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Religions, Volume 15, Issue 11 (November 2024) – 122 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Mindfulness has exploded in popularity across many Western countries, including Ireland. This article explores three distinctive iterations of mindfulness operative in the Irish context. The secularization and detraditionalization of Ireland from a conservatively Catholic to a post-Catholic society is examined, drawing on theologian Lieven Boeve's work. As traditionally Catholic identities, beliefs, and practices recede, this article presents differing interpretations of mindfulness which have emerged into this changed spiritual landscape. The origins, developments, and recontextualizations of mindfulness from a Buddhist practice to a Western phenomenon are also traced. The modes presented include psychological and clinical mindfulness, commodified spirituality, and post-secular spirituality. View this paper
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9 pages, 242 KiB  
Editorial
Introduction: The Intersection of Religion with Radicalization and De-Radicalization Processes in Comparative Perspective
by Roberta Medda-Windischer, Alexandra Cosima Budabin and Mattia Zeba
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111410 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 556
Abstract
Radicalization continues to be considered a contentious concept with little consensus on what categorizes a movement or individual as “radical” (or extreme) [...] Full article
13 pages, 349 KiB  
Article
Simeon the God-Receiver (Luke 2:21–35) as a Translator of the Septuagint: Investigating the Sources of a Popular Hagiographic Legend in Orthodox Christianity
by Constantin Horia Oancea
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1409; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111409 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 484
Abstract
The legend of the old man Simeon, who received Jesus in his arms and was one of the Septuagint translators, is almost unknown in Western Christianity but is very popular today among Orthodox Christians. The version circulating in Orthodox churches is based on [...] Read more.
The legend of the old man Simeon, who received Jesus in his arms and was one of the Septuagint translators, is almost unknown in Western Christianity but is very popular today among Orthodox Christians. The version circulating in Orthodox churches is based on the account in Demetrius of Rostov’s Lives of the Saints. The article explores the occurrences of the legend in modern, medieval Slavonic, Byzantine, and oriental writings and attempts to identify the stages of the transmission of the legend from antiquity to modern times. The historical analysis and the comparison of the motifs found in these writings make the hypothesis of a Byzantine archetype of the legend plausible. This writing has been lost, but it was previously translated into Syriac, Arabic, and Slavonic, contributing to the spread of the legend in Eastern and Slavic Christianity. The legend builds on the identification of Simeon in Luke’s Gospel with Shimʿon ha-Tsaddiq. It interprets Luke 2:26 by constructing a pre-history of the episode that places Simeon into the time of the Septuagint translation. The miracle of prolonging Righteous Simeon’s life functions as a reconfirmation of the fundamental character of Isaiah 7:14 for Christianity. Full article
21 pages, 563 KiB  
Article
Sacred Space, Material Culture, and Ritual Practice for Installing Parasols in Dunhuang
by Xin Yu
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1408; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111408 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 601
Abstract
This paper aims to shed new light on the religious function and symbolic meaning of parasols (san 傘) in Buddhist ritual practices, tracing the origins of the concept and examining its representations in texts and art. The author focuses on manuscripts, particularly [...] Read more.
This paper aims to shed new light on the religious function and symbolic meaning of parasols (san 傘) in Buddhist ritual practices, tracing the origins of the concept and examining its representations in texts and art. The author focuses on manuscripts, particularly the “Liturgies for Installing Parasols” (Ansan wen 安傘文) from Dunhuang, and argues that parasols were used as special ritual instruments to guard the local community. Their sacred power stemmed from the apotheosis of the parasol’s practical function of shielding and protecting people, which was further enhanced by beliefs surrounding the “Mother of Buddhas with Great White Canopy” (Da bai sangai fomu 大白傘蓋佛母) in the late Tang and Five Dynasties. Erecting parasols or carrying them in processions around the city was considered equivalent to demarcating boundaries, establishing defenses, and creating sanctuaries. Whether worn as a protective object, placed at the city’s four gates as a symbol of safeguarding passage, or installed in processions, the Great White Canopy Dhāraṇī and the practice of installing parasols distinguished the inside from the outside, self from others, and purity from impurity. This practice not only had the power to expel plagues and disasters, but also solemnified spaces, bringing blessings, purification, health, and peace. The parasol’s practical functions were continuously extended and mythologized, becoming a central object in rituals aimed at sanctifying space. The rise of the Great White Canopy Dhāraṇī belief in Dunhuang further reinforced its role in local customs. This method of spatial sanctification reflects the internal logic of esoteric Buddhist practices while sharing conceptual and technical similarities with traditional Chinese apotropaic arts (fangshu 方術) and Daoist exorcistic rituals. Through the grand and regular performance of these ceremonies, political legitimacy and communal well-being were successfully established. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The History of Religions in China: The Rise, Fall, and Return)
10 pages, 296 KiB  
Article
The Tension Between Buddhism and Science Within Contemporary Chinese Buddhists: A Case Study on the Religious Conversion Narrative Among Monastics in Larung Gar Buddhist Academy
by Yingxu Liu and Saiping An
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111407 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 525
Abstract
This article delves into the perception of monastics from Larung Gar Buddhist Academy of Western China concerning the intertwining relationship between Buddhism and science, along with the impact of this perception on their worldview and life trajectory. Many monastics at Larung Gar Buddhist [...] Read more.
