Do the demographics of theistic belief disconfirm theism? A reply to Maitzen

2008 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
JASON MARSH
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Data ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Uneven Distribution ◽  
Divine Hiddenness ◽  
Theistic Belief ◽  
Mere Existence

AbstractIn his article entitled ‘Divine hiddenness and the demographics of theism’ (Religious Studies, 42 (2006), 177–191), Stephen Maitzen draws our attention to an important feature that is often overlooked in discussion about the argument from divine hiddenness (ADH). His claim is that an uneven distribution of theistic belief (and not just the mere existence of non-belief) provides an atheological challenge that cannot likely be overcome. After describing what I take to be the most pressing feature of the problem, I argue that a hidden premise causes Maitzen to overlook a Molinist solution. The upshot is a softening of the atheological import of the demographic data.

scholarly journals Mutual epistemic dependence and the demographic divine hiddenness problem

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAX BAKER-HYTCH
Keyword(s):  
Religious Studies ◽  
Epistemic Dependence ◽  
Divine Hiddenness ◽  
The World ◽  
Theistic Belief ◽  
The Way

AbstractIn his article ‘Divine hiddenness and the demographics of theism’ (Religious Studies, 42 (2006), 177–191) Stephen Maitzen develops a novel version of the atheistic argument from divine hiddenness according to which the lopsided distribution of theistic belief throughout the world's populations is much more to be expected given naturalism than given theism. I try to meet Maitzen's challenge by developing a theistic explanation for this lopsidedness. The explanation I offer appeals to various goods that are intimately connected with the human cognitive constitution, and in particular, with the way in which we depend upon social belief-forming practices for our acquisition of much of our knowledge about the world – features about us that God would value but that also make probable a lopsided distribution of theistic belief, or so I argue.

Divine hiddenness and the demographics of theism

2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN MAITZEN
Keyword(s):  
Uneven Distribution ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Divine Hiddenness ◽  
The World ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
Argument From Evil ◽  
Theistic Belief ◽  
Sensus Divinitatis ◽  
Awareness Of God

According to the much-discussed argument from divine hiddenness, God's existence is disconfirmed by the fact that not everyone believes in God. The argument has provoked an impressive range of theistic replies, but none has overcome – or, I suggest, could overcome – the challenge posed by the uneven distribution of theistic belief around the world, a phenomenon for which naturalistic explanations seem more promising. The ‘demographics of theism’ confound any explanation of why non-belief is always blameworthy or of why God allows blameless non-belief. They also cast doubt on the existence of a sensus divinitatis: the awareness of God that Reformed epistemologists claim is innate in all normal human beings. Finally, the demographics make the argument from divine hiddenness in some ways a better atheological argument than the more familiar argument from evil.

Breakfast Skipping Is an Independent Predictor of Obesity but not Overweight Among Children in a Southeastern European Population

2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 242-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genc Burazeri ◽  
Jolanda Hyska ◽  
Iris Mone ◽  
Enver Roshi
Keyword(s):  
Task Force ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
European Population ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Communist Country ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breakfast Skipping

Abstract.Aim: To assess the association of breakfast skipping with overweight and obesity among children in Albania, a post-communist country in the Western Balkans, which is undergoing a long and difficult political and socioeconomic transition towards a market-oriented economy. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was carried out in Albania in 2013 including a representative sample of 5810 children aged 7.0 – 9.9 years (49.5% girls aged 8.4 ± 0.6 years and 51.5% boys aged 8.5 ± 0.6 years; overall response rate: 97%). Children were measured for height and weight, and body mass index (BMI) calculated. Cut-off BMI values of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) were used to define overweight and obesity in children. Demographic data were also collected. Results: Upon adjustment for age, sex, and place of residence, breakfast skipping was positively related to obesity (WHO criteria: OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.3–1.9; IOTF criteria: OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.4–2.5), but not overweight (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9–1.3 and OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9–1.4, respectively). Furthermore, breakfast skipping was associated with a higher BMI (multivariable-adjusted OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02–1.07). Conclusions: Our findings point to a strong and consistent positive relationship between breakfast skipping and obesity, but not overweight, among children in this transitional southeastern European population. Future studies in Albania and other transitional settings should prospectively examine the causal role of breakfast skipping in the development of overweight and obesity.

