Religion, Media, and Culture

The Pennsylvania Dutch Kirchenleute (Lutheran and Reformed "Church People"), who spoke a dialect of German ("Pennsylvania Dutch"), were the largest ethnic group in early America outside of the English-speaking population. Like all ethnic minorities, they went through a process of change in relationship to the dominant English-speaking society in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This sequential process (i.e., full ethnic retention, adaptation, acculturation, and amalgamation) is reflected in the Pennsylvania Dutch tune and chorale books that supported various stages of this evolution, depending on location and editor. Details of each music publication between the 1790s and 1850 contributed to this change linguistically, theologically, and musicologically through their content and appearance. Books that supported and promoted full ethnic retention retained the German language entirely, had a simple preface outlining the purpose of the book, employed a pure European repertoire, utilized unrealized figured bass or a harmonization on three staves, were printed from engraved or punched plates, and sought to retain German theology from the Reformation era. Some later examples of retention were not produced for ethnic reasons, but for theological reasons that resulted in the retention of traits of European chorale books. Tune books participating in ethnic change moved away from the use of the German language and European repertoire. They employed singing-school introductions and were resultant of the type-set printing process. N.A.

The Pennsylvania Dutch Kirchenleute (Lutheran and Reformed "Church People"), who spoke a dialect of German ("Pennsylvania Dutch"), were the largest ethnic group in early America outside of the English-speaking population. Like all ethnic minorities, they went through a process of change in relationship to the dominant English-speaking society in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This sequential process (i.e., full ethnic retention, adaptation, acculturation, and amalgamation) is reflected in the Pennsylvania Dutch tune and chorale books that supported various stages of this evolution, depending on location and editor. Details of each music publication between the 1790s and 1850 contributed to this change linguistically, theologically, and musicologically through their content and appearance. Books that supported and promoted full ethnic retention retained the German language entirely, had a simple preface outlining the purpose of the book, employed a pure European repertoire, utilized unrealized figured bass or a harmonization on three staves, were printed from engraved or punched plates, and sought to retain German theology from the Reformation era. Some later examples of retention were not produced for ethnic reasons, but for theological reasons that resulted in the retention of traits of European chorale books. Tune books participating in ethnic change moved away from the use of the German language and European repertoire. They employed singing-school introductions and were resultant of the type-set printing process. N.A.

In the 21st century, dance music and club cultures have become pervasive spaces where individuals seek communal, embodied, and even transcendental experiences. This paper argues that clubbing and contemporary popular music can function as a form of secular-sacred ceremony, offering pathways to spiritual connection that parallel traditional religious worship. It examines theological foundations of music in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam; explores the ritual dynamics of club culture; compares shared and distinctive elements of sacred-secular interplay in the three faiths; surveys emergent trends in 2025 popular music as spiritual medium; addresses critiques and challenges; and proposes a theology of the dance floor. Drawing on scholarship in theology, musicology, sociology, and anthropology, this study suggests that in the pulsating rhythms of modern music, people continue the age-old quest for divine connection, refracted through contemporary forms.

This article 1 compares and contrasts the practices of preaching between Christ Embassy and NASFAT in the city of Abuja. Preaching of the two groups responds to the social situation of Abuja, including hard economic conditions and religious pluralism. This article analyzes styles of preaching in Christ Embassy and NASFAT within the framework of performance theory. The article argues that preaching is an important instrument for empowering urban residents with mental resources to meet the challenges of urban environment. Moreover, the article argues that preaching is a practice of mediation that is facilitated by preaching paraphernalia such as stage design, dressing, background music, eloquence and preaching assistants. In Christ Embassy, one of the purposes of preaching is a total transformation of the individual mindset and the cultivation of new norms and values. Preaching in NASFAT has the purpose of producing modern and pious Muslims who can live comfortably in pluralistic urban settings and project a positive image of Islam.