This article delves into the perception of monastics from Larung Gar Buddhist Academy of Western China concerning the intertwining relationship between Buddhism and science, along with the impact of this perception on their worldview and life trajectory. Many monastics at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy initially held a high regard for science, dismissing Buddhism as superstition. However, upon gaining a comprehensive understanding of Buddhism through various opportunities, they came to believe that certain tenets of Buddhism are compatible with science, even suggesting that Buddhism could address some of the methodological and epistemological limitations of science and offer solutions to some issues that science is unable to resolve. This ultimately led them to embrace Buddhism and renounce worldly life. This study employs a case study to investigate the understanding of the relationship between Buddhism and science amongst the general public in contemporary China, an area underexplored by previous scholarship that predominantly concentrated on the philosophical scrutiny of the apologetic discourses towards the reconciliation between Buddhism and science of influential Buddhist ascetics and lay practitioners. Also, this study endeavors to demonstrate that despite the ongoing secularization of contemporary Chinese Buddhism in the “public sphere”, within the “private sphere” of Chinese Buddhism, there remain individuals who are pursuing the religious, sacred, and transcendental dimensions of Buddhism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sociological Study of Religion)
16 pages, 3005 KiB  
Article
The Prophet Problem
by Reuven Firestone
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1406; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111406 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 331
Abstract
Because scripture represents the direct word of God, it is the most sacred source for authority in the scriptural monotheisms. Scripture is conveyed to humanity through extraordinary individuals known as prophets. But if the purported prophet is a false prophet, then the conveyed [...] Read more.
Because scripture represents the direct word of God, it is the most sacred source for authority in the scriptural monotheisms. Scripture is conveyed to humanity through extraordinary individuals known as prophets. But if the purported prophet is a false prophet, then the conveyed message is false, resulting in the collapse of the structure upon which religious authority rests. This problem was recognized in the Hebrew Bible, and accusations of flawed prophecy and deceitful prophets figure prominently in relations between the scriptural monotheisms. Jews do not accept the authenticity of Jesus’ role as messiah (and prophet) in the NT, and Jews and Christians do not accept the authenticity of Muhammad’s role as prophet in the Qur’an. But the rejection is unidirectional. As a rule, established religions cannot accept new prophets, while new religions accept the prophets that lived before, though with certain qualifications. Each of the three classic scriptural monotheisms also declares an “end” to prophecy after the canonization of its scripture. Yet despite these deadlines, each acknowledges that God could nevertheless send another prophet, leaving open the wild card for new prophecy, new revelation, and even new religion; within each of the classic scriptural monotheisms, individuals arose after the canonization of scripture who were deemed by many to be prophets or something “like” prophets. This essay presents a preliminary phenomenology of prophethood, around which much of the religious polemics between the scriptural monotheisms are constructed. Full article
11 pages, 231 KiB  
Article
Ecospiritual Praxis: Cultivating Connection to Address the Climate Crisis
by Cherice Bock
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1405; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111405 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 375
Abstract
This article suggests ecospirituality as a connection point between religion, science, and other disciplines, as well as the relationships between people, the land and waters, the community of all life, and the Divine. Ecospirituality connects different disciplines and highlights the interconnectedness between people [...] Read more.
This article suggests ecospirituality as a connection point between religion, science, and other disciplines, as well as the relationships between people, the land and waters, the community of all life, and the Divine. Ecospirituality connects different disciplines and highlights the interconnectedness between people and the rest of the natural world, and it also catalyzes action through spiritual experience and meaning-making. A review of different disciplines’ research on ecospirituality is provided. A description of an ecospiritual praxis cycle is offered, based on interviews and survey data. This ecospiritual praxis cycle may be able to help move people toward practical and efficacious actions of care for the community of all life to participate in the collective transformation that needs to occur in order to address the climate and ecological crises. This article identifies disconnection between theory and action regarding climate and environmental knowledge and collective action as one of the main problems, which “undisciplining” religion and science can help overcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Undisciplining Religion and Science: Science, Religion and Nature)
18 pages, 332 KiB  
Article
An Exploratory Study of the Moderating Effect of Religious Service Attendance on the Relationship Between Discrimination and Suicidal Behaviors in an Immigrant Sample
by Karen Mason, Anthony Rando, Susanna Im, Valter F. De Souza, Jr., Bellanira Rynbrandt, Dylan O’Shell and Bianca Floresde Oliveira
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1404; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111404 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 519
Abstract
This cross-sectional study explored the moderating effect of religious service attendance on the relationship between discrimination and suicidal behaviors in a community sample of immigrants. A convenience sample of 348 individuals with immigrant experience to the U.S. completed a survey in either English, [...] Read more.
