Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science

Religion, Society, and Development

Works Count: 154370

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Description

This cluster of papers explores the role and impact of faith-based organizations in providing social services, contributing to community development, and engaging in international development and humanitarian efforts. It delves into the relationship between religion, spirituality, and development, as well as the comparison between faith-based and secular organizations in delivering welfare and aid. The papers also discuss the challenges, opportunities, and controversies surrounding the involvement of faith-based organizations in various aspects of development and social welfare.

Keywords

Faith-Based Organizations; Social Services; Religion; Development; Humanitarianism; NGOs; Community Development; Civil Society; International Aid; Welfare

International Encyclopedia of Civil Society

2009-11-17

Helmut K. Anheier , Stefan Toepler

Development in Judging Moral Issues

1980-01-01

H. Joseph Murphy , James R. Rest

Witchcraft, Violence, and Democracy in South Africa

2006-05-25

Stephen Ellis

Witchcraft, Violence, and Democracy in South Africa . Adam Ashforth. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. 396 pp. Witchcraft, Violence, and Democracy in South Africa . Adam Ashforth. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. 396 pp.

CHRONIC ILLNESS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE

1976-01-01

Anselm L. Strauss

Partners in Public Service: Government-Nonprofit Relations in the Modern Welfare State, <i>by Lester M. Salamon</i>

1995-01-01

Ralph da Costa Nuñez

Lester Salamon pioneered the study of nonprofit organizations and of their cooperation with government in the development and delivery of important social and economic services. His unique research in the … Lester Salamon pioneered the study of nonprofit organizations and of their cooperation with government in the development and delivery of important social and economic services. His unique research in the early and mid-1980s was the first to document the pervasive interrelationships between government and the nonprofit sector in the United States, identifying some of crucial characteristics of nonprofit human service agencies and examining the impact of the budget and tax policies of tire Reagan and Bush administrations. Partners in Public Service brings together some of Lester Salamon's most important work on the changing relationship between government and the voluntary sector in the American version of the modern welfare state. Approaching issues from a variety of perspectives -- theoretical, empirical, retrospective, prospective, and comparative -- Salamon illuminates the theoretical basis of government-nonprofit cooperation, shows why government came to rely on nonprofit groups to administer public programs, documents the scope of the resulting partnership, reviews the consequences for this partnership of recent attempts to cut federal spending, and explores the expanding scope of government-nonprofit collaboration at the international level.

The individual and his religion.

1951-01-01

A. A. Roback

Constructing Local Theologies

1986-06-01

Martin Saarinen , Robert Schreiter

Savage Systems: Colonialism and Comparative Religion in Southern Africa

1999-11-01

Elizabeth Elbourne , David Chidester

This work examines the emergence of the concepts of religion and religions on 19th-century colonial frontiers. It analyzes the ways in which European settlers, and indigenous Africans, engaged in the … This work examines the emergence of the concepts of religion and religions on 19th-century colonial frontiers. It analyzes the ways in which European settlers, and indigenous Africans, engaged in the comparison of alternative religious ways of life as one dimension of intercultural activity.

Religion and Society in Tension.

1966-04-01

J. Milton Yinger , Charles Y. Glock , Rodney Stark

Tongues of fire: the explosion of Protestantism in Latin America

1991-04-01

John Hillman , David Martin

Part 1 Historical genealogies and theoretical background: Anglo and Latin - rival civilizations, alternative patterns the Methodist model - Anglo-American cultural production reproduced in Latin America. Part 2 Latin America … Part 1 Historical genealogies and theoretical background: Anglo and Latin - rival civilizations, alternative patterns the Methodist model - Anglo-American cultural production reproduced in Latin America. Part 2 Latin America - history and contemporary situation: profiles of evangelical advance in Latin America Brazil - largest society and most dramatic instance the Southern cone - Chile and the Argentine contrasted smaller contrasting societies - Ecuador, El Salvador, Gautemala and Mexico. Part 3 Comparisons and parallels: Carribean comparisons - Jamaica and Trinidad, Puerto Rico and Haiti instructive parallels - South Korea and South Africa. Part 4 Re-formations: new spiritual communications - healings and tongues, songs and stories conversions - transformations and turning points Protestantism and economic culture - evidence reviewed the body politic and the spirit - evidence reviewed. Part 5 Conclusions: the argument summarized and extended.

The invisible religion : the problem of religion in modern society.

1967-01-01

Thomas Luckmann

The Oxford encyclopedia of the modern Islamic world

1995-01-01

John L. Esposito

The Encyclopedia offers extensive comparative and systematic analyses of Islamic beliefs, institutions, movements, practices, and peoples on an international scale. The alphabetically arranged articles range from brief 500-word essays to … The Encyclopedia offers extensive comparative and systematic analyses of Islamic beliefs, institutions, movements, practices, and peoples on an international scale. The alphabetically arranged articles range from brief 500-word essays to major interpretive and synthetic treatment of topics such as the Islamic state, pilgrimage, law, marriage, and foreign relations. Related entries cover areas of general interest such as social and political movements, women, Muslim minorities, human rights, Islam in the West, and interreligious affairs. And prominent figures that had a lasting impact on Islam are explored including Muhammad, Aga Khan, Malcolm X, Muhammad Iqbal, 'Ali Shari 'ati, Ayatollah Khomeini, and Hasan al-Turabi.

Social Change in Modern India.

1967-01-01

Hans‐Dieter Evers , M. N. Srinivas

The Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy

2012-05-01

Robert D. Woodberry

This article demonstrates historically and statistically that conversionary Protestants (CPs) heavily influenced the rise and spread of stable democracy around the world. It argues that CPs were a crucial catalyst … This article demonstrates historically and statistically that conversionary Protestants (CPs) heavily influenced the rise and spread of stable democracy around the world. It argues that CPs were a crucial catalyst initiating the development and spread of religious liberty, mass education, mass printing, newspapers, voluntary organizations, and colonial reforms, thereby creating the conditions that made stable democracy more likely. Statistically, the historic prevalence of Protestant missionaries explains about half the variation in democracy in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania and removes the impact of most variables that dominate current statistical research about democracy. The association between Protestant missions and democracy is consistent in different continents and subsamples, and it is robust to more than 50 controls and to instrumental variable analyses.

Religion and the New Immigrants: Continuities and Adaptations in Immigrant Congregations

2000-12-01

Carl L. Bankston , Helen Rose Ebaugh , Janet Saltzman Chafetz

NGOs, civil society and democratization: a critical review of the literature

2002-01-01

Claire Mercer

One of the most striking features of the anglophone literature on NGOs is the diversity of NGO sectors and their contributions to civil society and democracy; yet, exploration of this … One of the most striking features of the anglophone literature on NGOs is the diversity of NGO sectors and their contributions to civil society and democracy; yet, exploration of this complexity is often eschewed in favour of a normative approach in which the apparently mutually enhancing relationship between NGOs, civil society and the state is underpinned by liberal democratic assumption rather than an engagement with wider debates about the politics of development. Following a critique of this approach to NGOs, civil society and democracy, the paper argues that the role of NGOs in the politics of development is far more complex than much of the NGO literature would suggest, and calls for a more contextualized and less value-laden approach to the understanding of the political role of NGOs.

