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Paneas, situated at the foot of mount Hermon, is where the Hermon River emerges from a spring at the foot of a cliff with a natural cave. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the cave and nearby terrace served mainly for the cult of Pan. Herod the Great built in Paneas a temple to Augustus, and his son erected there his capital, Caesarea Philippi. A salvage excavation was recently conducted in front of the cave in the area that formerly was identified as Herod's Augusteum. The new excavations have proven that during the Roman period, the place was unroofed and open to the cave, which was full of water. The water flowed out through a large aqueduct, water installations were constructed in the courtyard, and niches flanked on the west and east. The complex is dated to the last third of the 1st century c.e. and is attributed to Agrippa II, who built there a nymphaeum-triclinium facing a grotto in Italian style. Afterward, the courtyard was used as a cult place to Pan, and hydromantic rituals were performed in the cave. The sources for this complex will be discussed, as well as the changes that took place there through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a charismatic Sri Lankan holy man moved to Philadelphia in the early 1970s and set up a new branch of his movement, he began a process of adaptation to the North American context that has continued since his death. Within the new Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, adherents in favor of a more liberal style of worship have clashed with a stricter official interpretation of the founder's views on Islamic requirements, while relations with the original Sri Lankan organization have also experienced frictions. The history of the fellowship is a case study in how the globalization of religion results in heterogeneous versions of a common faith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I attempt to make theological sense of the following attitude towards Divine healing: although followers of Jesus should hope for, pray for, contend for, and seek Divine healing with the expectation that in all things God is enacting his good purposes, they should not be surprised when Divinely caused healing does not come about. To "not be surprised" is not, in this case, a lack of faith in God's desire or power to heal. We can have complete faith in God's power and his intention to do good while recognizing God has other purposes that make Divinely caused healing the exception rather than the rule. To not be surprised that healing hasn't yet come is to hold steady in our minds that God is powerfully active in salvation history in ways that do not always include immediate elimination of pain and suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Acts 1--2, God empowers Jesus's followers with the Spirit to proclaim Jesus's saving kingdom across all cultural barriers, to worship God, and to form one new, multicultural community of worshipers committed to Christ and to one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a formal model of polytheistic religion, where worshippers choose gods to address, and expect benefits in return. At the game-theoretic equilibrium, they choose gods optimally depending on how the gods return favors, as a function of divine efficiency. This efficiency can be modeled based on a random growth model of prayer benefit, and results in worship acts following power laws. A reduction in the range of random events associated to the various divinities, or to their range of interpretations, leads to more concentration of worship towards less divinities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worship of baetyls in antiquity is well documented in the Near East and the Mediterranean, archaeologically as well as historically. While such practices were also common in South‐East Arabia, the archaeological information on it is still very limited. A boulder carved with a 'trident' (a mark familiar from local Abiel coin issues), which came to light at the site of Mleiha, has a circular cavity on the side similar to those visible on stones and on an eagle statue from contemporary ed‐Dur. This association suggests a religious context for the Mleiha petroglyph and, thus, a possible identification as a baetyl. The archaeological evidence for stone worship and associated cult practices from the SE‐Arabian Mleiha/PIR A‐C period (3rd century bce–3rd century ce) is reviewed and compared with ethnographic parallels and information from, among other sources, the Kitāb al‐aṣnām (Book of Idols) by Hishām ibn al‐Kalbī (737–819 ce). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media celebrities can exert significant influence on societal change, and adolescents are the most vulnerable population to such influence given that this is a period when personal identity-seeking starts to become increasingly important. However, there is a lack of research examining the factors that contribute to adolescents' vulnerability to celebrity worship. The present study investigated the relationship between neuroticism, avoidant identity style, and celebrity worship among adolescents with a particular focus on mediating the role of the need to belong among a convenience sample of Iranian adolescents (N = 396; girls = 68%; age = 15.76 ± 1.99). Structural equation modeling showed that the association between avoidant identity style and celebrity worship was partially mediated by