Secularism and fundamentalism are words at opposite ends in their connection with religion. While secularism emerges as a politico-religious ideology which advocates for the complete
removal of religion from state administration, fundamentalism is a strict adherence and
maintenance of traditional orthodox religious beliefs. Unlike the Muslim dominated Northern
Nigeria, where the full implementation of sharia in eleven states was to a large extent successful, its implementation in south west Nigeria with a more apparent mixes of Islam-western culture
poses a greater challenge. This paper, while examining the prospect and challenges of the
implementation of Sharia in South-west Nigeria, explores the potent interplay of fundamentalism
and secularism involved in this exercise. The paper adopts the historical research methodology
and draws largely on content analysis of primary and secondary sources by highlighting the
political and constitutional development. This work also appraises some of the achievements
made in the North and submits that a multicultural society like Nigeria benefits more from a
system that accommodates the plurality of the Nigerian religious and cultural composition, while
at the same time recommending the need for the protection of the right to religious freedom.

Keywords: Fundamentalism, Secularism, Sharia, Religious freedom, South-west Nigeria

This paper is intended as a pedagogical guide on how to teach elements of Ojibwe religious and philosophical beliefs using the windigo and its depictions in the films Wendigo and Ravenous. The windigo complex is exceedingly complex and remains an enduring component to the cultures of Ojibwe and several other Algonquian-speaking communities in the United States and Canada. While the windigo enjoys exposure in a variety of popular entertainment sources, film remains one of the most useful methods to incorporate in the classroom to help students comprehend how an anthropophagus “monster” directly relates to Ojibwe ideas of personal balance, social harmony, and kinship relations among nonhuman persons in the natural world and the larger cosmos

This paper is intended as a pedagogical guide on how to teach elements of Ojibwe religious and philosophical beliefs using the windigo and its depictions in the films Wendigo and Ravenous. The windigo complex is exceedingly complex and remains an enduring component to the cultures of Ojibwe and several other Algonquian-speaking communities in the United States and Canada. While the windigo enjoys exposure in a variety of popular entertainment sources, film remains one of the most useful methods to incorporate in the classroom to help students comprehend how an anthropophagus "monster" directly relates to Ojibwe ideas of personal balance, social harmony, and kinship relations among nonhuman persons in the natural world and the larger cosmos

his study examines the role of music in ‘popularizing’ Pentecostal churches in Mbarara, South-
western Uganda. By popularizing, I refer to making something known, with the aim of making
people appreciate and be part of it. In this case, I investigate how music makes Daystar
Cathedral, which is among the prominent Pentecostal churches in Mbarara, known to the public.
As such, I investigate how music enables people (both born-again Christians and other people)
know about the doctrines, lifestyle, values, and beliefs of Daystar Cathedral Church thus making
them come and be part of its congregation.
To collect data for this study, I used a qualitative research methodology under a case study
design. By choosing Daystar Cathedral Church, I shared the views and experiences of my
informants, which are analyzed to demonstrate how music popularizes Pentecostal churches in
Mbarara. The choice of this methodology made me to use data collection tools like interviewing,
participant observation, document analysis, auto ethnography as well as recording, photography,
and note-taking.
This study reveals that music communicates what takes place in Daystar Cathedral church. In
other words, it enables people (especially those who do not attend its services) to understand
what takes place in this church. In this way, music makes the churches to become popular in this
place. Besides communicating what takes place in church, music is a tool for communicating the
message preached in these churches. It was also revealed that the style of music performed in
these Pentecostal churches is different from that experienced in mainstream churches like the
Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church. While
in mainstream churches Christians usually sing hymns which are read from hymn books, in
Pentecostal churches, there is ‘praise and worship’ music, which is normally in call and responseform. This music has a lot of improvisations due to the numerous instruments that are played to
accompany the singing as well as depending on the feeling of the praise and worship leader as
led by God’s Spirit.