This cross-sectional study explored the moderating effect of religious service attendance on the relationship between discrimination and suicidal behaviors in a community sample of immigrants. A convenience sample of 348 individuals with immigrant experience to the U.S. completed a survey in either English, Portuguese or Spanish. The relationship between discrimination and suicidal behaviors was moderated by religious service attendance, equipping help from religious communities (RCs) and not having experienced discrimination in RCs. Other protections included being born outside the U.S. First-generation immigrants also reported less discrimination, which was a risk factor for suicidal behaviors. Other risk factors were refugee status, higher acculturation, discrimination in RCs, and certain types of help from RCs. Help that equipped them to navigate the U.S. system was associated with lower suicide risk. Community partners and RCs can help immigrants by collaborating to promote immigrant mental health because of the high religious affiliation of immigrants. Full article
16 pages, 329 KiB  
Article
“Where You Go I Will Go and Where You Stay I Will Stay”: How Exegetical Poetry Enriches Our Understanding of Ruth 1:16–17 and 1:20–21
by Erin Martine Hutton
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1403; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111403 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 605
Abstract
It is easy to underestimate Ruth. The story is short and sweet, in elementary Hebrew, about a loyal and obedient daughter-in-law, or so we have been led to believe. The book and its eponymous character are surprisingly complex. Although Ruth is an exemplar [...] Read more.
It is easy to underestimate Ruth. The story is short and sweet, in elementary Hebrew, about a loyal and obedient daughter-in-law, or so we have been led to believe. The book and its eponymous character are surprisingly complex. Although Ruth is an exemplar of Hebrew narrative, it contains two poetic insertions in the first chapter. Literal translations lose the poetry, and poetic translations are less faithful to the original language. Ruth has been chosen for road-testing a range of hermeneutical approaches, and here is one more. This paper approaches these poetic insertions and, indeed, the book of Ruth, as poetry and explores a new method for examining and interpreting Hebrew poetic texts, namely, exegetical poetry. I pay particular attention to poetic devices—parsing for parallelism, alliteration, and other poetic elements—and explore their significance. As I translate and exegete, I compose poetry reflecting the form, content, and theological themes of the Hebrew poetry through the use of similar English devices, imagery, and mood. The result is an amalgam of showing through exegetical poetry and telling through prose commentary, enriching our understanding of the characterization of Ruth and Naomi, and the relationship between these poetic insertions and the broader narrative. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Narrating the Divine: Exploring Biblical Hebrew Poetry and Narratives)
14 pages, 296 KiB  
Article
The Fall, Rise, and Fall of Faith: Catholic Lapsing, Belief, and the New Evangelisation in Japan
by H. Francisco Ngo and Christine Lee
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1402; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111402 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 626
Abstract
This paper explores the phenomenon of lapsing among young Japanese Catholics, highlighting how both local and translocal experiences of Roman Catholicism shape the ebbs and flows of faith for our interlocutors. While global Catholic events such as World Youth Day can reignite faith [...] Read more.
This paper explores the phenomenon of lapsing among young Japanese Catholics, highlighting how both local and translocal experiences of Roman Catholicism shape the ebbs and flows of faith for our interlocutors. While global Catholic events such as World Youth Day can reignite faith by fostering a sense of belonging to a larger, global Church, the contrast with the small and socially isolated Catholic community in Japan often precipitates lapsing. This study examines the influence of the New Evangelisation, which promotes active belief and translocal unity, and argues that this movement can both strengthen global Catholic identity and exacerbate feelings of alienation in local, non-Catholic societies. Ultimately, we stress, in the context of Roman Catholicism, that lapsing should not be seen as simply a rupture in faith but as part of a continuous, if turbulent, Catholic identity, mediated by translocal flows of belief and institutional authority. Full article
27 pages, 578 KiB  
Article
Temple Diplomacy, Sacred Rites, and Overseas Chinese During the Reign of Song Emperor Zhenzong (997–1022)
by Gregory Sattler
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1401; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111401 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 541
Abstract
Throughout most of Chinese history, leaders viewed the migration and movement of their subjects beyond state borders as a symptom of poor governance. As a result, record keepers generally avoided addressing the topic of Chinese people traveling or residing overseas. There is, however, [...] Read more.
Throughout most of Chinese history, leaders viewed the migration and movement of their subjects beyond state borders as a symptom of poor governance. As a result, record keepers generally avoided addressing the topic of Chinese people traveling or residing overseas. There is, however, an exceptional moment in Chinese history that provides valuable insight into the early establishment of Chinese communities abroad. Facing political pressure after signing a humiliating peace treaty with foreign adversaries in 1005, the Song dynasty emperor Zhenzong (968–1022, r. 997–1022) utilized unconventional forms of religious diplomacy and revived ancient rites to shore up support for his rule. The Feng and Shan rites were the highest level of sacrifice that an emperor could undertake, and they were only carried out by several emperors prior to Zhenzong’s reign. One of the requirements of this complex ritual was for the sovereign to attract foreign peoples from afar by his virtuous character, and so Zhenzong’s reign witnessed major initiatives to attract foreign envoys from states such as Srivijaya (Sumatra), Dai Viet (northern Vietnam), Japan, and India. Zhenzong’s reign also incorporated forms of diplomacy that originated in South and Southeast Asia, namely, the construction of temples in foreign states to enhance his spiritual authority. This essay will demonstrate that Emperor Zhenzong relied on Chinese merchants residing overseas to work with foreign leaders to coordinate the participation of foreign emissaries in such forms of temple diplomacy and in the Feng and Shan sacrifices. The significance of these events brought the activities of Chinese people trading and residing overseas to the attention of the Song court and its chroniclers, and as a result, we are left with the earliest indications of Chinese communities abroad in official Chinese histories. Full article
14 pages, 303 KiB  
Article
Buddhist Discourse in Changing Times: The Significance of Buddhist Magazines in Early 20th-Century Korea with a Focus on Bulgyo
by Junghyun Kwon and Jongjin Kim
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1400; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111400 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 615
Abstract
In early 20th-century Korea, Buddhist magazines emerged as vital extra-canonical sources, offering a modern platform that complemented traditional Buddhist texts. These publications navigated the complexities between succeeding Buddhist tradition and embracing modernity, addressing the historical challenges of the 19th century while also contributing [...] Read more.
