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The purpose of this study is to present the perceptions of Poles from Lviv regarding the aid involvement of Christian churches during Russia's war against Ukraine. Christian churches appear privileged and effective sites of aid delivery in the narratives of respondents. However, this does not mean that they have a monopoly on aid activities. The foundation that underpins these activities is particularly evident in the categories highlighted in this article: the role of clergy in local communities (leaders), personal knowledge of society, church infrastructure, and the churches' experience gained during the USSR's persecution of religion. The assistance identified by respondents boils down to material and emotional support, experiencing religious practices, and involvement in direct activity on the war front. The research was based on individual in-depth interviews (IDIs), conducted in December 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomena where religion decides to break its own boundaries, is one where a lack of information exists. This study sought to explore the lived experiences of clergywomen inside the churches considering the limited local studies and literature conducted about clergywomen in the country. In light of this, additional knowledge is contributed to the few existing bodies of literature, specifically information about clergywomen's challenges, roles, and how they view themselves, highlighting the essence of clergywomen in the country. Purposive sampling was used to select participants with predetermined standards of serving the church as a clergywoman and actively participating in religious activities. This study utilized phenomenology, which included conducting one-on-one semi-structured interviews to gather data. The findings presented "ascension to pastoral ministry", "roles and responsibilities", "financial difficulty", "mockery", and "disagreement" as themes. It was also found that the participants have positive relationships, a supportive environment, and "positive view of themselves" even though they experienced struggles. The participants had different roles in the church, encountered several struggles, and had painful yet pleasing experiences as they defined them, leading them to have a positive view of themselves. Based on the findings, it is recommended to women in clergy, religious institutions and to the community to be more accepting of clergywomen in religious organizations. Moreover, further studies regarding clergywomen with different backgrounds such as single and married clergywomen as well as other members of the church including LGBT+ members are emphasized for future researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canton (present-day Guangzhou, China) has a long history as a trading port and serves as a window for studying the history of Sino-Western cultural exchanges. Canton was a city built under Confucian orders, leading to significant differences (when compared to Christian cities) in urban functional zoning, layout, urban landscape, and methods for shaping spatial order. Therefore, the churches constructed by Christian missionary societies in Canton merit particular attention in missionary history research and urban planning history. Based on local gazetteers, historical maps, export paintings, Western travelogues, and archives at that time, from a cultural landscape perspective, this article compares and analyzes the spatial expansion of Christian churches and their influences on the urban landscape in Canton in two stages. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the spatial layout of the churches indicated an active integration into Canton City. After the Opium War, churches were not only used for religious purposes but also served as symbols asserting the presence of Christians and Western powers (which made the situation more complicated). Missionary societies attracted believers through the construction of public facilities, building Christian communities centered around churches, thereby competing with authorities for spatial power and influencing the urban functional system and spatial layout controlled by the authorities. Comparatively, the Roman Catholic Cathedral has profoundly changed the traditional landscape order in Canton, while the Protestant Dongshan Church interacted more closely with the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‑19 pandemic affected people of all ages, ethnicities, cultures and social status. During the lockdown period, all of them had limited access to places, spaces and service. However, one segment of population had one more right/ liberty restricted over a period of time: the religious people. In spite of the severe restrictions, believers from most churches organized themselves to help people in need having access to grocery products, while keeping the vulnerable ones safe in their homes. In Bucharest, they volunteered in order to help not only their congregations, but also the public social welfare system which was almost overwhelmed trying to reach the vulnerable people who was not allowed or was not able to get the products they need from the supermarkets. The current research aims to explore the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic into the lives of those specific people who frequently attend the religious services of different Christian denominations in Romania, in a direct relation with their active participation in Church services, with all the discussions regarding the introduction of anti‑COVID‑19 vaccine, and also in connection with the bonds they developed with other believers from both inside and outside the church they constantly attend. The quantitative study was carried out with a sociological survey based on a questionnaire, with 274 respondents aged between 16‑71 years, who attend religious services with a minimum frequency of at least twice a month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sociedade e Estado is the property of Sociedade e Estado 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 COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown protocols of social distancing disrupted mourning and grieving processes across the African landscape forcing the Church to devise mechanisms to ensure that it remained contextually relevant in this highly restrictive environment. This disruption plunged Christian communities, and bereaving families into a state of cognitive dissonance. Christian communities in Southern African countries such as Zimbabwe faced serious challenges relating to the effective execution of the important role of supporting and consoling the bereaved. This paper reflects on the efforts and strategies that most Christian communities adopted to support bereaved families through engaging Old Testament texts that shed light on social distancing and quarantining. It sheds light on how Christian communities demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the wake of the highly disruptive environment created by the pandemic through the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook and other digital communication platforms such as Zoom, television, and radio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on the data collected by the Religion on Fire project team, implemented by the Workshop for the Academic Study of Religions (Ukraine). The article explores the impact of the full-scale Russian invasion on the Christian communities living in Ukraine, with a focus on damaged and destroyed religious buildings as well as kidnapped and murdered religious leaders. It also documents the changes in religious communities which have taken place since the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022. This article focuses primarily on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Roman and Greek Catholics, and numerous Protestant denominations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Publics in global politics are highly dynamic, considering the multitude of actors involved and the issues addressed. When examining Christian churches and the Ukraine War, it emerges that religions not only react to global politics but also contribute to identifying issues and measures of how to tackle them. The interplay of religious publics, therefore, appears particularly dynamic, warranting a distinct conceptualization. This article thus aims to introduce the concept of religious public(s) in global politics by building upon literature on how publics emerge and which manifestations they can assume. First, four manifestations of publics are examined by conducting a case study on Christianity and the Ukraine War. Employing the case study as a plausibility probe, the findings are re-examined in a second step to develop a typology of religious publics. The article concludes by identifying other areas in which studying religious publics and global politics would prove rewarding.

Publics in global politics are highly dynamic, considering the multitude of actors involved and the issues addressed. When examining Christian churches and the Ukraine War, it emerges that religions not only react to global politics but also contribute to identifying issues and measures of how to tackle them. The interplay of religious publics, therefore, appears particularly dynamic, warranting a distinct conceptualization. This article thus aims to introduce the concept of religious public(s) in global politics by building upon literature on how publics emerge and which manifestations they can assume. First, four manifestations of publics are examined by conducting a case study on Christianity and the Ukraine War. Employing the case study as a plausibility probe, the findings are re-examined in a second step to develop a typology of religious publics. The article concludes by identifying other areas in which studying religious publics and global politics would prove rewarding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, Odair Pedroso Mateus imagines himself as a participant at the founding assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 1948, writing a set of short notes about the proceedings of the gathering and setting out the main issues facing the newly founded WCC in its search for the visible unity of the churches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the increasing roles of faith-based organisations (FBOs) and individual followers in the provision of health services in Zimbabwe within the context of declining capabilities of state-funded and state-owned health facilities. In colonial and post-colonial Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular, FBOs have consistently contributed to the provision of public services and social security. We contend that state fragilities in the Zimbabwean political landscape result in severe public service delivery deficits that are often filled by FBOs and individual followers. The implications for FBOs and individual followers are twofold. Firstly, the increased involvement of FBOs in the production and provision of public services such as education and health services afford FBOs with opportunities and spaces to evangelise. Secondly, and on the downward side, the provision of health services can often be expensive and diverts attention from the core business of these religious organisations. The article reveals that in the context of economic and governance crises, FBOs play an increasingly momentous role in providing health care services in Zimbabwe. The article focuses on Zimbabwe during the crisis periods of 2007-2009 and 2018 up to the current (2022) socio-economic and political declines, poor governance, and the subsequent fragilities in the state. Contribution: Faith-based organisations assume increasing roles in the provision of health services in place of failing states. Those increased roles provide FBOs opportunities to evangelise. However, FBOs are not a sustainable replacement because they become afflicted with the same financial challenges that bedevil the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic violence (DV) is a gendered issue, with women more likely to be victim/survivors and men more likely to perpetrate abuse. With