Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics

Background: This study investigated the relationships between the Dark Triad of personality (sub-clinical psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) and four political variables: socio-religious conservatism, support for greater economic equality, overall liberal–conservative orientation, and interest in politics. A theoretical approach that focused on the influence of the Dark Triad in large groups was provided to interpret those relationships. Methodological issues found in previous research that related to the use of abbreviated scales to measure the dark traits and the use of unidimensional indicators of political orientations were addressed. Methods: A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to determine whether any of the three dark traits could explain variance in the aforementioned political attributes over and above that accounted for by the Big Five, sex, age, and nationality, using the full personality scales and measures of political orientation that captured both social and economic liberalism–conservatism. Results: Machiavellianism uniquely predicted lower levels of socio-religious conservatism, and both Machiavellianism and narcissism uniquely predicted lower levels of overall conservatism. Conclusions: There were important links between the Dark Triad and politics.

Promoting moderate Islam in a global community through the ‘English for Ulama’ programme

The rise of religious conservatism following the 1998 reformasi has altered the face of Indonesian Islam, which has historically been regarded as peaceful and inclusive, which is why the Indonesian government has advocated for moderate Islam on a regional, national and even a global scale. Using West Java as a case study, this article presents the 2019 ‘English for Ulama’ (EFU) initiative, which intends to train ulama in West Java about the concept of moderate Islam before sending them to the United Kingdom to promote moderate Islamic discourse in a global setting. This study demonstrates that the EFU programme is a strategic project that not only benefits West Javanese ulama regionally, where they may develop networks with other Muslims on a worldwide scale, but also benefits from the national development of moderate Islamic discourse. On a global scale, this programme is one of the best examples of moderate Islamic discourse diplomacy as the nature of Indonesian Islam. Furthermore, supporting moderate Islam on a worldwide scale is likely to influence Western society’s view of Islamophobia.Contribution: Although the EFU programme is a local government initiative, it has contributed to the promotion of moderate Islam at the world level and is framed as global diplomacy.

Mechanization of Islamic moderation da’wah in the Nahdlatul Ulama pesantren tradition

Pesantren (madrassah) is Indonesia's oldest educational institution; it is through pesantren (madrassah) that the country's national educational system was formed, and despite the rapid changes in society, pesantren has managed to keep its characteristics. The kyai, santri, mosque, and classical reference books are at least three key parts of pesantren culture (Kitab Kuning). Pesantren play a critical role in distributing Islamic moderation in the society to maintain community resilience, since the tendency of social religiosity in today's Indonesian culture has reached into religious conservatism to some extent. The objective of this research is to describe pesantren elements (Kyai, Santri, Masjid, and Kitab Kuning) are engaged in producing religious moderation character-building approaches and patterns. This research examines five renowned Nahdhatul Ulama pesantren in Central and East Java using a qualitative methodology. According to results this study that based on in-depth observations, documentation, and observation of the pesantren environment under independent investigation, as well as interviews with pesantren leaders (kyai) and other informants who are fully acquainted with the pesantren under research. The Pesantren-Islamic boarding school-style integrated education system and the classical halaqah system, according to the findings of this study, became an integrated and complementary educational system, preparing social cadre with an understanding of religious moderation, which was actualized in the form of national commitment, religious tolerance, anti-violence da'wah, and accommodative behavior to local culture. The results of this study can be implemented that the four elements of pesantren can be used as a strategy in strengthening the values of islamic moderation not limited to the pesantren but extended to the scope of national life.***Pesantren adalah lembaga pendidikan tertua di Indonesia; Dari pesantren (madrasah) perkembangan sistem pendidikan nasional di Indonesia terbangun, meski terjadi perubahan masyarakat yang dinamis, pesantren tetap mampu mempertahankan ciri khasnya. Setidaknya ada tiga unsur penting dalam budaya pesantren, yaitu kyai, santri, masjid, dan kitab klasik (kitab kuning). Tren religiusitas sosial dalam masyarakat Indonesia saat ini - sampai batas tertentu - telah menunjukkan gejala ke arah konservatisme agama, oleh karena itu pesantren memainkan peran krusialnya dalam mensosialisasikan diskursus moderasi Islam di masyarakat untuk membentengi sekaligus membangun resiliensi sosial dari arus konservatisme agama yang ekstrem. Tujuan dalam penelitian ini adalah menggambarkan elemen pesantren (Kyai, Santri, Masjid, dan Kitab Kuning) yang digunakan dalam mengembangkan strategi dan pola pembentukan karakter moderasi beragama. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif fenomenologis dengan melihat lima pesantren ikonic Nahdhatul Ulama di Jawa Tengah dan Jawa Timur. Berdasarkan hasil observasi mendalam dengan mendokumentasikan dan mengamati lingkungan pesantren melalui inkuiri independen, serta wawancara mendalam dengan beberapa informan yang benar-benar mengenal pesantren yang menjadi objek kajian. Selanjutnya temuan penelitian ini, sistem pendidikan terpadu ala pesantren dan sistem halaqah klasik-sistem pendidikan terpadu dan komplementer pesantren- telah mampu mempersiapkan kader masyarakat yang memahami moderasi beragama, yang diaktualisasikan dalam bentuk komitmen kebangsaan, toleransi beragama, dakwah tanpa kekerasan, dan perilaku akomodatif terhadap budaya lokal. Hasil kajian ini dapat diimplementasikan bahwa empat elemen pesantren dapat dijadikan strategi dalam memperkuat nilai-nilai moderasi beragama tidak terbatas pada lingkungan pesantren tapi diperluas pada lingkup kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara.

