ABSTRACT
In this paper, we have mapped the coping methods used to address the coronavirus pandemic by members of the academic community. We conducted an anonymous survey of a convenient sample of 674 faculty/staff members and students from September to December 2020. A modified version of the RCOPE scale was used for data collection. The results indicate that both religious and existential coping methods were used by respondents. The study also indicates that even though 71% of informants believed in God or another religious figure, 61% reported that they had tried to gain control of the situation directly without the help of God or another religious figure. The ranking of the coping strategies used indicates that the first five methods used by informants were all non-religious coping methods (i.e., secular existential coping methods): regarding life as a part of a greater whole, regarding nature as an important resource, listening to the sound of surrounding nature, being alone and contemplating, and walking/engaging in any activities outdoors giving a spiritual feeling. Our results contribute to the new area of research on academic community's coping with pandemic-related stress and challenges.
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As a revolutionary biological science and technology, synthetic biology has already spread its influence from natural sciences to humanities and social sciences by introducing biosafety, biosecurity, and ethical issues to society. The current study aims to elaborate the intellectual bases and research front of the synthetic biology field in the sphere of philosophy, ethics, and social sciences, with knowledge mapping and bibliometric methods. The literature records from the Social Sciences Citation Index and Arts & Humanities Citation Index in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1982 to 2021 were collected and analyzed to illustrate the intellectual structure of philosophical, ethical, and social research of synthetic biology. This study profiled the hotspots of research focus on its governance, philosophical and ethical concerns, and relevant technologies. This study offers clues and enlightenment for the stakeholders and researchers to follow the progress of this emerging discipline and technology and to understand the cutting-edge ideas and future form of this field, which takes on greater significance in the post-COVID-19 era.
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The COVID-19 pandemic was an inherently stressful global crisis that was associated with weight gain for over 40% of the American public. Building on previous research, we draw on recently collected national survey data from the United States to examine the effects of religious attendance (both in-person and virtual), the sense of divine control, and religious/spiritual (R/S) struggles on pandemic weight gain. A series of logistic regression models were conducted. Our findings suggest that divine control and monthly in-person religious attendance were associated with a lower risk of pandemic weight gain, while R/S struggles were associated with a higher risk of weight gain. Our results reveal the complex role that religiosity can play with respect to pandemic weight gain.
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Ever since the publication of her 1984 article, "Impasse and Dark Night" in the volume Living with Apocalypse that brought the contemplative vision of the Carmelite tradition to bear upon intractable contemporary societal issues (the dark night not only of the soul but of the world), the writings of Sr. John of the Cross's delineation of this dark night involves a purifying movement from a selfhood in which love is entangled, complex and unfree through a joyless darkness in which the self is stripped of its former identity and becomes transformed in union with God and others. In the spirit of M. Shawn Copeland's apt and memorable introductory characterization of the work of theology as "rowing toward God in an anguished world," these writers tackle the impasses that paralyze our society today: white supremacy (Laurie Cassidy);the Covid 19 pandemic (Maria Teresa Morgan and Susie Paulik Babka);the preferential option for the poor (Roberto Goizueta);the global climate crisis (Margaret R. Pfeil);the de-colonializing of faith and society (Alex Mikulich);racial [in]justice (Brain Massingale);grace in a violent world (Andrew Prevot);and preaching the wisdom of the Cross (Mary Catherine Hilkert).
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Labberton poses a question central to Gilliard's work: "How do we hold, deploy, or sacrifice what is ours for the justice and thriving of others?" (xv) In his introduction, Gilliard establishes a framework for the reader to "see privilege, address discrimination, and share power" in ways that "equally prioritize the Great Commission and the Greatest Commandment" (xviii;xxi). In this vein, as Gilliard's message is important for the world and the global Church, it will be appropriate to have translations of this book in multiple languages. Gilliard's experience as an ordained minister shines in this prophetic book: he not only exegetes these passages to reveal their biblical truths to a world hurting from abuse of privilege, social injustices, and the COVID-19 pandemic, but also, he reads current events into his interpretation of the biblical stories. [...]as Gilliard writes about biblical figures leveraging privilege to witness to God's salvific power, he exhorts readers to do the same and shows how by his example.