Na sua teoria do sagrado, o historiador da religião Ernesto De Martino (1908-1965) descreveu o mito e a ritualidade como respostas culturais a problemas existenciais. Analizando as práticas religiosas do punto de vista de uma psicologia social, pragmática e funcionalista, as técnicas mágico-rituais são descritas como dispositivos de defesa capazes de proteger a “presença”, ou seja o poder de decisão e escolha de acordo com valores.
Perante as crises da vida, o ser humano recorreria a modelos operacionais historicamente consolidados dentro de uma comunidade, dispositivos de ação através dos quais conduzir uma iniciativa de resposta para lidar com uma dificuldade contingente. Desta maneira, contorna o risco de desintegração psicológica, a queda no arbítrio pânico e a desorientação num mundo que não lhe é mais semelhante, com o qual não é possível estabelecer diálogo. Este diálogo procura o símbolo como canal de comunicação e produção de significados.
O artigo oferece uma síntese dos principais momentos da reflexão de De Martino e uma justaposição de sua interpretação com os modelos teóricos de Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Mircea Eliade e Rudolph Otto.

Nos últimos anos, a música gospel, sobretudo no Brasil, tem apresentado uma tendência clara: refrões repetitivos, menor densidade teológica nas letras e forte influência de versões internacionais. Essa mudança não é aleatória, mas resultado de uma combinação de fatores culturais, mercadológicos, tecnológicos e litúrgicos.

s.u.). Eine eigentliche Einleitung in die Quellensammlung selbst findet sich dann anschließend gesondert unter dem Titel "Hinweise zum vorliegenden Quellenbuch" (41-46). Hier erfährt der Leser, was das Ziel des Werkes ist und auf welche Weise und nach welchen Kriterien das Quellencorpus zusammengestellt wurde. Weiterhin werden der Aufbau des Buches, die wichtigsten Formalia (so etwa das System der Abkürzung antiker Quellen oder der Klammerapparat) und der anhängende Namens-und Sachindex erläutert. Den Kern und Hauptteil des Bandes bildet dann die Quellensammlung (47-300). Dabei handelt es sich um eine Zusammenstellung griechischsprachiger Texte, die sich chronologisch von der Archaik (8./7. Jh. v. Chr.) bis weit in die byzantinische Zeit (12. Jh. n. Chr.) erstrecken. Das zentrale Auswahlkriterium für diese Zeugnisse war das Vorkommen der Suchbegriffe "νομας*" und "νομαδ*" sowie die Bezugnahme auf Menschen. Letzteres bezieht sich auf den Umstand, dass mit Begriffen aus

A content and discourse analysis of television programs is performed to show that Ghanaians do enjoy their local programs but very little time is allocated for children’s content on both the public and private stations. Instead, foreign content has flooded the TV channels for both adult and children’s programs and this is concerning because culture is being lost amongst the new generation. Also, in an era where representation matters, African children should be represented in the media. This paper centers on cultural and media imperialism and representation of the African child in the media and we find that TV programs being aired on Ghanaian TV could be as a result of cultural and media imperialism.

A content and discourse analysis of television programs is performed to show that Ghanaians do enjoy their local programs but very little time is allocated for children's content on both the public and private stations. Instead, foreign content has flooded the TV channels for both adult and children's programs and this is concerning because culture is being lost amongst the new generation. Also, in an era where representation matters, African children should be represented in the media. This paper centers on cultural and media imperialism and representation of the African child in the media and we find that TV programs being aired on Ghanaian TV could be as a result of cultural and media imperialism.