the need to belong, while the latter fully mediated the relationship between neuroticism and celebrity worship. The findings draw attention to the need to belong as an important factor underlying celebrity worship. Limitations and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThere is a growing interest in scholarship on the creative forms of Pentecostalism in Africa and globally. This study extends the conversation by exploring music-making in prayer mountain spirituality in Nigeria. Specifically, it examines the roles of music makers and their creative processes in prayer mountain liturgy. In addition, it discusses factors that aid creativity among music makers in the prayer mountains. Two popular prayer mountains, namely Orí-òkè Ikoyi in Ikoyi and Orí-òkè Bàbà Àbíyè in Ede, Osun State Nigeria, were selected for the study. Data for the study were generated through participant observations and interviews with music makers including prayer and song leaders as well as instrumentalists on both prayer mountains. Using the dynamic inspiration theory, the study reveals that music-making in Orí-òkè is a triadic process that is spiritually, musically, and situationally integrated. I argue that with Orí-òkè music and musicians, we can further grasp the interplay of human (social) and non-human (spiritual) agency in Pentecostal creative and musical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most serious challenge that Twelver Shi’is face in Italy is the absence of their conventional places of worship. The present study through empirical methods demonstrates how Shi’is create prayer halls by inclusion and exclusion of certain elements and how confer a sort of sacredness to these locals. Although sacredness of the Islamic places of worship is subject to controversy, in this essay we will see how sacredness of such places emerges as a social construction liable to constant evolution, rather than a God-given and extraordinary phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1977, a diverse group of forty-five leaders and scholars drafted the "Chicago Call", urging evangelicals to reconnect with historic Christianity and embrace a richer understanding of worship and sacrament. The Call highlighted tensions between those who understood evangelicalism as a movement within the broader Church and those who prioritized Reformation principles and scriptural authority. This article begins by exploring the origins of the conference, key leaders, and its historical context. It then moves to a comparison of primary documents, revealing points of friction that arose between conference participants as they worked to draft the statement. I conclude by assessing the Chicago Call's limitations, emphasizing the inherent fragility of the evangelical coalition and the ongoing challenge of negotiating a theological consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By examining the evolution of pre-Qin Confucian thought on the Heaven–human relationship, and a new interpretive perspective can be applied to understanding ethical relations within pre-Qin Confucianism. In the pre-Classical period, the absence of scientific explanations for human origins shrouded these origins in mysticism, leading to practices such as totem worship, ancestor worship, and the worship of Heaven. However, through continuous exploration of the Heaven–human relationship, pre-Qin Confucians began to liberate human rights from divine authority, highlighting a profound sense of humanism. In light of this transformation, this paper aims to address three key questions: first, what distinctions did pre-Qin Confucians draw between humans and animals, and how did they emphasize individual human value? Second, how did pre-Qin Confucians transform ancestor worship through the traditions of Li and Yue? Third, how did the focus of pre-Qin Confucians shift from Heaven back to humanity? These three research areas are crucial for analyzing how the ethical relations of pre-Qin Confucianism closely integrated with political order. This exploration not only illuminates the philosophical evolution of the period but also offers a deeper understanding of how early Confucianism laid the groundwork for the interplay between personal value and societal responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weituo 韦驮 is one of the most frequently represented protective deities in Chinese Buddhist temples. The statue of Weituo is enshrined virtually in every standard Buddhist temple in China today, and at a unique location—in the entrance hall for the four Heavenly Kings and facing inward. Why is the Weituo statue placed at this place and looking inward? The Chinese Weituo can be traced back to the Hindu god Skanda. However, his iconography and functions in China were completely reshaped by master Daoxuan's 道宣 (596–667) account of this deity. Actually, Weituo is just one of the many Buddhist protective deities for general protection and prosperity. In China, as I demonstrate in this study, Weituo has been known as the most diligent Dharma-protector and is associated in particular with the saṅgha, as a patron guardian and inspector of monks and nuns. Thus, Weituo's images are shrined in Buddhist temples. The locations of these images reflect the importance of Weituo and his special role in Chinese Buddhism. In the past, there have been a few studies, but they mainly focus on his origin. The functions of Weituo and the worship of Weituo in the Chinese saṅgha have not been