ABSTRACT
Attending the funeral of a loved one offers bereaved individuals the opportunity to say goodbye to the deceased, providing closure to the grieving loved one and concretizing the deceased's death. Within the Catholic-Christian tradition, the funeral rite is seen as an act of worship, a part of the more powerful story of salvation. Within this belief system, the funeral rite represents the deceased loved one's soul returning to God in the afterlife. It is a way to thank God for the endless mercy He has shown His children on Earth. Under the helpful guidance and expertise of funeral directors, funeral proceedings allow family and friends to grieve the loss of their loved one, surrounded by a community of prayer and support, which can provide a step toward healing. However, certain groups of individuals are commonly deprived of the opportunity to participate in or attend the funeral of a loved one. People in the autism community can fall into this category, as their grief is often disenfranchised. Their experience of disenfranchised grief can be problematic, as excluding these individuals from the funeral service may impact their grief and mourning process. Because grief reactions within people with autism are understudied, little is known as how to adequately address the needs of these individuals at the funeral of a loved one. Also, many funeral directors do not receive formal training on how to work with people with autism. Thus, they may not be aware of the extra support that individuals with autism may need when attending a funeral service.Therefore, through the lens of Catholic-Christian integration, this dissertation seeks to examine how grief manifests within people with autism more fully. Specifically, this dissertation examines the role that funeral attendance may play in their grief processes. Moreover, using archival data from a pilot study, a training program for funeral directors will be examined for its effectiveness. Furthermore, interview data from professionals in the field of autism and grief will be analyzed and discussed. Combining a thorough literature review of the topic with data from professionals in the field, this dissertation aims to better understand how grief manifests within this population, specifically as it relates to funeral attendance. Throughout the dissertation, the need for grief studies and interventions within the autism community will be highlighted, especially during this time of increased death and subsequent grief and mourning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine challenges Black adolescents may experience because of COVID-19 and coping strategies employed to navigate their reported difficulties. The current study used secondary data analysis to understand how Black U.S. adolescents' positive images of God contributed to their emotional well-being in response to stressors associated with COVID-19. Data from a larger study were extracted from 11 Black adolescents' (Ages 12-17;54.5% female) individual interview transcripts;and the research team used an interpretative phenomenology process to analyze the data. Participants' experiences of God as a (a) Teacher, (b) Powerful Being, and (c) Comforter served as robust contributors to their feelings of strength, hope, assurance, calmness, contentment, and motivation, despite the challenges they encountered. This study presents a culturally responsive approach to understanding and potentially responding to Black adolescents' mental health needs during the COVID-era. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has had severe consequences for congregants worldwide. During the period of lockdown regulations, congregants were isolated from pastoral care when such care was most needed. Social distancing, wearing masks, and other regulations changed how we worshiped, fellowshipped, discipled, counselled, comforted, and loved those in our care. The role of pastoral care as a pillar of mental well-being became overwhelmingly evident as the dying, the grieving, the physically and mentally ill, the abused, the starving, the destitute, and the vulnerable were isolated and alienated. The pandemic has had untold consequences on congregant mental health, especially in resource-poor contexts in South Africa, where adequate psychological services cannot cope with needs. This article uses the narrative approach to explore the possible role pastoral care can play in addressing the exacerbation of mental health issues post-pandemic in South Africa. The state of psychological services in South Africa is explored in order to contextualise the need for innovative ideas to address the complexity of mental health issues in South Africa. Recommendations are made for how pastoral care may be utilised to alleviate the mental health crisis that has emerged following the pandemic at an individual and community level. Hopefully, this article will foster critical dialogue between theological and psychological scholarship for the purposes of alleviating the complex mental health issues that persist in South Africa and have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
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BACKGROUND: The elderly population is deemed to be the most vulnerable to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 2020 to April 2022, the implementation of psychological distancing is still being applied in Indonesia. In the light of the pandemic, mental health problems among the elderly require further exploration. This study examines the mental health status of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia and the factors that affect their mental health, such as loneliness and attachment to God. METHODS: A sequential explanatory type of the mixed-method approach was adopted for the purposes of this study. In particular, the researchers first conducted a quantitative survey, analyzed its results, and then explained them in more detail using qualitative research. RESULTS: The results show that loneliness is a predictor of mental health in the elderly, while attachment to God does not correlate with mental health. More specifically, we described that minimal activity, inability to meet children and grandchildren, and inability to recite the Qur'an were the main factors triggering sadness among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we defined that elderly people use productive and religious activities, and communication as main coping strategies. CONCLUSION: Loneliness has been a serious problem for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting their mental health. The findings of this research can be used as a basis or reference for maintaining the mental health of the elderly during the pandemic. © Authors, 2022.