a strong emphasis on protecting the safety of women and children, the ways in which faith-based communities and leaders engage DV has come under scrutiny. Clergy are potential responders to DV and shape cultural contexts in which DV occurs. Yet, how religious norms relate to actions taken when clergy respond to DV remains under-researched. Using a survey of Australian Anglican clergy, this paper explores how views about "headship" and the sanctity of marriage relate to the uptake of actions by clergy and churches. Increased support for headship predicted a lower take-up of victim/survivor safety-focused actions by clergy and a lower frequency of actions by churches focused on DV organizations. Male clergy were more likely than their female counterparts to engage with perpetrators and to counsel couples. No independent associations were observed between actions and heightened support for the sanctity of marriage. While the strength of relationships between DV actions and both norms and gender was generally weak, these findings indicate that more work is needed to heighten awareness of the importance of actions focused on victim/survivor safety, connections with DV support services, the problematic practice of couples counselling, and challenges around directly pastoring perpetrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Sino-Western Studies is the property of Sanovan Press, Nordic Forum of Sino-Western Studies 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 digital network since its creation has been a space for reflection and practice of faith, therefore, a theological and pastoral place. The research seeks to identify the challenges and opportunities for pastoral action in the metaverse, through the case study of LagoVerso, the first Brazilian Christian church in this digital ecology. The article analyzes the characteristics of this environment and investigates its potentialities as one of the new agoras where the Gospel can be communicated. The research used to develop the case study, besides the method of participant observation of two services, an in-depth interview with the developer of the project. Just as the experience of the web affects our living and spiritual habits, the experience of faith impacts the development in the digital communication ecosystem. Based on the presence and practices of Lagoinha Baptist Church in this environment, we seek to raise important questions for “digital evangelization”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shock associated with the outbreak of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic affected the lives of everyone—and religious communities were no exception. Closed churches, bans on public worship, cancelled events, rapid changes to pastoral modes—many of these stories, quite naturally, captured media interest. This study provides an analysis of the image of Christian churches (and in particular the Catholic Church, which is the largest and most influential) as presented in the media in Central Europe, more specifically, in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Through a content analysis based on the concepts of frames and topoi, the study focuses on how the media presented the activities of the churches and the relation between church and government authorities during the pandemic. Based on a sample of 491 media texts published over the period of five months (February–June 2020) in four mainstream secular print/online media, our conclusions point to a predominantly positive image of Christian churches in the media—with the churches being perceived as cooperative, creative, and responsible, pursuing the common good and offering a prophetic interpretation of a difficult situation. On the other hand, fanaticism, fundamentalism, and non-cooperation were presented by the Slovak and Czech media as phenomena more frequently happening in other countries.

In a globalized reality, Christian churches must rediscover its place. The task is extremely difficult as it’s impossible to know where the congregation’s spiritual needs are heading. Migration and mass media rise as well as problematic identities and roles influence the deepening of the differentiation process, which makes it difficult to define unambiguous scenarios regarding the future of the religious market. On the other hand, the prolificacy of the presented theories proves religion’s unusually complex nature and context. The article’s aim was to present the most significant forecasts on where Christian churches will stand in the today’s global village.

Copyright of Journal of Tikrit University for Humanities is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

Introduction: This is a report of issues relevant to the protection from structural damage that is sustained by various types of structures when subjected to strong earthquake ground motions. Purpose of the study: This study became relevant due to the recent intense earthquake activity to the Greek island of Samos which left its impact on numerous structures of various types. Results and discussion: Initially, a summary is presented discussing the effort that has been made in Greece trying to confront with the consequences of this extreme loading condition to the built environment. Next, a summary report is given for certain types of structures which suffered the most. They include old Christian Greek Orthodox churches as well as other buildings on conservation status. The sustained damage is discussed together with a brief numerical study that tries to simulate numerically the observed behavior. Finally, a brief discussion with relevant conclusions are presented as a result of the observed damage combined with similar observations and studies made during the last decades.

Copyright of Revista Cultura y Religión is the property of Miguel Angel Mansilla Aguero 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 Annals of Cultural Studies / Roczniki Kulturoznawcze is the property of John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Institute of Cultural Studies 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.)

