Search Results (523)

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) aims to enhance the quality of life of children with life-limiting conditions and their families through individualized, interdisciplinary support. Among this population, children with neurological diseases represent a substantial and growing group, often facing prolonged disease courses, cognitive impairment, and high prognostic uncertainty. Effective communication is central to PPC; however, it remains deeply influenced by cultural, religious, and spiritual frameworks that shape family perceptions of illness, suffering, and decision-making. This narrative review explores communication strategies in PPC, with a specific focus on children with neurological conditions, highlighting conceptual foundations, cross-cultural variations, and emerging best practices. Key findings highlight the importance of culturally humble approaches, family-centered communication models, and structured tools, such as co-designed advance care planning and dignity therapy, to enhance communication. Additionally, the review highlights the presence of ethical and interdisciplinary challenges, particularly in neonatal and neurology settings, where misaligned team messaging and institutional hesitancy may compromise trust and timely referral to palliative care. Future research, policy, and clinical education priorities should advocate for models that are inclusive, ethically grounded, and tailored to the unique trajectories of neurologically ill children. Integrating cultural competence, team alignment, and family voices is essential for delivering equitable and compassionate PPC across diverse care settings. Full article

The study of historical monuments within both architectural and literary frameworks reveals a dynamic interplay between scientific observation and artistic interpretation—a vital characteristic of travel writing/the travelogue. This approach, exemplified by British traveler and writer Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch (1862–1913), reflects how factual detail and creative representation are seamlessly integrated in depictions of sites, landscapes, and cultural scenes. This case study highlights Lynch as a pioneering explorer who authored the first comprehensive volume on Armenian architecture and as a writer who vividly portrayed Armenian monuments through both verbal description and photographic imagery, becoming the first traveler to document such sites using photography. Additionally, this paper emphasizes the significance of Lynch’s detailed accounts of architectural monuments, churches, monasteries, cities, villages, populations, religious communities, and educational institutions in vivid language. The careful study of his work can contribute meaningfully to the investigation of the travelogue as a literary genre and to the preservation and protection of the architectural heritage of historical and contemporary Armenia, particularly in regions facing cultural or political threats. Full article

New theologies developed in tandem with evolutionary biology during the nineteenth century, which have been called metaphysical evolutionisms and evolutionary theologies. A subset of these theologies analyzed here were developed by thinkers who accepted biological science but rejected both biblical creationism and materialist science. Tools from the cognitive science of religion, including conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) and blending theory, also known as conceptual integration theory (CIT), can help to explain the development of these systems and their transformation between the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. The analysis focuses on several stable and popular blends of ideas, which have continued with some alteration into the twenty-first century. The three blends evaluated here are Progressive Soul Evolution, Salvation is Evolution, and Evolution is Therapy. Major contributors to these blends are the theosophist and theologian Helena P. Blavatsky and psychologist Frederic W. H. Myers, both influenced by the spiritualist movement, particularly the ideas of the spiritualist and biologist Alfred Russel Wallace. The influence of these blends can be seen in the twentieth-century “Aquarian Frontier,” a group of 145 thinkers and organizations identified in 1975 by counterculture historian Theodore Roszak. Part of the appeal of these blends may be seen in their use of metaphors, including the Great Chain of Being and A Purposeful Life is a Journey. The application of the polysemic term evolution in a sense that does much of the theological work of salvation in Christianity can in part be explained by applying the principles of blending theory, including the vital relation “achieve a human scale,” as well as compressions of time and identity. These blends have been successful because they meet the needs of a population who are friendly towards science but disenchanted with traditional religions. The blends provide a satisfying new theology that extends beyond death for a subset of adherents, particularly in the New Age and spiritual but not religious (SBNR) movements, who combine the agency of self-directed “evolution” with the religious concepts of grace and transcendence. Full article

Muslims are religiously obligated to care for the Earth, yet little empirical research exists on how Muslim communities in the U.S. engage with climate change. This study used a mixed-methods approach to explore climate change knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among 82 Muslims in Knoxville, Tennessee, building on prior theoretical or internationally focused work. Results found that participants largely accepted anthropogenic climate change and were strongly willing to act, citing Islamic principles such as stewardship and divine accountability as key motivators. However, many felt underinformed and lacked clarity on how to take action. Religious texts, more than religious leaders, shaped environmental views, offering interpretations that both aligned with and diverged from scientific narratives. Education and personal experience were the most frequently cited sources of climate understanding. Religion emerged as an important source of climate knowledge and a filter through which scientific information was interpreted. The knowledge and environmental attitudes inspired by their religion guided many participants to mitigate climate impacts, although some expressed a more fatalistic view of climate change. These findings suggest that effective climate communication in Muslim communities should integrate faith-based teachings with scientific messaging and engage religious leaders as amplifiers. Expanding this research to include more diverse Muslim populations across the U.S. can provide deeper insight into how Islamic worldviews shape climate engagement and behavior. Full article