The Art of Moral Protest: Culture, Biography, and Creativity in Social Movements

1999-01-01

James M. Jasper

Protest has become an everyday part of modern societies, one of the few recognized outlets for voicing and discussing basic moral commitments. Protest movements shape our thinking about social change … Protest has become an everyday part of modern societies, one of the few recognized outlets for voicing and discussing basic moral commitments. Protest movements shape our thinking about social change and human agency. At a time when schools, the media, and even religious institutions offer little guidance for our moral judgments, protest movements have become a central source for providing us with ethical visions and creative ideas. In this book, James Jasper integrates diverse examples of protest, from 19th-century boycotts to recent anti-nuclear, animal-rights, and environmental movements, into an understanding of how social movements operate. He highlights their creativity, not only in forging new morals but in adopting courses of action and inventing organizational forms. The work stresses the role of individuals, both as lone protesters and as key decision-makers, and it emphasizes the open-ended nature of strategic choices as protesters, their opponents, their allies, and the government respond to each other's actions. The book also synthesizes the many concepts developed in recent years as part of the cultural approach to social movements, placing them in context and showing what they mean for other scholarly traditions. Drawing on lengthy interviews, historical materials, surveys, and his own participation in protests, Jasper offers a systematic overview of the field of social movements. He weaves together accounts of large-scale movements with individual biographies, placing the movements in cultural perspective and focusing on individuals' experiences.

Doing Good? The Politics and Antipolitics of NGO Practices

1997-10-01

William F. Fisher

This review surveys current literature concerned with the growing numbers, changing functions, and intensifying networks of nongovernmental organizations which have had significant impacts upon globalization, international and national politics, and … This review surveys current literature concerned with the growing numbers, changing functions, and intensifying networks of nongovernmental organizations which have had significant impacts upon globalization, international and national politics, and local lives. Studies of these changes illuminate understandings of translocal flows of ideas, knowledge, funding, and people; shed light on changing relationships among citizenry, associations, and the state; and encourage a reconsideration of connections between the personal and the political. Attention is given to the political implications of discourses about NGOs, the complex micropolitics of these associations, and the importance of situating them as evolving processes within complexes of competing and overlapping practices and discourses.

Health Programs in Faith-Based Organizations: Are They Effective?

2004-06-01

Mark J. DeHaven , I. Hunter , Laura Wilder +2 more

Objectives. We examined the published literature on health programs in faith-based organizations to determine the effectiveness of these programs. Methods. We conducted a systematic literature review of articles describing faith-based … Objectives. We examined the published literature on health programs in faith-based organizations to determine the effectiveness of these programs. Methods. We conducted a systematic literature review of articles describing faith-based health activities. Articles (n = 386) were screened for eligibility (n = 105), whether a faith-based health program was described (n = 53), and whether program effects were reported (28). Results. Most programs focused on primary prevention (50.9%), general health maintenance (25.5%), cardiovascular health (20.7%), or cancer (18.9%). Significant effects reported included reductions in cholesterol and blood pressure levels, weight, and disease symptoms and increases in the use of mammography and breast self-examination. Conclusions. Faith-based programs can improve health outcomes. Means are needed for increasing the frequency with which such programs are evaluated and the results of these evaluations are disseminated.

Resistance Through Rituals

1978-12-01

David Marsland , Stuart Hall , Tony Jefferson

Neopatriarchy: a theory of distorted change in Arab society

1989-03-01

This work addresses a problem central to all developing societies in the Third World, that of the transition from patriarchy to secularism, from traditional culture to modernity. Challenging some of … This work addresses a problem central to all developing societies in the Third World, that of the transition from patriarchy to secularism, from traditional culture to modernity. Challenging some of the most cherished and widely held beliefs in the Arab world, the author develops a theory of social change which offers an understanding of the setbacks and distortions which have shaped this process of transformation.

Understanding Religious Conversion

1994-06-01

Richard Machalek , Lewis R. Rambo

Religious conversion provides converts with an opportunity to embrace a community of faith and a philosophy that nurture and guide, that offer a focus for loyalty and a framework for … Religious conversion provides converts with an opportunity to embrace a community of faith and a philosophy that nurture and guide, that offer a focus for loyalty and a framework for action. Whether the conversion is from one religious tradition to another, from one denomination to another, from no involvement to participation in a religious community, or is an intensification of commitment within one's faith, the process can be complex but compelling and transformative. In this book Lewis Rambo discusses the dynamics of conversion, presenting it as a multifaceted process of change with personal, cultural, social, and religious implications. Drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, theology, and missiology, as well as on interviews with converts from disparate backgrounds, Rambo explores the forces that shape the conversion experience. He considers various theories of conversion, examines the role of cultural and social factors in the conversion process, and describes how different religions and disciplines view conversion. While acknowledging the individual nature of each conversion experience, Rambo discerns stages that are illuminating. These include opening oneself to new options; seeking a resolution to the dilemma or deprivation that makes change seem attractive; meeting the agent who embodies the religious vision; learning new roles, rituals, and rhetoric; and committing oneself to a new way of life. His book will not only encourage empathy for the converting process but will also provide a nuanced strategy of critique and evaluation of religious conversion throughout the world.

The Next Christendom

2002-05-30

Philip Jenkins

Abstract We are living through one of the greatest transformations in the history of religion worldwide. Over the last century, Christianity has enjoyed explosive growth in the global South–in Africa, … Abstract We are living through one of the greatest transformations in the history of religion worldwide. Over the last century, Christianity has enjoyed explosive growth in the global South–in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Within a few decades, Christianity will be overwhelmingly a non-European, non-white religion. Philip Jenkins argues that what we are seeing is no less than the creation of a new Christendom, which, for better or worse, will play a major role in world affairs. This book offers the first in-depth examination of the globalization of Christianity and discusses the implications for Christian worship, liturgy, culture, and political life. In addition, the denominations that are triumphing all over the global south are strongly traditional and even reactionary by the standards of economically advanced nations, and their message tends to be charismatic, visionary, and apocalyptic. This newly militant Christianity may give rise to renewed religious rivalry, especially since Islam is expanding in the same areas as Christianity. The resulting confrontations have already given rise to deadly conflicts in places such as Nigeria, Malaysia, and Indonesia. An unprecedented and potentially dangerous global change is underway. This book is an important first step toward understanding its challenges and its threats.

DIALOGUES CONCERNING NATURAL RELIGION

1994-03-25

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Resources, Values and Development

1985-01-01

Robert Klitgaard , Amartya Sen

Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion

1999-01-01

Joanne Marie Greer , David O. Moberg , Monty L. Lynn

This volume includes a wide range of papers that explore individual and institutional aspects of religion from a social-science perspective. The special section has articles related to the practice of … This volume includes a wide range of papers that explore individual and institutional aspects of religion from a social-science perspective. The special section has articles related to the practice of prayer, and includes studies from the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. The general papers include studies on coping strategies, God representations, spirituality versus religion, self-control in a Muslim context, and faith-based organizations in Cambodia. Together these papers form a valuable collection indicating the depth and vibrancy of research in these fields.

