This thesis aims at locating the position of the Jainas within the Indian religious landscape. From the second half of the 19th century onwards, novel concepts of collective religious identities and the formation of exclusive communities among religious lines have led to the establishment of the popular image of India's religious landscape as consisting of a Hindu majority and several religious minorities. This model is based on exclusive, often antagonistic religious categories. However, by discussing the position of the Jainas within the framework of India's religious pluralism, the present thesis attempts to question this popular concept. As will be argued, similar to members of other religious traditions, among Jainas too the identity discourse of the intellectual elite has introduced broader supra-locally, supra-caste-based concepts of community. However, this process of collective identity and community formation has not been based on, in Harjot Oberoi's terms, the 'construction of religious boundaries' (1994) between Jainas and Hindus. These `blurred boundaries´ between Hindus and Jainas in the modern Jaina identity discourse defy a concrete positioning of the Jainas within the framework of India's religious landscape.This thesis will begin with the analysis of the late 19th and early 20th century Jaina discourse of Western orientalists and intellectual Jainas, and its impact on the `definition´ of `Jaina values´ and the Jainas as a `community´. Mainly focusing on the regional sub-group of the Digambara Jainas of South Maharashtra and North Karnataka, the research will also discuss the impact of non-middle-class `agents´ in the process of community building among Jainas. In this respect it will be argued that lay-ascetic interaction and the performance of distinct rituals and festivals largely contribute to the establishment of community among Digambara Jainas. The strict practice of Digambara ascetics also adds the element of asceticism to the `Jaina values´, which have been propagated by intellectual lay Jaina individuals and organisations from the early 20th century onwards. These propagated `Jaina values´, most prominently among them ahiṃsā and tolerance, make Jainism the most suitable religion for modern times, and symbolise ancient Indian `values´ in their `purest form´.However, regarding the Jainas as a `community´, this Jaina discourse has remained rather vague and abstract. This vagueness finds its most concrete expression in the still undecided legal status of the Jainas regarding their inclusion among the nationwide religious minorities. In comparison to other Indian religious minority traditions, the Sikhs and Buddhists in particular, the `Jaina case´ suggests a complexity of collective religious identifications in the Indian religious landscape, which defies any fixed model.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mauricio Loiacono.pdf: 2110226 bytes, checksum: a34778480f9b5a914f87cde154ab7fb1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paper has as a theme the Exile of The Russian Orthodox Apostolic Catholic Church in São Paulo. The Development of the theme in issue had as objectiv to demonstrate how this denomination of the Orthodox Church related to the immigration work along with Russians who participate in it, not only limiting a relation in a holy space where they are installed in their temples to wich the followers run into in Service Days or Holly Feasts; moreover, its way of leading with daily matters of their followers lives who away from Russia were obliged to a reconstruction of their identities in a country totally strange to them. The text that is presented had as resources, a research done along with the priests of this Church mainly responsible of the São Sérgio de Radonej church in Moema, São Paulo; besides the interviews conducted with the clergyman, it was still done in this research activities such as, in loco observation work, participation in Sunday Liturgy, in Easter Celebration, and the Foundation of the church Celebration among other festivities. Therefore, it is expected that this pioneer paper in relation to this matter will be part of a contribution to those studious people of The Religion Science field, as well as other correlated studies to the Religious Diversity Study in Brazil. / O presente trabalho tem como tema, A Igreja Católica Apostólica Ortodoxa Russa no Exílio em São Paulo. O desenvolvimento do tema em questão objetivou-se a demonstrar como essa denominação da Igreja Ortodoxa voltada para a Imigração atua junto aos russos que a ela são congregados, não apenas limitando-se a uma relação no espaço sagrado onde estão instalados seus templos para onde os fiéis acorrem nos dias de Liturgia e Festas Santificadas, mais que isso, a sua forma de agir no cotidiano dessas pessoas que fora da Rússia foram obrigadas à reconstrução de sua identidade em um país totalmente estranho para eles. O texto que ora é apresentado, teve como subsídios uma pesquisa feita junto a sacerdotes dessa Igreja, principalmente o padre responsável pela Paróquia de São Sérgio de Radonej no Bairro de Moema-SP. Além dessas entrevistas concluídas junto aos clérigos, foram realizados ainda nessa pesquisa, trabalhos de observação in loco, participando além das Liturgias Dominicais, em celebrações como a da Páscoa e Festa da Fundação da Paróquia entre outras. Assim sendo, espera-se que esse trabalho pioneiro em relação ao assunto venha a apresentar-se como uma contribuição para os estudiosos das Ciências da Religião, bem como outros estudos correlatos a Diversidade Religiosa no Brasil.