Religion

Author(s):  
Julia Kindt

Religion as a subject of research is a product of modern times. With monotheistic religions such as Christianity, it is thought of as an autonomous and self-referential system with a large degree of inner coherence and a binding theology. The Greeks, however, had no word for religion as an abstract category. Religion did not exist outside the contexts in which it was lived. Greek religion lacks the defining features of most modern religions. Classical scholars have frequently stressed the ‘alien quality’ of Greek religious beliefs and practices. The study of Greek religion requires its own interpretative framework. Greek religion is the religious outlook and rituals specific to Greek culture. Reservations about the model of Greek religion as ‘polis religion’ concern its value for studying developments beyond the classical period. To be sure, religion during the Hellenistic and Roman periods evolved from archaic and classical Greek religion.

2015 ◽  
Vol 135 ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Kindt

Abstract:This article investigates the scope and meaning of ancient Greek personal religion as an additional dimension - besides official (polis) religion - in which the ancient Greek religious experience articulates itself. I show how ‘personal religion’ is a rather broad and amorphous scholarly category for a number of religious beliefs and practices that, in reflecting individual engagement with the supernatural, do not fit into our conception of polis religion. At the same time, I argue that personal religion should not be seen simply as that which is not official Greek religion. Nor is personal religion simply ‘private’ religion, oikos religion or the religion of those who had no voice in the sphere of politics (metics, women). Rather, ‘personal religion’ combines aspects of public and private. It is a productive category of scholarly research insofar as it helps us to appreciate the whole spectrum of ways individuals in the ancient Greek city received and (if necessary) altered culturally given religious beliefs and practices. Indeed, the examples discussed in this paper reveal a very Greek conversation about the question of what should count as a religious sign and who was to determine its meaning.


Author(s):  
D.P. Malta ◽  
S.A. Willard ◽  
R.A. Rudder ◽  
G.C. Hudson ◽  
J.B. Posthill ◽  
...  

Semiconducting diamond films have the potential for use as a material in which to build active electronic devices capable of operating at high temperatures or in high radiation environments. A major goal of current device-related diamond research is to achieve a high quality epitaxial film on an inexpensive, readily available, non-native substrate. One step in the process of achieving this goal is understanding the nucleation and growth processes of diamond films on diamond substrates. Electron microscopy has already proven invaluable for assessing polycrystalline diamond films grown on nonnative surfaces.The quality of the grown diamond film depends on several factors, one of which is the quality of the diamond substrate. Substrates commercially available today have often been found to have scratched surfaces resulting from the polishing process (Fig. 1a). Electron beam-induced current (EBIC) imaging shows that electrically active sub-surface defects can be present to a large degree (Fig. 1c). Growth of homoepitaxial diamond films by rf plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) has been found to planarize the scratched substrate surface (Fig. 1b).


Author(s):  
Adibah Binti AbdulRahim

ABSTRACT Secularism is the most serious challenge of modernity posed by the West. Its main ideology is to liberate man from the religious and metaphysical values and expel religion from the practical aspect of man’s life. It clearly presents its materialistic viewpoint which is cut off from Divine, Transcendent or Supernatural principles and does not refer to and is isolated from Revelation. In terms of its intensity and scope as well as its discernable effects upon people’s mind, the repercussion of secularism is so pervasive and universal. It gives a great impact on every facet of life including individual and family lives as well as educational, political, economic and social-cultural realm. Most importantly, secularism affects the very tenets of traditional religious beliefs and practices. This paper tries to focus on the danger of secularism and its principles which are contradict to the religious worldview.  


Author(s):  
Adrian Curtis

Knowledge of the religion of ancient Syria has increased significantly in recent years thanks to key archaeological discoveries. Particularly important have been those from Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit), which may offer the best window available for an understanding of Canaanite religious beliefs and practices. Excavations have revealed structures of religious significance, such as temples, sanctuaries, and tombs, as well as numerous texts. Of special interest are those mythological texts which tell the exploits of Baal, El, and the other great gods. There are also legends, sacrifice lists, pantheon lists, and prescriptions for various rituals. Some of these, notably the legends of Keret, and of Danel and his son Aqhat, provide evidence for beliefs about the religious status and significance of the king. This material enables a more considered understanding of ideas and practices that may have impacted upon Israelite religion.


Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Kim Harding ◽  
Abby Day

In Great Britain, “religion or belief” is one of nine “protected characteristics” under the Equality Act 2010, which protects citizens from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. This paper begins with a discussion about a 2020 ruling, “Jordi Casamitjana vs. LACS”, which concluded that ethical vegans are entitled to similar legal protections in British workplaces as those who hold philosophical religious beliefs. While not all vegans hold a philosophical belief to the same extent as Casamitjana, the ruling is significant and will be of interest to scholars investigating non-religious ethical beliefs. To explore this, we have analysed a sample of YouTube videos on the theme of “my vegan story”, showing how vloggers circulate narratives about ethical veganism and the process of their conversion to vegan beliefs and practices. The story format can be understood as what Abby Day has described as a performative “belief narrative”, offering a greater opportunity to understand research participants’ beliefs and related identities than, for example, findings from a closed-question survey. We suggest that through performative acts, YouTubers create “ethical beliefs” through the social, mediatised, transformative, performative and relational practice of their digital content. In doing so, we incorporate a digital perspective to enrich academic discussions of non-religious beliefs.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Fabíola Gonçalves da COSTA ◽  
Adelino Cunha Neto ◽  
Luiz José Rodrigues ◽  
Eduardo Eustáquio de Souza Figueiredo

Consumers have been increasingly seeking healthier foods without sacrificing sensory satisfaction and convenience, which are highly acclaimed attributes in modern times. Minimally processed products can meet these demands. The present study evaluated the microbiological, microscopic and physicochemical quality of minimally processed fruits and vegetables marketed in Cuiabá, Brazil. A total of 36 samples, consisting of sliced melon, fruit salad in pieces, grated carrot, diced melon, sliced papaya and pineapple rounds were subjected to microbiological, microscopic and physicochemical analyses. <em>Salmonella</em> spp. was absent in all samples, while 27.8% (10/36) of the samples showed coliform counts at 45 °C over 2.0 and 2.7 log CFU.g<sup>-1</sup> in fruit and vegetables, respectively. Light dirt and foreign matter were present in 55.5% of the samples (20/36), including wood fragments and insect/animal excrements (rat hair) in 13.9% (5/36) of the samples. The pH and soluble solids (°Brix) results ranged from 3.84 to 6.66 and from 8.19 to 10.24, respectively. The products were in different stages of maturation and 27.8% (10/36) of the sliced papaya and grated carrots were in unsatisfactory sanitary conditions under the current Brazilian legislation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yashika J. Watkins ◽  
Lauretta T. Quinn ◽  
Laurie Ruggiero ◽  
Michael T. Quinn ◽  
Young-Ku Choi

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-91
Author(s):  
Dini Farhana Baharudin ◽  
Suhailiza Md. Hamdani ◽  
Marina Munira Abdul Mutalib ◽  
Mohd. Zaliridzal Zakaria

Previous studies show strong relation between religion and marital satisfaction. However, there are still lack of study that looks into this area from the Malaysian context, especially among the Muslims. This paper will explore connections between religion and transformational processes in marriage. Transformational processes refer to processes that occur in marriage relationships that do not require outside or professional intervention, especially when an issue or conflict arises in marriage. The methodology of the study utilizes a qualitative approach. Purposive sampling comprising of five Malay Muslim couples whose age of marriage is more than ten years were interviewed. Findings show that specific Islamic religious beliefs and practices are related to the maintenance of relationship for a married couple. The findings highlight the importance for a marital counselling approach which integrates naqli and ‘aqli knowledge that supports the clients’ needs. ABSTRAK Kajian lepas menunjukkan perkaitan yang kuat antara aspek-aspek keagamaan dengan kesejahteraan dalam hubungan pasangan berkahwin. Walau bagaimanapun, masih kurang kajian yang meneroka tentang perkara ini dalam konteks Malaysia, khususnya dalam kalangan orang Islam. Kertas ini akan meneroka tentang kefahaman agama dengan proses transformasi dalam perkahwinan. Kefahaman agama dalam kajian ini mencakupi kepercayaan dan amalan keagamaan. Manakala, proses transformasi dalam perkahwinan pula merujuk kepada proses-proses yang berlaku dalam hubungan perkahwinan yang tidak memerlukan intervensi secara professional daripada luar, khususnya apabila berlakunya isu atau konflik dalam perkahwinan. Metodologi kajian adalah menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Sampel bermatlamat melibatkan lima pasangan Melayu beragama Islam yang usia perkahwinan mereka melebihi sepuluh tahun. Temubual berstruktur telah dijalankan dan dapatan menunjukkan kefahaman beragama iaitu kepercayaan dan amalan Islam adalah berkait dengan pengekalan hubungan sesuatu pasangan dalam perkahwinan. Dapatan ini menunjukkan kepentingan untuk menggunakan intervensi kaunseling perkahwinan yang mengintegrasikan ilmu naqli dan ‘aqli yang dapat membantu menyokong keperluan klien.


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