ABSTRACT
The independent Church of God movement is an old-order group predominantly located in the U.S. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic introduced challenges to traditional evangelistic practices due to new laws, orders, mandates, and changing social perspectives. The purpose of this research was to listen to how church pastors experienced adaptations to evangelistic strategies and how they described the outcomes of their decisions during the pandemic. The study was an attempt to understand changes in Christian evangelism during times of significant change and restriction. This qualitative narrative inquiry used snowball sampling from a pool of 100 executive church leaders. Twenty-five potential participants met the qualifications and seven participated. The qualifications stipulated a need to be ordained executive leaders associated with the Enlightenment conference, an annual Church of God activity, and to be active pastors between 2019 and 2022. Episodic semi-structured interviews were the instrumentation for collecting data. The interviews were thematically analyzed, and five themes were identified: Evangelism, government influence, technology, member influence, and digital ecclesiology. Four potential applications were recognized within those themes. A need to find a common definition of evangelism;an attempt to build trust with government, civil, and religious initiatives;determine a target audience for evangelism;and embrace digital ecclesiology. If the Church of God chooses to apply these suggestions to collaborate more efficiently with others to reach the common good, it can reach a greater audience. Embracing modern evangelistic methods that are more attractive to the emerging generations may exploit its potential to thrive and remain viable. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
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Charles McDaniel, associate professor in the Interdisciplinary Core Program of Baylor University's Honors College, raises such issues in "American Christianity and the New Eugenics: Consumer-ism, Human Genetics, and the Challenge to Christian Personhood." Among Evangelical Christians, after Margaret Mead, perhaps the best-known anthropology major is Billy Graham. In a review and response, Elmer John Thiessen, adjunct professor of phi-losophy at Emmanuel Christian College, reviews Perry L. Glanzer and Na-than F. Alleman's The Outrageous Idea of Christian Teaching.
ABSTRACT
This clinical dissertation focused on the shift in one's perception of God after time spent in nature in the context of a spiritual adventure program. There are studies that find spiritual adventure programs increase a participant's spirituality (Bobilya, 2011). However, there is a gap in the literature surrounding how spiritual outdoor programs, specifically the one in this study, influences a person's God-image. This dissertation aims to close the gap in research regarding spiritual adventure programs and shift in God-image by studying if a person's image of God shifts after time spent in nature, and if it shifts differently depending on if they spend one day or 12 days in nature. Two types of college-level trips will be studied: overnight hiking and camping trips through an adventure program class, and a 12-day backpacking trip. Students will be given questionnaires that contain the God-Image Inventory, a 72-question measure to identify how a person conceptualizes God. Data from the questionnaires was utilized in both a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The results of the MANOVA indicate post-nature, participants believed God to be more traditionally present, more accepting, more providential, and less influential in their lives in general Wilks Lambda=0.89, F(6,149) = 2.98, p = .01. The MANCOVA show that the interaction of time x group maintained significance observed in the first group of repeated measure MANOVAs, suggesting that God-image changes over time found in the MANOVA supersedes the comfortability in nature covariate. Recommendations for future research include performing the same study with a different sampling method, a different monotheistic religion, qualitative exit interview or in a period of time unaffected by COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting humankind in unprecedented and monumental ways and data is needed to plan for next steps following the acute outbreak. In addition to physical health, coping with the pandemic requires mental resilience. Resilience is one aspect that is absolutely required by all Muslims when facing the COVID 19 Pandemic. There are several verses in the al-Quran that discuss the aspect of resilience or the capability of an individual to rise against adversities and overcome it. Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 214 mentions about the challenges faced by humankind and the assistance extended by Allah SWT. The verse states that every human will face challenges that will make them suffer and lament when overcoming it. Nevertheless, humans who believe in the promises made by Allah SWT will rely on Allah SWT and HIS plans when facing any suffering and hardship until assistance from Allah SWT finally arrives. This verse states that each challenge put forward to an individual with come with a solution if the individual exercises patience through prayers and makes an ultimate effort by completely depending on the assistance offered by Allah SWT. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
The reality and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic question God's omnibenevolence and omnipotence. Two questions that stare us in the face are a) is God omnibenevolent given the current reality? b) is God omnipotent? This paper addresses these questions from the African place using the African theory of duality and its underlying logic, Ezumezu. We argue that the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects (such as death, hardship and social isolation) do not negate God's benevolence and powerfulness. We assert that while the current reality cannot sustain a defence of the traditional theistic qualities of omnipotence and omnibenevolence, the notions of a powerful and benevolent God are not necessarily undermined by the reality of Covid-19. In the light of the African theory of duality and Ezumezu logic, we contend that the COVID-19 pandemic brings out the argument that inherent in God's benevolence is wickedness and inherent in God's powerfulness is weakness © 2022, Filosofia Theoretica.All Rights Reserved.