This article proposes to reflect on the relationship that exists between the pandemic of the new coronavirus and the breaking of paradigms in religions, especially in Christian churches. Based on the concept of paradigm, proposed by Thomas S. Khun, we seek to show that, more than tragedies, the main pandemics experienced by humanity in the Christian Era imposed the need for Christian churches to break paradigms in order to meet the demands of society and, above all, the demands of the communities themselves. The main objective of the article is to show that breaking paradigms is also an opportunity that churches have to review their convictions and practices, especially in overcoming templocentrism and in using new technologies that allow access to new media available in contemporary society. The problem question we are trying to answer is the extent to which Christian churches are taking advantage of these moments of acute crisis, experienced by humanity, to rescue lost paradigms, present in primitive Christianity and implement new paradigms in the face of the opportunities that are opened up with new technologies. The first section will take a historical approach, highlighting some events experienced by humanity in the pandemic known as bubonic plague or black plague (1346 to 1352) and in the great flu, also known as the Spanish flu (1918 to 1920). In the second section, some paradigm concepts and the need to break paradigms in pandemics will be presented, especially in that experienced by humanity at the beginning of the 21st century. In the third section, some measures taken by the Christian churches of the different denominations will be shown, due to the COVID - 19 pandemic, related to the paradigm break. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jesuit missions in South America were an important factor in the evangelisation of the continent during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. However, although the history and cultural aspects of the distinctive settlements that the missionaries created for indigenous peoples have been examined extensively, studies that address issues relating to archaeoastronomy have only recently begun to appear, primarily in relation to the orientation of churches built for Guaraní peoples in the Jesuit Province of Paraquaria (Province of Paraguay). The current paper continues and complements these studies of the region with the first archaeoastronomical study of the nearby Jesuit missions of Chiquitos in eastern Bolivia, focusing on measurements taken at the ten mission churches, interpreted within the context of the surrounding landscape and the characteristics of the villages where the churches are located. Our results show that in contrast to the churches of the Province of Paraquaria, where north-south meridian orientations predominate, half of the studied Chiquitan Jesuit churches show potential canonical orientations that seem to be aligned to solar phenomena, with three exhibiting precise equinoctial orientation. In this paper I propose reasons for these orientations, including the possible relevance of illumination effects on significant internal elements within the churches - effects that were generally sought in Baroque church architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaffiliation indicates a major future challenge to the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches in Germany, particularly regarding the church tax. This article addresses that issue by first describing the particular German context of disaffiliation. It then summarises previous research, which indicates that the church tax is the trigger to leave the church. An analysis of recent data reveals that the portion of church members is lowest in those income classes that have to pay an above average amount of church tax. Moreover, the likelihood to resign from church membership is highest when the individual begins his or her first paid job. Both findings ascribe church tax a more powerful role in the process of disaffiliation than previous research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archivio Giuridico is the property of Mucchi Editore 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 churches in Rwanda have exercised considerable political influence during both the colonial and post-colonial periods. Although formally autonomous institutions subordinate to the state, in actuality they have cultivated political influence through their religious teachings and secular role as the loci of material and social resources. However, there is at least one key factor, which has contributed to their fluctuating political influence within Rwanda. During the colonial period, the dominant Catholic Church functioned within a colonial regime of indirect rule, predicated on sustaining the political authority of a Tutsi-dominated Central Court presiding over the territories roughly contiguous with the present-day republic. This threefold division of power and authority acted as a brake upon the hegemonic ambitions of the Church, the royal house and the colonial administrators. Following the abolition of the monarchy in 1961, the structure of political power and authority of the state was fundamentally transformed, clearing the way for the emergence of a state church whose political role in the two Hutu dominated post-colonial republics would have significant historical implications. In this essay, I argue that it was this structural transformation of the Rwandan polity - marking the shift from a trilateral to a dual relationship between state and Church -, which contributes to our understanding of how the Church became embroiled in the mass violence and genocide in the twentieth century Rwandan polity.