ANNUAL REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGY, VOL 37

2011-01-01

Tom A. B. Snijders

Catholic Bíblical Quarterly

1993-06-01

Natalio Fernández Marcos , Felipe Sen

The Power of religion in the public sphere

2011-09-01

View PDF Chat

The Future of Religion

1985-12-31

Rodney Stark , William Sims Bainbridge

Becoming a World-Saver: A Theory of Conversion to a Deviant Perspective

1965-12-01

John Lofland , Rodney Stark

Theology and social theory: beyond secular reason

2006-07-01

THE ELEMENTARY FORMS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE

1916-09-01

Émile Durkheim , Ward Swain

Public Religions in the Modern World.

1995-03-01

Mark Chaves , José Casanova

The Spirit of Community: Rights, Responsibilities and the Communitarian Agenda

1993-01-01

Andrew J. Pierre , Amitaï Etzioni

The Relationship Between Religiosity and Preference for Leaders with Integrity: A Perspective on Religious Dimensions and Political Ethics

2025-06-26

Luluk Mashluchah , Nuzulul Ulum , Ahmad Halid +1 more | Millati Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities

This study aims to analyze the relationship between religiosity and the preference for leaders with integrity, as well as examine the role of political ethics as a moderator in this … This study aims to analyze the relationship between religiosity and the preference for leaders with integrity, as well as examine the role of political ethics as a moderator in this relationship. Using a quantitative approach with a descriptive and correlational design, this research involved 185 respondents selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a Likert-scale-based questionnaire and analyzed using Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA). The findings indicate that religiosity has a positive relationship with the preference for leaders with integrity; however, this relationship is strengthened by an individual's level of political ethics. Individuals with high political ethics are more consistent in selecting leaders based on integrity, whereas those with low political ethics are more influenced by external factors such as political affiliation, social pressure, and economic conditions. Additionally, this study identifies that party loyalty, socioeconomic background, media influence, and social norms can either strengthen or weaken the relationship between religiosity and integrity-based leadership preferences. These findings reaffirm that religiosity is not the sole determining factor in voter decision-making; rather, it must be understood within the context of political ethics and other external influences. The implications of this research highlight the necessity of political education based on ethical values and integrity to cultivate more critical and rational voters in selecting leaders with integrity.

Faith-Based Approaches

2025-06-25

Shonali Banerjee , Anne‐Meike Fechter , Thabani Mutambasere | Bristol University Press eBooks

Development of a religious non-radicalism model from local churches’ perspectives

2025-06-25

Johan Robert Saimima , Henky Herzon Hetharia , Rouli Retta Trifena Sinaga | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

Religious institutions often encourage religious radicalism among their adherents in a pluralistic society. Therefore, there is an urgency for a religious non-radicalism model, especially in local churches in Maluku and … Religious institutions often encourage religious radicalism among their adherents in a pluralistic society. Therefore, there is an urgency for a religious non-radicalism model, especially in local churches in Maluku and North Maluku, Indonesia. This study emphasises the role of local churches in maintaining the integrity of society through a model of religious non-radicalism that reflects a wise way of believing and bringing goodness to humanity. This research employs a qualitative phenomenological approach to examine religious non-radicalism based on Pancasila, Ernest Renan’s concept of living together and a theology of utilitarianism. The study engages in dialogue with social and cultural capital within the context of local churches, particularly in Maluku and North Maluku. It maps the concept of religious non-radicalism in local churches, focussing on social and cultural capital as well as understanding related to religious non-radicalism. The research then analyses empirical experiences and the implementation of teachings, regulations and programmes in local churches teachings, regulations and programmes) and developed into churches. This analysis leads to the development of a model of religious non-radicalism from the perspectives of these churches. The key finding of this research, which contributes novelty to the article, is the model of religious non-radicalism at the levels of Gereja Protestan Maluku, including Synod, Klasis [Classis] and Congregation. This model is derived from the cultures based on the perspectives of local churches. Cultural institutions such as Pela Gandong, Ain ni Ain and Saruma serve as solid foundations for the lives of the orang basudara and can be instrumental in fostering coexistence amid religious differences while rejecting violence in the name of religion in social life. Contribution: This article contributes to the development of a religious non-radicalism model from the perspective of local churches to maintain peace.

Sacha Pearce &amp; Jan Collis (2022) Creating Space: Story, Reflection and Practice in Healthcare Chaplaincy

2025-06-25

A Heslop | Health and Social Care Chaplaincy

Sacha Pearce & Jan Collis (2022) Creating Space: Story, Reflection and Practice in Healthcare Chaplaincy. Durham: Sacristy Press, 182pp. (pbk). ISBN 978-1-78959-213-9 Sacha Pearce & Jan Collis (2022) Creating Space: Story, Reflection and Practice in Healthcare Chaplaincy. Durham: Sacristy Press, 182pp. (pbk). ISBN 978-1-78959-213-9

Encounterological praxis of the Research Institute with African Initiated Churches: 1975–2025

2025-06-24

Mnyalaza T. Masuku | Verbum et Ecclesia

The African Initiated Churches (AICs) suffered a sour relationship with churches and institutions of Western origin from where most originated. Western religious and political institutions adopted a polemic approach towards … The African Initiated Churches (AICs) suffered a sour relationship with churches and institutions of Western origin from where most originated. Western religious and political institutions adopted a polemic approach towards them. Their critique was primarily on their lack of theological training. This led to tension between them, levelling blames against each other making trust difficult. The Research Institute for Theology and Religion (RITR) was viewed as a Western entity that served colonial interests. Like the University of South Africa where it belonged over the 50 years of its existence, the RITR likewise, was judged as part of the drivers of the colonial project, infested with epistemic violence. It was placed in the same space as the mainline churches and their leadership that were polemic against them (AICs). How did the RITR explore and manage this tension with the AICs? In order to project a sustainable relationship between them, employing Kritzinger’s concept of ‘encounterology’ and drawing on existing literature through a qualitative review method, the author will critically examine the journey of their encounter to determine if it will be sustainable and become exemplary to others, more especially for ecumenism. The author will also propose sustainable strategic relationship goals between these two. The conclusion would be reached to determine if the RITR is doing or not doing enough to nurture and sustain this relationship. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This study examines the relationship between the RITR and the AICs over the first 50 years of the institute’s existence. Although it is in the field of missiology, it also has interdisciplinary implications for disciplines such as history, practical theology and sociology.

