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Equine assisted services (EAS) consist of a complex system of horse, human, and environmental factors which ultimately impact program effectiveness. Despite recognition in the literature that organizational affiliation with spirituality or religion impacts values, practices, and culture, connection between faith, spirituality, and specific religious belief, when combined with EAS is a nascent field of inquiry. Despite preliminary observations that suggest many organizations offering EAS are affiliated with religious institutions or claim their practices are informed by a particular faith, the extent of these non-secular affiliations is unknown in current literature. To explore this, we surveyed 113 EAS organizations to determine the extent and type of non-secular (i.e., faith-based) affiliations and whether these affiliations were professed publicly, to all internal staff and participants, to staff only, or not at all (i.e., level of “transparency”). We collected data on a range of horse characteristics and program practices. We used chi-square analyses to assess associations between secular/non-secular status and characteristics of practices. Of 93 organizations, 71% claimed a non-secular affiliation. Of non-secular organizations, 61% were fully transparent, and 36% were open about their belief system only internally with staff and participants. More non-secular organizations emphasized horses that were sensitive to humans and the environment (p = 0.0063). Non-secular organizations placed more importance on partnering with horses with a history of abuse or neglect (p = 0.0461). Transparency of faith or religious affiliation was associated with selection of horses based on girth, bone, and sturdiness (p = 0.0004). This is the first study to explore how a proxy for organizational-level values is associated with EAS practice differences. Further research is needed to determine if program-level differences in faith affiliation impact outcomes for participants in EAS.

This article explores reactions to the practice of polygyny in Denmark over the last 30 years. While bigamy was listed in the criminal code, the public approach to marital choices up until the 1990s was generally one of non-interference. In the face of immigration from non-Western countries, the clause on bigamy becomes an instrument to criminalise polygyny and limit access to residence permits. Unpacking this rationale through the study of the political and public discourse surrounding four occurrences of polygyny in Denmark and their legal consequences, we flesh out the underlying values that structure private relations and personal choices in Danish liberal democracy. We demonstrate how the criminalisation of certain non-monogamous unions must be negotiated within a liberal approach to marriage, religious belief, and right to privacy. Here, women’s rights and equality, in an increasingly multicultural Denmark, become a trope activated to problematise this practice. The rejection of divergent cultural practices such as polygyny, we argue, serves both to reaffirm the superiority of Danish values and to produce more restrictive migration laws. The criminalisation of pologyny thus, serves as a case study to examine the scopes and limits for pluralism in Western liberal democracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay attempts to identify some possible coordinates of a path capable to unify everything that today appears divided and fragmented. The research space is delimited and highlights two protagonists of the 20th century: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) and John Hick (1922- 2012). The imperfection of the concept of religion and of religions in their concreteness – highlighted by both Bonhoeffer and Hick – represents a starting point for monitoring the situation today in order to avoid any form of excess in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sense of agency, our felt sense of authorship for our actions, is a difficult concept to define, yet its faltering stands at the heart of psychopathology. Historically undertheorized by psychoanalysis and typically positioned opposite relatedness by clinical psychology, Jeremy Safran conceived of agency and relatedness as paradoxically related. This paper pays tribute to Safran's ideas by taking his writings on agency as a starting point to elaborate how agency forms, and goes awry, in the relational crucible of early life. In doing so, the paper draws on the developmental theory of Winnicott, empirical research on embodied agency from adjacent fields of study, and Safran's clinical phenomenology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

De Cruz and Levy, in their commentaries on Religion as make‐believe, present distinct questions that can be addressed by clarifying one core idea. De Cruz asks whether one can rationally assess the mental state of religious credence that I theorize. Levy asks why we should not explain the data on religious "belief" merely by positing factual beliefs with religious contents, which happen to be rationally acquired through testimony. To both, I say that having religious credences is p‐irrational: a purposeful departure from rational thought and behavior, where the purpose in question is maintaining a group identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a commentary on Neil Van Leeuwen's Religion as make‐believe focusing on the normative aspects of this book. According to Van Leeuwen, religious credences are not factual beliefs, and they are held to different standards of rationality than factual beliefs. Hence, religious believers are able to track and represent those states of affairs that govern their practical lives while also holding views that deviate significantly from it, such as divine omnipotence. Here, I examine whether this reasonable compartmentalization in religious believers holds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional and religious justifications have been identified to support the continued practice of child marriage. However, the role of faith in child marriage has not been widely studied. This mixed-method study investigates the role of faith in child marriage in Mozambique, Nepal, and the Philippines. Faith and religion are deeply ingrained in these communities, as most survey respondents identified with a faith group and practiced their religion in both private and public domains. Faith was found to have an impact on child marriage through beliefs around gender roles. Although this trend was