In early 20th-century Korea, Buddhist magazines emerged as vital extra-canonical sources, offering a modern platform that complemented traditional Buddhist texts. These publications navigated the complexities between succeeding Buddhist tradition and embracing modernity, addressing the historical challenges of the 19th century while also contributing to the preservation of national sovereignty and the formation of a modern Korean Buddhist identity. Serving as a forum for scholarly works on Buddhist translation, doctrine, and history, as well as literature, education, and propagation, these magazines became central to both intellectual and spiritual discourse. Of the more than 30 periodicals published during the Japanese occupation, Bulgyo stood out as the longest-running and most influential magazine, with its complete archive preserved. Bulgyo brought together various members of the Buddhist community as both contributors and readers, broadening the scope of Buddhism to include a diverse range of topics such as academia, literature, art, women, and children. This article explores the role and significance of Korean Buddhist magazines during the Japanese colonial period, with a particular focus on Bulgyo, and examines how the publication helped shape Buddhist modernity within Korea’s complex political and religious landscape. Full article
20 pages, 806 KiB  
Article
Modern Postural Yoga, Meditation, and Spiritual Seeking: Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and “Moving Meditation”
by Masayuki Ito
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1399; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111399 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 602
Abstract
This study focuses on yoga as part of contemporary spiritual culture (CSC) and examines the relationship between modern yoga and meditation. First, I investigate the purpose of practice and the position of meditation in classical yoga and hatha yoga; I clarify that classical [...] Read more.
This study focuses on yoga as part of contemporary spiritual culture (CSC) and examines the relationship between modern yoga and meditation. First, I investigate the purpose of practice and the position of meditation in classical yoga and hatha yoga; I clarify that classical yoga aims to stop the fluctuations of the mind by subduing physical activity, while hatha yoga aims to activate energy by working on the body, which is a microcosm of the universe. Next, I explore the characteristics of modern postural yoga (MPY, which was established in the early 20th century) and how it differs from traditional yoga. Based on the above discussion, I examine ashtanga vinyasa yoga (AVY), a major school of MPY that has greatly influenced many other forms of yoga. I point out several interpretive frameworks for a series of physical practices in ashtanga yoga (within the same school of yoga). While the Indian tradition views asanas (physical postures) as preparation for meditation, the Western counterculture-influenced yoga that developed after the late 1960s views asanas as a microcosm of life, as a search for spirituality, and as “moving meditation”. Full article
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18 pages, 286 KiB  
Article
How the Science–Religion Interface of Christian Religious Leaders Shape Their Perceptions of Depression
by Esther Chan and Di Di
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1398; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111398 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 548
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between Christian religious leaders’ beliefs about the science and religion interface and their understanding of the causes and treatments for depression. We focus on Christian religious leaders because they often serve as first responders for congregants seeking help [...] Read more.
This study explores the relationship between Christian religious leaders’ beliefs about the science and religion interface and their understanding of the causes and treatments for depression. We focus on Christian religious leaders because they often serve as first responders for congregants seeking help with mental health issues and are influential figures in maintaining the authority of religious institutions. Previous research has neglected the role of religious leaders’ perceptions of the science–religion relationship in shaping their views on mental health. Relying on responses from approximately 1200 Christian religious leaders from the National Survey of Religious Leaders in the United States, this study adopts ordinal logistic regression to examine how epistemological conflict, epistemic openness, and views of institutional conflict shape religious leaders’ interpretations of and treatments for depression. This study contributes to knowledge of science and religion, religious leaders, and mental health in the United States. Full article
12 pages, 217 KiB  
Article
Performance Authenticity in the 2016 Liturgies at the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris
by Pierre M. Hegy
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1397; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111397 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 463
Abstract
This sociological study describes the exceptional qualities of the 2016 Notre Dame liturgies. My criterion of evaluation is authenticity, defined as faithfulness to a transcendent purpose in liturgical performances. The four areas of prayer, singing, participation, and visualization at Notre Dame are first [...] Read more.