Neoliberalism, authoritarianism, evangelism

2025-06-24

Fábio Luis Barbosa dos Santos , Ruy Braga | Manchester University Press eBooks

A Report on The International Conference on Religious Freedom and Peacebuilding

2025-06-23

Sékou Touré | Journal of Islam in Asia (E-ISSN 2289-8077)

Theological and religious exploration of an Indian indentured descendant—Dr Betty Govinden

2025-06-23

Kogielam K. Archary | Verbum et Ecclesia

This article reflects on and records significant aspects of the life of the 80-year-old Dr Devarakshanam (Betty) Govinden. Emphases of this research are on the last 50 years, focusing on … This article reflects on and records significant aspects of the life of the 80-year-old Dr Devarakshanam (Betty) Govinden. Emphases of this research are on the last 50 years, focusing on her life in terms of religion, particularly her theological contribution to South African society, especially through the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. In terms of religious heritage, Govinden was born a Christian of indentured Indian ancestry. This study provides insights, knowledge, and information on 50 years of church orthodoxy in South Africa from the perspective of an Indian female theologian, focusing on the interdisciplinary field of Christianity, theology, and religion. Information was gathered through one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with Dr Govinden, exploring her theological and religious journey as a descendant of Indian indentured labourers. Key themes included: (1) her experiences from early childhood, adolescence, and student life; (2) the influence of her parents; (3) her path to becoming a theologian and significant moments in her life as both a Christian and theologian; and (4) her perspective on the South African community as a religious community over the past 50 years. Additionally, select publications of Govinden were used as sources to gain insights on her views on the church. Analysis of the information gathered was conducted in an unmediated manner, and relevant themes emerged. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The research contributes to the body of knowledge and information on 50 years of church orthodoxy in South Africa, with the aim of presenting the research results with a focus on Christian theology and religion. This research uses the role and contribution of Dr Devarakshanam (Betty) Govinden, an Indian indentured labourer descendant, as a framework for analysis and discussion.

Improving Theology’s Understanding of Complicity and Oppression in Sinful Social Structures

2025-06-23

David Cloutier , Daniel K. Finn | Horizons

This article clarifies two choices at two different levels of analysis—that theologians make (often implicitly) in employing social science to clarify how social structures affect moral agency. The first is … This article clarifies two choices at two different levels of analysis—that theologians make (often implicitly) in employing social science to clarify how social structures affect moral agency. The first is the choice of a general causal account of how all social structures “work,” where this article endorses the view provided by critical realist sociology. The second is the choice of some particular causal account of the functioning of a specific kind of social structure. It proposes a new definition that applies to all, not simply the most egregious sinful social structures that accounts for both the oppression of the marginalized and the complicity of the privileged. To illustrate the analysis, we end by examining three features important in the transformation of sinful social structures that have received inadequate attention in the literature of theological ethics: nonmoral cognitive categories, bodily practices, and the penalties for noncompliance.

Toward an Ethnography of God

2025-06-23

Amira Mittermaier | American Anthropologist

ABSTRACT In recent years, anthropologists and theologians have been engaging in conversation with one another. Building on, and branching out from, that conversation, this article calls for a careful ethnographic … ABSTRACT In recent years, anthropologists and theologians have been engaging in conversation with one another. Building on, and branching out from, that conversation, this article calls for a careful ethnographic engagement with not just “God talk” (the literal meaning of theology) but also with the figure of God itself. Such a shift can take us from theology as an abstract, scholarly, discursive realm to the messy and often‐unpredictable ways in which God shows up in the world. It can attune us to how God appears in concrete social, material, and historical contexts by way of divine interventions, modes of presence, and different forms of mediation. I suggest that the genre of ethnography—skilled at paying attention to the fleeting and emergent and characterized by a generous openness and curiosity—is uniquely suited for engaging with an object like God. Working through some common objections and suggesting ways forward, this article proposes as one possibility an apophatic ethnography—a humble mode of writing that does not insist on proclaiming truths but acknowledges the limits of human knowledge. Without ever being able to capture its object, an ethnography of God can offer glimpses of how the divine is entangled with social and material worlds.

A Disruptive Peace?: Economic Practices, Intrafamilial Relations, and the “Things that Make for Peace” according to Luke

2025-06-23

Julie Newberry | Modern Theology

Abstract Although some passages in Luke‐Acts connect Jesus with peace (e.g., Luke 2:14; Acts 10:36), closer consideration of the Lukan peace motif yields a complex picture. This article contributes to … Abstract Although some passages in Luke‐Acts connect Jesus with peace (e.g., Luke 2:14; Acts 10:36), closer consideration of the Lukan peace motif yields a complex picture. This article contributes to our understanding of Lukan peace by examining two passages in which peace occurs alongside some of Jesus's harder words about financial disruption and intrafamilial division in the context of discipleship. I first analyze Luke 12:49‐53, which includes Jesus's statement that he did not come to “give peace on the earth” (12:49) and describes households turned against themselves (12:52‐53). Then, I take up Luke 14:25‐33, which refers to peace within a parable about costly discipleship (14:32). Through attention to the Lukan narrative setting and Old Testament/Hebrew Bible intertexts, I show how these passages highlight the rather un peaceful temporal effects that discipleship may have on financial stability and familial relationships. At the same time, Luke's Gospel also conveys the worthwhileness of enduring such disruptions for the sake of Jesus, who as the crucified and risen Lord offers both present and eschatological peace (e.g., 24:36). Without attempting to resolve all questions about Lukan peace, the interpretation advanced here brings into focus some practical theological invitations/challenges posed by Luke's nuanced treatment of this motif.

Religious Identity, Linked Fate, and Political Ideology: Explaining Civil Rights Philanthropy among Muslim and Jewish Americans

2025-06-23

Rafeel Wasif , Afshan Paarlberg , Shariq Siddiqui +1 more | Nonprofit Policy Forum

Abstract Social identity theory predicts that individuals prefer to give to people with the same identity as themselves. However, individuals have multiple identities that interact simultaneously. For instance, religion is … Abstract Social identity theory predicts that individuals prefer to give to people with the same identity as themselves. However, individuals have multiple identities that interact simultaneously. For instance, religion is an essential identity for many individuals, particularly those from racialized minority groups, such as Muslims and Jews, who are often discriminated against due to these identities. Moreover, individuals like to support faith-based causes. However, they may also feel that they have a linked fate identity, where they perceive a commonality with other persecuted minorities due to similar experiences of discrimination. Moreover, political ideology is another vital identity marker for many individuals. How do these identities interact in giving to faith-based and non-faith-based causes? This article addresses the question by exploring support for civil rights organizations among the general population and two racialized, faith-based minorities – Muslim Americans and Jewish Americans. The findings show that these racialized minorities are more likely than other groups to fund civil rights organizations that work both within and outside their faith-based communities, suggesting that the concept of linked fate may operate in the domain of philanthropy, where minorities are helping themselves and other communities suffering discrimination. The findings also indicate that political ideology affects giving, as liberals are more likely to donate to civil rights causes both within and outside their faith tradition. Overall, this article expands the existing literature on philanthropy by looking at how the effects of political ideology and the notion of linked fate among minority groups may influence giving in times of crisis.