observed in all countries, there were variations between them, highlighting the significance of local context. Addressing child marriage requires a comprehensive approach that considers both faith and gender norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We draw on Turkey – a Muslim-majority country governed by the pro-Islamist Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi – AKP) for the past two decades – to examine some underexplored implications of the supply-side theory of religion. The longevity and shifting nature of AKP rule provide a unique opportunity to observe the subtleties involved in the noticeable strengthening of Sunni Islam's religious monopoly in a Muslim society. Results from a series of public opinion surveys conducted between 2010 and 2020 show that the AKP rule has caused the religious segment of Turkish society to consolidate around AKP and secular sections to consolidate around the opposition, leading to a significant polarization within the country. We argue this is because hegemonic religious policies may create crosscutting effects which both increase and decrease religiosity. The findings also have political implications that are undertheorized in the supply-side literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored mining-induced challenges, experiences of psychological distress, and coping strategies among farmers in mining communities in Ghana. Using a qualitative research approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 crop farmers in two mining communities in the Ellembelle District in the Western Region of Ghana. Thematic analysis of the data suggests that psychological distress is a common experience among farmers in mining communities. Farmers' experiences of psychological distress emanate from various mining-induced challenges, including deprivation of vital resources, constraints on farming activities, economic hardship, and adjustment difficulties associated with displacement and resettlement. Faced with limited formal support services, farmers in mining communities employ religious faith, avoidance, and adaptation as mechanisms for coping with the adverse impacts of mining. The findings of this study suggest the need to address issues related to psychological well-being before and after the onset of mining activities in communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the efficacy of incorporating spiritual practices, such as prayer and pilgrimages, into patient-centered care to enhance the healing journey of individuals experiencing illness. Using Lisa Ray's cancer memoir, Close to the Bone (2019), we seek to investigate the impact of spirituality, sacred spaces, and faith on maintaining an individual's religiosity during times of ailment. Our analysis of the potential salubrious effects of incorporating practices like prayer and pilgrimages, as well as the ameliorative influence of storytelling and community, aims to shed light on the utility of these practices in healthcare. Furthermore, we aim to situate prayer as a healing modality and examine the pertinence of Hindu pilgrimage sites in India to the case study. By evaluating the spiritual practices and sacred spaces that facilitated Lisa's healing journey, we hope to contribute to the understanding of the importance of including spiritual practices and beliefs in patient care within the interdisciplinary framework of medical humanities, which encompasses a wide array of disciplines concerned with the human pursuit of health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article complements existing victimological studies on religion by investigating whether religion promotes or reduces fear of crime in Germany. According to the generalized insecurity approach and the theory of social production functions, religion and fear of crime are linked via secularization-induced diffuse insecurities. It is expected that different facets of religion are tied to fearing crime in different ways because the projection of secularization-induced diffuse insecurities occurs only among those individuals whose religious capital is devaluated. Empirical analyses of data from the 2021 German General Social Survey reveal that some religious minority groups are particularly likely to fear crime, religious belief is positively related to fearing crime, and religious behavior is negatively associated with fearing crime. Additionally, religion can promote fear of crime equally in East and West Germany. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the significance of religion in relation to the fear of crime and underscores the benefits of a general theoretical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article investigates the influence of entrepreneurs' religious beliefs on entrepreneurial career persistence, with altruism as a mediating mechanism at the psychological level. Based on the theory of role boundary permeability, we propose that the moral values contained in entrepreneurs' religious beliefs permeate into their entrepreneurial domain, making them more altruistic. Using a unique longitudinal, multilevel dataset derived from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we tested our hypotheses on 4,848 observations of entrepreneurs' career persistence spanning three consecutive two-year periods (2012−2014, 2014−2016, and 2016−2018) using multilevel logistic regression. Our findings show that religious beliefs enhance entrepreneurial altruism and subsequently increase the probability of entrepreneurial career persistence. More broadly, our study provides new insights into the psychological-level mechanisms at work in the entrepreneurial practice of religious entrepreneurs, adding an important new explanation to the limited research on how religion matters for entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do we make sense of our place in the field as researchers and as sexual, spiritual beings? Ethnographic fieldwork is central to several disciplines, including geography. It involves the researcher encountering and gathering stories and meanings through interaction with people's lived experiences in settings that are often not the researcher's own. Although rarely strain‐free, fieldwork is seen as a transformative experience, both from the personal and the academic point of view. This paper, situated at the intersection of geography, queer/ing practices, and ethnographic methodology, explores poetry as a form of self‐care in the field. In recent years, poetry has emerged as a creative and productive mode of representation and (co‐)interpretation of qualitative data. Based on my own spiritual experience(s) while conducting fieldwork in Spain, I consider prayer cards as a poetic form and a means through which issues of self‐care and spiritual self‐preservation are made visible, particularly when experienced within a social environment that is hostile to LGBTQ+ lived experiences of faith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractControversies surrounding end-of-life choices may be due to differences in congregational affiliation and beliefs about the Bible, heaven, and hell. Focusing on religious leaders (N = 1541), this study investigated how these factors are associated with attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide, allowing a patient to die by withholding treatment, and withdrawing treatment in favor of pain relief. Religious leaders affiliated with White liberal or moderate denominations were more supportive of these end-of-life choices compared to those affiliated with Roman Catholic; White conservative, evangelical, or fundamentalist; and Black Protestant congregations. Literalist view of the Bible and belief in hell were significantly associated with less support across the three choices, whereas belief in heaven was significantly associated with less support for only physician-assisted suicide. This study highlights the varying significance of religious beliefs in understanding variations in views on end-of-life choices and sheds light on the moral distinction associated with various choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between religion and health tends to be framed positively. Religion has been found to act as a coping mechanism and source of support in times of ill health. In this paper, we focus on the disruptive effect of chronic illness on religious practice and cultural engagement. Drawing on interviews with ethnic minority adults with end‐stage kidney disease, who also identify as religious, we introduce the concept ‘cultural disruption’. While religious practice and belief was found to provide strength and comfort we also found that chronic illness had a disruptive impact on religious and cultural practice that participants attempted to manage. To highlight the potential disruptive effect of chronic illness on religious faith and cultural engagement we identify three elements of cultural disruption—disruption to religious practice, disruption to sense of self and identity and disruption to wellbeing. We conclude by suggesting that understanding and accounting for the potential of cultural disruption when diagnosing, treating and supporting people with chronic illness offers an alternative entry point to the life‐worlds of patients who identify as religious and the things that are important to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning with Luther's understanding of doubt using Genesis 3 as a template, the article explains how credulity differs from faith as the human mind interacts with shifting contexts and their doubts. In distinction from credulity, faith is an emergent phenomenon shaping personality and its social insertion. As faith mediates a compassionate orientation toward sufferers, it expresses the way in which the ultimate transcends into the penultimate or paramount reality dominated by the mechanisms of natural and social selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. This study examined the effect of a spiritual connectivity intervention on individuals with depression in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial. Fifty-seven participants with mild or moderate depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 28) or the waitlist control group (n = 29). The intervention comprised eight weekly sessions focusing on divine connection, forgiveness and freedom, suffering and transcendence, hope, gratitude, and relapse prevention. The outcome measures included depressive symptoms, anxiety, hope, meaning in life, self-esteem, and social support. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires at baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 8), and 3-month follow-up (week 20). Repeated-measures ANOVA and one-way ANCOVA were used to compare the within-group and between-group differences in the changes in outcome variables. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, spiritual experience, hope, self-esteem, and perceived social support after the intervention. Effect size statistics showed small to large differences (Cohen's d, 0.308 to −1.452). Moreover, 85.71% of participants in the intervention group also experienced clinically significant reductions in PHQ-9 scores from baseline to immediate post-intervention. This study highlights the effectiveness of a low-cost, accessible intervention suitable for community implementation by clergy and faith-based organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, it is becoming increasingly common for companies to harness the spirit of play in order to increase worker engagement and improve organizational performance. This paper examines the ethics of play in a business context, focusing specifically on the phenomenon of workplace gamification. While critics highlight ethical problems with gamification, they also advocate for more positive, transformative, and life-affirming modes of organizational play. Gamification is ethical, on this view, when it allows users to reach a state of authentic happiness or eudaimonia. The underlying assumption, here, is that the 'magic circle' of play—a sphere that exists entirely for its own sake—should be protected in order to secure meaningfulness at work. However, we argue that this faith in play is misguided because play, even at its most autotelic, is ethically ambivalent; it does not lead inexorably to virtuous work environments, but may in fact have an undesirable impact on those who are playing. Our study thus contributes to research on the 'dark side' of organizational play, a strand of scholarship that questions the idea that play always points toward the good life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The existence of various ethical challenges, the inability to resolve ethical conflicts, and, as a result, the low quality of care and the occurrence of dissatisfaction in patients and nurses have been discussed for years. By creating new ethical challenges, the Covid-19pandemic has played an important role in making the process of care for these patients more difficult and complicated. This study was conducted with the aim of designing a prescriptive model to