well examined. Going beyond his identities, iconography, and style, this study aims to contextualize Weituo images in temple space and religious practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article identifies parallels between methods and conceptual impulses that informed the shape and shaping of MT Psalms and MT Isaiah as books. For the past fifty years, there has been abundant interest in the macrostructures of the Psalter (MT) and Isaiah, yet inquiry into the shape and shaping of these two books has taken place in isolation from one another. When compared, there is striking overlap between the shapes of MT Psalms and MT Isaiah. In this article, I show similarities between Psalms and Isaiah in terms of both editorial methods (dual introductions; central hinges) and semantic emphases (torah observance; the nations; divine kingship in Zion; worship) that give shape to each book. Consequently, scholarship can move beyond simply acknowledging commonality between individual texts in the Psalter and Isaiah. A remarkable level of similarity between Psalms and Isaiah as books exposes how a common set of theological instincts from the Zion tradition informed how these books took form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a product of an empirical study that argues that denominational worship praxis is a contested issue among Seventh-day Adventists (SDA s) in Nigeria today. Using analysis from fieldnotes and interviews, this article shows that there are some congregants who prefer to do worship as it was practiced by their denominational pioneers. This group keeps this memory sacred. Another group of Adventists contest the same past by leaning toward the Nigerian Pentecostal ethos. This contestation regarding the past combined with acceptance or rejection of cultural matters in the worship arena shows the diversity of Adventism in Nigeria. It also reveals how cultural and missionary traditions intersect and influence the local contemporary worship praxis of Adventist Christianity. Based on ethnographic findings, the article concludes that the example of conflicting visions of the past in one denomination (Seventh-day Adventists) in Nigeria contributes to a richer perspective in studies in world Christianity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines issues relating to women's participation in religious cults at the local level in the fifteenth century. The research is based on the collections of Krakow's miracles. This analysis aims to show the social and cultural background to women's participation in local worship, their religious practices, and also their place in social and family structure. Research shows that women were engaged and active, which translated into the development of local cults. Local worship allowed women to fulfil their religious needs without major disturbances in their daily lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions. This research addresses the concepts of "The Specific General" and "The General Intended to be Specific," defining them, differentiating between them, and exploring the jurisprudential applications related to them. The research includes an introduction that discusses the importance of the topic, the reasons for choosing it, the research problem, objectives, and methodology. The research is structured into two main sections, each containing specific subsections. The first section provides definitions of "The Specific General" and "The General Intended to be Specific," explaining the differences between them across three subsections. The second section focuses on the jurisprudential applications of both concepts, which are covered in two subsections. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and recommendations of the research, including the following: 1. The Specific General: This refers to a general statement that is limited to some of its constituents or excludes some of what the text originally encompasses and The General Intended to be Specific: This refers to a general term used with the intention of applying to only some of what it theoretically covers, meaning that the term is used for its meaning but with certain exclusions. 2. There has been confusion among some scholars of the principles of Islamic jurisprudence and students of knowledge regarding the distinction between "The Specific General" and "The General Intended to be Specific." The research explores these differences in detail. 3. "The Specific General" has widespread applications in Islamic rulings derived from the Qur'an and Sunnah. As mentioned, it is rare to find a general ruling that is not subject to some form of specification. Numerous jurisprudential applications are clarified in the sections on acts of worship and transactions. The research aims to demonstrate the connection between specific jurisprudential issues and their related principles of Islamic jurisprudence. Additionally, it highlights "The General Intended to be Specific" and its related jurisprudential branches. Recommendations: The research advises scholars to study the principles of jurisprudence concerning general and specific terms from different angles, as they are crucial for interpreting texts and highly beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the names of God signify His great and perfect attributes, and since knowing God's names leads to significant benefits in worship, along with the continuous study of the objectives (Maqasid) within theological discourse