The Spanish colonisation of the Philippines in 1565 opened up trade between China, Latin America and Europe via the Pacific crossing, changing the history of global trade forever. The traditional understanding of the early colonial period in the Philippines suggests that colonial control spread rapidly and peacefully across the islands, ushering in dramatic changes to the social, political and economic environment of the archipelago. This dissertation argues by contrast that the extent of Spanish control has been overstated - partially as a by-product of an over-reliance on religious and secular chronicles that sought to magnify the role and interests of the colonial state. Through extensive archival work examining different sites of colonial authority and power, I demonstrate that Philippine communities contested and limited the nature of colonisation in their archipelago. In making this argument, I challenge prevalent assumptions of indigenous passivity in the face of imperial expansion. By demonstrating the agency of Southeast Asians, particular actors come to the fore in each of the chapters: Chinese labourers, indigenous elites, fugitives and apostates, unpacified mountain communities, native priestesses and Moro slave raiders. The culture and social organisation of these Southeast Asian communities impacted on the nature of Spanish imperialism and the capacity for the Spanish to retain and extend their control. Throughout the seventeenth century, the Spanish presence within the archipelago was always tenuous. A number of communities remained outside of Spanish control for the duration of the century, while still others oscillated between integration and rebellion, by turns participating in and resisting the consolidation of empire. These communities continued to maintain their local and regional economies and customs. Thus, by the end of the seventeenth century, imperial control remained fragmented, partial and incomplete. The dissertation contributes not only to the historiography of the Philippines - which remains under-explored - but also to the historiographies of Colonial Latin America, Southeast Asia and early modern empires. Conceptualising the Philippines as a frontier space helps to overturn the foundations of the myth of a completed conquest. This dissertation thus raises questions about the inevitability of empire by arguing that indigenous communities were active respondents to Spanish colonisation attempts and that indigenous traditions and culture in this region were both resilient and enduring in the face of colonial oppression.

<p>The aim of the thesis was to examine the applicability of attachment theory to adult and adolescent religiosity. Attachment theory is an empirically oriented research paradigm that takes evolutionary theory as the starting point in the study of child-parent relations and their socioemotional correlates in development. The work consisted of two interrelated tasks. First, limitations in theory and research in the psychology of religion, particularly the traditional psychodynamic perspectives, were highlighted, and attachment theory was proposed as an integrative framework to remedy some of those limitations. Second, four empirical studies (I-IV), based on attachment theoretical predictions, were conducted to investigate relations between individual differences in attachment and religiosity. </p><p>The combined results from the studies suggest the existence of two religiosity profiles in relation to attachment. Both profiles resemble influential descriptions of individual religiosity differences in the psychology of religion literature. The religiosity of individuals in the first profile is similar to their parents' religiosity and is likely to be stable over time. If religious changes have been experienced, these are likely to be gradual, to occur early in life, and in a context pointing to the importance of relationships with religious significant others. Such individuals' God image is likely to be loving, and not distant. It was hypothesized that these religiosity characteristics stern from experiences with sensitive attachment figures in childhood, and that such experiences have promoted partial adoption of the attachment figures' religious standards. The mental representations of attachment resulting from the favorable experiences were suggested to be responsible for a corresponding image of a loving God. </p><p>The religiosity of individuals in the second profile is independent of parental religiosity, and is likely to fluctuate (increase and decrease) over time. Their religious changes are more sudden and intense, occur relatively later in life, and in a context pointing to an emotionally supportive function for religion. Such individuals' God image is more distant, and less loving. These religiosity characteristics were hypothesized to stem from experiences with insensitive attachment figures in childhood. It was suggested that they reflect an affect regulation strategy to obtain/maintain a sense of felt security, and that God is utilized as a compensatory attachment-like figure in this regard. </p><p>Findings pertaining to the profiles generally emerged regardless of whether the design was cross-sectional (I-IV) or longitudinal (III); whether participants were adults (I, II, and IV) or adolescents (Study III); and whether attachment was assessed with self-report questionnaires (I-IV) or independent ratings based on a semi-structured interview (IV).</p>