The Construction of Santri's Self-Control and Religiosity: The Role of Parents, Kiai, and Peers

2025-06-23

Maulana Achsan Al Farisi , Yulina Eva Riany , Lilik Noor Yuliati | Journal of Educational Health and Community Psychology

The dynamics of life in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), particularly concerning self-control and religiosity, are increasingly relevant amid evolving educational and social contexts. As santri (students) navigate a blend of … The dynamics of life in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), particularly concerning self-control and religiosity, are increasingly relevant amid evolving educational and social contexts. As santri (students) navigate a blend of religious discipline and modern influences, understanding the factors that shape their character becomes essential. This study investigates the roles of parental interaction, kiai (religious leader) communication, and peer attachment in influencing santri’s self-control and religiosity. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from diploma- to bachelor-level santri aged 18–23 through Cluster Random Sampling and Purposive Sampling techniques. A total of 24 indicators were employed across validated instruments: Adolescent-Reported Parenting Items (α = 0.85), Interpersonal Communication Motives (α = 0.92), Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (α = 0.81), Self-Control Scale (α = 0.85), and the Religiosity Among Muslims scale (α = 0.98). Results show that strong parental interaction significantly enhances both self-control and religiosity, highlighting the critical role of family involvement in santri character formation. Communication with kiai also positively affects religiosity, reinforcing the value of spiritual guidance. These findings offer important implications for educators, parents, and pesantren leaders in developing strategies to support santri character development amidst shifting social landscapes.

HUMANITARIAN WORKER AS A HELPING PROFESSION

2025-06-22

Szymon Wójcik | Polityka Społeczna

<ns3:p>The article analyses the profession of a humanitarian worker as a representative of the broader category of helping professions. Given the growing global demand for humanitarian aid, the wars in … <ns3:p>The article analyses the profession of a humanitarian worker as a representative of the broader category of helping professions. Given the growing global demand for humanitarian aid, the wars in Ukraine and Palestine, as well as the inflow of migrants and refugees from Africa and Asia to Europe through various corridors, the issue of providing humanitarian aid is becoming more and more important. Despite this, the profession is not on the official list of professions in Poland, and the degree of its recognition and professionalization in the sociological sense remains low. Although there are already specialised post-graduate courses in humanitarian and development aid in Poland, it seems that general knowledge about the specificity of this profession, the methods it uses as well as the dilemmas associated with it is still poor. The article also discusses the relationship of humanitarian aid to social work and the humanitarian worker to other aid professions. It also tries to answer the question whether humanitarian aid is community work and discusses various critical threads that appear in the literature in relation to humanitarian aid.</ns3:p>

Faith-Based Approaches

2025-06-22

| Bristol University Press eBooks

Secular stagnation and climate change

2025-06-22

Matthew Soener | Review of International Political Economy

Religious trends impact on post-secular society religiosity growth

2025-06-20

Ainura Akhmetova , Almat S. Nuradinov , İsmail Çalışkan | Eurasian Journal of Religious Studies

The phenomena of growing religiosity in a post-secular society is examined in this article, which also looks at how religious processes affect the emergence of religious commitment in post-secular environments. … The phenomena of growing religiosity in a post-secular society is examined in this article, which also looks at how religious processes affect the emergence of religious commitment in post-secular environments. The it aims to describe the traits of post-secular religiosity, ascertain the elements that shaped it, and examine how religious principles affect social interactions. The study analyzes the impact of modern technologies and social media on religious communication, the spread of religious views, and the development of new forms of religious practices, and examines the paradigmatic shifts in understanding the role of religion in the modern world. The research is based on phenomenological, comparative, and psychological methods of analysis. The study identifies globalization, digitalization, identity crises, and the search for spiritual guidance in the modern world as major factors contributing to the growth of religiosity. Special attention is given to comparing the manifestations of post-secularism in Western liberal democracies and developing countries showing that post-secular society is characterized not by a return to traditional forms of religiosity, but rather by the emergence of new hybrid forms of spirituality and the reinterpretation of religious traditions within a contemporary context. The study is valuable both scientifically and practically because it explains how religious processes appear in a post-secular society among young people and in the domains of culture and education. Identifying the characteristics of the shift in religious consciousness in contemporary culture is the primary intent of the study. It also offers other perspectives for the disciplines of sociology, education, and religious studies, providing a framework for reconsidering the place of religion in modern day society. Keywords: Religiosity, Religious Movements, Post-Secularism, Digital Religion, Politicization of Religion.

Mission in vulnerability

2025-06-20

J.N.J. Kritzinger | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

This article is a revised version of the keynote address presented to the inaugural conference of the African region of the International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS) Africa in August … This article is a revised version of the keynote address presented to the inaugural conference of the African region of the International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS) Africa in August 2024 in Stellenbosch. It argues that the formulation ‘Mission in vulnerability’ creates a more fruitful platform to engage missiologically with vulnerability than the announced conference theme ‘Mission as vulnerability’. The article uses a praxis-based missiological framework to show how vulnerability can be understood as: (1) a distinct ethos of mission: a voluntary vulnerability in which believers ‘make themselves vulnerable’ in relation to others to make an encounter more authentic and transformative; (2) an oppressive context of mission: a structurally imposed vulnerability which believers manage to transform into a resisting and surviving vulnerability, against the odds; (3) a dominant vulnerability in a society where Christianity constitutes a majority but believers experience a lack of credibility due to the ongoing negative impact of coloniality. Contribution: The article concludes by reflecting on mutually re-evangelising praxis in a situation of dominant vulnerability.

Funding Diversification and Performance of Education Projects Implemented by Non-Profit Organizations in Dadaab Refugee Complex, Kenya

2025-06-20

Stanley Khaemba Kasembeli , Mary Nyawira Mwenda | International Journal of Advanced Research

The performance of education projects is integral in protracted situations where refugees hope to find durable solutions to displacement from their countries. The Dadaab refugee complex is one such area … The performance of education projects is integral in protracted situations where refugees hope to find durable solutions to displacement from their countries. The Dadaab refugee complex is one such area that hosts thousands of school-going populations who rely on the performance of education projects. Studies have shown that a significant number of projects fail due to a myriad of challenges, including poor management strategies, which delay the project implementation and completion within the constraints of time while minimizing cost overruns. However, there are limited studies that have linked funding diversification to the performance of projects in emergency settings. Even though several studies on the performance of education projects have been conducted globally, there exist significant conceptual, methodological, and contextual inconsistencies that necessitate the present study to bridge these knowledge gaps. This study examined the influence of funding diversification on the performance of education projects implemented by Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) in the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya. The study was anchored on the charitable triad theory. The research adopted a descriptive survey design. A census approach selected all 20 education projects. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents directly engaged in implementing the education programs in the Dadaab refugee complex. The unit of observation included 6 school principals, 22 head teachers, 20 learning centre heads, 36 boards of management (BOM) members, 20 education officers/coordinators, 15 program managers, and 2 Dadaab education directors. The study used descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses to explain the relationship between funding diversification and project performance. Data was then presented in the form of frequency distribution tables. The study findings were that even though funding diversification had a positive relationship with the performance of education projects (r=0.799), it was not statistically significant (β = 0.039, p = 0.728). To improve funding diversification, there is a need for establishing multi-functional teams that conduct participatory assessments to inform communities' and NPOs' needs and match them with each donor type's rationale to support education programs.