This sociological study describes the exceptional qualities of the 2016 Notre Dame liturgies. My criterion of evaluation is authenticity, defined as faithfulness to a transcendent purpose in liturgical performances. The four areas of prayer, singing, participation, and visualization at Notre Dame are first compared to those of Papal Masses, a Protestant celebration, Sunday masses during the pandemic, and the daily 30-min Masses on American television networks. At Notre Dame, all the aspects of the liturgy were choreographed by the rector-master of ceremonies and visualized through theological concepts. The entrance procession was different each week, ranging from only two acolytes and the celebrating bishop to about fifty priests and several bishops. The performance of the choir was adapted to the needs of the weekly liturgies. The participation of the congregation was encouraged by professional singing leaders, and visualization through vertical and horizon images conveyed a sense of pilgrimage toward eternity. Is this a model for the universal Church, or specific to the French Church? The election of a pope from the Global South suggests that Catholicism has moved away from European models toward greater engagement in the world. Full article
8 pages, 209 KiB  
Article
Paul Within Judaism Within Paganism
by Paula Fredriksen
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1396; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111396 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 417
Abstract
Judaism was not Paul’s background, but his context, and much of his gospel’s content. Modern Pauline Studies, however, often see Paul’s mission as an expression of what he found wrong with Judaism, a Judaism that supposedly discouraged relations with Gentiles. This essay investigates [...] Read more.
Judaism was not Paul’s background, but his context, and much of his gospel’s content. Modern Pauline Studies, however, often see Paul’s mission as an expression of what he found wrong with Judaism, a Judaism that supposedly discouraged relations with Gentiles. This essay investigates all the various ways that Jews and Gentiles comfortably cohabited the Graeco-Roman Diaspora. What spurred Paul’s mission was not a critique of an ethnically exclusive Judaism, but his conviction that, in Christ, the end times had arrived. Accordingly, he taught that Gentiles should repudiate their own gods and commit exclusively to the worship of Israel’s god. Paul’s contest was not with Jewish law. It was with pagan gods. Both his mission and his message place him firmly within the pluriform Judaism of his time, a Judaism that took its place within the god-congested world of first-century Mediterranean paganism. Full article
17 pages, 266 KiB  
Article
Aquinas, Suicide, and Communities of Faith
by Emily McCarty
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111395 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 498
Abstract
In this paper, I will argue that Aquinas provides a framework for why and how religious communities, specifically Christian religious communities, can minister to those who struggle with suicide. Aquinas thinks that charity makes us friends of God, and to be God’s friend [...] Read more.
In this paper, I will argue that Aquinas provides a framework for why and how religious communities, specifically Christian religious communities, can minister to those who struggle with suicide. Aquinas thinks that charity makes us friends of God, and to be God’s friend is to love one’s neighbor and care for his needs. After examining what Aquinas has to say about suicide, I consider in some detail what he has to say about charity. In light of recent psychological research, I use what Aquinas has to say about charity to suggest ways in which the church should help those struggling with suicidal ideation. Full article
14 pages, 263 KiB  
Article
Henry More and Thomas Hobbes’s Corporeal God
by John Henry
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1394; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111394 - 16 Nov 2024
Viewed by 368
Abstract
Thomas Hobbes’s strict monistic materialism led many contemporaries to believe he must be an atheist—to hold God to be a corporeal being, they claimed, was effectively to deny his existence. This paper is an addition to those works suggesting that Hobbes’s belief in [...] Read more.
Thomas Hobbes’s strict monistic materialism led many contemporaries to believe he must be an atheist—to hold God to be a corporeal being, they claimed, was effectively to deny his existence. This paper is an addition to those works suggesting that Hobbes’s belief in a corporeal God must be taken seriously. Unlike earlier studies on this theme, it emphasises the change in Hobbes’s theism from an insistence early in his career that God’s nature is utterly unknowable (exempting God from the implications of Hobbes’s materialism) to a belief, first stated in 1668, that God is indeed a corporeal being. Seeking to explain this radical change, this article suggests that Hobbes’s later theology was influenced by the Cambridge Platonist Henry More, who developed the idea that God was an extended three-dimensional being. This article briefly considers alternative accounts, suggesting the influence of ancient Stoicism and aether theories, but affirms the influence of Henry More. Full article
12 pages, 560 KiB  
Article
Translation for Performance: Biblical Performance Criticism in Bible Translation
by Jeanette Mathews
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1393; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111393 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 522
Abstract
Biblical Scholars working with ancient texts are engaged in the daily task of Bible translation. A commitment to Biblical Performance Criticism (BPC) can be transformative in the task of translation. It is argued in this paper that responsible translation will work towards replicating [...] Read more.
Biblical Scholars working with ancient texts are engaged in the daily task of Bible translation. A commitment to Biblical Performance Criticism (BPC) can be transformative in the task of translation. It is argued in this paper that responsible translation will work towards replicating the artistry of original transmitters of texts in order to draw out traces of the original orality embedded in the texts. Examples of performance-sensitive translations of texts predominantly from the Hebrew Bible are provided. This e-paper also demonstrates that translations that draw out performative elements contribute to interpretation, especially when such scripts are staged before audiences. Subsequent analysis of the performance including audience response contributes to such interpretation. Performance-sensitive translation and actual performance thus become tools for embodiment and the interpretation of biblical texts in our own time. Full article
21 pages, 3103 KiB  
Article
The Festivity in Honour of Our Lady of Antime in Fafe: An Emerging Tourist Resource?