The aim of the thesis was to examine the applicability of attachment theory to adult and adolescent religiosity. Attachment theory is an empirically oriented research paradigm that takes evolutionary theory as the starting point in the study of child-parent relations and their socioemotional correlates in development. The work consisted of two interrelated tasks. First, limitations in theory and research in the psychology of religion, particularly the traditional psychodynamic perspectives, were highlighted, and attachment theory was proposed as an integrative framework to remedy some of those limitations. Second, four empirical studies (I-IV), based on attachment theoretical predictions, were conducted to investigate relations between individual differences in attachment and religiosity. The combined results from the studies suggest the existence of two religiosity profiles in relation to attachment. Both profiles resemble influential descriptions of individual religiosity differences in the psychology of religion literature. The religiosity of individuals in the first profile is similar to their parents' religiosity and is likely to be stable over time. If religious changes have been experienced, these are likely to be gradual, to occur early in life, and in a context pointing to the importance of relationships with religious significant others. Such individuals' God image is likely to be loving, and not distant. It was hypothesized that these religiosity characteristics stern from experiences with sensitive attachment figures in childhood, and that such experiences have promoted partial adoption of the attachment figures' religious standards. The mental representations of attachment resulting from the favorable experiences were suggested to be responsible for a corresponding image of a loving God. The religiosity of individuals in the second profile is independent of parental religiosity, and is likely to fluctuate (increase and decrease) over time. Their religious changes are more sudden and intense, occur relatively later in life, and in a context pointing to an emotionally supportive function for religion. Such individuals' God image is more distant, and less loving. These religiosity characteristics were hypothesized to stem from experiences with insensitive attachment figures in childhood. It was suggested that they reflect an affect regulation strategy to obtain/maintain a sense of felt security, and that God is utilized as a compensatory attachment-like figure in this regard. Findings pertaining to the profiles generally emerged regardless of whether the design was cross-sectional (I-IV) or longitudinal (III); whether participants were adults (I, II, and IV) or adolescents (Study III); and whether attachment was assessed with self-report questionnaires (I-IV) or independent ratings based on a semi-structured interview (IV).

Der Gegenstand dieser Dissertation sind Konversionsprozesse von Angehörigen der Evangelischen Landeskirchen in Deutschland (EKD); insbesondere geht es um die Art und Weise, wie Menschen die Veränderung ihrer Persönlichen Religion erleben. Die Theorie ist aus der religionssoziologischen, religionswissenschaftlichen und religionspsychologischen Konversionsforschung der letzten 100 Jahre abgeleitet und mittels quantitativer Verfahren geprüft worden. Drei Ergebnisse sind für die Arbeit zentral: 1. Anstatt Mitglieder devianter religiöser Gruppen zu befragen und die Motivlagen zur Mitgliedschaft zu erforschen, bilden Aussagen von Angehörigen der Evangelischen Kirchen in Deutschland die Datengrundlage. Auch bei ihnen ist nachweisbar, dass Konversionen zu biographischen Rekonstruktionen führen, die sich an der Norm der Religionsgemeinschaft orientieren. In der EKD ist das normative Spektrum breit, sodass hier Konversion sowohl als plötzliche (radikale) Veränderung als auch als gradueller Wandel sowie als unbewusster Prozess im Laufe der Biographie erlebt wird. 2. Über die biographische Rekonstruktion des Vorher-Nachher-Unterschieds der veränderten Persönlichen Religion hinaus sollten die Befragten angeben, als wie intensiv oder umfassend sie diese Veränderung erlebt haben. Anhand der Daten lässt sich zeigen, dass bei einem intensiveren Veränderungserleben auch die persönliche Religion zentraler für die Lebensvollzüge ist. 3. Die quantitativen Methoden haben es ermöglicht, sowohl die soziale Normzuordnung als auch das psychische Intensivierungserleben in ihrer Bedeutsamkeit für die Erklärung von Konversionsprozessen zu vergleichen. Beide Zugänge ergänzen einander in Abhängigkeit der Fragestellung: Die Zuordnung zur sozial normierten Erlebensweise der Konversion ist der stärkere Prädiktor für die biographsiche Rekonstruktion, die erlebte Intensität der Verändung ist der stärkere Prädiktor für den Zentralität der Persönlichen Religion (außer für den seltenen plötzlichen Konversionstyp). Allerdings trägt der jeweils andere Prädiktor zusätzlich zur Varianzaufklärung der jeweiligen zu erklärenden Variable bei. In einem umfassenderen Rahmen wird für die Religionswissenschaft diskutiert, dass religionssoziologische Theorieansätze sinnvoll und notwendig durch religionspsychologische ergänzt werden sollten.