Conversion:

2025-06-20

| Catholic University of America Press eBooks

Giving thanks and sharing gratitude

2025-06-20

Sandra Faeh | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

International development and violent extremism

2025-06-20

Fabrizio Leonardo Cuccu | Routledge eBooks

Religious Discourses and International Politics

2025-06-20

Soumya Awasthi | Routledge eBooks

The Role of Quality Statistics in Designing and Evaluating Faith-Based Nutrition Interventions

2025-06-20

Eduward Hottua Hutabarat , Yulia Kurnia Sitepu , Enda Dwi Karina +4 more | ABDIMAS TALENTA Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat

Stunting remains a major public health concern in Indonesia, particularly in rural communities where nutritional knowledge and access to health services are limited. This community service program, conducted in October … Stunting remains a major public health concern in Indonesia, particularly in rural communities where nutritional knowledge and access to health services are limited. This community service program, conducted in October 2024 at HKBP Hutaraja Dolok, aimed to address this issue by integrating quality statistical education with faith-based engagement to empower local communities in monitoring and reducing stunting. The program introduced basic statistical tools—including Z-scores, growth chart interpretation, and prevalence analysis—through interactive workshops targeting caregivers, youth, and church leaders. Religious leaders supported the intervention by embedding health messages within spiritual teachings to promote behavioral change. As a result, participants demonstrated improved understanding of child growth indicators, initiated independent height monitoring, and committed to sustained community involvement. The combination of data literacy and religious motivation proved effective in promoting evidence-based practices, reinforcing the value of statistical empowerment within culturally rooted health programs. This model offers a scalable approach to community-driven stunting interventions in faith-based settings.

Challenges and Possible Solutions Faced by General Conference Auditors in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists

2025-06-20

Chenai Chigogora , Helen Foster , Josephine E. Katenga | Human Behavior, Development and Society

Aim/Purpose: This study examined the challenges faced by General Conference Auditing Service (GCAS) auditors in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) during financial audits. The objective was to identify key obstacles … Aim/Purpose: This study examined the challenges faced by General Conference Auditing Service (GCAS) auditors in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) during financial audits. The objective was to identify key obstacles that hinder the efficiency and accuracy of audits, assess client compliance with financial regulations and international standards, and propose solutions. Given the essential role of financial audits in ensuring transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance, it is crucial to understand these challenges and explore ways to improve auditing processes. Introduction/Background: Auditing is a key component of financial governance, ensuring an organization’s compliance with regulations and maintaining financial integrity. However, audits are often hindered by various operational, technological, and procedural difficulties. Auditors encounter issues such as inadequate documentation, outdated financial systems, and communication barriers that impede the ability to conduct thorough inspections. These challenges are particularly pronounced in regions with inconsistent financial management practices and regulatory adherence. This study explored the experiences of auditors in the Southern-Asia Pacific Division (SSD), highlighting recurring issues and suggesting strategies to enhance audit quality and efficiency. Methodology: A qualitative research approach was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges auditors face. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten General Conference Auditing Service auditors, focusing on three areas: background information, the financial audit process, and specific auditing challenges. The study examined client compliance, technological limitations, and external factors affecting audit effectiveness. This approach allowed for the collection of real-world experiences, providing valuable insights into audit processes in the SSD. Findings: The study identified several critical challenges. One persistent issue was unresolved audit recommendations from previous years, leading to inefficiencies and repeated financial mismanagement. When past recommendations are not implemented, the same issues resurface in subsequent audits, making it difficult for auditors to provide accurate and efficient appraisals. Another significant challenge was the presence of insufficiently finance personnel in organizational clients. Many finance teams lacked the necessary expertise to maintain proper financial records and comply with audit standards, resulting in errors and inconsistencies that slowed down audit processes. Furthermore, incomplete documentation frequently hampered auditors’ ability to conduct thorough evaluations, as missing financial records created gaps in financial reporting and compliance verification. Technological limitations also played a significant role in complicating the audit process. Many organizations rely on outdated accounting systems that do not meet modern financial reporting requirements, making it difficult for auditors to locate data efficiently. Auditors also face difficulties due to inconsistent client financial practices, requiring them to navigate varying record-keeping and reporting methods. Communication barriers pose another challenge, especially in regions where English is not widely spoken. Language differences often lead to misunderstandings, making it harder for auditors to obtain accurate financial information. While cultural differences have a relatively small impact, they still influenced certain aspects of client interactions and audit engagements. Despite these challenges, auditors demonstrated resilience by leveraging professional networks, adopting technological workarounds, and tailoring communication to suit their clients’ environment. Contribution: This study contributes to the broader understanding of the operational, technological, and cultural factors that influence global auditing practices. By identifying specific barriers to effective audits, it provides insights for auditors, financial professionals, and regulatory bodies seeking to improve audit quality and compliance. Strengthening internal controls, improving client training, and modernizing technology are critical steps to addressing these challenges. Implementing these recommendations can help organizations achieve greater financial transparency, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency, ultimately enhancing financial governance in the region. Recommendations: To enhance financial audits, the study recommends key strategies. First, finance personnel should receive comprehensive training to improve their knowledge of financial reporting and compliance, reducing errors and inefficiencies. Additionally, organizations should upgrade their accounting systems with modern financial software that meets international standards, ensuring that auditors can quickly access accurate data, simplifying the audit process. Addressing language barriers is also crucial—offering translation services, language training, or hiring bilingual staff could enhance auditor-client communication. Lastly, organizations must take corrective action on past audit recommendations to prevent recurring issues. Strengthening follow-up mechanisms would support long-term compliance and improve financial governance. Research Limitations: This study had certain limitations. The small sample size of ten auditors restricts the generalizability of its findings. Additionally, the study focused specifically on the SSD region, meaning that the challenges identified may not fully represent auditing experiences in other areas. Another limitation was that the study primarily captured auditors’ perspectives rather than insights from clients or regulatory bodies. Incorporating client viewpoints could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing financial audits. Future research should address this gap by including a broader range of stakeholders. Future Research: Building on this study’s findings, future research could explore client perspectives on challenges they face during audits, as this may provide a more holistic understanding of audit processes. Additionally, further studies could assess the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence on financial auditing. These technologies can potentially streamline processes and improve accuracy. Longitudinal research is recommended to evaluate long-term effects of audit recommendations on financial compliance and operational efficiency. By tracking changes over several years, researchers can determine whether proposed solutions effectively address persistent audit challenges. This study lays a foundation for further research into improving audit practices and ensuring that financial audits contribute to transparency, accountability, and sound financial management in SSD and beyond.

