Diabolical perspectives on healthy morality in times of COVID-19

PurposeThe paper combines the systems theoretical perspective on the evolution of societal differentiation and the emergence of codes in communication. By combining the approach by Niklas Luhmann with a historical theology on the development of Christian morality split between God and Devil, it recreates a sociological point of observation on contemporary moral forms by a temporary occupation of the retired Christian Devil.Design/methodology/approachThe article combines a Luhmannian systems theoretical perspective on the evolution of societal differentiation with a concept of emerging codes in communication. The latter is based on on the development of a Christian view of morality being split between God and Devil. It establishes a sociological point of observation on contemporary moral forms through the temporary invocation of the retired figure of the Christian Devil.FindingsThe proposed perspective develops a healthy perspective on the exuberant distribution of a health(y) morality across the globe during the pandemic crisis of 2020–21. The temporary invocation of the retired Christian Devil as point of departure in this sociological analysis allows for a disturbing view on the unlimited growth of the morality of health and its inherent dangers of dedifferentiating the highly specialised forms of societal differentiation and organisation.Originality/valueBy applying the diabolical perspective, the analytical framework creates a unique opportunity to observe the moral encodings of semantic forms in detail, while keeping the freedom of scientific enquiry to choose amongst available distinctions in the creation of sound empirical knowledge. This article adopts a neutral stance, for the good of sociological analysis. The applications of the term “evil” to observations of communication are indifferent to anything but itself and its qualities as scientific enquiry.

Perjalanan Spiritual Homo Viator: Studi Komparatif Serat Jatimurti dengan Perumpamaan tentang Anak yang Hilang (Luk. 15:11-32)

Konsep perjalanan spiritual dikenal pada berbagai agama. Demikian juga konsep Homo Viator atau manusia yang melakukan perjalanan tersebut. Tulisan ini melakukan kajian atas konsep perjalanan spiritual yang ada dalam Serat Jatimurti, salah satu teks Kejawen, dan membandingkannya dengan narasi di Alkitab yaitu perumpamaan tentang anak yang hilang. Tujuan studi ini adalah untuk memahami suara dari spiritualitas lokal tersebut agar mempermudah penyampaian Injil kepada kalangan ini. Dengan menggunakan analisis linguistik kognitif, hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa ada beberapa kesamaan namun juga perbedaan yang kontras dalam pandangan Kristen mengenai perjalanan spiritual dan peran manusia di dalamnya dibandingkan dengan pandangan kejawen tersebut. Kesamaan-kesamaan yang ada akan akan meningkatkan pemahaman dan apresiasi terhadap masing-masing karya spiritualitas serta menjadi common ground yang menyediakan “jembatan” efektif bagi pemberitaan Injil. Perbedaan-perbedaan yang ada dapat menjadi daya tarik untuk memperlihatkan keunikan Injil. Dengan pemahaman tersebut, kajian ini dapat memberikan bekal bagi orang Kristen di dalam mengkomunikasikan kabar baik anugerah Allah di dalam Kristus Yesus kepada kalangan penganut spiritualitas kejawen. The concept of spiritual journey is known in various religions. Likewise, the concept of Homo Viator or humans who made the trip. This paper examines the concept of a spiritual journey in Serat Jatimurti, one of the Kejawen texts, and compares it with the narrative in the Bible, namely the parable of the prodigal son. This study aims to understand the voice of the local spirituality to facilitate the delivery of the gospel to this community. By using cognitive linguistic analysis, the results show some similarities and differences in the Christian view of the spiritual journey and the role of humans in it compared to the Kejawen view. The similarities that exist will increase un­derstanding and appreciation of each spirituality work and become a common ground that provides an effective “bridge” for sharing the gospel. The differences that exist can be an attraction to show the uniqueness of the gospel. With this understanding, this study can provide provisions for Christians in communicating the good news of God’s grace in Christ Jesus to the followers of Kejawen spirituality.

