Spirit mediumship and the state in mainland Southeast Asia: A comparative perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 72-94
Author(s):  
Erik Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
The State ◽  
Legal Issue ◽  
Political Issue ◽  
Spirit Mediumship ◽  
The World ◽  
Charismatic Authority ◽  
Religious Issue ◽  
The Relationship

This comparative study examines the complex, changing configurations of the relationships between the state and mediumship cults, under different regimes and histories in three Southeast Asian states and China. Spirit mediums are endowed with charismatic authority, owing to their access to the supernatural sphere, which stands in implicit tension with the authority of the state. This tension underlies state–mediumship relationships in Southeast Asia, but leads to diverse dynamics, according to the place of religion in each state. In the atheist, communist/post-communist states (China and Vietnam) mediumship is primarily approached as a political issue; in Buddhist Thailand as a religious issue, and in multicultural Malaysia, where Islam is the official religion, as a legal issue. Tensions prevail particularly in the communist/post-communist states, where there has been a resurgence of mediumship cults, even as these are officially proscribed as ‘superstitions’. In Thailand tensions have been ameliorated by a gradual amalgamation of the cults and popular Buddhism, while in Malaysia tensions are prevented by controls over religious practices. Further research on the relatively neglected issue of the relationship between the state and mediumship cults in the emergent regions of the world is suggested.

Jesus in the World of Religions a Preliminary Plotting of a Route Map

1998 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-334
Author(s):  
Gerhard Van Den Heever
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
The World ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Degree Of Similarity

AbstractIn a comparative study the issue is raised about the relationship between the construction of the saviour-image in Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Hinduism. The historical links between these traditions are highlighted and then the article proceeds to argue that when compared, the projections of the images of Jesus and Buddha, Jesus and Zoroaster and Jesus and Krishna exhibit a high degree of similarity. In the process questions are asked about the nature of religion and the value of comparative study.

Continuity and Peculiarities in Proto-Kazakh and Ancient Indian Early Religious Beliefs

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (121) ◽  
pp. 185-195
Author(s):  
Zatov Zatov
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Religious Knowledge ◽  
Concept Of God ◽  
Common Features ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Universe

A comparative study of the mythological picture of the world, early forms of religion allows us to identify common features characteristic of the worldview and spiritual guidelines of mankind as a whole. These features can be traced in archaic ideas about the structure of the universe, in understanding their spiritual and bodily essence, the infinity of God and the eternity of the soul, the relationship and interdependence of life forms in the world. This allows us to assert the thesis of the unity of mankind in its spiritual origins, despite racial and ethnic diversity. In the process of a comparative analysis of mythology, early forms of religion, the concept of God, the pantheon and the function of the gods, similar moments and ethnological specifics of understanding the essence of the soul and reincarnation in totemistic beliefs, in cosmological and theogonistic concepts are revealed.The author also analyzes the role and significance of the cult of ancestors, traces the evolution of the idea of proto-monotism (the creative function of Tengri and Brahma, the intention of henotheistic faith) and its place in religious knowledge.

scholarly journals ‎ Sudan’s accession to the World Trade Organization and its impact on the proceeds of tax and customs revenues (Field study): انضمام السودان لمنظمة التجارة العالمية وأثره على حصيلة الإيرادات الضريبية والجمركية (دراسة ميدانية)

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelsalam Awad Khair Elseed
Keyword(s):  
World Trade Organization ◽  
World Trade ◽  
The State ◽  
Hypotheses Testing ◽  
The World ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Correct Implementation ◽  
Public Revenues

The study aimed to recognize the extent of Sudan government interest with increasing its public revenues through its quest to join world trade organization, to study the relationship between join world trade organization and increasing the tax and customs revenues for the state. The study adopted descriptive approach to analyze study’s data and hypotheses testing. The study found several results, among which is that, join world trade organization impacts on tax and customs revenues through tax facilities and customs’ reductions which provided by joining the organization, implementing principles of cancels customs tariff according to world trade organization requirements impacts public revenues of the state. The study recommended many recommendations, among which is that, Sudanese government should do more efforts towards complete obligation of implementing World trade organization’s guidance, increasing custom’s control procedures to ensure correct implementation for world trade organization’s articles that concern customs performance.

scholarly journals Official Reporting of Religious Organizations as a Source of Empirical Data on the Activities of the Church: Some Questions of Theory and Practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden

2020 ◽  
pp. 135-145
Author(s):  
O. A. Balabeikina ◽  
N. M. Mezhevich ◽  
A. A. Iankovskaia
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Partial Solution ◽  
The State ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Reference Case ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

The relevance of any material offered to the scientific and expert community depends on many factors. Objectively, the presence of this or that issue in the center of public attention has a positive effect on the actualization of this or that article. However, there is an obvious danger. Academic approaches that accidentally find themselves in resonance with global trends can fall victim to political conjuncture. Relevance in this case can fall victim to the political moment. Moreover, this or that topic, being in the center of public discussion, negatively affects the academic understanding of the problem. All this fully relates to the question of the relationship between the state and the church in modern Europe and Russia.A few words about global trends. Their essence boils down to the growing confrontation between supporters of new ideological approaches and traditionalists, among whom are many adherents.The relationship between religion and the state testifies to the fact that states and societies have not yet learned to draw an effective line between their interests and those of adherents. This fact presupposes careful state and public participation in the affairs of the church. However, acknowledging this circumstance is not enough. The state must clearly know what, where and how is happening in the church sphere of the life of society in cases where church affairs can affect public and state security.It is also known that almost all the leading churches, to a greater or lesser extent, provide official reporting to the state. However, working with this reporting, its scientific analysis is not always representative.Objective. The presented article is aimed at a partial solution of the problem of increasing the effectiveness of academic research of the church` activities. Moreover, it is made based on official church statistics.The author’s position is the following. States and societies have no right to let go of this vital sphere of life. The functions of the state, in this case, are at least controlling. The ineffective execution of its functions by the state can be revealed in many countries of the world. The situation in France is nothing more than a reference case of a problem that, to one degree or another, exists in most of the countries of the world, which are distinguished by ethnic and confessional heterogeneity.