In recent years, the growth and expansion of interreligious initiatives have received increasing scholarly attention worldwide, and interreligious actors and repertoires are gaining relevance within emerging governance regimes of religious diversity in Europe and beyond. However, empirical research in this field is still very limited. With the aim to fill this gap, this special issue gathers four original contributions aimed at critically describing, understanding and reflecting upon the rise of the ‘interreligious sector’ and its growing relevance to the governance of religious diversity in contemporary Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The warnings of scientists and ecologists on the alteration of our life environment today are serious. In sub-Saharan Africa for instance, already confroncted with the deterioration of its institutional and social structures, the problem of continuous degradation of the environment and of the conservation of nature has become a vital stake for the populations. Accordingly, the problem of the conservation of the nature must be integrated into the educational system in order to promote a comprehensible program of critical training which can meet the challenges of an ecological development. I discuss in this study this educational plan, targeting in a very specify way all the actors that have to play a major role in its, in order to bring an end the ecological degradation and its bad consequences in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of a specific religious actor, namely Christian churches, in the nexus of religion and genocide in Rwanda. Four factors are identified that point to the churches' complicity in creating and sustaining the conditions in which the 1994 genocide could occur, leaving up to one million people dead. These factors include the close relationship between church and state, the churches' endorsement of ethnic policies, power struggles within the churches, and a problematic theology emphasizing obedience instead of responsibility. Nevertheless, the portrayal of all Christian churches as collaborators of the genocide appears too simplistic and one-sided. Various church-led initiatives for peace and reconciliation prior to the genocide indicate a more complex picture of church involvement. Turning away from a "Theology of Genocide" that endorsed ethnic violence, numerous Christian churches in Rwanda now propagate a "Theology of Reconciliation." A modest empirical case study of the Presbyterian Church (EPR) reveals how their "Theology of Reconciliation" embraces the four dimensions of theology, institutions, relationships, and remembrance. Based on their own confession of guilt in the Detmold Confession of 1996, the EPR's engagement for reconciliation demonstrates religion's constructive contribution in Rwanda's on-going quest for sustainable peace and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna in the Canary Island of Tenerife (Spain) is of exceptional value as the first unfortified colonial city to follow regular plan - a grid, outlined by straight streets that form squares - in the overseas European expansion. It constitutes a historical example of the so-called "Town of Peace", the archetype of a city-republic in a new land that employed its own natural boundaries to delimit and defend itself. Founded in 1496, the historical centre of the old city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. We analyse the exact spatial orientation of 21 historic Christian churches currently existing in the old part of La Laguna, which we take as a good indicator of the original layout of the urban lattice. We find a clear orientation pattern that, if correlated with the rising or setting Sun, singles out an absolute-value astronomical declination slightly below 20°, which, within the margin of error of our study, might be associated with the 25th July feast day of San Cristóbal de Licia, the saint to whom the town was originally dedicated. We also discuss at some length some recent proposals which invoke somewhat far-fetched hypotheses for the planimetry of the old city and conclude with some comments on one of its outstanding features, namely its Latin-cross structure, which is apparent in the combined layout of some of its most emblematic churches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Romanian Journal of Journalism & Communication / Revista Română de Jurnalism şi Comunicare- RRJC is the property of Romanian Journal of Journalism & Communication 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 spillover of the terrorist activities of Boko Haram, a Nigerian jihadi group, into Cameroon's north has resulted in security challenges and humanitarian activity opportunities for Christian churches. The insurgents have attacked and destroyed churches, abducted Christians, worsened Muslim-Christian relations, and caused a humanitarian crisis. These ensuing phenomena have adversely affected Christian churches in this region, triggering an aura of responses: coping strategies, humanitarian work among refugees, and inter-faith dialogue. These responses are predicated on Christianity's potential as a resource for peace, compassion, and love. In this study we emphasize the role of Christian churches in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency. It opens with a presentation of the religious configuration of Cameroon, followed by a contextualization of Boko Haram insurgency in Cameroon's north. The paper further examines the brutality meted out on Christians and church property. The final section is an examination of the spiritual, humanitarian, and relief services provided by churches. The paper argues that although Christian churches have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram insurgents, they have engaged in various beneficial responses underpinned by the Christian values of peace and love. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada receives roughly 250,000 immigrants each year, and the government spends considerable resources on assisting them to settle and integrate into Canadian society through the agencies they support. Most of these new immigrants settle in Canada's largest cities, where churches meet specific needs that extend beyond the capacities of government agencies. In smaller centers, churches cover a wide range of services because few government supports are available. Little is known about the work of churches in Canada in spite of their importance to immigrant settlement and integration. In this study, we examine the services offered to immigrants by Canadian Christian churches. We show how the service provision of Christian churches is constrained by other organizations and groups in their environment, in ways consonant with the organizational ecology framework. Specifically, churches service the needs of immigrants by adapting to specific niche needs and by filling in gaps left by other service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cathedral of Santiago (Spain) is one of the three most sacred sites in Christendom together with Saint Peter in Vatican and Jerusalem, and it is the focal point of a pilgrimage route since the Middle Ages. The present Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the result of a long-lasting effort of building and reconstruction with two main break-points, the erection of the Romanesque building in the 12th and 13th centuries and its reform during Baroque times (s. 'XVII'). Built at the site of a previous Roman and later Germanic cemetery, its orientation is fully compatible with the canonical rule for the Middle Ages in Spain and indicates an attempt to follow a given date in the Julian calendar, March 25th. This is one of the three calendar dates that are related to the Apostle according to the Codex Callistinus, a writing describing the pilgrimage to Santiago from the XIIth century, the other two being July 25th and December 30th. In the present essay we investigate how the different dates related to this Saint have been incorporated in the original design of the Cathedral and its transformation through time, either through the orientation or by illumination effects, particularly in the Romanesque and the later Baroque reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the cultural characteristic of early Christianity in Armenia. In the end of the 3rd century Christianity had a large number of followers. Christianity gave an opportunity to resist with national unity the external invaders and protect national independence and autonomy. Assessing correctly the situation, in 301 Tiridates III (287-330) by the initiative of Gregory the Illuminator declared Christianity as a state religion in Armenia. Gregory the Illuminatore could show that only due to Christianity it was possible to ensure the further history of Armenian people. He also explained the philosophical-anthropological bases of that religion, contrasting that with the visible simplicity of polytheism. The adoption of Christianity was a powerful twist in country’s external and internal policy but it rejected by the religious aspect the faith of the centuries, the pagan culture and literature. But nevertheless, remained only pre-Christian spiritual and cultural values which were created by people. Christianity created its culture, literature, school. In Armenia constructed Christian churches, next to them were opened Christian churches in Greek and Assyrian languages. In the history of the Christian culture 4th and 5th centuries historical situations were the most important factors for the development of Early Medieval Armenian art and ecclesiastical literature and oriented its essence and uniqueness giving impetus to the creation of high bibliographic monuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Henri Desroche (1961), one could write an entire history of religion as ‘the mother of social resignation’ or, with equal justification, as ‘the mother of social protest’. Desroche’s apt observation summarizes the topic of this essay, which deals with the oppositional and the culturally adapted communities and movements in the recent history of the Christian churches, focusing particularly on their relationship with social inequalities. Taking a perspective strongly influenced by Max Weber’s sociology of religion, it discusses the ‘religious ideas’ that have guided, and continue to guide, the actions of various Christian churches and groups in societies marked by social inequality. Theoretically, this essay argues that the social positioning of church groups and movements is heavily dependent on the cognitive content of religious beliefs. The contrasting cases it cites show the fruitfulness of such an analytical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to identify the structure of social capital within Christian churches in Australia. The focus is the social capital that exists within the congregation as opposed to its connections to the wider community or society, that is, to use Woolcock and Narayan () terminology, the bonding rather than the bridging social capital. A total of 3363 church attendees were surveyed to identify the different ways that social capital can be generated such as through participation, informal friendships or congregational projects in any sphere of church activity including questions about both the respondents' own actions and their perceptions of the congregation and demographic questions including denomination. The dimensions of Bonding were identified through exploratory factor analysis and then refined and confirmed through structural equation modelling. The three factors related to an underlying Bonding construct were Collective Agency, Congregational Unity and Personal Connections. A fourth factor in the model was the desire for Homogeneity, which was related to Congregational Unity but not significantly related to Bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives de Sciences Sociales des Religions is the property of Editions EHESS 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.)

This article deals with religious discourse in modern history school textbooks in Ukraine that cover early modern times in Ukrainian history. It analyzes the place of religious discourse within national discourse, the correlation between local Ukrainian religious and more general discourse, and the representation of the relationships between Christian churches. Further, it defines a methodological approach and assesses the accuracy of facts presented in textbooks as well as the interpretation of religious life, normative language, and denominational labeling. It demonstrates the discrepancy between the achievements of academic historiography and school history, including the isolated and exclusive nature of history discourse in Ukrainian schools today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]