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Gbule examines the implications of fake news spread by pastors in the midst of the COVID pandemic and how some church leaders used it to advance the narrative that COVID was a health challenge requiring sound scientific solutions. However, he demurs that most Pentecostals and their members seem to have a besieged mentality that is susceptible to fake news and mis/disinformation, in which everything is constructed within the framework apocalypticism. Hence, COVID is likely to be perceived as a sign of the end times. The use of the "God hypothesis" to explain and predict time-space events then becomes a stable diet for these leaders. For these leaders, the spiritual and political have collapsed, and it would be difficult to convince their congregations that the COVID pandemic is a health challenge and not an apocalypse;and that science rather than faith should guide public health measures. Knowing that Pentecostal and charismatic churches make use of the press and social media, as well as other forms of digital media, to share messages with their faith communities, it becomes difficult to track whether their messages reflect real news or a distortion of information.
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Abstrak: Pelajar hari ini mengikuti pengajaran dan pembelajaran setiap hari persekolahan sama ada akademik atau pendidikan Islam. Matlamat pengajaran dan pembelajaran pendidikan Islam adalah untuk menyampaikan ilmu, kemahiran dan penghayatan Islam berdasarkan al-Quran dan sunnah bagi membentuk sikap, kemahiran, keperibadian dan pandangan hidup sebagai hamba Allah yang mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk membangun diri, masyarakat, alam sekitar dan negara. Oleh itu, keberkesanan pendidikan Islam menjadi fokus utama ketika guru mengajar di sekolah. Menimbulkan minat pelajar terhadap matapelajaran pendidikan Islam adalah menjadi tanggungjawab guru pendidikan Islam untuk memastikan pelajar dapat menguasai matapelajaran pendidikan Islam sehingga dapat membentuk diri sendiri menjadi individu yang berguna dan mentaati perintah Allah. Justeru kepentingan minat murid terhadap pengajaran dan pembelajaran pendidikan Islam akan dikaji dalam kajian ini. Metod yang digunakan dalam kajian ini adalah berbentuk kualitatif, menggunakan pendekatan analisis dokumen melalui dokumen primer dan dokumen sekunder bagi mengkaji konsep minat dari perspektif Islam, hubungannya serta aplikasi dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran pendidikan Islam pelajar. Hasil kajian mendapati, elemen pendekatan minat sesuai untuk dimasukkan dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran pendidikan Islam. Perbincangan ini memberi implikasi bahawa pendekatan minat mampu menjadi pendekatan alternatif dalam proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran pendidikan Islam yang mengandungi nilai bersesuaian dengan diri pelajar.Alternate :Students today follow the teaching and learning of every school day whether academic or Islamic Education. The goal of teaching and learning Islamic education is to impart knowledge, skills and appreciation of Islam based on the Quran and sunnah to form attitudes, skills, personality and outlook on life as a servant of God who has a responsibility to develop themselves, society, environment and country. Therefore, the effectiveness of Islamic education becomes the main focus when teachers teach in schools. To arouse students' interest in the subject of Islamic education is the responsibility of Islamic education teachers to ensure that students can master the subject of Islamic education so that they can form themselves into useful individuals and obey the commandments of God. Therefore, the importance of students' interest in the teaching and learning of Islamic education will be studied in this study. The method used in this study is qualitative, using a document analysis approach through primary documents and secondary documents to study the concept of interest from an Islamic perspective, its relationship and application in the teaching and learning of Islamic education of students. The results of the study found that the elements of the interest approach are suitable to be included in the teaching and learning of Islamic education. This discussion implies that the interest approach can be an alternative approach in the teaching and learning process of Islamic education that contains values appropriate to the students themselves.
