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Sense of coherence (SOC) and mindfulness (MI) are believed to promote the health and well-being of individuals and organisations. The aim of this longitudinal study was to contribute to the literature on the development of SOC through training and interventions and thereby explore the development of these constructs in a group of senior professionals in the German Catholic Church. A sample of eight participants voluntarily enrolled for a 12-day training programme spread over a period of nine months to develop intercultural and inter-religious competencies, SOC and MI. Quantitative scores of the pre- and post-test SOC and MI questionnaires were qualitatively analysed. Results indicate that the majority of participants scored lower in the post-test on SOC and slightly higher in MI. The discussion explores the pitfalls in the development of these constructs in the study's participants and highlights the implications for theory and practice. Practical training implications for developing SOC and MI are offered.

In this article, I offer an ethnographic exploration of how Fatboys (a type of bean bag chair) and visuals co-constitute the atmosphere and religion inside a Copenhagen Night Church. By exploring the atmosphere as a distribution of agency – primarily from the visitors' perspective – I focus on how the Fatboys and visuals help constitute the atmosphere as an affective force by mediating visitors' engagement. Moreover, I claim that the Fatboys and visuals also contribute to an aesthetic of ambiguity that emphasises the role of visitors as producers and consumers of an affective religious atmosphere. Closely related to the cultural emphasis on individuality that pervades contemporary consumer society, this aesthetic of ambiguity enables different conceptual frames to inform visitors' atmospheric experiences and thus amplifies the existence of multiple atmospheres inside the Night Church. In this sense, religion is not only materially mediated but also co-created and carried out by the visitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hague, the third largest city of The Netherlands, is a multicultural and multi-ethnic urban centre with many migrant churches scattered across the city. This article examines the linguistic presence and identity of a select number of English-speaking churches and their identification through Linguistic Landscaping. Our findings show that, while it is claimed that Dutch society is becoming increasingly secularised, the many migrant and other international churches currently present in The Hague suggest the opposite. In addition, it appeared that English-language churches in The Hague attract large numbers of Dutch congregants for whom English is their second language. Reasons for this are that English is perceived as a lighter language than Dutch for practising their religion, and that it brings fresh perspectives to their faith. The use of English is thus expanding to the religious domain in The Netherlands in a new way (cf. Edwards, A. 2016. English in the Netherlands: Functions, Forms and Attitudes. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins). Applying Linguistic Landscaping as a research tool was found to work only for older heritage-language churches, which have a more established and sometimes even officially recognised position in the city, than newer migrant churches, whose presence is often transient in line with the changing nature of superdiverse cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the politics of cultural heritage in societies experiencing secularization and religious diversification by examining recent efforts made by Cordoba's Cathedral Chapter to emphasize the Christian origins and identity of the iconic Mosque-Cathedral. We argue that the Cathedral Chapter's approach to managing and narrating the building over the past two decades responds largely to tensions stemming from the divergence between the primacy of its Islamic or multi-religious identity characteristic of popular representations of the building, both within Spain and beyond, on the one hand, and the primacy of the building's Christian identity as manifested in the institutional arrangements concerning its ownership, management, and use, on the other. While this divergence has been a source of periodic tensions since the 1970s, such tensions have been amplified by recent symbolic acts and popular movements contesting the Church's dominion over the Mosque-Cathedral, as well as by broader societal changes that have diminished the Church's power and influence and heightened its sense of vulnerability. We identify and analyse four main strategies employed by the Catholic Church to (re)narrate the meaning of the building and assert its Christian roots and identity: (1) archaeological projects attempting to demonstrate its Christian foundations; (2) liturgical practices presenting it as a church to establish its Christian identity; (3) discursive practices framing Catholic traditions and rituals as 'intangible heritage' crucial to the building's successful preservation; and (4) the unconditional prohibition of Muslims from performing Islamic prayers. In our research, we have focused on the utilization of museological methods and the interweaving of diverse repertoires (scientific, artistic, religious), by Catholic actors, aimed authenticating and validating novel interpretations about the origin and Christian character of the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religion is an important cultural institution that shapes family ideologies and behaviors. Although previous research has documented religious differences in parenting behaviors and parent–child relationships in adolescence, how religion influences parental support of young adult children is not clear. Using data from the Transition into Adulthood Supplement (TAS) of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID, 2005–2017; N = 9,754 person-years), we employed mixed-effect logistic and linear regression models to examine the impacts of young adults' religious affiliation, religious salience, and parent–child religious concordance on parental coresidence and financial support. The results show that mainline Protestant and Catholic young adults are more likely than nonreligious youth to live with their parents. Catholic and Jewish young adults receive more financial support from their parents than nonreligious youth did when they are religiously concordant with their mother. The associations between religious affiliation and parental support are strengthened by young adults' religious salience and religious concordance with their mother. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fall of 1810, two young Acadian women exhibited signs interpreted by their predominantly Catholic community as a possession or enchantment by threatening spiritual forces. Family and neighbours banded together and performed unorthodox rituals that offer historians of religion and of Acadia the opportunity to analyze several Atlantic influences on this rural parish. It is an intriguing case in the religious and social history of Nova Scotia that demonstrates multiple cultural aspects in convergence. The Acadian community's history and its location on a colonial fringe connected its members with diverse ritual knowledges. This article argues that the nature of the girls' symptoms and the methods that the Acadian community used to bring healing reached beyond lay Roman Catholicism. The Acadians were influenced by New Light evangelical theology and baptismal spirituality from New England, as well as African diaspora spiritual elements from a nearby Black Loyalist settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the leadership of the local Catholic Church in a forceful social movement of resistance against long-dated marginalization, inequality, and multi-faceted forms of violence in the main city-port in Colombia's pacific littoral: Buenaventura's Civic Strike process. Based on interviews conducted with religious and lay participants, it explores how spiritual memory, social space, and collective affects act as the enabling condition for this leadership, a condition that the interviewees characterize as a relation of trust between people and Church. The paper argues that this affect of trust implies complex intersections between social protest, Church and State that require, in turn, a different conceptualization of the social space. One that challenges secularism as an epistemology of the social by overcoming its distinctive clear-cut divisions between Church and State, and between State and civil society. The notion of "churchstateness," proposed in recent literature, is hence tested as an alternative analytic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a guide to indexing and searching Catholic church documents in the Atla's Religion Database (ARD). Topics discussed include the main sources of Church documents indexed in RDB, how church documents in the RDB are indexed, and how researchers might find information on specific topics.

This article draws attention to a trend in International Relations (IR) discourse that analyzes aspects of Catholicism through an English School lens. It argues that IR analyzes of aspects of Catholicism should or could be more productively theorized through a two-fold English School framework: (a) religious ideas, customs, and practices underpinning international society; and (b) the preference of the Catholic Church in pluralism versus solidarism English School debates. This framework can, arguably, be used as a tool for future IR investigation of aspects of Catholicism to better understand the influence of Catholic actors in international society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the Solidarity movement narratives, focusing on church representatives, religious issues, and symbols in the Polish history textbooks for upper secondary schools between 1991 and 2018. The analysed textbooks prove to reinforce Poland's national and religious identities, with John Paul II and the priest Popiełuszko being the primary national heroes of the Solidarity movement. The Catholic Church is presented as a protector of national values during the Solidarity period. The study also reveals the gradual reduction and simplification of the textbooks' content. This tendency is a trigger for the polarisation of the historical discourse, posing a weapon for secular policies to misuse the ideological and symbolic roles of the Church in reproducing the Pole-Catholic pattern in history textbooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare interdenominational differences in how religiosity is related to life satisfaction, meaning in life, desired and experienced emotions. The two groups included were Roman Catholics (n1 = 145) and Pentecostals (n2 = 133). The study confirmed the positive relationship between religiosity and life satisfaction as well as meaning in life for the whole sample. Moreover, it was found that Pentecostals reported higher religiosity, meaning in life, social support, and desired emotions strengthening religious beliefs than Catholics. In both groups, a partial mediation of belongingness and identification was observed in the relationship between religiosity and meaning in life. For social support, however, it was established that the mediating effect was stronger in Pentecostals than in Catholics. These results suggest that life satisfaction and meaning in life may be determined both by general factors related to religious involvement as well as by certain specific features of a given denomination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benjamin Constant's On Religion was a major effort to include religion within liberal political thought, insisting on the possibility of religious progress and perfectibility. It was also a major critique of Catholicism and of clericalism in any form. And it was one of the most wide-ranging comparative studies of religion since it purported to cover all religions worldwide before Christianity. Constant worked on it for most of his adult life, more than 40 years. This article traces the rise of the language of progress and perfectibility in Constant's milieu, finding roots in Rousseau, Scottish thinkers, Germans and Swiss such as Madame de Staël, Condorcet, William Godwin, and others. He also sprinkled some of his ideas about progress and perfectibility in his wide-ranging political writings. But it was in On Religion that he went into the idea of progress and perfectibility in depth, finding both a universal human need for