which holds great importance, the idea for this paper emerged. It aims to explore in detail the names of God "Al-Zahir" (The Manifest) and "Al-Batin" (The Hidden). The study discusses these objectives as an integral part of the higher objectives (Maqasid) of Islamic law, considering them as foundational pillars since the preservation of religion is the foremost of the five necessities. The protection of religion can only be achieved by reinforcing belief in the fundamentals and pillars of faith. Discussing God's names is therefore an essential aspect of belief in divinity, a matter that many scholars have addressed in their discussions of objectives, wisdom, and purposes. If belief in correct doctrine is a divine and human necessity leading to happiness in both worlds, then belief in God's beautiful names is a divine necessity required by theological studies. Acting according to them and preserving their boundaries is one of the objectives of believing in them. This study focuses on the importance of knowing God's names and the implications of believing in them. One of the key findings is that worshipping God by His name "Al-Zahir" gathers the heart towards the object of worship. When this name settles in the heart and a person knows their Lord by this name, their servitude becomes steadfast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local hymnals are cultural artifacts that express a community's values, history, and identity and serve as vehicles for communal agency. This study investigates the role of local hymnals in shaping cultural identity and theological expression within four Indonesian Christian communities. Through interviews with church leaders, songwriters, and musicians, and an analysis of four hymnals from different communities in Indonesia, this study explores how these communities exercise agency in creating, perceiving, experiencing, and utilizing locally created songbooks. The research reveals that local hymnals are not only tools for shaping communal identity and transmitting theological understanding but also instruments through which communities assert their agency, fostering cultural dynamism. The study also considers the impact of colonialism and globalization on the development of local hymnody, highlighting how these communities have actively adapted and reinterpreted external influences to create unique and meaningful expressions of faith. The research concludes that local hymnals are not merely collections of songs but living artifacts embodying the agency of communities: the ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation, faith and culture, and the individual and the community. By fostering autogenic cultural reflection and asserting communal agency, local hymnals fuel momentum and sustainability within a culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assuming the existence of God and divine commands, it makes sense to ask to what end God issues commands. This question has been raised in recent philosophical literature in the context of whether there can be a divine command to believe in, or to worship, God. In this article, I argue that the answers proposed to this question fail to appreciate the wide range of possible purposes of divine commanding. In particular, I argue that commands that cannot be conformed or complied with may still have purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What factors shape different levels of pro-government mobilization in authoritarian regimes? The existing literature has considered the threat of anti-regime protests as the primary driver of pro-government mobilization. While we confirm this finding in the literature, we argue that the regime's organizational infrastructure significantly contributes to pro-regime mobilization. We identify places of worship, university campuses, and state bureaucracy as three main sites where states could extend their organizations for pro-government mobilization. Previous scholarship has considered universities and places of worship as free spaces for oppositional activities, but we argue that states might try to penetrate these sectors to extend their organizational reach. The statistical analyses of our original data on pro-government mobilization in Iran from 2015 to 2019 at the district level (n = 429) provide robust support for this argument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occidental Mythology begins with an anthropological description of the development of religions from the East and Middle East and how they evolved into or influenced Occidental religious traditions. Campbell describes how early polytheistic goddess religions were replaced in pre-history by patriarchal monotheism. His argument is that many episodes in the Bible make sense if they are understood as a record of a dim memory of the Neolithic goddess worship replaced by patriarchic monotheism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Izzatul Mu'minin Mosque (MIM) in Lembang aims to extend its impact beyond ritual worship to positively influence the wider community through worship, social, economic, educational, and da'wah activities. To achieve this, MIM seeks to become a regional center of civilization. This study analyzes internal and external factors to develop strategies for transforming MIM into a prosperous mosque, aligning with the Ministry of Religious Affairs' guidelines and the Quranic verse At-Taubah 18. A qualitative research method is used to explore the mosque’s