong to a particular cluster in respect to the governance of religion. This paper focuses on Hungary and Slovakia and addresses the effect of religious nationalism on the regimes of governance of religion in the two countries. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, there was a brief period of neutral stance towards religion, which was characterized by liberal values. With the introduction of the bilateral Concordat agreements with the Holy See, both countries started to treat traditional Christian Churches preferentially. By the 2010s legislation in both countries created restrictive entry barriers for "new" religions. This created two or multi-tiered systems for "old" and "new" religions, in which the former enjoyed closer relationship with the state. As a result, the separation of church and state has become blurred. Preferentially treated churches reappeared in the public space as providers of certain educational and social services. Preferentially treated churches and the state developed asymmetrically interdependent relationships, the state having the upper hand. Meanwhile, increasingly populist and nationalist parties instrumentalized religion by involving Christianity in their nationalistic political discourse. This helped create a normative space, in which the state is able to give further preferential treatment to certain religious groups over others. The emphasis on Christian national identity underpinned these governments' narratives that conflates migration with security and Islam, which pushed those religious groups on the margins, which do not fit in the religious nationalist narrative of the increasingly right- and populism-leaning governing elite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals often hold beliefs in religion and in science, but how they mutually function is not well‐understood. We examined these conjoint influences by examining their relative contributions to individuals' global meaning systems. We also examined whether subgroups of participants could be identified in terms of relative influence of religious or science beliefs on their meaning systems. A nationally representative sample of 300 American adults completed online surveys. Results suggested that science beliefs and religion beliefs comprise separate but only modestly negatively correlated dimensions. Both contributed similarly to the explanation of world assumptions, but only religious beliefs generally predicted goals, values and sense of meaning in life. Latent profile analysis produced a three‐profile solution: one profile of moderate science and religious beliefs represented half the sample while the remainder split evenly between predominantly religious and predominantly science beliefs. In general, across most aspects of global meaning, the religious beliefs group was higher than the science beliefs and moderate beliefs in both groups. Results of this first systematic investigation of the separate effects of beliefs in religion and in science on meaning systems suggest that the balance of these beliefs is a potentially important individual difference warranting further investigation and elaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the Daiva Inscription, an ancient text from the reign of Xerxes I, which mentions the destruction of temples belonging to a group called daivas. Scholars have debated the identity of the daivas and Xerxes' policy towards them. Some argue that the daivas were false gods and that Xerxes took drastic measures against religions other than his own, while others suggest that the inscription reflects conflicts among worshippers of Auramazdā. The article explores different interpretations of the inscription and its significance in understanding the religious policies of the Achaemenid Empire. It emphasizes that the inscription should be understood in its intellectual and political context, as a proclamation of Xerxes' royal persona and the ideology of legitimate kingship and empire. [Extracted from the article]

This study explores the relationship between religiosity, spirituality, and loneliness in the United States, using the 2018 General Social Survey to assess their interactions against a backdrop of declining traditional religious affiliation and a rise in "spiritual but not religious" identification. It examines religion and spirituality's capacity to counteract loneliness, a condition with significant health implications. The analysis uncovers complex relationships between aspects of religious life and loneliness, showing no mitigating role of spirituality when controlling for other factors, with complex and varied negative relationships of religious service attendance and self-rate religiosity to different aspects of loneliness. Yet, any potentially protective effect of religion varies, with minority religious groups reporting feelings of increased loneliness. These findings underscore religion and spirituality's nuanced roles in emotional well-being, indicating that their benefits (or not) against loneliness are complex, varied, and depend on the aspect of religion or loneliness observed, along with non-religious factors. The paper contributes to the literature on societal loneliness, changing religious and spiritual engagements, and highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to explore the role of religion and spirituality in understanding loneliness specifically, and personal and social well-being more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the application of intercultural communication patterns in preventing conflicts between religious groups in Kalurahan Pendowoharjo, Kapanewon Sewon, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta. Communication is essential for individuals and society, and effective communication can have a positive impact on everyone's quality of life. The communication pattern is a behavior that has a position in a group in the process of conveying a message. Intercultural communication is an interaction between individuals with different cultural backgrounds. In Kalurahan Pendowoharjo, despite having different beliefs, the community strives to live together and maintain a high level of tolerance and respect for each other's differences. The study aims to understand how intercultural communication patterns can prevent conflicts between religious groups in Kalurahan Pendowoharjo. The research will use qualitative methods to explore the efforts made by the community to maintain religious harmony and the intercultural communication patterns between the majority and minority religious groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article employs social listening techniques to capture the themes and public response to popular coronavirus-related social media posts made by leaders via their public Facebook pages at two of Ghana's largest and fastest-growing churches: The Church of Pentecost (CoP) and the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC). We examine how religious leaders employed social media in response to the pandemic, and how these religious groups reinforced their relevance and reinvented themselves in the face of COVID-19. Additionally, we explore the major beliefs, perceptions, and values that the church's social media users portrayed in response to the church's pandemic postings, using social listening techniques and sentiment analysis. These results show how, while adapting to the realities demanded by the pandemic, the social media presence of two of Ghana's largest churches served as a site for the contestation and negotiation of the religious authority of the leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on African megachurches and their responses to the crisis. It examines the role of science and spirituality in Nigeria's Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), the innovative strategies employed by Ghana's megachurches to retain their congregations through digital interactions, and the predictions and interpretations of the pandemic by African charismatic prophets. The authors argue that religion played a central role in African Christian responses to the pandemic and explore the implications of bringing a Pentecostal/charismatic religion to bear on a situation that is typically addressed by science and medicine. The article highlights the complex and influential role of African megachurches in shaping African identity and politics. [Extracted from the article]

The Qur'an prohibits the use of intoxicants such as alcohol. However, the use of psychedelics falls somewhere in between social acceptance and outright prohibition among Muslim communities. Due to the cultural and religious stigma associated with the use of psychedelics among Muslims, it is difficult to encourage Muslim participation in psychedelic research and therapy, despite the increasing need to include diverse ethnic and religious groups in such endeavours. To pave the way in this regard, the present study explores the historical as well as the current perspective on the use of plant medicine in Muslim communities and cultures, specifically focusing on Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, to shed light on the cultural considerations involved in employing psychedelic-assisted therapy with this population. Included are some history of plant medicine in Sufi rituals and cultural perceptions of the psychedelic plant Peganum harmala. Finally, the relevance of psychedelic-assisted therapy for Muslim women, in particular, to alleviate trauma resulting from a history of mistreatment, neglect, and discrimination in Western countries is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay analyzes John Stuart Mill's conception of liberty in the context of modern culture. It makes the case that Mill's "Harm Principle" in large part lays the basis for the development of positive social relationships and a peaceful way of life, as well as the improvement of arrangements meant to bind the many parts of an already split and fractured society together. The "Harm Principle" is a result of Mill's theory of liberty, which is outlined in his renowned essay On Liberty and is a crucial component of it. As a result, the work at hand in this essay entails both a critical analysis of Mill's "Harm principle" and the identification of specific social interactions (such as the sociopolitical relations that exist in Nigeria and the inter-group relations that exist among religious groups), where this idea may be used to promote societal peace. Since the issues are in our surrounding area (Nigeria) have aroused our interest in using Mills Harm's principle, instances of our analysis of ill social relationships from Nigeria, which represents various societies, are taken. However, this effort does not assert that such a theory is limitless or that its use would be problematic without specific constraints. In light of this, the work offers to determine the boundaries of how far the Harm principle may be employed in regulating human behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]