The Malawian film industry has long been underrepresented in African and global cinema discourse, often constrained by infrastructural, financial, and institutional challenges. This study explored the emergence of Malawian cinema through the pioneering influence of Charles Shemu Joyah, whose trilogy-Seasons of a Life (2008), The Last Fishing Boat (2012), and The Road to Sunrise (2017)-marked a significant turning point in the country's cinematic evolution. The research investigated how Joyah's films not only initiated Malawi's entry into international film platforms but also established a distinct narrative and aesthetic voice grounded in local realities. The study employed a qualitative methodology, drawing on film analysis, content interpretation, and critical discourse analysis. It adopted Auteur Theory as its theoretical framework, positioning Joyah as a cinematic author whose personal vision and creative control shapes the thematic and stylistic direction of his films. Key findings indicate that Joyah's works serve as cultural texts that confront socio-political issues such as gender inequality, poverty, cultural erosion, and marginalization. His self-funded productions, international recognition, and local engagement have collectively contributed to a nascent but resilient Malawian film industry. The study argues that Joyah's films function as both artistic expressions and nation-building tools, setting a precedent for future filmmakers in Malawi. His works exemplifies how individual agency can catalyze the development of a national cinema in contexts lacking formal structures. This paper contributes to African film scholarship by documenting a case of cinematic emergence and resilience, offering insights into how storytelling can serve as a vehicle for cultural identity and transformation. The study recommends that scholars, policymakers, and activists increasingly turn to Joyah's works for insight into the lived realities of Malawians across class and gender divides.

The theoretical and empirical interconnections between mythology and multimodal structures have been abundantly apparent in recent decades. Reimagined in a post-apocalyptic scenario, Ramayan 3392 AD is a graphic novel based on a great South Asian epic originally written by Maharishi Valmiki millennia ago. This article endeavoured to unveil the multimodal structures of graphic novels to emphasize their powerful potential in epic narratives while also exploring the anguish of a future society devastated by nuclear Armageddon. Since the graphic novel depicts time and space in multimodal ways utilizing comic, graphic, and textual semiotic modes, it has become an increasingly popular means to depict serious issues across the world and particularly in South Asia. Driving on the multimodal reading of the retelling of the popular south Asian epic Ramayan, the article strives to present that while advancing endless desires, self-centric culture drives, it evinces climate change and environmental deterioration as well. Moreover, it attempts to demonstrate that through the use of graphic novel format, the current captivating story not only envisions God in a post-apocalyptic setting engraved with an appealing color palette and visual strategy but also verbalizes ecocritical catastrophe and other social issues constructively. In addition, the relevance of multimodal reading in raising social consciousness and interpreting classic stories with metaphorical parallels that provide critical insights is argued in this article.

A "twice as outstanding" communications scholar, as Jay G. Blumler (2008) nicely emphasized when introducing Elihu Katz's recent guest lecture at the University of Leeds, and author of some of the most influential works in the field of television studies, the sociologist has been concerned since the mid-1990s with the possible demise of broadcast television. In fact, in the same journal whose special issue of September 2009 constitutes the volume reviewed here, Katz (1996) published an essay in which he stated that "television is dead, almost everywhere." The paraphrased title "And deliver us

Resumo. A partir dos anos 70 e 80 o campo religioso protestante no Brasil foi inundado por novas formas de religiosidade. Entre elas estão as igrejas neopentecostais que tiveram, nesses décadas, um crescimento espantoso. Em um cenário pluralista e competitivo nesse campo, a Igreja Apostólica Renascer em Cristo (IRC), fundada em 1986, centrada nas ações mercadológicas, lançou no mercado religioso o seu principal produto, a música gospel. O sucesso de tal produto se deve, em parte, aos princípios de marketing adotados pela IRC e também à existência de uma insatisfação religiosa no meio protestante, principalmente no que se refere ao ritual e a música. Nesse sentido, essa Igreja lançou no mercado religioso um produto simbólico a fim de satisfazer a demanda religiosa reprimida, contribuindo assim, de forma direta, na consolidação do mercado de música gospel no Brasil.

Prabowo Subianto's defence diplomacy has been key to modernizing Indonesia's defence amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions. This qualitative study of policy documents highlights advancements in maritime, air, and cyber capabilities through strategic partnerships. Major procurements such as Rafale jets, Black Hawk helicopters, and a Type 209 submarine, reflect cooperation with France, the US, and South Korea, emphasizing supplier diversification and improved readiness. Despite progress, challenges remain in strengthening the domestic defence industry and achieving strategic autonomy. Prabowo's leadership has accelerated technology transfers and contributed to regional stability.