context, utilizing observations, interviews, and document analysis to identify practical solutions. The research incorporates a strategic management approach to provide academically sound recommendations that benefit both the mosque and the broader community. Validation is ensured through triangulation of methods and informant input. Using the IE Matrix, MIM is positioned in Cell 5 (Hold & Maintain), while the SWOT Matrix helps generate strategic recommendations. Key strategies include enhancing communication forums for formal and informal discussions, collaborating with external communities for social activities, digitizing the mosque's infrastructure, improving facilities like bathrooms and ablution spaces, offering rest areas for worshippers and tourists, and establishing a baitul mal (financial body) with independent audits to ensure accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of the International Arthurian Society is the property of De Gruyter 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 concept of bricolage was formulated by Lévi-Strauss in The Savage Mind to provide an analogy for how mythical thought works. In the following decades, scholars have frequently deployed the concept, not only in anthropology, but also in sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Inheriting Lévi-Strauss's structuralism, French-speaking scholarship has tended to emphasize the structural patterns or constraints of bricolage, while English-speaking scholars have shown more interest in the individuality, subjectivity, or contingency of bricolage. This article seeks to integrate the merits of both strands of scholarships, transcend the collectivist/individualistic divisions, and develop bricolage into a multidimensional concept: Bricolage is a generative principle of regulated improvisation responding to restrictive or limited conditions. My ethnographic study of Kitchen God worship in one region of China shows that the entire process of creating bricolage is an individual embodiment of collective structure. Although bricolage is a product of structure intended to reproduce the structure, it can occasionally affect or change the structure. Thus, it is an important micro mechanism for culture change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building upon evidence supporting the co‐occurrence of behavioural addictions, this study delved into the relationship between social media doomscrolling and celebrity worship among university student social media users in Iran and the United States. Objectives were threefold: (a) provide psychometric support for the Social Media Doomscrolling Scale (SMDS), (b) examine psychological correlates of doomscrolling and celebrity worship, and (c) explore the relationship between doomscrolling and celebrity worship. The SMDS demonstrated good psychometric properties in the US sample, like the original study of the SMDS conducted in an Iranian sample. Doomscrolling showed a positive association with future anxiety and a negative association with psychological well‐being in both US and Iranian samples. Celebrity worship was positively linked with future anxiety in the Iranian and US samples. A positive correlation emerged between doomscrolling and celebrity worship in both the US and Iranian samples. This cross‐cultural study offers preliminary evidence for the co‐occurrence of two emerging media‐related behavioural addictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many ancient cultural sites in Bulgaria that not only attract tourists but are also believed to facilitate a person’s connection with deities and natural forces. Today, cultural practices performed at these sacred places from the period of antiquity and the early Middle Ages are often associated with neopaganism and the New Age movement, while also incorporating elements of Bulgarian traditional culture. Through ‘mysterious’ rituals, the participants seek to connect with a higher spirituality, which they feel is missing in their everyday lives. Interest in ancient paganism is also one of the manifestations of contemporary nationalism. The feasts, reenactments and rituals presented serve to ‘re-establish’ man’s relationship with nature, with the aim of achieving health, well-being, and spiritual growth in an uncertain world. These practices often interweave esoteric and environmentalist ideas with strategies for the development of cultural tourism.

This research discusses the characteristics of worship music at the HKBP Simpang Limun Church in Medan, focusing on the evolution of the presentation of worship music which has now shifted to contemporary music. This transformation can be clearly seen in the use of modern musical instruments such as keyboards, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, drums and saxophones which have replaced the monotony of a single organ in the presentation of worship music. These changes not only create a richer variety in musical expression, but also enrich the worship experience for the congregation, reflecting the church's adaptability in responding to changing times. The purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics of worship music at the HKBP Simpang Limun Church, Medan. The research was conducted at the HKBP Simpang Limun Medan church, Jl. Brother No.30 Sudirejo II, Medan City District, Medan, North Sumatra. The approach used in this research is qualitative with a descriptive type where data is collected using observation, interviews, documentation and literature study methods. Based on the research results, it can be seen the characteristics of the music used in worship at the HKBP Simpang Limun church in terms of style, genres, textual, composition, transmission, movement.