7.5 Prekäre Autonomie und Widerstandspotenzial: Ekklesiologischer Ausblick

2025-06-19

| Religionswissenschaft

“Yes, our faith preaches love, but [this is] reality”

2025-06-19

Clementine Nishimwe , George C. Nche | Approaching Religion

The existing literature on the role of religion in addressing xenophobia in South Africa has focused predominantly on Christianity, despite documented evidence of the involvement of other religions in campaigns … The existing literature on the role of religion in addressing xenophobia in South Africa has focused predominantly on Christianity, despite documented evidence of the involvement of other religions in campaigns against it. Our study is based on individual interviews with adherents of Christianity, Islam, and African religion/spirituality who reside in Soweto-South Africa. We argue that there are inconsistencies between the religious perceptions that people hold and how these perceptions are translated into experiences of migration in South Africa. From the perspective of the epistemology of research participants such discrepancies can be regarded as part of the search for agency in response to the socio-economic disparity in South Africa, as people interpret their religious perceptions in the light of everyday realities. However, alternative meanings for such discrepancies can be identified.

The everyday life of a female religious community from a multidisciplinary approach:

2025-06-19

María Martín Seijo , Carlos Fernández Rodríguez , Eduardo González Gómez de Agüero +2 more | Oxbow Books

Kitchen Utensils, Altarpieces and Friendly Smiles

2025-06-19

Ilona Blumgrund | Approaching Religion

Among the high number of asylum seekers arriving in Europe in 2015, thousands converted from Islam to Christianity. An emerging body of scholarship explores these conversions. This article sheds light … Among the high number of asylum seekers arriving in Europe in 2015, thousands converted from Islam to Christianity. An emerging body of scholarship explores these conversions. This article sheds light on the lived experience of converting to Christianity during the asylum process. The data consists of in-depth interviews with five Christian converts granted refugee status in Finland. The theoretical and methodological starting points of the analysis were lived religion and practice theory. The analysis shows that forced migration, materiality, care, experiences of spiritual beings, doctrinal aspects and religious freedom are all relevant factors in the path to conversion. This contrasts with the asylum officials’ emphasis on individualistic and spiritual motives when assessing the credibility of conversion, as identified by previous research. Based on this research, I argue that the non-doctrinal and doctrinal dimensions of conversion should not and cannot be separated. Doctrinal dimensions should not be considered more genuine when assessing the authenticity of conversion in the asylum process, or vice versa. This is also a theological argument for a holistic understanding of Christianity, where the meaning of being Christian extends beyond adopting doctrinal ideas to include material and non-material aspects of life.

Living with Spirits and Environmental Conservation Efforts in Rural North-eastern Madagascar

2025-06-19

Jenni Mölkänen | Approaching Religion

Focusing on embodied and material aspects of lived religion in everyday practices, this article points to the need for culturally relevant concepts and practices to understand the everyday relations of … Focusing on embodied and material aspects of lived religion in everyday practices, this article points to the need for culturally relevant concepts and practices to understand the everyday relations of the farmers under investigation with spirits. In north-eastern Madagascar, Marojejy National Park was established by transnational environmental organizations and multilateral development funders. To make the national park economically sustainable, rice and vanilla farmers living nearby have been recruited to ecotourism activities as guides, cooks and porters. The environments of rural farmers are inhabited by various spirits that demand people’s attention in their everyday life. For example, as discussed in this article, a piece of land can be evil, causing sickness to anyone who farms on it, or spirits at a particular tree can bring success to the people who ask for blessings from them. The embodied ability to act correctly in local ecologies informs the farmers’ long-term sustained presence in these places and environments. It is noted that in environmental conservation efforts, often based on secular worldviews, one should not dismiss religious experiences. Practices involving spirits and rituals, though often regarded as irrational, can have significant societal effects.

2.3 Tendenzen der aktuellen pastoraltheologischen Diskussion

2025-06-19

| Religionswissenschaft

Future Congregational Leaders: How Do They Perceive Their Opportunities in This Field?

2025-06-18

Emőke Török , Emese Biró | Religions

The expectations, plans and goals of future pastors are developed and consolidated during theological studies. These plans and expectations, and the career strategies based on them can have a decisive … The expectations, plans and goals of future pastors are developed and consolidated during theological studies. These plans and expectations, and the career strategies based on them can have a decisive influence on how gender-based differences with respect to opportunities in the churches develop. Since one of the particularities of the pastoral vocation is that work and private life are closely intertwined and difficult to separate, the personal choices of prospective pastors are crucial in shaping their professional careers. The results of our research based on focus group interviews conducted with female and male Protestant seminarians in Hungary suggest that female theology students are more reserved and cautious in their articulation of plans than their male counterparts. On the one hand, they assume that factors outside and above them may override them and that the conservative church environment may constrain their options. On the other hand, it was repeatedly expressed that, as women, they find it difficult to reconcile pastoral work and family life, and take it for granted that they will compromise more in the professional field. Only a few of the female participants plan to work as independent congregational leaders (senior pastors), whereas this ambition is very typical of male students.

Navigating the post-donor arena in Uganda’s Gulu district

2025-06-18

Sophie Komujuni | African Affairs

Abstract This article investigates the strategies that members of a post-donor society devised to deal with the donor exit. The post-donor phenomenon describes complex and multiple dynamics that result from … Abstract This article investigates the strategies that members of a post-donor society devised to deal with the donor exit. The post-donor phenomenon describes complex and multiple dynamics that result from a dramatic reduction in the presence and funding of international donors or aid agencies. This phenomenon creates losers and winners in the face of changed opportunities, power, and authority. Gulu in northern Uganda provides an excellent example of this phenomenon. Once thronged by international humanitarian agencies, there was a mass exit of the same in the decade starting in 2013. I argue that to navigate the post-donor arena successfully, society needs significant levels of agency, both individual and collective (including) institutional agency. The lack of clear exit strategies and a sustainability plan on the side of this industry, as well as the incapacity and unwillingness of the government to fill the gap, determined how the post-donor period has played out. Established actors have had to devise new ways to access scarce donor funding, turn to the private sector, or face severe hardship. Simultaneously, the sudden departure of many international organizations and their funding freed space for new entrants, such as multilateral organizations and private companies, to exploit available resources. The article reveals the challenges in the successful navigation of the post-donor arena by individuals, organizations, and agencies, and how agency leads to an uneven mix of losers and winners.