help provide ethical-care and resolve ethical conflicts during the Covid-19pandemic. Methods: In this two-stage qualitative study, a grounded theory research method was used in the first stage, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Sampling started purposefully and continued theoretically. In the second step, the appropriate model was designed using the three-step method proposed by Walker and Avant. Results: The core concept was "behavior based on faith in God", based on which the grounded theory of "faithful nursing" and then "model of solving ethical challenges with nursing based on faith in God" were presented. The strategies of the model in three parts are strengthening the beliefs of nurse, strengthening environmental facilitators to help nurse, and strengthening situational analysis in duty diagnosis in nurse were presented. Conclusions: According to this model, nurses' beliefs play a key role, and the strengthening of environmental factors play a secondary role in ethical-care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined how spiritual well-being changes over time in patients with heart failure. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Collaborative Care to Alleviate Symptoms and Adjust to Illness (CASA) trial (N = 314). Spiritual well-being was measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp) at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Of the 165 patients with spiritual well-being data at follow-up, 65 (39%) experienced probable clinically meaningful changes (> 0.5 SD) in spiritual well-being (35 improved, 30 declined). Increased pain (p = 0.04), decreased dyspnea (p < 0.01), and increased life completion (p = 0.02) were associated with improvement in overall spiritual well-being. Exploratory analyses found different predictors for FACIT-Sp subscales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK National Health Service (NHS) is one of the largest employers in the world and relies heavily on Black migrant women. Nonetheless, reports of (gendered) racism persist. This phenomenologically inspired qualitative study shares findings from empirical interview data with female Nigerian doctors and nurses working in the NHS, with a specific focus on how these women cope with the racism and gendered racism they experience in their everyday working lives. The analysis shows the extent to which they perceive the coping strategies available to them to be limited, with problem-based solutions focused on relocating themselves into geographical, professional, or organisational spaces where acute staffing shortages may curb employers' tendency towards discrimination in recruitment and advancement. Emotion-based strategies employed were often faith-based, or relied on their national identity and understandings of what it means to be Nigerian/a Nigerian woman. The article critically considers the power differentials endemic in employment that limit these women to individualised coping strategies which ultimately result in their isolation, a known stressor itself, creating a self-perpetuating vicious circle of gendered racism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern Churches in Russia and Ukraine are facing the fratricidal war caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These Churches maintain closeness in faith and liturgy. The similarities of these Churches' teachings on war are juxtaposed with actual manifestations of their hierarchs' hostility. The analysis will be carried out from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church, which is in close unity with the Eastern Churches and understands the context of faith but is not a party to the conflict, which makes it easier to remain objective in examining the phenomenon of fratricide. The first part of the article analyses the doctrinal and historical context. It helps to isolate the factors influencing the existence of enmity between doctrinally close Churches. The second part presents the biblical inspiration of Cain and Abel's story in a search for new ways to counteract this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on reevaluating the Supreme Court's free exercise jurisprudence, beginning with its 1879 decision in Reynolds v. United States up to recent developments. It argues that the Court's interpretation of Reynolds as protecting only religious belief, not action, has been incorrectly embraced since the 1960s, leading to pivotal decisions like Employment Division v. Smith in 1990. The article proposes restoring Reynolds' original understanding, which recognized protections.

In recent years, research into educational leadership has prompted growing appreciation for the critical role which both cultural and societal tenets can have in shaping school leadership approaches. With that in mind, this study examines a school leadership model grounded in Islamic values and beliefs. More specifically, this study attempts to develop an Islamic-Oriented Educational Leadership (IOEL) model for Muslim school leaders. This is an exploratory study designed within a qualitative paradigm of the interpretive, grounded theory process. Data were collected from twenty-four international experts in Islamic educational leadership. Two main themes related to the IOEL model emerged from data analysis, namely: (a) Holistic Islamic Education, and (b) Cultivating Effective Model Leaders. Moreover, the researchers assert that the ways in which a school principal's ethical and religious beliefs affect their mindset illustrate the significance of context in shaping school leadership. This study's findings have practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the traditions observed in pre-Islāmic Arab society (Jāhiliyya) was the practice of child sacrifice. This practice drew strong condemnation and opposition in various passages of the Qur'ān. The underlying impetus behind the Jāhiliyya Arabs (pre-Islāmic Arabs) to engage in such acts, especially the sacrifice of their daughters, finds its explanation in the phrase khashya imlāq, "fear of poverty," as stated in the applicable passages. Nonetheless, a careful examination of the narrations (riwāyāts) and passages pertaining to the subject reveals a fundamental relationship between the Arabs' custom of child sacrifice and their votive rituals. This paper aims to scrutinize this intricate relationship. It commences with the identification of the riwāyāts linked to the Jāhiliyya society's custom of presenting children as offerings to their deities. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis will be presented on interpretations put forth by Muslim exegetes (mufassirūn) regarding Qur'ānic passages addressing the theme of child sacrifice. This paper argues that while the ostensible motivation for child sacrifice, particularly that of daughters, is often attributed to peniaphobia, an examination of the relevant passages, riwāyāts, and the exegetical interpretations leads to the conclusion that this practice is intertwined with the votive beliefs once held by the Jāhiliyya Arabs. Accordingly, it can be concluded that belief strongly influences the formation of customs and practices at the social and individual levels, even when forgotten over time. Thus, a notable example illustrates a close relationship between religion and culture. Moreover, the influence of religious motivation and beliefs in legitimizing brutal practices, such as the killing of a child, is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to show how the understanding of Leibniz's notion of toleration in matters of faith should be considered not merely as a pragmatic, but also as an epistemologically and metaphysically relevant concept. Following Maria Rosa Antognazza's account, I will argue that Leibniz's view on the belief of mysteries is 'above reason' and the relation between faith and experience plays an important role in his discussion of transubstantiation with Des Bosses, but also that Leibniz allows for presumptions based on faith to enter metaphysical discussions. Doing so, despite the fact that we cannot achieve certainty in these matters and have to accept a variety of different beliefs regarding the same objects, enriches our understanding of the world and of God—and also gives us reason to take seriously Leibniz's engagement with corporeal substances, albeit only as presumptions rather than as necessary consequences of his basic metaphysical system. Finally, I will illustrate this point by showing how it is also in play in Leibniz's response to Tournemine regarding the mind-body-union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do individuals find assurance of their personal standing before God? This article discusses the way different traditions of the Christian faith tried to answer the question—some leaving room for doubt in the process and others demanding absolute certainty from the believer. All fellowships experienced some problems with the issue due to the very nature of the question. Assurance required a reflexive act that turned the eyes of the believer away from the good things of God and the promises of the gospel toward an inspection of one's inner man and motives that were difficult to discern. Those fellowships that emphasized a human condition in the process of salvation or assurance often struggled with their depravity before God and unworthiness to claim the promises of divine grace. This paper particularly focuses upon the struggles of the so-called Calvinists, who were more enamored with the question than the other fellowships and had difficulty developing a coherent or definitive answer, caught as they were between tensions in their theology, between the Christocentric vision of John Calvin that led toward assurance and the synergistic tendences of Theodore Beza and Heinrich Bullinger that led toward doubt. The paper provides some criticism of their theology but sympathizes with their struggle and finds faith and doubt inevitable parts of the Christian life here on earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Little is known about how current UK policy for end-of-life care planning fits with the social, cultural and religious values and beliefs of ethnic minority communities. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of patients and family caregivers from ethnically diverse backgrounds, as well as the views of health professionals, regarding end-of-life care planning, including discussions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, including comparative thematic and cross-case analysis from 18 longitudinal patient case studies and 19 interviews with bereaved family members. A total of 112 interviews were conducted across patients, family caregivers and health professionals. Topics included experiences of talking about illness, discussions about choices and decisions about future care, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation decision making. Results: Health professionals sought to identify when patients were 'ready' for end-of-life care discussions before initiating these conversations. However, little clarity was given around the characteristics that constituted this readiness by any of the health professionals. Issues around translation, such as mistranslation, confidentiality issues with external translators and the potential for family caregivers to misconstrue information in translation were also highlighted. Religious and cultural beliefs played significant roles in patients' do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation decisions, with anxieties around whether the system adequately valued these beliefs. Conclusions: Health professionals played a significant role in seeking an agreement on do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Participants' accounts of the discussions highlight the importance of insightful professional recognition of 'readiness' to broach the topic, as well as a good knowledge of family dynamics. It also raises concerns about the risk of the patient's voice being unduly influenced by health professionals and/or family caregivers, especially in cases where an interpreter is required to mediate communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The film Life of Pi narrates a fable about the relationship between an individual and the mindbody realm, based on the transformative journey of an Indian boy, Piscine Patel, who found himself in a tumultuous battle between hope and despair, faith and reason, as he navigated the vast, unforgiving expanse of the open sea after a harrowing shipwreck. Once deeply rooted in his religious beliefs, Piscine began to lose faith in his objects of devotion. In his despair, he heeded his father's teachings, ingrained deep within his heart, and began to struggle for survival at sea using reason. When the external environment dampened Piscine's will to survive, the illusions of faith provided him with spiritual support, allowing him to rekindle his rational thinking and confront the challenges ahead. Throughout his arduous drift at sea, Piscine was accompanied by a fierce tiger, symbolizing the raw power of rationality, and a