The mosque is a building that provides a place of worship for Muslims. Similar practices are followed at the mosque of the Buntet Islamic Boarding School. Both students and locals use the mosque as a place of worship. This mosque is a historical building containing Islamic symbols and fostering social interaction. This study aims to describe the values formed from the cultural ecology of the Buntet Islamic Boarding School Mosque. The approach used is the Hermeneutic approach from the idea of Gadamer. Approach with the following reading levels: (1) literal, (2) ontological, (3) cultural historical, and (4) existential. Data about the Buntet Islamic Boarding School and its operations were gathered through interviews, field surveys, and field observations. Then analyzed by paying attention to the text and context of the interview and visual recordings; followed by the hermeneutic processes for interpretation. The findings indicate that Sunan Gunungjati has a Sufistic value and a love relationship with the Kyai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This global religion, which addresses all people of every race across the entire earth, must possess characteristics and features that are in line with the conditions and circumstances of people in different regions of the world. Therefore, it comes with rulings and legislation characterized by ease and flexibility. There is no religious duty or ritual that lacks the divine facilitation, making it possible for individuals to practice them, as God Almighty never burdens a soul beyond its capacity, This article highlights the manifestations of ease in Islamic law regarding acts of worship, focusing on how this principle is applied in various aspects of worship. It begins by defining ease and explains how it facilitates the performance of worship through Quranic texts and prophetic traditions. It discusses major acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimage, illustrating how they are made easier according to individual needs and circumstances, The principle of ease and tolerance in Islam is clearly evident in acts of worship, as all these acts are based on the principle of facilitation and easing the burden on people. Allah has distinguished the Muslim Ummah from other nations through this ease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to provide a preliminary investigation into the religious profile of a Malla-era Newar king, namely Jitāmitramalla (r. 1673–1696), by examining his scribal and compositional output. It does this by engaging with largely unstudied sources, chiefly (i) an unpublished poem written by King Jitāmitra known as the Siddhilakṣmīmantrayantroddhārastotra in which the monarch extols the goddess Siddhilakṣmī and lays out methods for her worship and (ii) the colophons of seven liturgical paddhatis copied by this king, which to my knowledge, are still undiscussed and untranslated in secondary literature. In doing so, we gain an insight into the King's understanding of various aspects of his own religious identity, including his role as a tāntrika and his relationship with his chosen deities. The material studied will also uncover new information on the religious affiliations of the royal Bhaktapuri court and the medieval religious landscape of the Kathmandu Valley generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the worship of Dr José Tomás Sousa Martins, a 19th‐century physician revered as a lay saint and healer in Portugal, attracting devotees from diverse backgrounds. Some devotees come in search of healing and leave votive offerings at his statue in front of the NOVA Medical School in Lisbon. Others view him as a spirit guide who manifests through mediums in Umbanda practices and the healing rituals of the Spiritualist Christian temples of the Vale do Amanhecer in Brazil. Dr Sousa Martins bridges the domains of spirituality and biomedicine. This article explores the materiality of devotional practices through the circulation of things and images and the intersection of therapeutic itineraries in shaping places of worship. It examines how healing is sought through devotion during health crises, emphasizing the importance of the senses and religious and diagnostic images in devotees' healing narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of transnational engagements on emigrant villages has attracted noticeable scholarly attention, however, the religious dimension of the link between migration and remittances remains largely unexplored. Providing an ethnographic study exploring the dynamics and meanings involved in the growth of cemevis in villages, this paper aims to contribute to an understanding of this phenomenon, something that has received less attention in studies of migration and transnationalism. Drawing on a multi-sited ethnography of the British Alevi community in London and their villages in the Afşin-Elbistan region in Maraş province in Turkey, the paper discovers how and to what extent these transnational interactions shape places and social and religious spaces in the villages. The paper describes rural cemevis built by migrants as "remittance cemevis' that form a channel between the diaspora and homeland and allow migrant Alevis to expand their role in