A Comparative Analysis of Patient Satisfaction following Total Knee Arthroplasty and Total Hip Arthroplasty Using the Forgotten Joint Score

2020 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. 084-089
Author(s):  
Vivek Singh ◽  
Stephen Zak ◽  
Ran Schwarzkopf ◽  
Roy Davidovitch
Keyword(s):  
Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Total Hip Arthroplasty ◽  
Knee Arthroplasty ◽  
Hip Arthroplasty ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Demographic Differences ◽  
Total Hip ◽  
Forgotten Joint Score ◽  
Total Knee

AbstractMeasuring patient satisfaction and surgical outcomes following total joint arthroplasty remains controversial with most tools failing to account for both surgeon and patient satisfaction in regard to outcomes. The purpose of this study was to use “The Forgotten Joint Score” questionnaire to assess clinical outcomes comparing patients who underwent a total hip arthroplasty (THA) with those who underwent a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent primary THA or TKA between September 2016 and September 2019 and responded to the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) questionnaire at least at one of three time periods (3, 12, and 21 months), postoperatively. An electronic patient rehabilitation application was used to administer the questionnaire. Collected variables included demographic data (age, gender, race, body mass index [BMI], and smoking status), length of stay (LOS), and FJS-12 scores. t-test and chi-square were used to determine significance. Linear regression was used to account for demographic differences. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 2,359 patients included in this study, 1,469 underwent a THA and 890 underwent a TKA. Demographic differences were observed between the two groups with the TKA group being older, with higher BMI, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, and longer LOS. Accounting for the differences in demographic data, THA patients consistently had higher scores at 3 months (53.72 vs. 24.96; p < 0.001), 12 months (66.00 vs. 43.57; p < 0.001), and 21 months (73.45 vs. 47.22; p < 0.001). FJS-12 scores for patients that underwent THA were significantly higher in comparison to TKA patients at 3, 12, and 21 months postoperatively. Increasing patient age led to a marginal increase in FJS-12 score in both cohorts. With higher FJS-12 scores, patients who underwent THA may experience a more positive evolution with their surgery postoperatively than those who had TKA.

Parent’s Experiences from the Treatment of their Children at the Physic Children’s Surgery Clinic in Skopje.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Trajchevska ◽  
A. Lleshi ◽  
S. Gjoshev ◽  
A. Trajchevski
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Independent Predictor ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Parental Satisfaction ◽  
Pediatric Care ◽  
Simple Random Sample ◽  
Significant Independent Predictor ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: The respect of the needs and wishes of the patients is in the focus of the human health system. The experience of the parents in terms of child’s health care may be used as an indicator of quality of the health care. Material and methods: The research is a quantitative analytical cross-sectional study. In accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, simple random sample of 207 parents / guardians is covered, whose children in the period of three months, had been hospitalized in the hospital department JZUU Pediatric Surgery Clinic in Skopje.It was used a two parted questionnaire. The first part is a standardized questionnaire (Parent Experience of Pediatric Care - PECP), and the second part concerns the general socio-demographic data of the parent/guardian. Statistical evaluation was performed using appropriate statistical programs (Statistics for Windows 7,0 and SPSS 17.0). Results: In accordance with the age of the parents, the survey respondents were divided into two groups: a) age ≤ 33 years - 107 (51.69%) and b) age> 33 years - 100 (48.31%).Significant independent predictor of parental satisfaction from the receipt of their child to the clinic research confirms the age of the parent under / over 33 years due to 4.1% of the change in satisfaction (R2 = 0,041). Parents generally believe that their children's room of the clinic is "good", without significant difference between parental satisfaction from both age groups (Mann-Whitney U Test Z = -0,9613 p = 0,3364). Significant independent predictor of parental satisfaction from the room of their child improves the health status after treatment due to 6% of the change in satisfaction (R2 = 0,060). Parents generally believe that testing and treatment of their children in the clinic was "very good" and an independent significant predictor is to improve the health status after the treatment - 7,8% (R2 = 0,078). Conclusions: Regardless of the generally good parental satisfaction about health care for their children, it is necessary to continuously monitor the status of the clinic in order to consider the possible deficiencies and needs of intervention.

Section of Religious Studies in the "Knowledge" Society of Ukraine

1996 ◽  
pp. 54-55
Author(s):  
Petro Yarotskiy
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Religious Studies

The Society "Knowledge" of Ukraine began the activity of the Department of Religious Studies. The Council of Lecturers is formed consisting of 24 people, among them are well-known philosophers, historians, sociologists - religious scholars: Doctors of Philosophy B.Lobovik, M.Zakovich, A. Kolodnyy, Yu.Kalinin, P.Kosuha, M.Rybachuk, P.Yarotsky, candidate of philosophical sciences M. Babiy, S. Golovashchenko, V. Yelensky, M.Kyryushko, O.Sagan, V.Suyarko, L.Filipovich and others.

Center for Religious Studies and Expertise of UAR

1996 ◽  
pp. 51-52
Author(s):  
O. Karagodina
Keyword(s):  
Religious Studies ◽  
Scientific Base

At the scientific base of the Ukrainian Association of Religious Studies, a Center for religious scholarly consultations and expertise was formed.

Christian editions for children in Ukraine (1917 - 1929)

1996 ◽  
pp. 34-37
Author(s):  
N. Marchenko
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Research ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Scientific Circle

The Ukrainian book for children of this period and date remains little investigated link of domestic book science. Somewhere she is actually excluded from the scientific circle. In particular, in the realm of religious studies studios. And here it is indicated a number of promising areas of scientific research.

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