Religious experience is a narrative reality, while it certainly relates to doctrines and rituals, it is embodied by the stories people tell which express the meaning of conversion as understood by the converts themselves. In order to enter this narrative world we must engage the actual stories told by converts, making space for their narratives as they make meaning of their experiences and thus open windows on the emic perspective. Sometimes this happens through stories that are largely thematic—expressing conversion in mainly one metaphor. Other times, narratives may touch on many different ideas, allowing us to discern various internal structures, such as some of the factors leading to conversion. Nevertheless, as important as these narratives are, they are only part of the picture because religious conversion always takes place in context. Therefore, if we are to properly understand the deeply personal experience we call conversion, we must frame it within the social, cultural and historical currents swirling around that experience. The conversions in this study are rooted in the religious history of Central Asia, particularly the seventy-odd years of Soviet rule. By the end of that era, it is probably more appropriate to think in terms of localized islam, rather than a universal religion based on the text of the Quran. Not only so, but the once proudly distinct Muslim peoples, now living under Russian rule, had become enculturated into Russian patterns of life, thought, and worldview, a process referred to as Russification, something which had profound effects on the way some of them have experienced conversion away from their natal religion. This study examines both of these aspects, first the contextual and then the personal, through the stories of thirty-six Muslims who converted to faith in Christ in post-Soviet Central Asia. By exploring the deeply personal and the broadly contextual together, this study offers a clear view of the meaning of religious conversion, in a historical, social, and religious context. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Lit. et Phil. (Religious Studies)

Der Gegenstand dieser Dissertation sind Konversionsprozesse von Angehörigen der Evangelischen Landeskirchen in Deutschland (EKD); insbesondere geht es um die Art und Weise, wie Menschen die Veränderung ihrer Persönlichen Religion erleben. Die Theorie ist aus der religionssoziologischen, religionswissenschaftlichen und religionspsychologischen Konversionsforschung der letzten 100 Jahre abgeleitet und mittels quantitativer Verfahren geprüft worden. Drei Ergebnisse sind für die Arbeit zentral: 1. Anstatt Mitglieder devianter religiöser Gruppen zu befragen und die Motivlagen zur Mitgliedschaft zu erforschen, bilden Aussagen von Angehörigen der Evangelischen Kirchen in Deutschland die Datengrundlage. Auch bei ihnen ist nachweisbar, dass Konversionen zu biographischen Rekonstruktionen führen, die sich an der Norm der Religionsgemeinschaft orientieren. In der EKD ist das normative Spektrum breit, sodass hier Konversion sowohl als plötzliche (radikale) Veränderung als auch als gradueller Wandel sowie als unbewusster Prozess im Laufe der Biographie erlebt wird. 2. Über die biographische Rekonstruktion des Vorher-Nachher-Unterschieds der veränderten Persönlichen Religion hinaus sollten die Befragten angeben, als wie intensiv oder umfassend sie diese Veränderung erlebt haben. Anhand der Daten lässt sich zeigen, dass bei einem intensiveren Veränderungserleben auch die persönliche Religion zentraler für die Lebensvollzüge ist. 3. Die quantitativen Methoden haben es ermöglicht, sowohl die soziale Normzuordnung als auch das psychische Intensivierungserleben in ihrer Bedeutsamkeit für die Erklärung von Konversionsprozessen zu vergleichen. Beide Zugänge ergänzen einander in Abhängigkeit der Fragestellung: Die Zuordnung zur sozial normierten Erlebensweise der Konversion ist der stärkere Prädiktor für die biographsiche Rekonstruktion, die erlebte Intensität der Verändung ist der stärkere Prädiktor für den Zentralität der Persönlichen Religion (außer für den seltenen plötzlichen Konversionstyp). Allerdings trägt der jeweils andere Prädiktor zusätzlich zur Varianzaufklärung der jeweiligen zu erklärenden Variable bei. In einem umfassenderen Rahmen wird für die Religionswissenschaft diskutiert, dass religionssoziologische Theorieansätze sinnvoll und notwendig durch religionspsychologische ergänzt werden sollten.