the village community and influence social and cultural life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical assessment of the Episcopal Church's authorized prayers and liturgies pertaining to abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paul Ricœur's narrative hermeneutic provides a unique lens for interpreting liturgy as narrative. Liturgy begins with the collective, prefigured knowledge of the assembly and configures symbols, music, prayers, scriptures, and actions into an interpretive narrative. This process engages the liturgical assembly's imagination to synthesize its unique narrative of God's divine story. This paper explores the function of imagination in the formative process of liturgical narrative arguing that imagination shapes human knowing and being through liturgical narrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore how liturgical celebration can serve as a transformative response to the contemporary ecological crisis and its consequences. This is inextricably bound to the importance of addressing the pastoral needs of individuals who are hurting due to their interactions or lack thereof with the cosmos and the erosion of their relationship with nature in a technocratic consumerist society. Ritual, as a vehicle for personal and communal transformation, takes on heightened significance in a world wounded by ecological devastation. Rituals, often deeply embedded in cultural, religious, or personal practices, indeed have the capacity to facilitate personal transformation. They provide a framework for individuals to navigate life transitions, foster a sense of belonging, and connect with the overarching narrative. However, in an ecologically wounded world, where environmental degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss are pressing concerns, the ramifications of ritual take on added significance and complexity. This paper seeks to address the urgency of the need to respond to this multifaceted crisis by paying attention to the pastoral needs of the individual and the community at large by redressing the real meaning of worship and reflecting on how, within a Christian tradition, this reconfiguration of worship can be provocative enough to instil change. However, this endeavour is not without inherent challenges and enduring questions. The pervasive influence of a technocratic worldview poses a significant threat not only to our relationship with the earth but also to the very essence of ritual itself. Can the liturgical experience, reaching its climax in the Eucharistic celebration, be truly a catalyst in asserting a proper relationship of humanity on various levels, which are concentric and, thus, dependant on each other, with humanity itself, with the cosmos, and with God? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to discuss sun worship and healing practices in Samayācāra Śrīvidyā, a Hindu tantric tradition. Thus, I use anthropological and philological perspectives to show how the contemporary Samayācāra Śrīvidyā guru of Śrī Lalitāmbikā and his disciples redefine healing and use sun-related meditations to energize and rejuvenate the human body. This paper shows how contemporary Tantric religiosity is multidimensional in nature and promises protection from disease and an overall better quality of life. Conversely, I endeavor to show how the Śrī Lalitāmbikā temple combines solar healing with tantric practices that lead to a reconnection with the divine and offer the ultimate dimension of healing, i.e., spiritual immortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to explore Nicholas of Cusa’s views on religious tolerance based on a reading of his work De Pace Fidei. There are some of his ideas that might be useful in the context of religious tolerance. A dialogue among various religious beliefs is one way to find the common ground. For Nicholas, ratio is the way to unify diverse religions, because by nature humans have a desire to know truth, wisdom and God. He believes that the power of ratio is at the same time a belief in the universal grace of God. Nicholas concludes that the purpose of interreligious dialogue is to affirm “uno religio in rituum varietate.” People worship “the same God” in various rites, and different rites are tolerated because through them humans are active and creative in their ways to arrive at the Divine. The basis of Nicholas’ religious tolerance lies in respect to the plurality of unique individuals. He tolerates the plurality of religious rites to a certain degree insofar as they adhere to certain universal principles and live in harmony as expressions of belief in the “One” and bases such plurality on the ontological plurality of human beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to plural person theory, a group of close friends can act together not just distributively, as separate individuals all at once, but also corporately, as a nonmetaphorical plural person supervening on the friends. This article proposes that the Spirit is a plural person in precisely this sense. Modeling the Spirit as a plural person not only secures the Spirit's personhood and full divinity; it also provides a new conceptual scheme for interpreting the relationship between divine grace and human agency along non‐competitive lines. What is more, it makes sense of existing Christian practices, including Ignatian contemplation, evangelical quiet time, and Quaker waiting worship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]