Conclusion

Paradoxically, the failure of the first generation of Christian Reconstructionists to cohere, either personally or ideologically, has worked in the movement’s favor, creating an internal marketplace of ideas by means of which competing groupings within political and religious conservatism have been able to appropriate and adopt their central arguments. Recognizing that a “moral majority” does not exist, and therefore abandoning the top-down political strategies of earlier evangelicals, the believers who participate in the migration to the Pacific Northwest work to build communities that will expand organically and over time to renew America and to replace the supposed neutrality of its legislative base. The project is working. But it is not clear whether the integrity of these ideas will continue as their audience base grows. Mass culture routinizes what was once regarded as radical, with effects that may not easily be predicted at the “end of white, Christian America.”

Women’s rights in Pakistan: A study of religious and alternate discourses regarding women’s participation in politics

This study aims to evaluate the religious and the alternate discourses on women’s political rights in Pakistan; such debates were heightened and intensified as a result of General Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization vision and policies implemented between 1977 to 1988. Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization is argued to have polarized women’s participation in politics and challenged the standing of feminist groups, Islamic feminists, and secularists, which made Islam and women’s political participation the subject of debates that are still relevant in the case of Pakistan. The paper argues that Pakistani state’s Islamic disposition in general and Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization in particular provoked religious conservatism and promoted gender-based discrimination that deeply affected women’s political participation. This study seeks to reconcile the different perspectives of Islamic and secular feminism for realizing the goals of effective participation of women in politics. The paper uses a qualitative research method concentrating on thematic analysis, which employs for identifying and analyzing patterns or themes within qualitative data analysis approaches. The findings suggest that in the case of women rights, Islamic feminism and secular feminism are compatible and complementary, and a synthesis of both is imperative to realize the effective participation of women in politics.

Psychological and Theological Predictors of Environmental Attitudes among a Sample of UK Churchgoers

This paper builds on previous studies of UK churchgoers by examining the factors that predict concern for the environment and willingness to make sacrifices to preserve it. A sample of 825 churchgoers from a range of denominations completed a questionnaire that contained items used to assess psychological preferences, biblical literalism, and a range of theological stances toward creation. Psychological variables showed both direct and indirect effects on environmentalism that were in line with previous work by environmental psychologists. Indirect effects were related to the way that some psychological type preferences either shape biblical interpretation or are associated with religious conservatism. Religious affiliation had no direct effects on environmentalism, but did have indirect effects through literalism and religious conservatism. Beliefs about dominion and eschatology directly reduced concern, but dominion was also positively associated with stewardship, which emerged as the main promoter of both concern and sacrifice.

Religion and Covid-19 in the Era of Post-Truth: The Case of Indonesia

Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has become global pandemic, which affects all countries in the world including Indonesia. The mitigation of covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia cannot neglect the role of religion, since religion constitutes the main identity of most people. Hence, religion becomes value reference and ‘system of knowing’, including in addressing the covid-19 pandemic. By employing comparative and content analysis, it is hoped that this paper will constitute a significant contribution in unravelling the complex role of religion in dealing with covid-19 pandemic, most particularly in the context of post-truth. There are three concerns of this paper. First, it examines the challenges of religious conservatism towards covid-19 mitigation among Indonesian Muslims, most particularly in the context of post-truth which in some ways intensifies the emergence of conservativism in the public space. Second, it explores the possibility of ‘new spirituality’ which is pertinent for the mitigation of Covid-19. Third, it explores the contribution of Indonesian Muslim knowledge culture to the fight against covid-19.

BJP’s Ideological Hegemony: Combining Religious Conservatism and Nationalism

This article explores popular support for two key dimensions of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s recent ideological dominance in Indian politics. We examine public opinion on assertive nationalism and religious conservatism. The article analyses data from an individual-level survey conducted among voters across 12 states across the country in 2018. We find that public opinion is largely sympathetic towards the ideological positions held by the right on these dimensions. Moreover, ideological resonance transcends various socio-economic cleavages, and there is high support even among non-core segments of the BJP’s social coalition. We also find suggestive evidence for the role of nationalism in expanding the BJP’s support base.