delicate lotus, embodying the essence of pure faith. Together, these symbolic representations serve as a poignant metaphor for integrating faith and reason in a state of perpetual flux, highlighting the intricate dynamics between faith and reason in the face of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does religious belief differ in any interesting way from other kinds of belief? For now, take ‘belief' to mean how one takes the world to be, on the basis of which they act. Call beliefs like this ‘ordinary beliefs'. There are also more complicated, or abstract, beliefs. Call such beliefs ‘non-ordinary beliefs’. Are religious beliefs different in any significant or interesting way from what we call ‘standard belief’? Our analysis shows that they are not. Although the content of religious belief is different, and sometimes so is the function, religious beliefs are still mental, dispositional attitudes that aim to provide a correct representation of the world. Therefore, religious beliefs are best understood as a sub-category of standard beliefs, alongside ordinary and non-ordinary beliefs. This account of religious belief provides further insight into the meaning of belief and supports a revision of a strict demarcation between standard and non-standard beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of theological beliefs and practices in the analysis of domestic violence is needed, hence this paper explores how Christian theological framings shape men’s perpetration of domestic violence. Through engagement with the Lutheran Church of Australia, interviews and a survey with Pastors found that gender was dominant in the themes and provided a framework for how Pastors understood domestic violence and how they articulated their explanations for why they perceived a denial of domestic violence in their religious contexts. The interviews in this study brought out the capacity of gendered theological discourse and the truth valency of scripture to both inform domestic violence and potentially be part of the solution, while at the same time the narratives express the inherent tensions and the resistance to change in the religious culture. The paper argues for the coming together of sociological, feminist, theological and spiritual understandings of gender identity to shape responses to domestic violence in Christian contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The recent war in Ukraine has prompted a global focus on refugees and their ability to successfully overcome adversity. This article focuses on the factors that foster resilience in women refugees. Refugee resilience depends on external environments as much as on internal strength, both of which relate to the nature of transnational families that stretch across at least two countries and rely on the family member's internal capacity to address the challenge of maintaining ties, alongside their external resources available in their circumstances. A qualitative study was conducted in November 2022 with 11 women refugees from Ukraine interviewed in Warsaw, Poland. Eight themes that contribute to resilience in women refugees were identified, including (1) family (in particular, intergenerational family solidarity), (2) community, (3) artistic expression and artisan creation, (4) connection to nature and environment, (5) access to mental health professionals, (6) work, (7) faith and spirituality and (8) hope for the future. Dominant, overarching narratives included the safety and well‐being of participants’ children, overcoming adversities for the sake of their sons and daughters and facing daily struggles related to providing for their family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to several recent studies, physicians in various medical branches have some differences in attitudes towards transgender and gender‐diverse (TGD) persons based on religious or political beliefs. Our study aims to uncover the attitudes of the general physician community in Turkey, which has a youthful profile, regarding TGD individuals. The attitudes towards transgender individuals scale (ATTI) and the general conservatism scale, along with a form that asks about socio‐demographic factors, political beliefs, and level of religion, were administered online to physicians. The ATTI score of physicians (mean = 77.8) is favourable and did not vary among branches. Being female, being close to TGD, having left‐wing views, low conservatism and low religious belief scores were associated with positive attitudes towards TGD individuals. The physician profile’s moderate religious belief and left‐wing views can be interpreted as a country‐specific dynamic and did not prevent the approach from being positive. Despite physicians’ positive attitude towards TGD individuals on a professional level, there is resistance to contacting them in their daily lives. The possibility of the partial contribution of socially desirable response behaviour to positive scores should not be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have shown that a considerable number of students do not accept the theory of evolution, prompting the scientific community to seek ways to improve how lessons on evolution are designed in order to promote students' acceptance. A crucial factor identified in many studies is students' comprehension of the nature of science and their perceived conflict between religious beliefs and evolution. Our research aimed to investigate the effects of philosophical dialogues on evolution acceptance, with a specific focus on the relationship between religion and science. We conducted an intervention study in 21 high-school classes in Switzerland. Our findings suggest that high-quality philosophical dialogues can enhance students' acceptance of evolution by addressing the perceived conflict between it and religious beliefs. Conversely, low-quality dialogues may intensify the influence of religiosity, negatively affecting evolution acceptance. Our study underscores both the importance of applying philosophical methods skilfully and the potential benefits of incorporating philosophical dialogues into teaching practices. It also highlights the value of fostering a nuanced understanding of the interplay between religion and science in the context of evolution education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Throughout history, vaccines have proven effective in addressing and preventing widespread outbreaks, leading to a decrease in the spread and fatality rates of infectious diseases. In a time where vaccine hesitancy poses a