The Mediating Role of Religious Beliefs in the Relationship between Well-Being and Fear of the Pandemic

Religion is one of the social entities that has had a significant impact on the pandemic.The study’s goals are to investigate the relationship between well-being and fear of COVID-19,as well as to test whether religious beliefs mediate the effect of wellbeing on fear of COVID-19.The sample comprised of 433 participants in Vietnam.Independent Sample t-Test,One-way ANOVA,mediation analysis were used to analyze the data.In the levels of well-being,individuals who engage in religious services daily have higher levels than those hardly and never attend,and people from the age of 18 to 30 have higher levels than individuals from 31 to above 60 years.In addition,people aged from 51 to above 60 have higher levels of religious beliefs than people aged from 18 to 50.Females experience more fear of COVID-19 compared to males.The latter illustrates that religious beliefs mediate the effect of well-being on fear of COVID-19.Social workers and clinicians must prioritize older adults and people with chronic diseases for early mental interventions,and they should be aware of the role of religion in psychological treatment integration.

Turkish Muslim Immigrants in Britain： Religious Life and Religious Organizations

Turkish Muslim immigrants in Britain consist of Turks, Kurds and Turkish Cypriots migrating for different reasons at different times for immigration and asylum. This migrant community has a non-homogeneous structure owing to differences in their life styles, experiences, ideas, feelings, hopes and expectations. Therefore, Turkish Muslim immigrants have been observed living for a long time in the different ethnic, ideological, cultural and religious communities. In this paper, these immigrants＇ religious life and religious organizations in Britain will be focused on. The methodology of this research is based on the field research that the author did from July 9, 2012 to September 9, 2012 in London. According to the investigations, there are mainly four different Turkish Islamic tendencies in Britain. Also, there are about 10 Turkish religious organizations and 27 places of worship belonging to these Islamic discourses in Britain.

The Relationship between Religious Belief and Agricultural Production of the Miao People

Religious belief is an important part of the Miao People culture.The agricultural economic situation in the Miao region is an essential factor for determining the generation and development of its religious belief.Religious belief also has a tremendous impact on the agricultural production of the Miao people.This paper summarized the religious belief form and the agricultural situation of Miao People,and analyzed the relationship between the religious belief and agricultural production of Miao People.

Vampire Essentiality Derivation From Religious Beliefs

This paper detracts vampires＇ traits from definitions by famous biblical exegetists and alike. Based on accounts of vampire-synonymous species from the Holy Bible （2000）, The Vampire Book （2010）, Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology （2010）, etc., it attempts an analysis of essential vampire features derivation from religious beliefs with the aim to amply apprecitate vampire culture and paint evidentially-built vampire portraits as against totally self-imagined traits.

On the Study of Cultural Connotation in Zhuang Proverbs: Religious Belief and Ecological Ethics

Zhuang’s proverbs are derived from the long-term experience in the survival and development of nature, andinextricably related to it. Many of Zhuang’s proverbs reflect the folk religious belief’s reverence, prudence,compliance and protection of the ecological environment. The implicit or explicit ecological ethics consciousnessin Zhuang proverbs has a subtle influence on Zhuang people’s thoughts and behaviors, and objectively regulates therelationship between man and nature, which helps the Zhuang people consciously keep the balance of naturalecology in their daily life.

Religious Beliefs in Pre-lslamic Poetry

The subject of this study is how pre-Islamic poets viewed religious beliefs and how the Arabs dealt with such beliefs in the period that preceded the emergence of Islam, known as the/ahiliyya. The study discusses Arab religious beliefs and rites, which were filled with mythical elements such as idol worship, treating some animals as sacred, and worship of the sun, plants, certain inanimate objects and birds. It describes the various stages through which these beliefs passed, from sanctification of trees and caves, through the worship of the sun and the stars, to idol worship and more. The study then proceeds to inquire into the traces of mythology to be found in Arabic poetry. It shows how humans did not only inherit their forefathers＇ beliefs, but also their ideas, and explains how poets were able to embody reality by means of artistic symbols that reflected such elements of their lives as emotions and objective mental states. Subsequently the study discusses the sanctity which the Arabs ascribed to some animals, and which they worshipped in the hope of obtaining a blessing, maintaining an intimacy with the animal or averting evil. Many Arabs in those days believed in the sanctity of animals, the sun, the moon and Venus, thought that trees and other p｜ants possessed a spirit, and considered some animals to be deities with extraordinary powers, among them the viper, the crocodile, the bull, the gazelle and the goat. Finally, the study shows how pre-lslamic Arabic poetry can serve as a reliable document that reflects the society of the times, and how even the restricted amount of verse that has survived from those times can provide considerable information about mythical elements that go back to the remotest times.