In this fascinating work, Wilkinson and Althouse argue that soaking prayer functions as a kind of cultural practice that renews individuals and institutions. More specifically, they claim that it is an interaction ritual that both reflects and inculcates a pattern of social interaction which, in turn, gives rise to a distinct culture. They support this thesis by analyzing soaking prayer in terms of a number of sociological models and unpacking how it fits the internal logic or common narrative frame of the charismatic ethos within which it is situated. The merits of the thesis depend primarily upon the sociological models that Wilkinson and Althouse employ to analyze soaking prayer as a cultural practice. Rather than utilizing a single theoretical lens, this text employs a multiplicity of theoretical models to situate soaking prayer. The text is heavy on theoretical models, moving through Pitirim Sorokin's thought on altruism, Randall Collins' Interaction Ritual (IR) theory, Victor Turner on pilgrimage and liminality, Max Weber on charismatic authority, and Robert Wuthnow on forgiveness as a cultural construct. In addition, the chapter on prayer and altruism offers more of a literature review of various sociological approaches to those topics and their limitations than an examination of soaking prayer itself. The use of so many theoretical models is both a strength and a weakness of the book. The strength of so many models is their collective capacity to explain the relationship between interior change and external behavior. Most of the time sociologists measure change in terms of external behavior. It is extremely difficult to describe deepening levels of commitment without some sort of behavioral analysis like how often persons engage in practices such as prayer or church attendance. Henri Gooren's own conversion-career model attempts to do just that. With IR, Wilkinson and Althouse can translate religious language about the Father's love into the language of emotional energy so

O presente artigo busca apresentar a importância do fenômeno religioso no ambiente escolar, nas perspectivas da filosofia da religião, em conjunto com a descrição realizada pela sociologia. Buscou-se nesse aspecto, reportar-se ao construto teórico de Mircea Eliade e Émile Durkheim, apresentando um panorama introdutório dos conceitos, servindo de base para aprofundamentos futuros dos estudos de religião, a partir de uma visão centrada na dimensão de pertinência da religião e dos fenômenos religiosos nos espaços públicos, como subjacente à dimensão humana.

This paper critically examines the emergence and proliferation of false testimonies and religious manipulations within contemporary Christianity, particularly within Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions in Nigeria. While testimonies serve vital roles in affirming faith, motivating congregants, and promoting religious growth, they are increasingly exploited for economic gain, psychological control, and the consolidation of clerical authority. This study investigates how these deceptive practices are communicated and legitimized through mass media platforms. Anchored in Social Exchange Theory and Weber's concept of Charismatic Authority, the paper explores the intersection of religious communication and media, highlighting the ethical dilemmas posed by falsified testimonies and manipulative religious broadcasts. This paper contributes to a broader understanding of the intersection between religion, media, and social influence, offering insights into the challenges of navigating truth and deception in an increasingly complex information environment. It employs qualitative content analysis of televised religious programs and digital testimonies, offering insight into how mass communication perpetuates spiritual deception. Recommendations are made for ethical religious broadcasting and increased media literacy among religious audiences.

The evolution of religious language has always been a mirror of social and technological change. From the handwritten manuscripts of medieval monasticism to the printed Bibles of the Protestant Reformation, the medium of sacred text has consistently redefined religious authority and accessibility. In the 21st century, digital media has emerged as the new frontier of religious expression, where sacred language circulates through mobile apps, social networks, and AIassisted platforms. This article examines the transformation of sacred language and authority from historical to digital contexts. It argues that digital dissemination democratizes religious discourse but simultaneously poses challenges to authenticity, interpretation, and community cohesion. By comparing historical vernacularization during the Reformation with contemporary digital religious communication, the article proposes a framework for understanding "algorithmic sacredness" in the age of networked spirituality.

Social media has become an integral part of modern communication, transforming how individuals, organisations, and communities interact. With billions of active users on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube, social media has revolutionised the way information is shared and relationships are built. This digital shift has not only impacted personal interactions but has also reshaped the communication strategies of organisations, including religious institutions. Churches, which have historically relied on traditional methods of communication to reach their congregations, are increasingly turning to social media to engage with their members and extend their outreach beyond physical boundaries.