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Tales (gushi in Chinese, including all narrative genres) are like living fossils-preserving not only historical events in general, but also behaviors and beliefs in specific places and in specific cultural groups. Therefore, Chinese tales of epidemics reveal fundamental beliefs in and life-views toward not only epidemics, but also the meaning of living a life. The three parts in this paper are intended to tell a long story: first providing some basic terms and concepts related to epidemics;second presenting, for the first time in English, seven tales spanning a two-millennia history up to the present day which show the struggles between the human and the god/ghost/wu-shaman of epidemics;and, finally, offering some reflections upon the realities we are facing in the current COVID-19 pandemic.1
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This paper describe about the Islamic mental-health practices on those at risk of COVID-19 infections. It is understood that Islamic mentalhealth practices refers to the strength of the Islamic spirit within an individual to interact with the community around him. This is the nature of empathy and it is solely from the encouragement of Allah's universal mercy. The low level of psychosocial is due to the person's poor Islamic mental-cognitive process. The level of thinking of mental-cognitive process plays an important role in developing one's psychosocial. The study also reveals the positive influence between Islamic mental-cognitive process and Islamic mental-health practices. In Islam one should always prioritize the needs of others above oneself. Islam does not recognize individualization and capitalization. Islam only recognizes the fact that genuine individuals are the ones who sacrifice themselves and their property to uphold the truth of Allah. Throughout the history of the prophets and righteous people, the trait that stands out within them are their philanthropic and egalitarian ways. These two traits will reveal intelligence when facing the problems of human life, especially for adolescents who are in their transitioning period. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
This article attempts to answer the question of God's compassion during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Many people are asking questions about God's care and love amid situations where they could not mourn the loss of the loved ones and find closure. African philosophy of death, mourning rituals and funeral ceremonies were curtailed or restricted by the government and therefore, mourners were left with wounds because they could not find closure for the loss of their loved ones. The aim is to point out that people are still mourning, as lockdown restrictions limited them from going through a grieving process, and that people, left with post-corona effects, are still asking the reality of God's presence during times filled with pain. The interdisciplinary approach to the reality of situation, press releases and literature review are all combined to locate theodicy during the periods of pain. It is discovered that many who did not mourn and grieve culturally and religiously are still struggling emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Bereavement processes that were muzzled, can still be addressed theologically. Theodicy, as a theological concept, is utilised as a tool to strengthen faith and hope. Hope remains an anchor that keeps humanity floating above the circumstances. Eschatological hope remains the pillar when COVID-19 is deemed as a contradiction to the goodness of God. The conclusion is that, although the character of God such as love, kindness, empathy et cetera, is questioned, the reassuring message remains that God continues to comfort, guide and heal despite crises facing humanity. Humanity still needs post-grief healing and closure in order to reimagine and reassert normality of life. Contribution: The author aims to highlight the importance of healing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to answer the question of theodicy during the crises. How does one reconcile the goodness of God and the devastation of a pandemic during and after sufferings the world has experienced when one's socio-cultural structures are challenged?
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This article aims to investigate how religious coping can help religious believers overcome mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. An integrative review was conducted by searching databases (PubMed/Medline, Springer, Elsevier, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO and Google Scholar) between 2020 and 2021 for articles using the following keywords: "Religious coping and COVID-19," "Religion, mental health, and COVID-19," and "Religiosity, spirituality, and COVID-19." A total of twenty articles were selected for review. The result shows that religious faith might help individuals to calm their minds in times of crisis and severe illness. Some of the spiritual approaches suggested to combat COVID-19 might be effective. Positive religious coping, intrinsic religiousness, and faith in God were associated with lower anxiety and a greater positive outcome, whereas negative religious coping and distrust in God resulted in the opposite. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)