Self-forgiveness is identified as a contributor to psychological wellbeing and may serve as a mechanism through which religiosity supports mental health. There is a dearth of research on wellbeing and the role of self-forgiveness in the English-speaking Caribbean. This preliminary study explored the relationship between religiosity, self-forgiveness, and wellbeing among persons with serious mental illness (SMI), a population largely overlooked in this context. A convenience sample of 362 out-patients receiving care in Trinidad and Tobago completed self-reported measures of self-forgiveness, the Religious Commitment Inventory, and Havard’s Flourishing Measure. Inferential statistics examined group differences in religiosity and wellbeing, and predictive relationships among key variables. Among persons with SMI, higher religiosity was significantly associated with greater wellbeing (p < 0.0001). Additionally, there was greater wellbeing among those who reported a propensity to self-forgive compared to those who did not (p < 0.0001). Self-forgiveness explained a significant part of the relationship between religiosity and wellbeing. Furthermore, among the non-highly religious, self-forgiveness was also significantly associated with greater wellbeing (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that self-forgiveness may mediate the link between religiosity and wellbeing, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic coping mechanism for individuals with serious mental illness. This study adds to the growing literature on religious coping in mental health and underscores the need for further research to clarify the mediating role of self-forgiveness. Full article

The purpose of this study is to provide a context-based empirical investigation of the racialized effect of policing on the financial performance of Black entrepreneurs. Given the historical role of race in policing in the United States, we expect that the degree of the policing of the Black population in a state will be negatively associated with the financial performance of Black entrepreneurs in the state. The sample for this study is drawn from quarterly police stop data across 14 states from the Stanford Open Policing Project, which is matched with state-level data from the Merchant Maverick ranking of best states for Black entrepreneurs. The sample size is 164 observations over 2013–2015 pertaining to police search rates of Blacks. Findings from the moderated, multivariate regression analysis reveals that the adverse effect of the policing of Black Americans on Black entrepreneurs’ financial performance can be relieved by state-level religiosity and the legalization of marijuana (or cannabis; a mind-altering drug produced from the hemp plant). This research demonstrates the important role of religious and legal institutional mechanisms in countering the economically destructive effects of policing on Black entrepreneurship in the United States. Full article

This study examines the exercise of religious freedom within the Polish penitentiary system, focusing on the intersection of legal frameworks, religious pluralism, and secularization. While Poland’s Constitution and penal legislation guarantee inmates the right to practice their faith, the practical implementation of this right faces systemic challenges. This research draws on legal analysis, demographic data, and existing empirical studies to assess how pastoral care operates in prisons. The findings reveal that although the prison system is formally open to various denominations, access to non-Catholic chaplaincy is often limited and misaligned with the evolving religious composition of the inmate population, especially following increased immigration. The number of chaplains and volunteers remains low relative to the needs of inmates, and pastoral services vary widely across regions. Despite these issues, religious involvement is shown to support rehabilitation by fostering moral development and reducing recidivism. This study concludes that a more inclusive, pluralistic, and flexible approach to prison ministry—one that accounts for both declining religiosity and growing diversity—is essential. Chaplaincy must adapt not only as a provider of religious rites but also as a facilitator of ethical reflection, emotional support, and reintegration into a secular and pluralistic society. Full article

This study explores the role of religion as a state-promoted tool for political assimilation in Pakistan’s border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. The study is based on five phases of fieldwork (2016–2024) combined with a thematic literature review. The research explores how religious strategies were deployed to forge a unified national identity in these regions. The findings reveal significant disparities in the effectiveness of these strategies. In KP, historical factors, cultural alignment, and geopolitical influences—particularly the Afghan conflict—largely facilitated the integration of Pashtun identity into Pakistan’s broader Islamic-national framework. Tools such as madrassa networks, education reforms, religious slogans, and state-backed Islamist parties effectively promoted religious nationalism. In contrast, religious assimilation efforts in Balochistan largely failed due to entrenched ethnic nationalism, economic exclusion, and political marginalization. Attempts to expand madrassas, delegitimize nationalist leaders as “anti-Islamic,” and support religious movements have been met with resistance, deepening distrust between the Baloch population and the state. The study found that religion alone cannot sustain national cohesion, particularly in regions with longstanding grievances and systemic inequalities. This research emphasizes the limitations of top-down, coercive assimilationist policies and underscores the necessity for more inclusive approaches, such as addressing economic disparities, recognizing regional identities, and promoting political participation as essential components for building a sustainable and unified nation. The study provides critical insights for policymakers, advocating for a shift from religious assimilation to strategies that prioritize justice, equity, and cultural accommodation, particularly in KPK and Balochistan. Full article