Despite the widespread adoption of social media by churches, there is a limited understanding of how these platforms are being used and the effects they have on churches, particularly in contexts like Ghana. This study was therefore necessary to fill this gap. The purpose of this study is to examine the affordances, constraints, and outcomes of using social media by churches in Ghana, with a specific focus on the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Open Heavens Temple in Adjiringanor, Ghana

The Technology Affordances and Constraints Theory (TACT) was used as the guiding framework to understand the motivations behind the church’s adoption of social media, the perceived and actualised affordances and constraints, and the positive and negative outcomes resulting from social media engagement.

The study employs a qualitative approach and utilises interviews to gather insights from key stakeholders at ICGC Open Heavens Temple. The findings indicate that social media platforms are leveraged by the church to enhance communication, build community, and expand outreach efforts. These platforms afford the church greater visibility, improved engagement with a broader audience, and the ability to maintain connections beyond the physical church setting. However, the research also identifies significant constraints, such as challenges related to privacy, information overload, and the potential reduction of in-person interactions within the church community.

The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of how religious organisations in Ghana can strategically utilise social media to align with their missions while addressing the challenges posed by digital engagement. The research provides valuable insights for church leaders, policymakers, and scholars interested in the intersection of religion and social media in the Ghanaian context.

To foresee the future of many children born in Iranian hospitals, one does not need a crystal ball. Their fate under the Islamic Republic is shaped by systemic discrimination and deeply ingrained inequality.

Children born into families belonging to persecuted and marginalized faith communities–whether Christian, Bahá’í, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Sunni, Dervish, Mandaean, or Yarsani–as well as those facing discrimination for their gender or ethnicity, such as girls and women or ethnic Baloch, are subjected to systemic discrimination from birth. Branded as second- or even third-class citizens, they are stripped of fundamental human and civil rights, with limited access to education, employment, and other social opportunities.

For many, this injustice persists unless they suppress their religious, cultural, or personal identity to conform to the state’s rigid ideological
framework.

Religion and media are both the important themes of the study especially in the modern world and they are linked to each other as well. In the recent year's religion is linked to media to express its message to a great number of audience and viewers. In this regard with the rapid advancement in media especially in the twentieth century 7 , the religion is expressed through various forms of media. The scope of the study of their relation does not seem possible to cover all of its aspects in a single research study because both of them are the vast fields which encompass different aspects of human lives. In this paper we will discuss the study of the relation of both religion and media through four approaches which implicitly indicates towards the role of religion and media to answer the question that how both of them are studied in relation to each other around the globe. These approaches 8 are categorized by Dr Liesbet van Zoonen 9 provide a precise way to the classification of the study of various aspects of relation of religion and media. Furthermore, the paradigm of study for every approach will be elaborated.

This thesis focuses on Ghanaian young professionals and entrepreneurs whose lives unfold at the interstices of the capital Accra's private sector business scenes. By following professionals to the realm of family, friendship, workplace, religious community and the urban public culture, I show how professional status, and the quality of 'professionalism', emerge as objects of desire that transform into multiple types of value – economic, moral, ethical, and spiritual – within Ghanaian knowledge intensive capitalism. These value transformations are underpinned by Ghana's post 1980s neoliberal restructuring, expansion and privatisation of higher education, liberalisation of the media and the public sphere, increasing popularity of Charismatic Pentecostal Christianity, and the emergence of private sector companies as sought-after workplaces among Accra's middle-class youth. In line with the post-independence vision of Ghana as the promised land of black capital growt...

Social media as a new phenomenon has become a tool used by many televangelists and pastors all over the world. It is against this background that this research sought to explore the Facebook activities of some Ghanaian Pentecostal pastors from a missional perspective. The article deals with the concept of social media, Facebook and its potential for mission purposes, the Facebook phenomenon among Ghanaians and how Ghanaian Pentecostal Pastors are using Facebook for missional purposes, as well as some of concerns on the negative uses of social media. The study revealed that Ghanaian pastors are followed by people from different religious and societal backgrounds. It has also offered the pastors and their congregations the opportunity to form relationships with a wide and diverse range of people without being bound by geographical space. Sosiale media as nuwe fenomeen het ‘n instrument geword wat deur meeste TV-evangeliste en pastore regoor die wêreld gebruik word. Dit is teen hierdie...