significant challenge to public health, it is important to identify the intricate interplay of factors exemplified at the individual and societal levels which influence vaccination behaviours. Through this analysis, we aim to shed new light on the dynamics of vaccine hesitancy among religious groups, contributing to the broader effort to promote vaccine uptake, dispel misunderstandings, and encourage constructive dialogue with these groups. Methods: We used the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) using the 20-point checklist to guide this review. The inclusion criteria for our study were that the literature should be in English, concerned with vaccine hesitancy as the focus of study, study the impact religiosity or religious beliefs as either an outcome or control variable, concerning population levels, and be peer-reviewed. Results: We analysed 14 peer-reviewed articles that included components related to religiosity or religious beliefs and their impact on vaccine hesitancy published until September 2023. All the articles were published in approximately the last decade between 2012 and 2023, with only 4 of the articles published before 2020. Out of the 14 studies included in our review, twelve utilized quantitative methods, while the remaining two employed qualitative approaches. Among the studies included in our analysis, we found various approaches to categorizing religious belief and identity. In most studies when religion is uniformly regarded as the sole determinant of vaccine hesitancy, it consistently emerges as a significant factor in contributing to vaccine hesitancy. All studies in our review reported sociodemographic factors to some degree related to vaccine hesitancy within their sample populations. Our analysis underscored the need for nuanced approaches to addressing vaccine hesitancy among religious groups. Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex issue and driven by a myriad of individual and societal factors among which religious beliefs is commonly associated to be a driver of higher levels among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This phenomenological study examines lived experiences and perceptions of Christian parents of young children to investigate their approaches to faith activity and nurture and the extent to which this includes authenticity of welcome for young children in the modern-day church. Online survey data was analysed thematically through the lens of established theories regarding the nature of faith in the early years. Findings revealed that families with young children do wish to engage with their local church and wider Christian community, but often find existing approaches unsupportive and unhelpful. Significant adjustments are therefore required to church-led ethos and approaches to faith nurture to better serve the needs of young children. Recommendations are made for more flexibility and inclusivity within the church environment, enhanced partnership with parents, and greater church focus on co-constructing faith nurturing pathways within the home and church context to align more with relationships within the child’s microsystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "On the (im)possibility of rationally justifying the Christian faith" is written by José Miguel Tomasena and focuses on Emmanuel Carrère's work called "The Kingdom". The author analyzes how Carrère uses the first person in his writing to explore faith and its contradictions through the reconstruction of the history of the early years of Christianity. The article highlights how Carrère questions the dogmas of the Christian faith and narrates the story of Luke, a Macedonian doctor who becomes a disciple of Paul and writes the Acts of the Apostles and his own Gospel. The author concludes that Christianity is an emotional experience based on small narrative flashes. [Extracted from the article]

This article aims to illustrate that one fundamental reason why the Chinese civilization has remained strong and resilient for over five thousand years and why it has even become stronger in recent times, despite facing numerous challenges. This is due to the strong cultural beliefs embedded in the traditional Chinese culture. Through analysis, synthesis, and comparison, this article aims to demonstrate that, unlike Western religious beliefs, the faith embodied in Chinese traditional culture is a typical humanistic faith, including the Chinese people's beliefs in nature, ancestors, "Tian and Di" (Heaven and Earth), and in the moral nature of human beings. It is precisely this humanistic faith that binds the Chinese nation tightly together. We believe that, in the face of the great challenges and opportunities brought about by the unprecedented transformation of the century, it is especially important for us to continue and develop this dimension of faith. Moreover, this dimension of faith can also provide us with survival wisdom for sustainable development, enabling us to transcend the narrow, individualistic mindset, embrace a broader vision of the world, and realize a universal human love that transcends race and region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of e-retail and the contribution of artificial intelligence in improving algorithms for greater customer engagement highlight the potential of these technologies to develop e-commerce further, making it more accessible and personalized to meet individual needs. This study aims to explore the psychosocial factors (subjective norms; faith; consciousness; perceived control) that affect AI-enabled ease of use and their impact on purchase intention in online retail. We will also assess the mediating effect of AI-enabled ease of use between psychosocial factors and consumer purchase intention. A quantitative methodology was used, and 1438 responses were collected from Portuguese consumers on e-retail. Structural equation modeling was used for the statistical treatment. The findings indicate that subjective norms do not positively impact AI-enabled ease of use, whereas factors such as faith, consciousness, and perceived control do enhance it. Furthermore, AI-enabled ease of use itself boosts purchase intention. Additionally, the effects of subjective norms, faith, consciousness, and perceived control on purchase intention are significantly enhanced when mediated by AI-enabled ease of use, highlighting the crucial role of usability in shaping consumer purchase behavior. The contribution of this study has been made through the formulation model that provides a systematized