by José Luis Braga, Catarina Mota, Sandra Brás and Isabel Borges
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111392 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 457
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyse the motivations of the participants of the festivity in honour of Our Lady of Antime in Fafe (located in the north of Portugal) and provide an overview of the tourism opportunities and impacts associated with [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to analyse the motivations of the participants of the festivity in honour of Our Lady of Antime in Fafe (located in the north of Portugal) and provide an overview of the tourism opportunities and impacts associated with the event. To this end, the study analysed the main events on the programme for the 2024 edition of this religious festivity. According to the interviews and participant observations, the impact of the religious festivity in honour of Our Lady of Antime on the faithful who participated was evident. For this study, semi-structured face-to-face interviews and participant observations were conducted, and the former were recorded for subsequent content analysis and categorisation. Participant observation was conducted, focusing on the events that occurred during the religious festivity in honour of the Lady of Antime. The limitations of this study relate to the fact that this is a resource that has not yet been explored as a lever for religious tourism in the municipality, although it has received more media attention in recent years. After carrying out this study, it was possible to conclude that the religious festivity in honour of Our Lady of Antime is attracting more and more believers, and that this event has become a resource that is complementary to the basic tourist resources of the destination of Fafe. Full article
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13 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
Fostering Critical Thinking About the Critique of Religion: An Empirical Multi-Case Analysis
by Sebastian Tjelle Jarmer
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111391 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 751
Abstract
Having the right to criticize religion is important for healthy democracies. However, much critique of religion has led to increased levels of polarization. This article explores how religious education can help facilitate critical thinking regarding the critique of religion. By analyzing actual teaching [...] Read more.
Having the right to criticize religion is important for healthy democracies. However, much critique of religion has led to increased levels of polarization. This article explores how religious education can help facilitate critical thinking regarding the critique of religion. By analyzing actual teaching practices about the critique of religion, this article contributes to the field of religious education research in three ways. First, it contributes empirically to the field of religious education, which to a limited degree has studied authentic classroom practices through observations. Second, it contributes theoretically to the field by analyzing which contextual dependencies of teaching facilitate critical thinking about the critique of religion. Third, this study builds on and adds to the prior research about the critique of religion within religious education, which has mainly been theoretical. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Theologies)
15 pages, 283 KiB  
Article
Religious Doubts and Emotions Toward God in Adolescents: Relation to Self-Esteem and Meaning in Life
by Alice Kosarkova
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1390; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111390 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 493
Abstract
Religious doubt (RD) and emotions toward God (EtGs) are areas of religiosity and spirituality that can play a role in the development and well-being of youth. The aim of this study is to investigate whether RD and EtGs are related to self-esteem and [...] Read more.
Religious doubt (RD) and emotions toward God (EtGs) are areas of religiosity and spirituality that can play a role in the development and well-being of youth. The aim of this study is to investigate whether RD and EtGs are related to self-esteem and meaning in life in adolescents and what factors may be associated with them in a secular setting. A sample of Czech adolescents (n = 984, mean age 16.61, SD 1.21; 28% male) participated in the online survey. We measured RD, EtGs, meaning in life (ML) divided into presence (ML-P) and seeking (ML-S), adolescents’ self-esteem (ASE), faith in the adolescent environment, the perception of religion and church, and religious education (RE). RD and negative EtGs were associated with reduced ML-P. Negative EtGs were associated with a reduction in ASE. However, positive EtGs were associated with an increase in ML-P. Respondents experiencing faith in their environment, having a positive view of church and religion, and enriching RE were more likely to report a decrease in RD and an increase in positive EtGs and vice versa. Our findings suggest that RD and EtGs are related to adolescents’ well-being and point to factors to be adequately addressed to minimize the negative impact of RD and promote positive EtGs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adolescent Religious Development)
14 pages, 538 KiB  
Article
The Active and Critical Participation: A Study on Belonging and Believing Among Young Catholics in Rome
by Andrea Casavecchia, Alba Francesca Canta and Benedetta Turco
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1389; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111389 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 570
Abstract
This article deals with the relationship between young Catholics, their faith, and the Church. Several studies show a progressive distancing of the new generations from traditional religions, especially in European societies. This research focuses on young Catholics and observes their way of believing [...] Read more.
This article deals with the relationship between young Catholics, their faith, and the Church. Several studies show a progressive distancing of the new generations from traditional religions, especially in European societies. This research focuses on young Catholics and observes their way of believing and belonging. Data collection was conducted in the religious and cultural context of the Diocese of Rome through semi-structured interviews with young key informants chosen for their educational engagement with their faith community. The results, analyzed through a reflective and positional approach conducted with N-vivo, highlight the emerging sensitivities of young people interested in the experience of faith and involvement in their community, despite a critical and not submissive sense of belonging towards the ecclesial institution and the proposed educational pathways for young people who are adapting to this new condition. Full article
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12 pages, 240 KiB  
Article
Orthodox Christian Conception of Hell and African Traditional Religion (ATR) Eschatology
by Ada Agada and Bruno Yammeluan Ikuli
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1388; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111388 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 733
Abstract
Hell in orthodox Christian eschatology is presented as a place of eternal punishment for the damned or sinners. Damnation follows from disobedience to God’s will. Hell is contrasted with heaven, a place of eternal reward and benefits for the righteous. In contrast to [...] Read more.