President Jokowi's foreign policy vision of Indonesia as a Global Maritime Axis has to relate to China's Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century. Given these two visions from East Asia's two largest states, how will Indonesia play its part to contribute to the resolution of the South China Sea disputes?

This paper explores the sociocultural dimensions of rock music and metal music in Sri Lanka. Mainly the research is based on the deep side of the musical genres and the unique cultural, political, and social aspects. Rock and Metal originated from the West countries, and their adoption in Sri Lanka has led to the emergence of a distinct subculture that reflects both global and local nuances. This research study employs a multidisciplinary approach, Incorporating ethnographic research, interviews with musicians, fans, and normal society, and analysis of media representations(radio, television….etc), to uncover how rock and metal music has become a medium for expressing identity, resistance an and social commentary. The findings are displayed beyond mere entertainment, metal, and rock music in Sri Lanka consumption as powerful tools for the young generation to navigate issues such as nationalism, globalization, and social inequality. The period of data collecting found the areas of Sri Lankan ideology for the noisy music genres. The research is based on and filtering the aspects of cultural differences and describes how Sri Lankan society and metalheads deal with Rock and Metal music.

Techniques of Sensual Perception: The Creation of Emotional Pathways

This thesis examines methods for creating artwork that enhances sensual perception to increase the possibility of aesthetic experiences in audiences. Drawing from psychological research on optimal sensory perception, particularly Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theories, and Sergei Eisenstein's montage techniques in cinema, this study explores how artists can construct "emotional pathways" that optimize viewers' perceptual engagement.

The research investigates how aesthetic experiences result from vivid perceptual encounters that engage multiple senses simultaneously. Key findings demonstrate that artwork must contain strong sensual attributes and require active audience participation to generate meaningful emotional responses. The study analyzes Eisenstein's frame-by-frame montage theory from films like Alexander Nevsky and The Strike, examining how juxtaposed visual and sonic elements create calculated emotional effects. Contemporary applications are explored through analysis of Andrei Tarkovsky's The Sacrifice, which extends montage techniques through enhanced sound design and abstract visual landscapes.

The practical component of this research is demonstrated through the author's original video work Ararat (1999), which applies these theoretical principles using contemporary multimedia technology. The piece employs gradual visual development from inanimate to animate imagery, coordinated audiovisual montage sequences, and symbolic representation of Armenian cultural identity to create emotional pathways that guide audience perception from desolation to renewal.

The thesis concludes that understanding sensual perception mechanisms enables artists to develop techniques that enhance aesthetic response probability, though individual aesthetic experiences cannot be guaranteed. The research suggests future developments in multimedia technology and perceptual psychology will expand possibilities for creating sophisticated emotional pathways in artistic expression.

Keywords: aesthetic theory, sensual perception, montage, emotional pathways, audiovisual art, Eisenstein, optimal experience

First and foremost, we thank our participants for generously and openly discussing their life experiences and perspectives with us. Their willingness to share their stories has given us a window onto the religious journeys and lives of those who travel in and out of Orthodoxy. We tried to honor their stories by capturing and sharing them with fi delity and respect. The Orthodox Union Leadership championed this research study from start to fi nish. Klal Yisrael inspired us throughout the project. His collaboration and guidance strengthened and elevated our work. Dr. Michelle Shain and Dr. Moshe Krakowski designed the study. Abby Nadritch, Daniel Presman, Joshua Schoenberg, Akiva Schuck, and Rabbi Moshe Shields helped analyze the anonymized and transcribed words of our survey respondents. Their material contributions to this analysis are refl ected in the following pages.

