Search Results (206)

Ṭāhā ʿAbd al-Raḥmān’s Suʼāl al-ʻunf (The Question of Violence) is perhaps the most extensive philosophical-religious critique of violence in Islamic ethics in the last decade. He distinguishes between the notions of violence, force, and struggle, rejecting violence based on Islamic sources and critical ethics. He also suggests dialogism and ethics of trusteeship as viable forms of intellectual confrontation along with a toolkit for engagement with Islamist violent groups. This paper offers first an overview of the current perspectives on non-violence in Islamic ethics. Then, I will explore Ṭāhā ʿAbd al-Raḥmān’s background and trajectory in order to contextualize his contribution to the ongoing debates on ethics in the Moroccan context. Subsequently, I will discuss his main theses and arguments on Islamist violence as well as the toolkit he offers to overcome it. Full article

Domestic violence is a public health problem that has important consequences for the physical, mental and social well-being of individuals and their families, leading to negative effects on future generations, which are exacerbated or inhibited by individual, social and cultural factors. This qualitative study aimed to explore the intergenerational transmission of domestic violence in Peruvian families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with an adolescent, a mother and a grandfather from nine families. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis revealed the importance of traditional gender norms, machismo and marianismo, in intergenerational transmission. Other important subthemes in maintenance were irritability, social learning, alcohol consumption and economic dependence. On the other hand, support networks, overcoming trauma, knowing how to choose a partner, education and separation were subthemes identified as protective factors and, finally, religious beliefs were associated with contradictory effects, since they can perpetuate violence or serve as a protective factor against violence. The implications of these findings are discussed and a proposal based on the socioecological model of domestic violence is elaborated, covering the four levels: individual, relationship, community and societal. Full article

Although the help-seeking behaviors of intimate partner violence survivors have been imperative, less evidence has been shown on ethnic women’s help-seeking behaviors. As such, this study aims to explore women survivors’ help-seeking behaviors in Kachin State, an ethnic area of Myanmar with an online in-depth interview approach. Twelve women survivors who were recruited by social workers, camp leaders, and volunteers participated in the study. Findings were analyzed by using the intimate partner violence help-seeking theory. In contrast to the extant literature, this study found an equal number of women survivors reached out to both formal and informal sources. Their help-seeking behaviors were influenced by their violence perception, cultural norms, lack of information on support services availability, the violence severity, and social support. Exposure to parental violence and women’s unique personal attributes had a negative impact on their decision to seek formal help. Results underscored the importance of sociocultural norms in an ethnic patriarchal society. As such, addressing deep-rooted patriarchal sociocultural norms, effective awareness raising, women’s empowerment, establishment of anti-domestic violence law, and multi-sectoral collaboration with men’s engagement and inclusion of cultural and religious leaders are urgently needed in ethnic communities to enhance formal help-seeking. Full article

Victims of domestic violence who bring their experiences to the attention of their spiritual communities and faith leaders have experienced both betrayal and courage from their religious institutions. There is much hurt in the betrayal and much to celebrate in the courage. Institutional betrayal can be embedded in systemic and organizational cultures that repeat themselves even with new leadership and across generations. When leadership hesitate to take actions to protect members, or values the institution above the individuals that depend on it, betrayal ensues. Alternatively, institutional courage can be implemented through improved practices and updated organizational policies. This is true in all communities, including those of faith. When clergy take supportive actions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those within an institution, healing is more likely to follow. Faith leaders must seek to engage proactively, protect the vulnerable against injustice, and create cultures that benefit those who depend upon the institution. It takes courage to practice institutional courage! Full article

Somali refugee youth face intersecting stressors related to displacement, economic hardship, and systemic exclusion, yet their coping strategies remain understudied. This study examines the psychosocial distress, coping mechanisms, and help-seeking behaviors of Somali refugee youth in Nairobi’s urban displacement context using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analyses assess the prevalence of stressors, coping strategies, and perceived support, while qualitative responses provide insight into lived experiences. Findings reveal that 72% of participants reported distress linked to economic insecurity (15.9%), family separation (16.9%), or refugee-related adversities (13.2%). Religious coping (59.5%) and self-care practices (60.5%) were the most frequently used strategies, while 15.8% relied on avoidance-based methods. Help-seeking patterns showed that 76.7% of participants were willing to seek help in general, but only 40.7% did so for emotional issues, with mothers and same-sex friends being primary sources. Regression analysis (R² = 0.507, p < 0.001) showed that scope of community (β = 0.417, p = 0.001), trust in bonding social capital (β = 0.343, p = 0.012), and perceived community violence (β = 0.346, p = 0.003) were positively associated with perceived support. In contrast, help-seeking intention (β = −0.206, p = 0.049) was negatively associated with perceived support. Other variables—including religious coping, emotional coping, age, gender, and bridging trust—were not significant predictors. These findings underscore the need for community-driven mental health interventions that strengthen existing social structures while integrating culturally adapted service models. Leveraging social capital is essential for fostering sustainable, accessible, and community-based mental health support for displaced Somali youth. Full article