No description available.

No description available.

This study identifies a theological trajectory of first generation “believers” – those who allow the biblical text to speak authoritatively into their lives – within the Sindhi community of Pakistan. A passage from a contemporary translation of the New Testament in the Sindhi language – Luke 15:11-32, Jesus’ Parable of the Two Lost Sons – was presented in interview settings to discover how Sindhis express their faith as they consider the message of the parable. Culture texts generated by believers are compared to those generated by “traditional” Muslim Sindhis who do not accept the Bible as authoritative. Twenty–eight people identified as Sindhi believers were interviewed as well as twenty traditional Sindhi Muslims. Similarities and contrasts between the two groups are used to discover how the theological praxis of the believers is being impacted and how they are adjusting their view of God as they engage scripture. The description of theological trajectories that diverge from accepted traditional convictions is referred to as “mapping.” Six themes were identified from the interviews that are important for both groups while demonstrating distinct contrasts and similarities. The themes are (1) God is compassionate/kind/merciful/loving beyond our imagination, (2) God forgives his servants who repent, (3) Concepts of rewards, punishment and the fear of God, (4) The relationship of human beings with God (child versus servant), (5) Issues of justice, honor and status, and (6) The importance of obedience to God. An evaluation of the six themes revealed one overarching trajectory: a shift from a dominant master–servant view of the Divine–human relationship to a father–child paradigm. The research affirms that the shift to a biblically shaped view of God is not disconnected from previous beliefs, but is based on and shaped by a priori assumptions held by members of society. Commitment to the Bible as God’s word speaking authoritatively to believers creates a shift or trajectory of faith so that current perspectives, symbols and metaphors of God are being reformed and reconfirmed through the believers’ interaction with the Sindhi translation of scripture. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

This study identifies a theological trajectory of first generation “believers” – those who allow the biblical text to speak authoritatively into their lives – within the Sindhi community of Pakistan. A passage from a contemporary translation of the New Testament in the Sindhi language – Luke 15:11-32, Jesus’ Parable of the Two Lost Sons – was presented in interview settings to discover how Sindhis express their faith as they consider the message of the parable. Culture texts generated by believers are compared to those generated by “traditional” Muslim Sindhis who do not accept the Bible as authoritative. Twenty–eight people identified as Sindhi believers were interviewed as well as twenty traditional Sindhi Muslims. Similarities and contrasts between the two groups are used to discover how the theological praxis of the believers is being impacted and how they are adjusting their view of God as they engage scripture. The description of theological trajectories that diverge from accepted traditional convictions is referred to as “mapping.” Six themes were identified from the interviews that are important for both groups while demonstrating distinct contrasts and similarities. The themes are (1) God is compassionate/kind/merciful/loving beyond our imagination, (2) God forgives his servants who repent, (3) Concepts of rewards, punishment and the fear of God, (4) The relationship of human beings with God (child versus servant), (5) Issues of justice, honor and status, and (6) The importance of obedience to God. An evaluation of the six themes revealed one overarching trajectory: a shift from a dominant master–servant view of the Divine–human relationship to a father–child paradigm. The research affirms that the shift to a biblically shaped view of God is not disconnected from previous beliefs, but is based on and shaped by a priori assumptions held by members of society. Commitment to the Bible as God’s word speaking authoritatively to believers creates a shift or trajectory of faith so that current perspectives, symbols and metaphors of God are being reformed and reconfirmed through the believers’ interaction with the Sindhi translation of scripture. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)