Many theories of religion tend toward a naturalistic, sociological, Durkheimian framework. While these theories have pointed out important dimensions of religious experience, they risk reducing the human experience of religion to a purely social or psychological phenomenon, without taking seriously the claims of religious adherents themselves. How can we begin to work toward a unique theory of ...

there might be diverse modern schools of reform in any religion. this paper categorizes modern hindu and muslim religious thinkers into three groups based on their traditionalist and modernistic concerns. first group are those with futuristic modern thoughts who give more weight to the future and attempt to make old religions compatible to the modern world and present modern religion deserving ...

One of the most resolute dichotomies in modern and contemporary study religion is that between good/bad religions. The bases for making such judgments are fluid, but outcome generally recognizable; “good” religions good religious practitioners adhere to expectations norms bourgeois modern. reasons endurance dichotomy historical, rooted rise as an academic discipline, globally United States; eco...

Similarity of religious beliefs and practices among friends, or network-religion autocorrelation, is a common aspect of many social networks. Network-religion autocorrelation is important because it strengthens plausibility structures (Berger 1967), or the combination of beliefs and strong social ties to others who share those beliefs. Plausibility structures support sacred umbrellas (Smith 199...

Empirical studies have identified significant links between religion and spirituality and health. The reasons for these associations, however, are unclear. Typically, religion and spirituality have been measured by global indices (e.g., frequency of church attendance, self-rated religiousness and spirituality) that do not specify how or why religion and spirituality affect health. The authors h...

first, it is argued that the rule of patterns, the natural consequences of matterialization of science,and the deliberate deviation of the western social sciences from theology are singled out as the factors which have led to the total ignorance of such subject as theology and sociology. similar cases happen in philosophy and science. due to the prevailing cultural atmospher in the west, such a...

While American psychologists have been making significant contributions regarding the best ways to deal with religious issues in counselling, Australian psychologists have generally been less active in stimulating debate, conducting research, and making clinical applications in this area. In this paper, it is argued that consideration of religious issues is an important aspect of therapy. In fr...

Despite his well-known criticisms of popular religion, Hume refers in seemingly complimentary terms to ‘true religion’; in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, his character Philo goes so far as to express ‘veneration for’ it. This paper addresses three questions. First, did Hume himself really approve of something that he called ‘true religion’? Second, what did he mean by calling it ‘true’?...

recognizing the limitations of the intellect, education, religion has always been discussed. some reason to believe that religion does not play any role education. other roles have also seen reason to believe maximum and minimum. meanwhile, according to the shia view of reason and religion, this article is prove the validity of reason in understanding the education authority, the role of the th...