The objective of this Master’s research project was to examine religious dialogue from the point of view of multi-religious families and different faith-based organizations. This research attempted to raise awareness of the multiple benefits of religious dialogue society-wise, of the general diversity of faith-based systems and of the role that multi-religious families play. Furthermore, it was studied how different faith-based organizations and other societal factors relate to multi-religious families, and how these relationships could be improved.   This is a qualitative research, to which a few quantitative elements were included. These elements were implemented in the two online surveys that were used for the collection of data, as well as during the data handling process. In addition to a comprehensive analysis on religious dialogue, this research considered the concepts of faith and ethnomethodology. These three underlying theories did not only support the research findings, but were actively used as the basis for the development of the surveys and their analysis. Although this research was based on a Finnish context, it can easily be generalized to any given society because of its impartial and universal basis.   The surveys were designed together with a Finnish NGO called Familia ry, and the findings of this research will be used to help them develop their future work.

Researchers have revealed that rural African American communities, which have been adversely impacted by disasters, could minimize personal injuries and property damage by being prepared before a disaster strikes. Data from past studies have shown that social networks, such as faith-based organizations (FBOs), have been instrumental in assisting rural African American communities recover from disasters such as floods and fires. This exploratory qualitative case study addressed the research question: How a rural, FBO organized resources to build a community based, all-volunteer fire department. The conceptual framework for this study incorporated concepts from social network theory and social capital theory. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 11 participants. Data were collected through interviews, newspapers articles, and church documents. Data were analyzed using inductive analysis and Colaizzi's method for determining emergent themes. Results revealed that community members lacked the knowledge and resources needed to build the fire department. Findings further revealed that the FBO was the hub of activities where social networks organized the social capital needed to engage, recruit, and unite members in building the fire station. The themes of determination, dedication, resilience, and persistence further revealed that community members used social networks and social capital to overcome obstacles to building the fire station. Findings from this study contributes to positive social change by providing information to human services professionals, government agencies, policy makers, and community members on how FBOs can be utilized as social networks that can leverage the social capital needed to prepare isolated, rural communities for disasters.

This qualitative study investigated how the organizational culture at a small, non-profit, faith-based organization impacted communities of practice (CoP). The literature reviewed focuses on the following: faith-based, non-profit organizations, communities of practice and organizational culture. The study was situated in a small, non-profit, faith-based organization in Southern Illinois. The methodology of the study was an ethnographic informed design and the follow methods were used: participant observation, interviews, and document analysis. Wenger's (2004) social theory of learning informed this study. The purpose of the study was to describe: (a) how a small, non-profit, faith-based organization's culture fosters or hinders the development and growth of communities of practice (CoPs), (b) how the organizational members identify the existence of CoPs, and (d) what value the organization recognizes as a result of the knowledge shared. This is important not only to add to the literature concerning small, faith-based organizations and CoPs, but to help this organization and similar organizations understand the importance of learning that takes place as a result of organizational member's participation in CoPs. In light of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PWORA) of 1996, or more informally known as Charitable Choice (Thomas, 2009) and now the White House Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (White House, 2009), the need to help these small, faith-based organizations is relevant. Part of helping the sustain themselves could be by enabling them to recognize the existence of CoPs within their organizations, and in turn helping them understand how to utilize CoPs to their benefit. The results of this study provide discussion around several findings. Findings revealed that there is a CoP in existence. Organizational members do recognize that they share a passion and come together as a group to work toward that passion, yet do not recognize the CoP as it is defined. Further findings provide understanding about how knowledge is shared and what knowledge is shared among organizational members that participate in the CoP. In addition, findings reveal that the organizational culture is aligned with the faith and values of the organization; that the culture does foster growth of CoPs in various ways, but does hinder the growth of CoPs through two barriers. There are several conclusions drawn from this study. First, that the staff is the central hub of communication flow between the internal organizational members Second, that learning is a heart thing, which is a metaphor used to describe the affective learning that takes place within the organization. Third, there is a strong relationship between the culture of the organization and the CoP. Fourth, that sharing, socializing and prayer time are tools used for social interaction among the staff and volunteers. Finally, that the framework of the social theory of learning is embedded with the community of practice identified at The Center. The recommendations include ideas for future research that could expand on the conclusions of this study. Additionally, it is recommended that the results of this study be shared and explained to the organization itself, as well as create ways of sharing the results with similar organizations. Sharing of this study would help such smaller, faith-based, non- profit organizations learn how recognize CoPs, understand how to build a culture within their organization that would foster CoPs, and help them learn how to utilize CoPs in a way that best utilizes their limited resources.