Hell in orthodox Christian eschatology is presented as a place of eternal punishment for the damned or sinners. Damnation follows from disobedience to God’s will. Hell is contrasted with heaven, a place of eternal reward and benefits for the righteous. In contrast to this eschatology, African Traditional Religion (ATR) broadly denies the existence of hell. ATR rather asserts that violators of God’s moral codes receive their punishment on earth while those who have lived ethically laudable lives transition to a new phase of existence in the ancestral realm, the ideal home. Given that the ancestral realm can be compared with the Christian heaven, more or less, African eschatology paints a less gloomy picture of human destiny than orthodox Christian eschatology. We assert, in this article, that the ATR eschatology that denies the existence of hell is more ethically attractive than the Christian eschatology that punishes temporally bounded wrongdoing with eternal damnation. We argue the attractiveness of the African view from the perspective of the understanding of God as a benevolent being, which both orthodox Christian theism and traditional African theism endorse. Full article
15 pages, 287 KiB  
Article
Confessional Religious Education at School in the Face of Contemporary Challenges Based on the Polish Experience
by Radosław Mazur and Remigiusz Szauer
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1387; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111387 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 458
Abstract
Religious education is a standard in European schools, but it is implemented according to different models. Against this background, Poland, with its confessional religious education for which churches and religious associations are responsible, appears as a certain model. However, is this kind of [...] Read more.
Religious education is a standard in European schools, but it is implemented according to different models. Against this background, Poland, with its confessional religious education for which churches and religious associations are responsible, appears as a certain model. However, is this kind of religious education able to meet the needs of today’s children and young people? This article begins with a brief description of religious education in Poland and then focuses on the characteristics of contemporary changes that affect all areas of human life, including religiousness. The hypothesis of the authors, which has found its justification in the proposed text, is the conviction that confessional religious education is able to respond to the needs of its contemporary addressees, but it must also have the ability to change and adapt, especially from the perspective of didactics. It is also important to be able to function in the reality of pluralism and complexity, as well as in the increasingly widespread computerization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Theologies)
12 pages, 254 KiB  
Article
Giovanni Botero on Religion and Politics
by Xin Zhu
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111386 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 493
Abstract
Giovanni Botero’s political thought is significantly influenced by Machiavelli, yet it possesses its own distinctive features, particularly in its religious perspective. In contrast to Machiavelli’s condemnation of Catholicism, Botero argues that Catholicism, far from weakening individuals, could instill in them the courage to [...] Read more.
Giovanni Botero’s political thought is significantly influenced by Machiavelli, yet it possesses its own distinctive features, particularly in its religious perspective. In contrast to Machiavelli’s condemnation of Catholicism, Botero argues that Catholicism, far from weakening individuals, could instill in them the courage to defy death and foster military virtues through the promise of eternal life. While Botero agrees with Machiavelli that religion plays a central role in politics, he asserts that Catholicism is more effective than other sects as it is better suited to maintaining social order and disciplining the human conscience. However, he refutes the idea that religion should serve merely as an instrument of domination. Instead, he suggests that it should be the foundation of the state and the purpose of governance. Furthermore, he maintains that religion and the state are interdependent, functioning together to ensure the maintenance and strengthening of both. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religion and Politics: Interactions and Boundaries)
16 pages, 251 KiB  
Article
Bible Narratives and Youth Religious Identity: An Italian Exploratory Study
by Michele Caputo and Tommaso Rompianesi
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111385 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 355
Abstract
Our article analyzes data from a broader exploratory Italian study on youth imaginaries and the role of narratives in attributing meaning to the world. The research gathered responses from 872 young people (aged 18 to 23) through a digital questionnaire. The data were [...] Read more.
Our article analyzes data from a broader exploratory Italian study on youth imaginaries and the role of narratives in attributing meaning to the world. The research gathered responses from 872 young people (aged 18 to 23) through a digital questionnaire. The data were analyzed with quantitative methodology using descriptive statistics. Our research questions can be formulated as follows: What level of familiarity do respondents have with biblical narratives? What narrative themes and categories do they use to define those stories? In relation to these elements, what are the characteristics of the respondents’ subgroups that defined themselves as “Religious”, “Indifferent/Agnostic”, and “Atheist”? The questionnaire items analyzed in this article provide an account of the respondents’ familiarity with some biblical narratives and their characters (Abraham, Jacob, and Ruth), as well as their choices related to the stories’ narrative themes and categories. The results from our sample open the field for further investigations, particularly in contexts characterized by different religious backgrounds (e.g., Protestant contexts), which may offer more nuanced interpretations of the educational process in relation to religious identity. Full article
19 pages, 523 KiB  
Article
Feral Thinking: Religion, Environmental Education, and Rewilding the Humanities
by Ariel Evan Mayse
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1384; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111384 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 634
Abstract
The contemporary American university largely operates as an agent of domestication, tasked more with enforcing the social and economic order than with expanding the horizons of possibility. The dawn of the Anthropocene, however, demands that we reconceive of the humanities not as self-sufficient, [...] Read more.