The One Health approach is rapidly gaining the attention of the scientific community worldwide and is expected to be a major model of scientific reasoning in the 21st century, concerning medical, veterinary and environmental issues. The basic concept of One Health, that humans, animals and their environments are parts of the same natural world affecting each other, is rooted in most ethnic as well as in many religious traditions. Despite this unity and for historical reasons, medical, veterinary and environmental sciences developed independently. The One Health concept tries to reunite these and many other relevant sciences, aiming at a deeper understanding of the interconnection between the natural world, humans and animal health. The dynamic interplay between a host’s microbiome, the microbiomes of other hosts, and environmental microbial communities profoundly influences the host health, given the essential physiological functions the microbiome performs within the organism. The biodiversity of microbiomes is broad and complex. The different areas of the skin, the upper and lower respiratory systems, the ocular cavity, the oral cavity, the gastrointestinal tract and finally the urogenital system of pets and humans alike are niches where a multitude of microorganisms indigenous and transient—commensals and pathogens, thrive in a dynamic antagonistic balance of populations of different phyla, orders, genera and species. The description of these microbiomes attempted in this article is not meant to be exhaustive but rather demonstrative of their complexity. The study of microbiomes is a necessary step towards the One Health approach to pets and humans. Yet, despite the progress made on that subject, the scientific community faces challenges, such as the limitations of studies performed, the scarcity of studies concerning the microbiomes of cats, the multitude of environmental factors affecting the results and others. The two new terms proposed in this article, the “familiome” and the “oikiome”, will aid in the One Health theoretical analysis as well as in its practical approach. The authors strongly believe that new technological breakthroughs, like Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), will significantly help to overcome these hazards. Full article

Background: PP-007 (SANGUINATE^®, PEGylated carboxyhemoglobin, bovine) is under development to treat conditions of ischemia/hypoxia. Hemorrhagic/hypovolemic shock (H/HVS) becomes a life-threatening comorbidity due in part to hypotension and hypoxia. Blood transfusions are indicated, but supply and compatibility issues may limit subject access or when blood is not an option due to religious restriction or concern for clinical complications. PP-007 is universally compatible with an effective hydrodynamic radius and colloidal osmotic pressure facilitating perfusion without promoting extravasation. Methods: A review of previous clinical trials was performed and revealed an Open-Label Phase 1 safety study of acute severe anemia (hemoglobin ≤ 5 g/dL) in adult (≥18 y) patients unable to receive red blood cell transfusion (NCT02754999). Primary outcomes included safety events with secondary efficacy measures of organ function and survival at 1, 14, and 28 days. Additionally, a retrospective review of published, peer-reviewed case reports was performed, evaluating the administration of Sanguinate for Expanded Access in those patient populations where blood was not an option over the past 12 years. Results: A total of 103 subjects were enrolled in the Phase I safety study with significant co-morbidities that most commonly included hypertension (n = 43), acute and chronic kidney disease (n = 38), diabetes mellitus (n = 29), gastrointestinal bleeds (n = 18), and sickle cell disease (n = 13). Enrollment characteristics included decreased hemoglobin and severe anemia (mean baseline hemoglobin of 4.2 g/dL). Treatments included an average of three infusions [range 1–17]. Secondary efficacy measures were mean Hb levels, respiratory support, and vasopressor requirements, all demonstrating clinically relevant improvements. Fourteen additional cases were identified in the literature. Though one patient died due to pre-treatment conditions, all patients but one were discharged home in stable condition. Conclusion: Collectively, these observations are encouraging and provide support for the continued evaluation of PP-007 in advanced clinical trials in severe anemia including H/HVS. The review of published case reports underscored the potential of Sanguinate to reduce early mortality. Adverse effects included transient hypertension, lethargy, dizziness, and troponin elevation. These findings highlight the need for continued research and funding of blood alternatives to improve outcomes when standard blood transfusions are unavailable or contraindicated. Full article

(1) Background: Older people ageing in place alone with functional limitations experience several difficulties in daily life, potentially hampering their social participation. This in turn could impact their perceived loneliness. This paper aims to investigate these issues based on findings from the IN-AGE (“Inclusive ageing in place”) study carried out in 2019 in Italy. (2) Methods: The focus of this paper is on the Marche region (Central Italy), where 40 qualitative/semi-structured interviews with seniors were administered in both urban and rural sites. A content analysis was carried out, in addition to some quantification of statements. (3) Results: Older people are mainly involved in receiving/making visits, lunches/dinners with family members and friends, religious functions, walking, and watching television (TV). Overall, the more active seniors are those living in rural sites, with lower physical impairments, and with lower perceived loneliness, even though in some cases, a reverse pattern emerged. The results also indicate some different nuances regarding urban and rural sites. (4) Conclusions: Despite the fact that this exploratory study did not have a representative sample of the target population, and that only general considerations can be drawn from results, these findings can offer some insights to policymakers who aim to develop adequate interventions supporting the social participation of older people with functional limitations ageing in place alone. This can also potentially reduce the perceived loneliness, while taking into consideration the urban–rural context. Full article