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Historically, many faith-based hunger relief efforts address food insecurity through the emergency food system, but they often do not challenge the systemic causes of the need, which according to some, are poverty and inequality. As a promising alternative, community food work is a radical approach to food system change that imbues values of justice, sustainability, and equity into the food system to reduce the pervasiveness of poverty and inequality in society. I used narrative inquiry as methodology in a faith-based context to explore the role of criticality in community food work. Additionally, I explored the treatment of hegemony in these practitioners' critically reflective practice. I engaged six practitioners in narrative-based interviews and subsequently asked them to read and analyze their own interview. I then gathered all participants for a collective reflection session where we reflected on excerpts from the interviews and used them as a foundation for further dialogue and reflection. Each practitioner used their faith to varying degrees in the performance of their work. I found significant notions of feeling called to serve, and bringing God's kingdom to earth, but an avoidance to use this work to evangelize. The narratives reflected community food work as a community development effort and extended beyond the context of food. Affirming, trusting relationships serve as a foundation to how this group of practitioners approach their work, and provide the space to interact with their work in radical ways and raise critical consciousness. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Through the application of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)— and paying extra attention to the utilization of ideological squaring, actor descriptions, and lexicalization— this thesis aims to discuss the Church of Sweden’s “official” discourse regarding its humanitarian and social engagement with refugees and refugee issues the year 2017. Wherein, the author attempts to discuss what the collected material— from the internet-based function Support migration, and personal semi-structured interviews with Church personnel— can tell one about the Church’s views on its self-identity, social engagement, as well as ecumenical and interreligious relations, in an increasingly diverse Swedish society. Central for this thesis is how ideology functions, and how “us and them” divisions are constructed, within the discourse, regarding the Church’s refugee work. It can be argued that a key finding of this thesis is how the Church’s discourse generally sets itself against popular contemporary categorizations of refugees as threats, in addition to classic “us and them” distinctions that often serve to demonize the religious and cultural other— which have become observable within contemporary debates regarding refugees in the Global North. Instead, it could be argued that, at least regarding these issues, the Church of Sweden provides an alternative and critical voice in these matters. However, “us and them” divisions can still be observable. Where, for instance the “us” of the Church that is presented as a moral force in society— which has a responsibility to guard human dignity— is set in opposition against “them”, which are depicted as external marginalized voices which threaten both its mission and identity.

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This thesis investigates how faith-based organizations (FBO’s) operating in inter-faith contextsconduct identity-building processes to answer the research question “How can we understand theidentity-building processes of Christian faith-based organizations operating in Muslim countries?”.Hence, the author seeks to explore the role of Christian FBO’s in the international arena and thestudy of International Relations through the case study of WorldVision Jordan, a Christianorganization working within a predominantly Muslim country with mostly Muslim participants. Thethesis emphasizes the colonial as an indispensable part of Christianisation and humanitarianism andargues that the interfaith relations at play need to be understood within a double-subaltern context.Thus, a colonial conscious framework based on social constructivism and postcolonial IR theory isbuilt and its theoretical, conceptual and methodological implications then serve as a basis for theanalysis. WV’s identity-building processes are discursively analysed according to Schneider’s(2013) toolbox approach thereby evaluating not only the empirical data as such, but also itssurroundings, production, and context. Through the analysis of the organizations discursivelyconstructed Self against several Others, the thesis reveals a distorted self-perception and how theorganization pursues specific goals of religious persuasion