Indigenous Cosmologies in Light of New Epistemological and Political Trends of the Global South

The essential difference between indigenous religions and world religions is in the understanding of the “man-Nature” relationship. While the former perceive man as an equal actor in the establishment of cosmic harmony, placing him alongside all other living and non-living beings of creation, the latter place him in the centre of the world. The Christian religious tradition on the one side, and the Cartesian ontological dualism and methodological empiricism on the other, have strongly influenced the development of Western scientific thought. Over the past decades, the social sciences and humanities have made a great step forward: contributing to new interpretations of global economic and social laws, as well as of the hybridisation of ethnic identities, and starting to cooperate more closely with empirical sciences. The problem arises when self-indulgent introspection disqualifies any other type of knowledge as “non-scientific,” “local,” “romantic,” imperfect. At the beginning of the 21st century, the indigenous cosmology entered the political discourse and ideology of numerous social movements of the Global South. Based on a comparative analysis of three concrete indigenous cosmological and religious models (man vs. Nature relationship), this article seeks to draw attention to the need for a pluralism of mental concepts and social practices.

On the Question of Islamization of Ugrian Population in Western Siberia from the sixteenth to early eighteenth centuries and Some Aspects of Study of This Process

Research objectives: The reconstruction of the features of Islamization of the Ugrian population in Western Siberia from the sixteenth to early eighteenth centuries and some controversial points in the research of this process. Research materials: The present study was based on the analysis of published sources: chronicles, memoirs, and archaeological as well as historiographical data. Results and novelty of the research: The penetration of world religions, including Islam, into the taiga and tundra zone of Western Siberia in the late Middle Ages and Early Modern period is a relevant though insufficiently studied line of research. It is directly related to the issues of including these territories into the Russian state. However, in most cases the limited written and archaeological sources, characterizing the process of adoption of Islam by the local population, have led to the discussion adopting the same stereotyped plotlines. Most often, research has looked to characterize various possible factors possibly influencing the process of Islamization led by the representatives of Sufi tariqas, acting in the territory of the Shibanids within the ulus of Jochi, the Tyumen and Siberian Khanate in particular. A significant strengthening of the Muslims’ influence and their activity’s expansion is only revealed in the case of the last one. This process is automatically related to the Ugrian principalities connected with the Khanate, most often not in critical terms. At the same time, the analysis of chronicles mostly shows very limited possibilities of Islamic preaching outside the territory of various groups of Siberian Tatars. In such cases, prea­ching influenced either the representatives of the Ugrian elite alone, or reflected the domestic partnership of the Ugrians with Tatars. Under these conditions, the emergence of new approaches, which O.N. Naumenko and E.A. Naumenko claim in their works, force us to carefully analyze the proposed methods, sources, and results of the study of Islam among the West Siberian Ugrians. The work done in this regard shows that during the period under consideration, the adoption of Islam among the representatives of any groups of the Ob Ugrians would have been isolated incidents. As a rule, such episodes were connected with the elite of this society that was in close cooperation with the aristocracies of the Siberian Khanate. Dwelling in an interconnected way with the Turkic-Tatar population played a great role in this as well. Moreover, after the entry of Western Siberia into the Russian state, the number of such cases did not increase. On the contrary, sources define the Ostyaks and the Voguls as pagans. It is in this context that Orthodox preaching began among them.

The After Life of the Buddha: Parinirvana Images in Eurasia

This article examines religions in which the life of the spiritual leader is as important as the death, and where the narratives of death (and not just of life) enter the image cycles in art. The Buddha willed himself to die when he was eighty at Kushinagara. Buddhism is one of the rare world religions where there is a huge repertoire of mahaparinairvana images. Buddhism values the release from the cycle of rebirths and deaths. The sets and cycles of images that make up the representation of the death of the Buddha in sculpture and paintings in caves spread across Eurasia are described in detail. The death images are important spatially, materially and culturally. These images began to be made in Mathura, were perfected at Gandhara and travelled all the way across Central Asia to China and beyond. The relics left behind after cremation were enshrined in stupas. They represented a continuation of dharma, of the presence of the Buddha even after he had passed on. The article analyses in detail three caves – Cave 26 in Ajanta in Maharashtra, India; Cave 205 in Kizil in Kucha, Central Asia (East Turkestan) and Cave 148 in Mogao, Dunhuang, China. All three caves juxtapose monumental images of the Dying Buddha with different themes related to his death: The Temptation of Demon Mara in Cave 26, Ajanta; how King Ajatashatru was told of Buddha’s passing along with the cremation of the coffin with the mahaparinirvana Buddha in it in Cave 205, Kizil. Cave 148 at Mogao contains the most complete set of scenes and images representing events pre- and post- Buddha’s death in sculptures and murals. In addition, there are Chinese interpretations of the Pure Lands in large murals.