China's Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief

Contents preambleⅠ. Basic Policies in Protecting Freedom of Religious BeliefⅡ. Legal Guarantees for Freedom of Religious BeliefⅢ. Conducting Religious Activities in an Orderly MannerⅣ. The Role of Religious Groups Has Been Fully DevelopedⅤ. Active and Healthy Religious Relations Conclusion Preamble As a socialist country under the leadership of the Communist party of China(CPC), China adopts policies on freedom of religious belief based on national and religious conditions to protect citizens’ right to freedom of religious belief.

Upholding Equality and Unity Among Ethnic Groups, and Freedom of Religious Belief

Since the founding of the People＇s Republic of China, the Chinese government, to ensure equality and unity among ethnic groups and achieve their common development, has formulated a series of ethnic and religious policies on the basis of the actual situations of the various ethnic groups and religions, and these policies have been continuously enriched and improved in practice.

Freedom of Religious Beliefs as Seen in a Chinese Province

In recent years, the Chinese Government has been time and again accused, by those in the West whoare either hostile towards the country or ignorant of its realities, of acting in violation of the right of its citizens toreligious beliefs. There is the allegation that 'official respect for religious freedom in China has diminished.'To find out the truth, the China Society for Human Right Studies (CSHRS) organized a study tour of Hebei Province,north China, the very first of its kind since the society came into being ten years ago. The group, headed by Zhou Jue,president of the CSHRS, comprised some of the most prominent experts on human rights and on international laws.The study tour, from September 21 to 27, 2003, covered all the religions practiced in China—Buddhism, Taoism,Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism, with Catholicism as the focus.

Araby and the use of religious images

Araby is one of the short stories in James Joyce's collection,Dubliners.In the novel Araby,James Joyce used several religious images,such as the priest's books,the chalice,the wild garden and the name of bazaar,Araby.This paper is an attempt to analyze these religious images within the context,finding the idea that the Catholic belief's decline and people's confusion of the traditional faith which the writer intended to convey.

Attitudes, knowledge levels and behaviors of Islamic religious officials about organ donation in Turkey: National survey study

BACKGROUND The most important factors affecting the decision of organ donation are socioeconomic,educational,cultural,and religious factors.AIM To evaluate Islamic religious officials’attitudes and behaviors toward and level of knowledge on organ donation and transplantation.METHODS This study surveyed 2350 Islamic religious officials in Turkey.To ensure a representative sample,we used and modified the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics.Based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics-II,Turkey was divided into 26 regions.The number of Islamic religious officials in each city and town in each of the 26 regions was proportionate to the population.A stratified sampling method based on demographic factors,such as age,marital status,and educational level,was used.Data were collected by PRP Research and Consultancy Company using computer-assisted personal interviewing.RESULTS Of the 2350 religious officials surveyed,59.9%were in the age group of 35-54 years;84.7%had either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree;99.7%never donated an organ;and 75.4%were not considering donating in the future.About 22%of the religious officials said religious belief was their reason for not donating;45.3%did not indicate any reason.Although 41.5%of participants considered cadaveric organ donation as the best source of organ transplantation,36.3%deemed living donor transplantation as the best option.Meanwhile,52.9%of participants considered donating an organ from a brain dead relative in case they were asked for permission;80.1%considered donating to a relative,if necessary;81.6%considered undergoing organ transplantation,if necessary.About 83.7%of participants deemed organ donation as a proper human behavior;60.5%believed that it is allowed by Islam;55%said they preach for organ donation at their mosque;and 41.1%said their views of organ donation were influenced by their leaders in society.CONCLUSION Religious officials are unsure whether or not organ donation is respectful of their religious belief,but they consider donating an organ if a relative need to undergo organ transplantation.

Potential influences of religiosity and religious coping strategies on people with diabetes

Diabetes is a significant health issue that threatens patients’overall wellbeing and quality of life.Critical public health concerns center on creating the best approach for diabetes management.Patients and caregivers have different approaches to diabetes management;however,this and the associated physiological,physical and mental health issues remain challenging.This review explores the potential influences of religiosity and religious coping strategies on people with diabetes.This study used a literature review approach to investigate how religiosity and religious coping strategies can influence the effective management of diabetes among patients.Based on the literature search,the researchers were able to identify and cite published papers that were analyzed using the descriptivenarrative analysis.An important goal of the descriptive-narrative analysis was to provide descriptions of the selected literature and take implications from the literature.The results of studies reviewed show some religious coping strategies for managing chronic diseases such as diabetes.The studies did establish a relationship between religiosity and diabetes management and suggest that religious coping strategies could positively impact the management of diabetes;however,they reported some adverse effects.Hence,we propose a pathway for the development of religion-oriented interventions and support framework for the management of diabetes.

The Strength of Belief:Empirical Research on the Influence of Religion on Economy―An Analysis Based on the Panel Data of Yangtze River Delta Region in China

In recent years,research on economic growth and development has paid more and more attention to the long-term influence of factors,like history and culture on productivity and national economy.It is very meaningful to study the role of religion in economic development as religion can affect value preference,human capital,and professional ethics.This paper uses the panel data of 25 cities in Yangtze River Delta region of China in 11 years(from 2004 to 2014)to study the influence of religious belief on economic growth.Research result shows that religion plays a positive role in promoting economic growth on the whole.In different religions,Christianity has a significant influence on economic growth.The conclusion is consistent in different regressions and has robustness.However,empirical research on other religions cannot come to a consistent and robust conclusion.Considering that China's research is rate in this field,this paper provides a new perspective as an exploratory research.