religion and religious progress in every religion and over time. It may be true that he underestimated the possibility of regress and failure in human development, but nevertheless this work stands as a monument to liberal confidence in a better future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A healing and recovery perspective related to child sexual abuse (CSA) has gained attention in the past two decades, a concept that accurately refers to the process is posttraumatic growth (PTG). Scarce empirical research on PTG in clergy-perpetrated CSA survivors shows evidence of the presence of growth after the abusive experience and a tendency to create accounts of trauma as a way to heal. The general aim of the study is to explore the experiences and meanings of PTG as lived by survivors of clergy-perpetrated CSA. Seven clergy-perpetrated CSA survivors were interviewed with semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted in person. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three dominant themes in the participants' stories: (a) the hindering of PTG; (b) the meanings of PTG, and (c) the internal and contextual and facilitators of PTG. The present study brings new insights into the meanings of PTG, the close relationship between damage and growth, and the mechanisms (both internal and contextual) that are involved in healing from clergy-perpetrated CSA in Spanish culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Amauta 'Todo lo Humano es Nuestro' is the property of Universidad del Atlantico and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mental health awareness and support have become increasingly important worldwide, including in the Philippines. In this context, religious institutions play a crucial role in shaping societal beliefs, attitudes, and approaches to mental illness. This study investigates the knowledge and beliefs about mental illness among church leaders in the Philippines, with a focus on five religious' denominations: Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptist, Born Again, Iglesia Ni Cristo, and Roman Catholic. One of the primary objectives of this research was to assess the level of knowledge church leaders possess regarding mental health. The findings indicate that church leaders in the Philippines have a moderate level of knowledge about mental health issues. The mean knowledge score, computed from their responses to a set of Likert-scale questions, falls into the category of "A little." While this level of knowledge may not be extensive, it is a positive starting point for discussions surrounding mental health within religious communities. In terms of beliefs, the respondents exhibited a somewhat agreeable perspective. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the knowledge and beliefs of church leaders in the Philippines regarding mental illness. While they possess a moderate level of knowledge and hold diverse beliefs about the causes and remedies for mental health challenges, their perspectives reflect a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between religion and mental health. These findings have significant implications for mental health care and support within religious communities and provide a foundation for future research and intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide a pastoral response to the increase in the number of suicides in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper will look into the reasons and statistics related to suicide since there was a sudden spike in number during the pandemic. The See–Discern–Act method is used in this study so that the current social issue will be viewed from the teachings of the Church. First, we will discuss the reports on the cases of mental health issues. This issue has alarmed several professionals that focus on protecting one's mental health. Second, we will discuss key concepts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to present the view on suicide. Also, John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae will be cited to provide a perspective on the value of human life. The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church will also be tackled to explain the Church's view on mental health and well-being. Third, we will attempt to unearth the mental well-being of some Filipinos concerning suicide cases in the Philippines in light of the Church's teachings. Hence, our goal is to provide a perspective on this problem using the teachings of the Church on human life so that we may draw a proposed pastoral theological response. Hence, we propose that the Church must provide plans for prevention, intervention, and postvention when it comes to people involved in any suicide case as these actions are aligned with the goal of the Church to take care of those who suffer from mental illness and emphasize the value of human life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the nuances of the Roman Catholic Church's opposition to suicide. First, we analyze biblical suicide cases, showing that these were not usually met with clear condemnation. Next, we show the development of the Roman Catholic Church's moral teachings, with special attention to Augustine. The canon law of the Middle Ages still made some distinctions regarding motivation, but at this point, Roman Catholic funerals started to be refused to those having committed suicide as discouragement to others. This was maintained by the Council of Trent. In the twentieth century, the Roman Catholic Church followed modern psychiatry in attributing suicide to mental illness, and the ban on Roman Catholic funerals was lifted. Currently, the Roman Catholic Church tries to discourage suicide while accompanying people in need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to explain the views of the Catholic Church on human rights and put them into dialogue with the concept of human rights based on discourse theory as put forward by Jürgen Habermas. In the view of the Catholic Church, the ethical basis for the concept of human rights is the biblical view of human beings as being made in the image of God, which later became the forerunner to the birth of the concept of human dignity and the ethical basis for human rights. This article shows that the discourse theory rejects this theological model