Congregational leaders in the US must navigate a political landscape marked by increasing political polarization and a notable rise in support for ideas aligned with Christian nationalism. While gender, race, ethnicity, and religious affiliation have long shaped political lines, the US population has steadily become more entrenched in partisan political divides. Recent research shows the relationship between religious identity and willingness to use violence to support political and religious ideologies. These trends profoundly affect faith communities, challenging theological perspectives, social dynamics, and civic engagement. This paper examines how political polarization and Christian nationalist impulses within mainline Christian congregations impact congregational leadership. This study identifies key factors driving these changes through qualitative analysis of case studies and quantitative research. It explores their implications for community cohesion and the broader societal fabric. The findings suggest that while some communities experience heightened internal conflict and fragmentation, others adapt by engaging in dialogue, story-sharing, and education. The paper concludes with recommendations to counter political polarization and ideological extremism through increased understanding, nuanced theological reflection, and political awareness. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on congregational leadership and political engagement, highlighting the need for nuanced strategies to address the challenges of political polarization and Christian nationalism in the US today. Full article

The big challenge regarding social violence is relationships and the quest for societies to live together. As a result, this has affected, in different ways, how various demographics are composed, economies are built and religions are practiced. This investigation weighs in on these matters to delineate the issues critically. It spotlights the thrust of the matter, which is based on trust and fairness. Adopting a categorical theological method, this article interrogates Johann Baptist Metz’s categories of memory, solidarity and narratives in reverse. It highlights relationships, narratives and community to dissect the issues of violence in Taraba State with the intention of restoring relationships. Conflicts result from a series of broken relationships, and they become ethnic and religious. In intentionally engaging these categories, the hope is that they serve as a formidable resource for interrogating these conflicts and providing a reset for healthy living. Full article

This paper argues that the Armenian genocide, the genocide of the Greeks of Pontus and the Greek Catastrophe, and the Nestorian and Assyrian genocide, all of which took place during the late Ottoman Empire, were not isolated historic incidents, but rather different phases of a broader agenda of Christian extermination in Asia Minor. The early 19th-century Ottoman Christian scepticism over the established status quo of the millet system, which had served as a platform of religious conflict resolution and intercultural dialogue but dictated subordination to Islam, was perceived as defiance by Ottoman Muslims, who interpreted the Christian strife for social equality as the loss of their privilege, thus creating bottom-up pressure for violence, resulting in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the majority of Ottoman Christians between 1822 and 1922. Full article

The tenets and philosophies of the Igbo traditional religion (ATR) form the bedrock of the Igbo traditional and sociocultural belief system whose principles and practices directly and indirectly influence the perceptions and way of life of the Igbo society. These traditional and sociocultural beliefs are practiced in a way that promotes patriarchy, reducing the women to second-class citizens, and often making room for gender-based violence (GBV) against the women. This study is designed to establish the prevalence, forms, effects, and causes of GBV using results from empirical data. A total of 369 women, selected from 12 villages in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria, via single-stage adaptive cluster sampling, were involved in the study. The data were analyzed using means, frequencies, and percentages. This study identified a high presence of all forms of physical, sexual, emotional, and economic violence, as well as violence through harmful traditional religious and widowhood practices. More than 70.0% of physical, sexual, emotional, and economic acts of GBV were perpetrated mainly by intimate partners (husbands and/or boyfriends). There was little evidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in all the forms of harmful traditional and widowhood practices. Rather, traditional and widowhood acts of violence against women are mainly perpetrated by the female peer group (Umuada), family members, and their husbands’ kinsmen (umunna). This study recommends effective outlets for victims to speak out and an action-oriented legal system to bring offenders to justice. Full article

Sexual violence among school-aged girls is a global health problem. Research has shown that school-aged girls experience high rates of sexual violence that often go unreported. In Kenya, one in three girls experiences sexual violence before the age of 18. Sexual violence against girls can prevent them from safely attending school and cause health issues that affect school performance. This qualitative study explored community and environmental factors associated with sexual violence against school-aged girls in Kitui County, Kenya. A total of 25 in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from Kitui South Sub County. The stakeholders were from six sectors, including the police, health, education, community, religious, and criminal justice sectors. The data were analyzed using conventional content analysis to gain an understanding of the stakeholder’s perspectives and knowledge relating to sexual violence against school-aged girls. Stakeholders frequently identified the criminal justice system, culture and traditional beliefs, and threats to well-being as barriers to reporting sexual violence offenses. Girls who experience sexual violence often contend with shame from the community, and the effects of stigma include loss of resources, additional violence, poorer marriage prospects, unplanned pregnancies, school dropouts, or abandonment. Perpetrators often threatened or bribed the families of girls who experienced sexual violence with gifts or monetary incentives to prevent them from reporting the crime to local authorities, while the criminal justice system itself presents numerous challenges for victims. The reporting of sexual violence could be increased by focusing on intervention strategies that challenge attitudes, norms, and behaviors rooted in gender inequality. By addressing the underlying causes of stigma and inequality, we can create a safer environment for school-aged girls to report sexual violence and seek justice. Full article