The contemporary American university largely operates as an agent of domestication, tasked more with enforcing the social and economic order than with expanding the horizons of possibility. The dawn of the Anthropocene, however, demands that we reconceive of the humanities not as self-sufficient, hierarchical, or divided away from other modes of seeking knowledge but as core to what human being and responsibility ought to mean in the more-than-human world. The present essay makes a case for reworking—and rethinking—the American university along the lines of Mark C. Taylor’s prompt to reconceive of the academy as a multidisciplinary forum for the “comparative analysis of common problems”. I suggest that religious teachings—and religious traditions themselves—can offer models for the intertwining of the humanities (literature, poetry, philosophy, the expressive and applied arts), the social sciences (the study of governance, political thought, the study and formulation of law), and the natural sciences as well as mathematics and engineering. Further, I argue that when faced with radical and unprecedented changes in technological, social, economic, and environmental structures, we must, I believe, engage with these traditional texts in order to enrich and critique the liberal mindset that has neither the values nor the vocabulary to deal with the climate crisis. We must begin to sow new and expansive ways of thinking, and I am calling this work the “rewilding” of our universities. Parallel to the three Cs of rewilding as a conservation paradigm, I suggest the following three core principles for the rewilding of higher education: creativity, curriculum, and collaboration. Though I focus on the interface of religion, ecology, and the study of the environmental, social, and moral challenges of climate change, I suggest that these categories of activity should impact all domains of inquiry to which a university is home. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Undisciplining Religion and Science: Science, Religion and Nature)
17 pages, 314 KiB  
Article
The Concept of Divine Revelation According to Ibn Sînâ and Al-Ghazālī: A Comparative Analysis
by İbrahim Halil Erdoğan and Sema Eryücel
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111383 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 525
Abstract
This article examines the conceptions of divine revelation held by two prominent figures in Islamic thought, Ibn Sīnā and Al-Ghazālī, through a comparative lens within the context of metaphysical and epistemological processes. Ibn Sīnā views divine revelation as a metaphysical process occurring at [...] Read more.
This article examines the conceptions of divine revelation held by two prominent figures in Islamic thought, Ibn Sīnā and Al-Ghazālī, through a comparative lens within the context of metaphysical and epistemological processes. Ibn Sīnā views divine revelation as a metaphysical process occurring at the highest level of intellect. According to him, divine revelation is an abstract reflection of divine knowledge transmitted to the prophet’s imaginative faculty through the Active Intellect. This process, explained within a philosophical framework, is grounded in the development of human intellectual capacity. In contrast, Ghazālī defines divine revelation as a mystical experience and considers it a divine encounter beyond the limits of human reason. For Ghazālī, divine revelation manifests as an expression of God’s attribute of speech and occurs solely by divine will. Moreover, this experience cannot be fully comprehended by reason. Ghazālī’s approach, imbued with Sufi depth, regards divine revelation as an integral part of spiritual growth. This article explores the fundamental similarities and differences between these two thinkers’ understandings of divine revelation and metaphysics. By analyzing how Ibn Sīnā’s reason-based approach intersects and diverges from Ghazālī’s intuition and inspiration-based Sufi approach, this study provides an in-depth examination of how the concept of divine revelation has been shaped within Islamic theology and philosophy, highlighting the contributions of both thinkers to the discourse on divine revelation. Full article
15 pages, 495 KiB  
Article
Buildings, Lands, and Rents: Understanding the Process and Impact of Monastic Suppression in Spain
by Rosa Congost
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1382; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111382 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 356
Abstract
In Ancien Régime Spain, ecclesiastical wealth consisted of not only land, but also the rental income raised from tenancies of which the Church was proprietor. Therefore, the suppression of monasteries and convents in Spain cannot be studied only in terms of the transfer [...] Read more.
In Ancien Régime Spain, ecclesiastical wealth consisted of not only land, but also the rental income raised from tenancies of which the Church was proprietor. Therefore, the suppression of monasteries and convents in Spain cannot be studied only in terms of the transfer of their principal estates. The incoming Liberal State appropriated the Church’s rents for its own use, although many had fallen into abeyance before the suppressions began. To assess the true impact of ecclesiastical confiscation, it is necessary to consider how far developments in religious sensibility, whether or not associated with new conceptions of property, before and after the liberal revolution, may have affected the treatment of these rents. In this article, I aim to examine the geographical distribution of the different property rights of the regular clergy in Spain under the Ancien Régime and to observe the role of the Liberal State in their evolution and in the fate of monastery and convent buildings. We will see, in all cases, the significant roles of the payers and receivers of different types of rents. Thus, territories with the same legal regime and similar institutions passed through the process in very different ways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dissolutions of Monasteries)
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5 pages, 214 KiB  
Editorial
Diasporas and Religious Identities: Insights from Anthropological Perspectives
by André Levy
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1381; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111381 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 533
Abstract
For many years, anthropology contributed significantly to the reinforcement of “dominant notions of culture and identity as being closely tied to specific territories” (Jansen and Löfving 2009, p [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anthropological Perspectives on Diaspora and Religious Identities)
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