of justification for human rights. The criticism of the discourse theory as it relates to an absolute paradigm is that the absolute paradigm requires metaphysical premises. However, in a modern society characterized by a pluralism of worldviews and philosophical and religious beliefs, such metaphysical claims are no longer acceptable. Through the lens of discourse theory, the foundation of the notion of human rights cannot be based on the pre-political basis of religious values. This discourse theory grounding model is based on the conditions of contemporary post-metaphysical society, characterized by a plurality of comprehensive doctrines. However, Habermas emphasizes the role of religion in the public sphere in promoting human rights. He advocates for the reinvention of public reason by encouraging religious people to translate sacred terms into secular language when entering formal political spaces. According to Habermas' theories, democratic decision-making must allow citizens the right to use religious terms in public debate. Furthermore, this article shows that discourse theory creates a roadmap for human rights by allowing religion, law, and politics to coexist. Only if we adhere to the principles of discourse theory can we guarantee the fair and just participation of both secular and religious members in a democratic constitutional state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Die Urologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Les publications connues jusqu'alors sur le Premier Congrès des écrivains et artistes noirs qui s'est tenu à Paris en 1956 ne mettent pas en exergue la religion comme une dimension importante de l'identité culturelle négro‐africaine que promouvait cet événement. Pourtant au sortir de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, la lutte des peuples noirs contre le colonialisme consiste en une remise en cause de ses structures, de ses manifestations et de ses différentes composantes, dont la religion chrétienne dans sa facture occidentale. Et de fait ce congrès, tenu à l'université de la Sorbonne, s'inscrivant dans cette dynamique, n'a par conséquent pas négligé la religion chrétienne. C'est dans cette mesure qu'il est aussi important de mettre en lumière l'écho de cet événement au sein de l'Eglise catholique, pour ce qui est de sa réception, notamment dans l'empire colonial français. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have for some years hypothesized a "new visibility" of religion, so that a relevant role in the publicization of religion is played by the media. However, while the public visibility of religion in the media has recently become a topic of great interest at the international level, in Italy, the literature on this topic is quite scarce. It is of particular interest in Italy due to the central role played by the Catholic Church, which, despite the changed socio-political context and the transformations of the media system, does not seem to have lost its capacity to intervene publicly. Therefore, this study intends to fill this gap through a longitudinal analysis of the coverage of the Catholic Church in the main Italian print newspapers in the last 17 years (2005–2021). In total, 202,788 articles were collected and analysed using a content analysis. Results show that, in Italy, we cannot speak of a greater visibility of religion, in particular of the Catholic Church today in print press than in the past, nor of a uniformity with respect to the way in which is spoken about it in terms of issues and religious actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay addresses how new procedural knowledge was promoted during the devotional revolution in nineteenth-century Ireland, particularly in relation to bodily-material culture techniques. It argues that a more orthopraxic physical disposition was a significant aspect of the experience and practice of Catholicism, and suggests ways of thinking about that in relation to religious imagination and space. In this, it sees bodies as connected to artefacts through material practices. The bodily-material culture techniques under discussion include gesture, ways of interacting with objects and spaces, and in general the embedding of new forms of material knowledge and body schema. In this, this essay re-examines the relationship between religious and secular space during this period. On the one hand, at this time the intense construction and prominent siting of thousands of religious buildings including churches, denominational institutions and entire urban quarters suggest that sacred and secular spaces were highly defined and circumscribed. However, a focus on bodies and objects also suggests the idea of immanence, and a more fluid inter-relationship between sacred and profane space than might be generally considered. The contribution draws largely on regulatory and instructive literature including catechisms and popular devotional tracts, personal testimony and specific liturgical and devotional objects and spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introduction to the 'Spaces of Irish Catholicism' Roundtable argues that applying the concept of 'space' to nineteenth-century Irish Catholicism has the potential to offer significant new insights to our understandings of Irish Catholicism and the lives of ordinary Irish Catholics, but also to Victorian Studies and religious history more generally. In particular, it contends that the nature of Irish Catholicism in the later nineteenth century was such that examining its many different spaces offers a valuable means of enacting Peter Andersson's plea to uncover the 'backstage' of the Victorian period. In describing the eight diverse papers that comprise the Roundtable, the introduction argues that a previously identified dichotomy between the 'poetics of space' and the 'politics of space' within the religious realm may need to be rethought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While religious meaning-making has been extensively studied, emic religious coping remains largely unexplored. This consensual qualitative research study explored Catholic cancer survivors' (N = 22) descriptions of drawing on their religious framework throughout their cancer journeys. Findings revealed distinctive Catholic resources such as the power of blessings, drawing