European Legal Protection of Employees’ Health Working with Nanoparticles in the Context of the Christian Vision of Human Work

The article analyses European regulations concerning the health protection at work with nanomaterials in the context of the Christian vision of human work. The increasingly widespread presence of nanotechnology in workplaces requires serious reflection on the adequacy of employers’ measures to protect workers’ health from the risks in the workplace. The lack of clear guidance in European legislation directly concerning work with nanoparticles is problematic. Moreover, the health consequences for workers using nanomaterials in the work process are not fully explored in science. It is therefore essential to consider what values should accompany employers in shaping working conditions and what values should be legislated when creating occupational health and safety (OH&S) law. First of all, how should the employers deal with the unknown? Should they abandon nanomaterials for which they do not have adequate information at all until the consequences for workers’ health have been established? Should such action be limited to situations where studies indicate the toxicity of the nanomaterials present in the working environment? In this context, the article analyses values and objectives indicated by the teaching of the Catholic Church. The publication presents a Christian vision on the protection of workers’ health and their place in the work process. Europe has been under the influence of Christianity for many centuries now. The Catholic Church’s view of human labour continues to be present in public debates in Europe. The Christian view of human labour is focused on the working man and his dignity. Irrespective of other concepts of labour, Christianity assumes the priority of a human being over capital. The Catholic Church analyses the working man as going beyond the Earthly context, which is not typical for such doctrines as liberalism or Marxism. The author’s article is an attempt in answering the question about how up to date the Catholic Church’s views on human labour are in the light of nanotechnology development in the workplace.

Peran Guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen dalam upaya Preventif Pornografi

Pornography is an audio-visual product, image or writing that can design the sexual lust of someone who reads or watches it. According to the Christian view, pornography depicts sex in a sinful way, degrades human dignity, destroys marital commitments, and engenders lust and adultery. The cause of pornography addiction is due to internal and external factors. Pornography is bad for teenagers because it causes addiction, damages the brain, the desire to try and imitate, and initiates sexual acts. Through a descriptive qualitative approach, it can be concluded that the role of the teacher and Christian religious education is a teaching and learning process that is based on the Bible, centered on Christ, and depends on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide each person at all levels of faith growth. The role of the Christian Religious Education teacher is not just to provide guidance and teaching in the field of Christian Religious Education to students, but the goal that the teacher wants to achieve is to develop and foster faith, attitudes, and actions in accordance with the testimony in the Bible and applied to them. daily life of students. So that it can seek to prevent pornography in all aspects within the scope of education. Abstract Pornografi adalah sebuah produk audio-visual, gambar ataupun tulisan yang bisa merancang nafsu birahi seksual seseorang yang membaca ataupun menontonnya. Menurut pandangan Kristen pornografi menggambarkan seks dalam cara berdosa, merendahkan martabat manusia, menghancurkan komitmen perkawinan, dan menanamkan hawa nafsu dan perzinahan. Penyebab kecanduan pornografi karena ada faktor internal dan eksternal. Pornografi berdampak buruk bagi remaja karena menyebabkan kecanduan, merusak otak, keinginan untuk mencoba serta meniru, dan mulai melakukan tindakan seksual. Melalui pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif, maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa peran guru dan pendidikan agama Kristen adalah proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran yang berdasarkan Alkitab, berpusat pada Kristus, dan bergantung kepada kuasa Roh Kudus yang membimbing setiap pribadi pada semua tingkat pertumbuhan iman. Peran guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen bukan sekedar memberikan bimbingan dan pengajaran dalam bidang Pendidikan Agama Kristen kepada peserta didik, namun tujuan yang hendak di capai oleh guru yaitu untuk mengembangkan dan menumbuhkan iman, sikap, serta tindakan sesuai dengan kesaksian yang ada dalam Alkitab dan di aplikasikan kedalam kehidupan peserta didik sehari-hari. Sehingga dapat mengupayakan pencegahan pornografi dalam segala aspek dalam lingkup pendidikan.

Building Eco-Theological and Bio-Centric Approach to Environmental Ethics: John B. Cobb’s Perspective

This paper discusses John B. Cobb’s interpretation of Christian ecological moral foundation based on his “process theological” understanding as well as his critics to traditional Christian view of human supremacy over non-human creatures. It aims to explore Cobb’s eco-theological understanding based on bio-centric environmental approach and explore why his eco-theological thought becomes significant for the ongoing discourses on environmental ethics, especially from religious perspectives. This research also describes how Cobb’s idea could be working for sustainability of environment. In so doing, this paper enriches the current discussions on environmental ethics from Christian eco-theological perspective.

On Hartshorne's Creative Understanding of the Christian View of Love and Its Significance for Comparative Religious Studies

Charles Hartshorne highlights sympathy as a core element of God's love that is undervalued in Christian theology. A detailed understanding of the relationship between loving God and loving others and loving others as oneself is developed based on God's sympathetic love. A comparison between Hartshorne's sympathetic love and Confucian empathetic ren is possible since both eliminate the estrangement between the subject loving and the subject loved and both expand love to others beyond the limited scope of love in human moral practice.