The Significance of the Aponnwa (Blackened Stool) within the Bono (Akan) Sociopolitical and Religious Context

2025-06-18

Isaac Boaheng | Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology

Across cultures, death does not signify the severance of an individual’s ties to their community but rather marks a transition to a revered ancestral presence. This enduring connection between the … Across cultures, death does not signify the severance of an individual’s ties to their community but rather marks a transition to a revered ancestral presence. This enduring connection between the living and the dead is particularly evident in Akan society, where the black stool (Aponnwa) is a sacred symbol of ancestral authority, continuity, and communal identity. This article examines the socio-religious and political significance of the black stool within the Akan community, highlighting its role in legitimising traditional leadership, preserving cultural memory, and maintaining spiritual cohesion. Drawing on empirical data from three Bono communities in Ghana—collected through interviews and participant observations—this study engaged with existing literature to provide a comparative analysis of the black stool’s function in Bono and other Akan societies. The main argument of the paper is that the Akan black stool (Aponnwa) is not merely a cultural artefact but a powerful socio-religious and political symbol that legitimises traditional leadership, preserves ancestral authority, and reinforces communal identity. The paper contributes to broader discourses on African indigenous institutions, demonstrating how ancestral veneration shapes contemporary socio-political structures. Keywords: Akan, Black Stool, Bono, Traditional Leadership, African Indigenous Institutions

From accounting to accountability: social and relational accountability among civic humanitarian actors in Uganda

2025-06-18

Emmanuel Viga , Hilde Refstie | Fennia

This article examines how accountability is understood and practiced in refugee and community led assistance among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. Although the humanitarian localisation agenda advocates greater support for … This article examines how accountability is understood and practiced in refugee and community led assistance among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. Although the humanitarian localisation agenda advocates greater support for local actors, accountability remains contested and complex. Dominant frameworks emphasise formal mechanisms such as reporting, audits, and compliance with donor requirements, rooted in a technomanagerial logic of control and risk management. By constrast, this article highlights how accountability is enacted through informal, socially embedded practices shaped by soft power, collective expectations, social standing, and relational responsibilities. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2020 and 2023, it explores accountability as it emerges in diaspora networks, community leadership, familial and neighborly assistance, and communal practices. The analysis is grounded in four main bodies of literature: African relational philosophies such as Ubuntu, scholarship on socialising forms of accountability, decolonial critiques of humanitarian governance, and literature on community driven development. Together, they offer a framework for understanding accountability not only as technomanagerial procedures, but as a dynamic, negotiated social process. Through ethnographic vignettes, the article shows that relational and technomanagerial forms of accountability are not necessarily opposites or mutually exclusive, but operate with different logics. This has implications for the humanitarian localisation agenda: when community and refugee led accountability is made legible to international actors, informal relational practices are often turned into formal indicators, distorting local meanings and reinforcing hierarchies. The article calls for redefining accountability in humanitarianism as a process attentive to context, culture, relationships, and lived experience.

Reimagining humanitarianism: relational accountability in locally-led responses

2025-06-18

Cindy Horst , Cathrine Brun , Hilde Refstie | Fennia

In debates on humanitarianism in the last decade or so, ‘localisation’ has been a central concern, broadly referring to the transfer of decision-making power, resources, and responsibility to local and … In debates on humanitarianism in the last decade or so, ‘localisation’ has been a central concern, broadly referring to the transfer of decision-making power, resources, and responsibility to local and national actors. While the inclusion of certain actors such as local and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is relatively straightforward, incorporating others — like affected communities themselves or local less formal civil society — is often more complex. The special issue on reimagining humanitarianism examines the transformative potential of centering communitarian practices, including mutual assistance networks, relational support systems, and local accountability frameworks, in order to rethink humanitarian action from the ground up. In this editorial, we focus on core themes in the individual articles in connection with research on local understandings and practices of accountability. ‘Local’ refers not only to actors in geographic proximity to the affected populations, but also to the embeddedness in social, cultural and accountability systems of the crisis-affected contexts. We argue that formal accountability mechanisms — systems that hold donors, NGOs, and implementing agencies responsible for their actions, decisions, and resource use — are valuable but can create an illusion of control in crisis settings. Humanitarian response is enacted by human beings, and it is ultimately human beings who hold each other to account. If accountability is truly understood as an opportunity to learn, grow, improve, in ways that include different stakeholders’ perspectives, it should be possible to achieve more reciprocal and genuine forms of accountability. This requires a perspective that centres and redefines understandings of power from a relational perspective.

Humanitarian accountability in an age of impunity — commentary to Vandevoordt

2025-06-18

Heidi Mogstad | Fennia

In a time of escalating state violence and the criminalisation of both migration and humanitarian work, this paper explores how we can think and write about humanitarian accountability under these … In a time of escalating state violence and the criminalisation of both migration and humanitarian work, this paper explores how we can think and write about humanitarian accountability under these conditions. The paper is written in conversation with Vandevoordt’s work on citizen collectives’ accountability practices, which shows how accountability is being reimagined and reenacted by citizens acting in solidarity with refugees outside state and public scrutiny. While acknowledging the risks of exploitation and abuse, Vandevoordt suggests that these risks can be mitigated and that cultures of humanitarian accountability can be fostered in the absence of formal oversight and regulation. Building on these insights, the paper calls for greater scholarly attention to informal and vernacular approaches to humanitarian accountability, as well as the difficult decisions and uneasy compromises humanitarian actors must navigate in an increasingly hostile political climate. It concludes by advocating for scholarly accountability and deeper dialogue and collaboration with aid organisations and solidarity networks.

Prayer to Fireflies

2025-06-17

Genevieve Pfeiffer | Scientific American

Introduction to Theologies of Peace Symposium

2025-06-17

Matthew Levering , George Kalantzis | Modern Theology

Post-secular:

2025-06-17

| Bristol University Press eBooks

Book Review: <i>Exploring Islamic social work: Between community and the common good</i> by Hansjörg Schmid and Amir Sheikhzadegan SchmidHansjörgSheikhzadeganAmir (Eds.), Exploring Islamic social work: Between community and the common good. Springer Publishing, 2022; 284 pp., ISBN 978-3-030-95879-4

2025-06-17

Bekir Güzel | Journal of Social Work

The gendered dynamics between religiosity and gender equality attitudes in adolescence. A study among Belgian youth

2025-06-17

Linde Stals | Acta Politica

Reading from this place? A personal reckoning with whiteness and Bible scholarship

2025-06-17

Dion A. Forster | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

This article offers a critical autoethnographic engagement with the enduring influence of whiteness in biblical scholarship. The author, a white South African New Testament scholar, reflects on how his theological … This article offers a critical autoethnographic engagement with the enduring influence of whiteness in biblical scholarship. The author, a white South African New Testament scholar, reflects on how his theological formation and social location (which is marked by institutional privilege and Eurocentric frameworks), shaped his early interpretive practices and hindered more just, contextual readings of Scripture. Drawing on Welile Mazamisa’s challenge to ‘read from this place’, the article traces a personal and theological journey from detachment to engagement, from reader to hearer, from teacher to learner. Framed by decolonial hermeneutics and contextual theology, the author explores how encounters in the church, academy and society at large disrupted inherited paradigms and called forth new modes of interpretation rooted in solidarity and accountability. Some primary (South) African perspectives are engaged to illuminate the epistemic and ethical imperatives of reading from below. The article demonstrates how critical reflexivity and intercultural reading practices can help dismantle the hermeneutical injustices perpetuated by whiteness and recover liberative meanings obscured by dominant theological traditions. Contribution: This article contributes to ongoing conversations about decolonising biblical scholarship by providing a personal, methodologically rigorous case study. It models how critical autoethnography can serve as a theological practice of unlearning and reimagining, offering a path for scholars situated in privilege to read the Bible differently. By centring Southern African voices and interpretive traditions, the article advances the work of contextual, justice-oriented hermeneutics within and beyond the South African academy.