comfort from the saints and sacraments, and "offering up" suffering as a form of spiritual surrender, suggesting the existence of underlying theodicies of divine purpose as well as potential clinical resources. While many participants described spiritual struggles and questions, most found meaning through deepening their faith, helping others, and re-examining their priorities. Exploratory mixed-method analyses suggest that questioning God may promote turning toward faith, while being angry at God is associated with difficulty in doing so. The findings have implications for research, pointing to emic practices that merit further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The thought of Benedict XVI has been the subject of scholarly inquiry by representatives of various scientific disciplines, including theologians, anthropologists, historians, sociologists and political scientists. The multidimensional and multifaceted legacy of the late Pope Emeritus, who died on December 31, 2022, cannot be encompassed within the scope of a single discipline alone. This is the case, among others, with Benedict XVI's reflections on Europe. Significantly, the issues addressed by the Pope in his teaching speeches, lectures, books and interviews, form a coherent, cohesive agenda for Europe, stemming from a comprehensive study of its condition, whether theological, social, economic or political. The death of John Paul Il's successor afforded an opportunity to undertake research on the issues of contemporary Europe, as perceived by Benedict XVI. Because of the aforementioned range of concerns addressed by him, the authors of this publication were obliged to narrow down their focus to a few crucial topics. These have been translated into the title of the publication as well as the structure of the text. The aim of the article is therefore to analyze the thought of Benedict XVI through the lens of three criteria: identity, condition and vision of Europe. In this regard, it should be emphasized that, contrary to appearances, interpreting Benedict XVI's Europe is not an easy process. For it demands a better understanding of the views of Benedict XVI prior to the events of2005, namely the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope. Thus, the authors assume that Benedict XVI's thought on Europe evolved over time, beginning with the future pope's university studies. Furthermore, it is also worth noting that Benedict's Europe correlates to the diagnosis of the problems of the Old Continent that John Paul II spoke and wrote about for twenty-seven years of his pontificate. The source base included archival documents, memorials and studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Catholic Church has had and continues to maintain a unique role in the public life in Poland, with emphasis being placed on its social authority. However, substantial signs of a decline in religiosity in Europe are visible over the period analysed, as is the linked process of decreasing participation in religious practices. The main aim of the study is to describe and explain the evolution of perceptions of the Catholic Church's authority in Poland across institutional, doctrinal and personal dimensions. By highlighting these changes, answers are sought to further important questions, concerning the changing level of trust in the institutional Church, the evolution of religiosity of the Polish society in terms of people's declaration of faith, religious practices and declarations of adherence to Catholic morality, and the scope of the Catholic Church's authority as it is perceived in Poland. The answers to these questions are the basis for formulating conclusions about the elements of continuity and change in the perception of the authority of the Catholic Church in Polish society. The author puts forward the thesis that confidence in the institutional Church is dwindling and there is a gradual decline in the number of those who declare faith, while the process of abandoning religious practices is rising. In each case, the most substantial shifts are observed in the attitudes of young people. According to a prevailing opinion, if the Church is to reclaim its high degree of social authority, it should avoid political engagement, honestly explain the moral scandals disclosed and, most importantly, adhere to the principles it professes. The basic research method was the analysis of existing (created) data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The main research problem of the article is the communication of the sacred in the Catholic Church in light of the theory of mediatization of religion and research on religion in the era of digital media. Communicating the sacred takes place through various channels and in various ways. One of its carriers is religious advertising, a special type of visual communication used more and more often in the Catholic Church. It occupies an important place in the social processes taking place, such as secularization and desecularization, and in the religious practices of internet users. The text presents the results of the author's research conducted using the method of focus group interviews on religious advertising, its definition, typology and goals as well as the elements of the sacred present in it. Religious advertising should be treated as a new, completely separate type of advertising, whose inherent part and sine qua non condition is the sacred. Religious advertising is a form of visibility of religion in public space and a way of communicating the sacred in public space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest of religions in communicating in the new virtual environments has led to the emergence in recent years of multimedia initiatives that seek to inform and bring their message to many people. Such is the case of 'The Pope Video', a project of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) born in 2016 and supported by Vatican Media, with the purpose of launching the Holy Father's monthly intentions on a global level, through the dissemination of video messages on the web and social networks. The aim of this research is to analyze this project of the Church in the audiovisual media and as a methodology we have carried out a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of the videos (n=75) published between 2016 and 2021, in order to understand its evolution in terms of the themes highlighted, the quality and use of images and sounds, the audiovisual production and its internal structure. These are digital videos with good audiovisual production and editing, as well as a professional treatment of image and sound. The Pope is the protagonist of these videos, in which he reflects on various topics of social and human interest. Francis' naturalness and his approachable language, together with the strategic use of audiovisuals to reach his followers in the present digital age, make 'The Pope Video' a good example of direct communication between a religious leader and the faithful. A paradigm of innovation by the Catholic Church in audiovisual communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stephan Schätzl was the parish priest of Viechtwang, Upper Austria. He lived in the aftermath of the Peace of Augsburg in a period of schism between Roman Catholics and Lutherans. His portrait, depicted only 6 days before his demise in 1590, shows that he had extreme ante mortem cachexia. Documentary sources detailed his life and ill-health and it is proposed that he had chronic gastro-duodenal ulcerative disease which ultimately led his to death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the use of online platforms for Christian worship and emphasised the need for a simple psychometric instrument that is sufficiently general to assess affect responses to a range worship services. This paper reports on the development of the six-item Scale of Perceived Affect Response to Online Worship (SPAROW) during the third UK pandemic lockdown in 2021. The scale items were included in an online survey completed from January to July 2021 by 2,017 Anglicans living in England and 1713 Roman Catholics from the UK or the Republic of Ireland. Exploratory Factor Analysis (principal components extraction and varimax rotation) in the Anglican sample indicated a single-dimensional scale that had excellent internal consistency reliability for those who accessed pre-recorded services (α =.90, n = 1238) and live-streamed services (α =.91, n = 1492). Confirmatory Factor Analysis on the Roman Catholic sample using a Structural Equation Model showed a good fit to a single-dimensional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite historical and current connections between the Catholic Church and social work in the Philippines, studies investigating these connections have been limited. Using an exploratory research design, this study examined this relationship by drawing on existing documents: legislation; curricula and minimum standards for social work programmes; course syllabi; the Code of Ethics; and textbooks. Three themes emerged in the analysis, offering tentative explanations for the Church's widespread influence: religion as embedded in Filipino life; the Catholic Church and Catholic-based organisations as key partners in the delivery of social services; and the intersection of Catholic teachings, social work principles and Filipino values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to give yet another example of the analytical strenght of Niklas Luhmann’s theory. The example will be drawn from the contemporary situation of religion, or more precisely from the as of yet unresolved question of a religious medium. The central point is whether or not some large-scale attempt was made during the Twentieth Century to coin a new religious medium, one different from those considered in Luhmann’s works. Paragraphs 1 and 2 will summarize Luhmannian analysis of contemporary religion. Paragraph 3 will discuss the justification for focusing attention on the religious medium’s issue. Paragraphs 4 and 5 will be devoted to testing the chances of a certain kind of ritual to work as religious medium. In doing so we shall assess the difference between performance-centred rituals and liturgy-centred rituals [Humphrey Laidlaw 1994]. Paragraph 6 will be discussed if the Vatican II liturgical reform can be classified as a large-scale attempt to elaborate and circulate a new religious medium, irregardless of its success or failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Politics & Religion Journal is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Political Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Politics & Religion Journal is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Political Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The authors examine funeral reform in the second half of the 20th century in Central and Eastern Europe via the historical comparative analysis approach. Examining the case studies of Czechoslovakia and Hungary, the article argues that although the newly-developed civil (socialist) funeral ceremonies in the two countries followed a similar pattern, in the Czech part of Czechoslovakia, civil funerals followed by cremation became the norm during the forty years of communist rule, whereas in Hungary they did not become the popularly accepted approach, in a similar way to the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia, where Roman Catholic funerals and inhumation remained dominant. The significant difference in the results of efforts toward reform was due principally to differing cultural histories, attitudes toward both religion and cremation and the availability of the infrastructure required for conducting civil funerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the omnipresent religiosity that permeates Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996). The film creates an unconventional combination of a dystopian world – where violence, love, wealth and Catholicism are closely intertwined – and keenly focuses on the Capulets' and the Montagues' troubling relationship with religion. Drawing on previous studies by critics such as Christopher Baker, James N. Loehlin and Alan Hager, this article deals, first, with the various ways in which Luhrmann shows transgressions of Catholic faith and practices; second, how his film transgresses the original source text in religious terms; and third, how these transgressions also relate to a spiritual journey towards reconciliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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