Religious Narratives and Religious Coping Strategies in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic

Recent findings demonstrate a growing interest in religiosity during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest that religiousness has a Janus-face impact on coping with stress.On the one hand,the empirical data indicates a positive link between religiosity and mental health,agreeableness,and higher emotion regulation skills.On the other side,some surveys describe religious people as being reluctant to follow the recommendation of public health experts,and they also tend to score lower on intelligence and analytic thinking measures.However,how religiosity in our country impacts psychological processes of perception and coping with stress during the pandemic is not studied yet.The research reveals religious views on the COVID-19 pandemic through the analysis of semi-structured interviews with believers from different Bulgarian religious communities—Orthodox Christians,Catholics,Protestants,and Muslims.The focus of the one religious interpretation is pandemic as retribution for the self-forgetfulness of a man and the consumerist attitude towards God’s creation.The main narrative in the other interpretation considers diseases and suffering that accompany human life as a natural consequence of original sin and perishable human nature.Both points of view relate to various coping methods with challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

南阳汉画所见汉代丧葬观念与宗教文化特征

南阳汉画中有大量涉及宗教信仰的题材内容,是反映汉代宗教文化最直观、最全面的资料。南阳汉画本身就是具有宗教色彩的丧葬艺术表达形式,是汉代丧葬观念意识的生动体现。它以追求长生不老、得道成仙为目的,展示了汉代人为死后世界臆造的一系列虚幻的宗教意象,是一种“天国的幻想”。其具备的多神崇拜和兼容并蓄的多元化特征,既反映了汉代宗教对原始宗教文化的继承与创新,又体现了鲜明的地域文化特色。南阳汉画对于了解汉代宗教文化的时代特点和发展演变以及汉代人的思维方式、文化观念提供了独特的视角。

明代哈密“哈剌灰”及其与裕固族关系考辨

关于明代文献所见哈密“哈剌灰”之名与义,学界多有争议。揆诸《华夷译语·委兀儿译语·地名》中有“黑羊群—噶剌塊”之谓,可以推定“哈剌灰”这一称谓应出自维吾尔语qaraqoi,意为“黑羊群”。作为蒙古豳王家族的属部,元明时期哈剌灰一直与信仰伊斯兰教的回回和信仰佛教的畏兀儿共处哈密,经历了由伊斯兰教改宗佛教的过程。“哈剌灰”指的就是1276年以后由中亚迁居哈密原本信仰伊斯兰教后皈依佛教的蒙古人。他们在皈依藏传佛教后,仍葆有浓重的伊斯兰文化情结。明正德年间,东迁河西走廊,后融合于裕固族之中。

明清时期福建宗教信仰文化在海外传播的历史考察

明清时期福建宗教信仰文化大规模向东南亚、琉球与日本等国传播,成了中华传统文化向海外传播的一个重要标志。这种传播主要是基于福建向海外移民的历史背景、通过移民在祖籍地所崇祀的神祇“分身”或“分香”方式予以实现,其外传的途径与福建海外移民的迁徙路线大体一致。福建沿海各地的主要民间神祇伴随移民传往海外后,逐步形成了一个个海外福建宗教信仰文化圈,呈现出祖籍地神祇信仰、血缘祖先崇拜、实用功利性、多元融合性等特点。海外福建移民在寓居地积极创建各种祖籍地的庙宇,参与各种族亲宗教信仰等活动,在积极促进中外文化交流、维护华侨社会团结、保障华侨基本权益、形成强大的中华民族凝聚力和文化认同感等方面,均发挥了不可替代的历史作用,产生了深远影响。

A Scholar of Dignity:Remembering Peter Luh

It was a shock and disbelief to learn of Peter's death last December.To me,he was so fit in his figure,so healthy in his lifestyle,so mild and mindful in his social behavior,and so devout in his religious belief,......,I had expected a long and happy life for him,and planned to join his 80th or even 100th birthday celebration.

岱阴后石坞信仰空间中的代际传承及历史叙事

虽僻处谷中极鲜游客,位于泰山奥区的后石坞元君庙自明末创建至清末毁弃一直有女冠、僧尼驻守,庙宇住持的代际传承呈现出惊人的连贯性。通过梳理史料归纳后石坞住庙人员的传承谱系,再结合更宽泛的历史叙事,后石坞信仰空间呈现出明显的宗教模糊性特征。这一特征的形成与庙宇中的民众活动关系密切。通过理清后石坞代际传承谱系,挖掘史料文献中的独特叙事逻辑,可为探讨后石坞在整个泰山碧霞元君信仰空间中所具有的独特地位奠定立论基础。