Background: Internal displacement is a global crisis, with Ethiopia being among the most affected countries due to conflict, violence, and natural disasters. Internally displaced people (IDPs) face multifaceted trauma at the individual, family, and community levels, exacerbating mental health issues such as PTSD and depression. Despite ongoing interventions, many programs lack cultural and contextual adaptations that are suited to Ethiopia’s diverse communities. Aims: This study aimed to explore the cultural and contextual factors influencing trauma-informed interventions for IDPs in Ethiopia and develop a framework for culturally responsive mental health support. Methods: Utilizing Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) and interpretative phenomenological research design, data were collected from 42 stakeholders through Focus Group Discussions and in-depth individual interviews, and subsequently analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes. Results: Key findings highlighted the ongoing trauma faced by IDPs, the importance of demographic characteristics (e.g., gender and education), and the role of cultural stereotypes in shaping trauma perceptions. Traditional community rituals such as coffee ceremonies have been identified as vital for healing. Effective interventions require cultural alignment, respect for religious values, and integration into community activities. Conclusions: This study underscores the need for culturally and contextually responsive trauma-informed intervention. Incorporating community rituals and engaging local leaders enhances intervention acceptance and effectiveness. The findings provide a framework to address mental health needs while fostering resilience among internally displaced Ethiopian populations. Full article

Over the last twenty years, policymakers and practitioners have supported the growth of multiple interreligious initiatives aimed at peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and scholars have sought to understand and evaluate their efficiency. This article introduces and reviews the emerging scholarship which has developed to understand and analyze these efforts. It begins by drawing from recent empirical research to outline how scholars understand religion as being linked to conflicts and naming a number of initiatives that have been constructed as responses to them. The article then considers how interreligious dialogue could be understood to serve as a conduit for conflict mediation and peacebuilding. Finally, the paper discusses several persistent criticisms that have been raised about interreligious dialogue as a model of conflict resolution, especially in light of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and ends with some reflections about contemporary strategies for interreligious peacebuilding in light of them. Full article

This article addresses methodological approaches to the study of vulnerable cohorts with specific attention to definitions of the term vulnerability. In particular, it investigates the issue of adults, particularly women, who have experienced abuse in the Catholic Church. Relevant analysis in this area is primarily interdisciplinary-based research and includes sociological and psychological perspectives and theological and historical analysis. This article critically analyzes the current definitions of vulnerability in Church and research contexts, and the methodological approaches utilized in defining vulnerable cohorts. It argues that specific ethical principles and methodological strategies are required to safeguard participants and researchers guided by the principles of feminist ethics. These include (1) attention to the uses and definitions of key terms by participants and researchers; (2) identifying the positionality of researchers as central to an ethical standpoint including their exposure to secondary trauma; and (3) establishing inclusive methods such as participatory research and sensitive recruitment. Paying attention to ongoing issues experienced by cohorts identified as vulnerable in research, including the stigmatization of their status, marginalization of their cases, and trauma of disclosure alongside ongoing risk assessment, is central to the research design process. Full article

The majority of US Black social movement organizations during the second half of the twentieth century had explicit ties to either Christian or Islamic religious institutions. The Black Panther Party (BPP) was a notable outlier in its secularism. Through the lens of radicalization, this paper examines the place of violence in the Party’s ideological platform and political practice relative to the Party’s secularism and experience of state repression. Drawing on newly available archival materials, we examine how Party members conceptualized their own programs, made sense of, and responded to the repressive intervention of state actors and institutions in their attempts to create social change. Full article

Through his numerous visits to the Muslim world, and by promoting an ethics of recognition of Islam, Pope Francis built trust and a religious encounter with various Muslim institutions. His dedication to global ethical concerns, such as human brotherhood, the environment, migration, and peace, has made religious leaders throughout the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Egypt, and the Gulf states, favourable to interfaith co-operation with the Catholic Church for the common good. In particular, Pope Francis has influenced how justice and tolerance are perceived by many in the Muslim world, as evidenced by various Muslim responses to his messages. He was therefore effective in initiating an ethical encounter to overcome injustice and violence, in addition to re-establishing religious diplomacy and communication with Islam. Full article