Prospects for global jihadism in Southeast Asia

2021 ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Natalia A. Zherlitsyna
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Political Islam ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Main Pole ◽  
The World ◽  
Secular Power ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Islamist Movement ◽  
Islamist Movements

The article examines the relationship between local and global radical Islamist movements in the countries of Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The author set out to determine the reasons for the attractiveness of the rhetoric of modern global jihadist movements for the local population in remote regions of the world.  The study showed that the ideology of jihadism is based on a return to identity, the main pole of which is religion. After examining the origins of radical Islamist movements in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, the author concluded that the Afghan War was the impetus for their development. The purpose of this study is to find common and distinctive characteristics of the situation with Islamist radicalism in each of the countries of the region.  Analyzing the situation in Indonesia, the author concludes that the priority for local groups is local goals, and the issue of armed jihad has split the Indonesian Islamist movement into a moderate and radical wing associated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS. The article traces the evolution of secular power in Malaysia to the institutionalization of political Islam, starting in the 1970s.  The author argues that the grows of the Islamization in Malaysia led to the fact that the modern religious and ethnic discourse of the country as a whole was prepared for the perception of the ideology of radicals when ISIS appeared in the region. The author found that the jihadist movements in the Philippines are motivated by the separatist conflict, they pursue local goals and use the rhetoric of global jihad to stimulate the struggle and intimidate opponents.

Symbolic Goods in Israeli Posters

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-120
Author(s):  
Michal Pal Bracha
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
The State ◽  
Jewish Tradition ◽  
The World ◽  
Zionist Movement ◽  
Study Case ◽  
Bible Stories ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
State Of Israel ◽  
Over Time

"This article deals with symbolic goods in posters in Israel from the period before the establishment of the state to the present day. The poster and the symbolic goods that appear in it, serve as an agent of ideological companies. In this study, I will examine the nature of the relationship between the symbolic goods and the Zionist-Israeli ideology, by comparing the symbolic goods represented in them over time and space. The questions the research asks are: What are the contribution and importance of symbolic goods as an ideological tool in Israeli posters? Has the world of symbolic goods that served Zionist ideology origin or been borrowed from other ideologies? The methodology is Qualitative research by: study case, Visual – genealogical. The conclusions of the study indicate the importance of the symbolic goods in the foundation of the State of Israel by posters and other media. The symbolic goods that characterize the posters in Israel, consist in part of content related to Jewish tradition and religion (Bible stories and myths) and its other part is influenced by the symbolic goods appropriated from ideologies around the globe. Keywords: Symbolic Goods, Posters, Marketing, Ideology, Zionist Movement, Israel. "

EPIC - THE SOURCE OF THE “SOFT POWER” OF INDIAN CULTURE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 45-53
Author(s):  
Thuy Le Thi Bich
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Indian Culture ◽  
The World ◽  
Indian Epic ◽  
Historical Culture ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Southeast Asian Countries

The power of each nation is determined by many factors, including the role of its culture. Culture is seen as an effective tool of soft power to affirm the image of our country in the international community. As one of the originating centers of Asian civilization and one of the largest, oldest civilizations in the world, India's soft power exists naturally in its own long historical culture. The Indian epic is considered to be the source of soft power, the link between the world and Indian culture, helping Indian culture expand its influence on other countries and the world. In this article, we focus on presenting the unique features of thinking, soul, thought, and “Indian spirit” reflected in the epic - the source of Indian culture and the epic continuation in countries in Southeast Asia. Thereby, this article helps its readers have a comprehensive view of the Indian epic - the source of “soft power” of Indian culture in Southeast Asian countries to strengthen and develop the relationship between India and other countries in Southeast Asia more and more sustainably and lasting.

scholarly journals The Dialectics of Praxis

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Carpenter ◽  
Genevieve Ritchie ◽  
Shahrzad Mojab
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
Community Services ◽  
The State ◽  
The World ◽  
Critical Feminist ◽  
Relations Of Power ◽  
The Relationship

This paper takes up the theorization of the dialectical relationships between consciousness, praxis, and contradiction by drawing primarily on the work of critical feminist and anti-racist scholars Roxana Ng and Paula Allman. Beginning with the important Marxist theorizations of the lives of immigrant women, the state, and community services made by Roxana Ng, we move forward with asserting that Roxana’s commitment to making social relations of power and exploitation ‘knowable’ and ‘transformable’ is based on a complex and revolutionary articulation of the relationship between thinking and being. This dialectical conceptualization of praxis is necessary for any potentially coherent revolutionary feminist anti-racist project. The challenge posed by Roxana is two-fold: not only how best to ‘know’ the world, but how to teach this analysis and generate revolutionary practice.

The Anabaptists and the Civil Authorities of Strasbourg, 1525–1555

1955 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Kreider
Keyword(s):  
Church And State ◽  
The State ◽  
16Th Century ◽  
Western Civilization ◽  
Religious Dissent ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

Since the dawn of the Christian era the relationship between church and state has been one of the pivotal issues of western civilization. Men have offered a variety of answers to this problem. The much- persecuted Anabaptists of the 16th century presented one set of answers, radical for their age, which called for a decisive separation of the church from the state and complete freedom for the church to pursue its vocation in the world. The Anabaptists were a distressing annoyance to the civil authorities. This movement posed for the 16th century the acute problem: how should religious dissent be handled?

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