World Christianity and Religions 2022: A Complicated Relationship

This article marks the thirty-eighth year of including statistical information on World Christianity and mission in the International Bulletin of Mission Research. This year it includes details on the growth of world religions, increasing religious diversity, and personal contact between Christians and people of other religions. The world is becoming more religious, and the world’s countries have become more religiously diverse, yet Christians have inadequate personal contact with members of other religions. Solidarity, including friendship, love, and hospitality, is posited as the way forward in addressing these trends.

Who Owns the Central Mosque? Ethnic Identity and the Struggle for Spiritual Space in Epe, Southwest Nigeria

Religion and ethnicity are core attributes of identity in West Africa, and the majority of the population defines itself in relation to these values. But most studies of religious conflict in Nigeria focus on the conflicts between the two great world religions, Islam and Christianity. Equally, studies of ethnic conflict tend to focus on conflict between different language groups. This article shows that it is also important to focus on sub-ethnic difference, and the meso-level conflicts and tensions that often occur within each faith. In Epe, a coastal town in Lagos, southwest Nigeria over eighty percent of the population profess Islam, but remain distinguished as different social and ethnic sub-groups, as “Ijebu Epe” and “Eko Epe.” Over time, both groups invested in ethno-religious contestation, which led to open conflict when they were brought together in the same local Council and differed over the ownership of the only Central Mosque in the town. The study shows that the struggle for the soul of the first Epe Central Mosque at Oke Balogun between Ijebu Epe and Eko Epe was used in pursuit of both spiritual and political power, and in order to gain control over important resources. This study therefore provides empirical evidence that ethnic and group differences do affect some aspects of religious practices and can even lead to rivalry within the same religion.

Religion as an Instrument of Soft Power in International Relations

The article examines the cases of using religion as a “soft power” in the example of Russia and Turkey. Based on foreign policy strategies, each state forms its own discourse in the use of religions as “soft power”. The article substantiates the idea that world religions have the greatest potential in solving interstate issues, as carriers of a unique historical experience of spiritual and political globalization, as institutions of spiritual power that accumulate significant material and other resources, as well as as institutions of civil society that promote the values of freedom and humanism. The use of religion as «soft power» becomes another argument in criticizing the theories of secularism. The analysis of the discourse of religion as a “soft power” was made on the example of the foreign policy strategies of Russia and Turkey, taking into account their political authority in the international arena, as well as their perception as one of the centers of world religions.

THE RESPONSE OF PESANTREN COMMUNITY IN MAGELANG TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASLES RUBELLA IMMUNIZATION

This paper is aimed to determine the response of the pesantren community in Magelang-Indonesia to the Measles Rubella (MR) immunization law in 2017. Moreover, this paper was more focused on the investigation for the elements that is influencing the emergence of pro-contra attitudes among the pesantren community in Magelang-Indonesia toward the MR Rubella immunization law. The author used a sociology approach. Data obtained through observation, interview and literature study. The author used deductive-inductive methods and critical reflection to analyze the data. The article presents the conclusion of research that the pesantren community response in Magelang to inplementation of immunization and vaccination occurred pros and cons. Groups who reject immunization argue that immunization is against religious law. Meanwhile, the group receiving immunizations argues that immunization is important and emergencies in ensuring the health of children to avoid the disease that will result from not being immunized. So is the perspective of world religions. Essentially Islam, Protestant, Hindu and Jewish receive immunization as an effort to ensure the health of children. While Catholics and Buddhism tend to reject immunization

A Comparative Study of Islam and Buddhism: A Multicultural Society Perspective

In this article, two great world religions, Islam and Buddhism, are compared. The purpose is to highlight similarities and differences between the two religions. Additionally, this article aims to project elements and teachings that are deemed important by their followers. A neutral stance on their beliefs is especially important in a multicultural society. The study was conducted to promote the harmony and betterment of Malaysian society, and the nation at large; a value process of understanding of each religion is recommended, which can then lead to acceptance, respect and tolerance among the population, and form the basis for developing a paradigmatic Malaysian society that has unity in diversity. This study adopted document analysis as the research method for data collection and data analysis. The conclusions drawn are that, although the two religions appear rather different in terms of principles and practices, the core values of avoiding evil and doing good are similar. In addition, the study proposes that without prejudice and pride, the basics of all commonly practiced religions in Malaysia should be introduced to all Malaysians, with the objective of all understanding, but not necessarily embracing, each other’s religion.