This article foregrounds transcendence and its definitions to formalize the term's value as a viable analytic for anthropology. It notes the proliferation of transcendences (plural) in anthropological literature and proposes a working typology of transcendence that recognizes the different scales within analysis on which transcendence is being used. Drawing upon this scalar-aware typology, it reviews existing scholarship in the field of anthropology of material religion, characterized by a detailed theoretical treatment of transcendence. Finally, this article redraws attention to the situatedness of transcendence in the history of anthropology and its attendant Christian legacy, in other words the scale of anthropology itself. It concludes that the most promising value of transcendence as an analytic lies in attending to the tensions between different scales in analysis.

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) plus newcomers to this regional international organization are shaping the socio-economic and political dynamics of the Global South, the world, and International Relations. This book chapter examines the hegemony of the USA and the West in global affairs and its discontent that gave way to the quest for multi-polarity in International Relations. With these developments, stronger regional configurations emerged in the Global South that are changing the world order. BRICS is a vehement instantiation of such regional alliances at the multi-continental level (Asia, South America, and Africa) that is redefining contemporary relations among sovereign nations of the world. The acronym BRIC was coined by Jim O’Neil, the former Chief Economist and Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management in 2001. This chapter is aimed at breaking down: the antecedents in International Relations before BRICS, the emergence of regionalization in contemporary International Relations; foundations, evolution, and expansion of BRICS. The benefits and Challenges of BRICS and its future will be discussed.

A new stratum of religious affiliation emerged in Japan from the first half of the nineteenth century onward and quite a large number of movements were formed as a result of social, cultural, economic and political changes in Japan. To make a distinction from old fashioned religious traditions a wave of brash new and lively religious movements (known as “new new religious movements) has come into prominence in Japan, during the 1980s. Attracting equally the attention of the media and intelligentsia these new religious groups expanded their membership rapidly. They successfully appealed the Japanese populace because they emerged expressing anti modern and Japanocentric sentiments as well as focusing on miracles, spirit possession and a view of causation that is rooted very firmly in Japanese folk tradition in the midst of a rapidly changing Japanese society in terms of technology, modernization and internationalization. This paper aims to answer the question how religious discourse i...

The Acts of the Apostles concludes: "He lived there two whole years, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." At first view, it may seem as though the mission ends there. However, we must remember the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ: "I will build My Church." While God accomplishes His work through human agents, the growth and advancement of the Church remain His divine undertaking. This book, structured in eighteen chapters, provides a consistent and geographically comprehensive overview of how the mission has continued from the apostolic era to the present. It is a valuable resource for all Christians, not just those in theological education.

O presente trabalho propõe uma reflexão acerca das lideranças femininas de duas Igrejas de grande relevância no campo neopentecostal brasileiro, Cristiane Cardoso, liderança da Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD) e Denise Seixas pastora e uma das fundadoras Bola de Neve (BNC). Apesar da gestão das duas igrejas ficar concentrada majoritariamente em figuras masculinas, ambas se apresentam como referências femininas de suas Igrejas, como escritoras e artistas sendo, inclusive, responsáveis pela elaboração de teorias sobre os modos de ser e estar das mulheres religiosas neopentecostais brasileiras. Assim, esse trabalho se propõe a refletir sobre as aproximações e divergências criadas pelas duas lideranças acerca de temas como maternidade, casamento, bem como as definições sobre a conduta da mulher cristã na atualidade. Para viabilizar o estudo, serão analisados o livro "A mulher V: Moderna à moda antiga", escrito por Cristiane Cardoso e "A essência da mulher: espalhando o aroma de Cristo" de Denise

L'entrée des juifs dans la modernité ouvre une réflexion nouvelle sur l'identité juive et ses implications quotidiennes, notamment religieuses. Ce questionnement inspire propositions et innovations, révélant une créativité souvent empreinte d'optimisme. Les grandes synagogues consistoriales incarnent cette transformation de l'identité juive moderne, lorsqu’elles allient architecture inspirante, compositions liturgiques originales et traduction française des prières, pour offrir ainsi une expérience renouvelée du vécu de la Synagogue.