perspective about the influencers of purchase intentions and extends the knowledge about the impact of artificial intelligence in e-retail. Furthermore, this study offers insights into the impact of artificial intelligence in e-commerce—artificial intelligence directly affects purchase intentions and plays an important mediator role in the interaction mechanisms between psychosocial factors and purchase intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing and globalizing terrorism in the world is among the important sources of threat for states and regions. Today, terrorism is on the rise, especially through radical religious arguments. While radical religious terrorism targets countries and societies of different faith groups, it also targets states and societies that have adopted the secular system to establish a religious government. At this point, one of the targets of terrorist organizations is the Central Asian states, a significant portion of whose population is Muslim and adopts a secular understanding of government. In contrast, Central Asian states are trying to counter against radicalism and terrorist organizations. In this context, regional states publish a list at different periods and announce to the world the organizations whose activities are prohibited in the country's territory. This study aims to examine the lists published by Central Asian states and analyze their perceptions of terrorism and radicalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is relativism a coherent thesis? The paper argues for a new view of relativism that opposes both classic and contemporary views. On this view, the thesis of relativism is coherent even if the key notions in the standard apparatus of relativism—of alternative conceptual schemes, relative truth, perspectival content—are all incoherent. The view defended here highlights issues about attitude attribution and explanation in formulating the thesis of relativism and it proposes a surprising connection between relativism and nonsense. The paper argues further that the thesis of relativism, so understood, is coherent, by considering different accounts of the semantics of attitude attributions in their application to the attribution of nonsensical thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the Anointing of the Sick (AOS), one of the Roman Catholic Church's sacraments, administered when individuals are in poor health, facing a major medical procedure, and/or facing death. As recovery is unknown at the time tie of AOS, we studied AOS as a final conversation (FC; Keeley, 2004, 2007, Keeley & Generous, 2017). Based on surveys from US Priests, primarily located in the Northeast, we identified the FC topics discussed between Priests, families, and the sick/dying during AOS. Findings underscore the significance of studying EOL communication in the Catholic Church and its applicability in Priestly formation. This work informs Keeley's FC theme of messages of religious faith/spiritual beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the creation of the LTA_Classic automated coding schemes for Margaret Hermann's approach to leadership analysis, LTA_Classic has become a widely used tool for researching the individual differences between leaders and their policies in the last two decades. However, there has been no prior published assessment of the validity of the LTA_Classic coding scheme. The result of this validity assessment is a revised coding scheme (CC_2023) with roughly double the accuracy of the LTA_Classic CC coding scheme and a corresponding increase in statistical power. At the same time, correlation by document (N  = 44,173) for LTA_Classic CC and CC_2023 is r  = 0.7305 with a 95 percent confidence interval of 0.7261 ⇐ r ⇐ 0.7348 and p  < 0.0000, indicating that the CC_2023 coding scheme is convergent with the LTA_Classic coding scheme and prior results are likely to be replicable using CC_2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's rich cosmological data sets require integration into a Biblical framework. The light-travel time issue is the most obvious difficulty involved, but it is by no means the only one. This article seeks to lay the groundwork for such integration by considering three Scripture passages: Hebrews 11:1-3; 2 Peter 3:5-7; and Romans 8:18-23. It notes that an accurate understanding of origins requires explicit inclusion of supraprovidential (i.e., miraculous) action, but that we should limit such action to what the Genesis record specifically warrants. It further suggests that in cosmology we can restrict this supraprovidential action to the Creation Week; that is, miraculous events connected with the Deluge did not affect the Universe as a whole. Finally, it suggests that there is no warrant for assuming that the physical effects of the Fall included changes in the actual laws of physics themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Narrative identity' is a widely used concept, but it has also attracted some criticism. The article argues that the idea does indeed need to be sufficiently differentiated in order to avoid problematic shortcuts. Paul Ricoeur's theory of narrative identity is presented as a version that proves its strength in this respect. The significance of 'narrative identity' for systematic theology is then outlined, given that theology so far has struggled to integrate biographical dynamics - which are coming to the fore in times of 'individualization' and 'biographization' - in the concept of faith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes, from a phenomenological standpoint, death as correlation in Kierkegaard’s thought. First, it distinguishes the aspects (its decisive, undeterminable, and unexplainable character) that describe how death comes upon the subject of those other correlates (appropriation, actualization, edification) that refer to the serious mode in which the subject faces this supervenience. Finally, the article establishes a dialogue between the discourse of Next to a Grave with the understanding of the knight of faith in Fear and Trembling in order to reconstruct the existential meaning of death as a challenge that urges us to a decision regarding the transcendence of existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the spiritual journey of living with chronic fatigue and illness. Topics discussed include the personal challenges of managing fatigue while maintaining faith, the impact of chronic illness on perceptions of busyness and spiritual practice, and the misinterpretation of illness in religious contexts.