Partner selection is a complex process shaped by structural, social, and personal factors. For refugees and forced migrants, displacement and adaptation add further challenges, with families—even from far away—playing a crucial role in shaping expectations and influencing partnership decisions. This influence can be direct—through arranged marriages or introductions—or indirect, by setting expectations based on ethnicity, religion, or social status. Family endorsement is often crucial in reinforcing ethnic, religious, or language group continuity and community acceptance. This study examines the role of family in partner selection among refugees who arrived in Germany largely during the 2015–2016 period, a group characterized by a high proportion of unmarried men with limited family support. This group is compared to the German resident population, both with and without a migration background. For the descriptive analyses, we draw on two data sources: the PARFORM dataset, collected in 2022–2023, which covers male Syrian and Afghan refugees who arrived between 2014 and 2018; and the ninth wave of the CILS4EU-DE, collected in 2022. The multivariate analyses rely exclusively on the PARFORM dataset and utilize linear probability models with selection correction. We contribute to the literature in three key ways: identifying mechanisms of family influence despite physical distance; introducing a multidimensional framework to measure partnership outcomes based on ethnic, religious, and linguistic endogamy; and providing new insights into the underexplored partnership formation of this refugee cohort. Full article

The United States national identity is changing as the non-religious population is growing and fewer Americans follow traditional Christian faiths. When Alexis De Tocqueville visited the United States, he found that the national government gained legitimacy and support from the popular national religion. This faith was nominally Christian but lacked any meaningful theological content. The national creed was a simple monotheism that was supported through the public’s integration of a Cartesian methodology. This national religion was critical in providing the foundation for American economic growth and identity. Today, fewer Americans identify as Christians than at any point in its history, and more citizens have no religious preference or creed. The dominant religious culture is changing, and to understand the United States future, it is important to identify the political preferences of the non-religious population. This paper looks at the most recent Cooperative Election Survey and assesses the non-religious population’s political participation and its aggregate support for U.S. military aid to Ukraine. The data show that the non-religious population is less politically active and more opposed to miliary aid to Kyiv. United States is becoming more secular. The division between the traditional religious and the growing secular populations is generating a cultural conflict—one that has a fundamental consequence for the American national identity. Full article

This paper investigates the growing political alignment of Latino Evangelicals with the Republican Party, particularly their support for Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Historically, Latino political behavior has been studied with an assumption of religious homogeneity, largely focusing on the Catholic majority. However, the rise of the Latino Evangelical population has coincided with increasing Latino support for the GOP. Former President Obama attributed this shift in support to the growing Evangelical demographic. Building on Chaturvedi’s (2014) work, which found that Evangelical Latinos’ conservative views on issues like same-sex marriage vary by age, this study tests Obama’s assertion using data from the 2020 USC Dornsife Presidential Poll. Logistic regressions show that older Latino Evangelicals were significantly more likely to support Trump, driven by their desire to elect officials who align with their Evangelical policy preferences. The findings explain that the political behavior of older Latino Evangelicals is more strongly related to religious values compared to their younger counterparts. These results highlight the importance of considering religious diversity within Latino politics, pointing to religious identity as a key factor in shaping Latino political behavior and emphasizing the need for further exploration of religious variation in Latino voting patterns. Full article

For decades, in historical research, archeological vestiges have been linked with geomancy and cults of the mythical ancestors of a group of the population. This is particularly true in Eastern Asia and especially in China, Korea, and Japan. A fundamental problem of Japanese archeology is that few of the remnants were realized in stone. One of the most important parts of archeological sciences is the study of Necropolises or ancient interments. From the 1970s onwards, in the relatively “new” and promising land of Hokkaido, cemeteries were built with the concept of landscape in mind; this is also due to the lavish vegetation features of this northernmost island of Japan. In the case of the Takino cemetery on the plains of Sapporo, Hokkaido, whose construction began in 1982, solemnity and religiousness were incorporated by producing exact stone replicas of famous funerary landmarks from antiquity as such materials were inexistent in the Nipponese Isles. This trend to grant eternity included traditional Buddhist funereal monuments like the Stupa, Seokguram grotto, and Kamakura sites, but at a certain and exuberant point, under the influence of Isamu Noguchi, it reached Stonehenge in England and the Moai from Easter Island in Polynesia (being after all located in a remote isle of the Pacific Ocean). In this article we will outline such process of generation and overall conception, analyzing the inclusion and architectural assembly of the different compounds and the recent and extraordinary additions projected and built by the celebrity architect Tadao Ando. We expect, in this manner, to facilitate the comprehension of the significance of venerable landscape sublimated through archeology for the Nipponese modern civilization. Full article