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Simone Espin de Oliveira Lucena.pdf: 3085002 bytes, checksum: 762d22e7f9825f36a1ed2652d35a1878 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-11 / Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie / The present work is part of a much wider project, which theme is the relation between ethny and religion in Brazil. The so called Christian Reformed Church in Brazil, object of this study, is mostly composed by Hungarians and shows to be the holder of a religious and socio-cultural preservation of the Hungarians reformed ones. The Hungarians who came to Brazil, were from some dismembered territories, as a consequence of the center-European-politic transformation, the economy desorganization and the revolutions, which were not in favor of the Hungarians in that area. We can obseve that this immigration, which used to be temporary, became definitive. When we take into consideration the importance of the Reformed Christian Church in Brazil and the high number if these immigrants, we can understand that it changes to a universal ethnicized religion, in other words, it uses religion to preserve their culture, their background. The religious elements start to compose the ethnic identity of the group. After 75 years of being organized, the Reformed Christian Church in Brazil faces, for many reasons, problems to keep its original characteristics. / A presente dissertação é parte de um projeto de maior abrangência, cujo tema é a relação entre Etnia e Religião no Brasil. A chamada Igreja Cristã Reformada do Brasil, objeto deste estudo, é composta na sua maioria por húngaros, e demonstra ser detentora da preservação religiosa e sócio-cultural dos reformados húngaros. Os húngaros emigrados para o Brasil provinham de territórios desmembrados, sendo a transformação política centro-européia, a desorganização da economia e as revoluções, desfavoráveis aos húngaros daqueles territórios, fatores estes que motivaram a emigração. Observamos que a imigração antes provisória, torna-se definitiva. Considerando a importância da Igreja Cristã Reformada do Brasil na aglutinação desses imigrantes, entendemos que ela se transforma numa religião universal etnicizada, isto é, utiliza a religião para manter a cultura, os elementos religiosos passam a compor o discurso da identidade étnica do grupo. Com 75 anos de organização, a Igreja Cristã Reformada do Brasil enfrenta, por diversos motivos, dificuldade em manter suas características de origem.

This thesis analyzes the construction of children of Iranian asylum-seekers&rsquo / national and religious identity who are dwelling in Kayseri provisionally. Identity construction of the children was based on a &lsquo / flexible&rsquo / and &lsquo / malleable&rsquo / ground in the research. The research was conducted through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a selected group of participants. The participants belong to two different religious cohorts, Shi&rsquo / is and Baha&rsquo / is. Within the scope of the research question, national and religious of the children were investigated profoundly by taking into consideration of related identity theories. In addition, childhood experiences of the children were examined in order to find out if there is any interplay between childhood experiences and national and religious identities. It was determined that ambit of a contested process of identities, national identity enunciated its vigour by far for all the participants. It was also ascertained that while for the Shi&rsquo / i children, religious identity has reduced its strength / religious identity is still potent for the Baha&rsquo / i children in the host society. Moreover, the children&rsquo / s interrupted childhood results from their religious professions and their family&rsquo / s political views reconstructed in Kayseri. The participants&rsquo / interrupted childhood in Iran achieved a relative maintenance in Kayseri without any fragmentation due to relative free environment comparing to Iran.

Naming is a very important tool used among various African cultures to convey certain messages, either to an individual, family members or a community. Naming of various objects is linked with the socio-political factors of countries where anthroponyms and toponyms are found. It is for this reason that onomastics (the study of names) can never be isolated from studying the dynamics of various societies, the behaviour and the psychology of different individuals. While names can unite communities, they can also serve as a dividing tool in various communities. It is from names that one can learn the various cultures that have been present in a particular place, and have an understanding and the appreciation of the history of a place. Onomastics is multidisciplinary in nature. It can be approached from different perspectives. These include linguistic, historical, sociological, philosophical, economical and other perspectives. Chapter two focuses on the linguistic and semantic aspects of names. It explores onomastic definitions and the comparison between the meaning of Euro-western and African names. In Chapter two an argument is presented on the morphological structure of Zulu and/or Xhosa names for boys and girls. In this Chapter the orthography of place names is also discussed. The importance of standardising names for purposes of having one name for one entity and asserting the country's history and heritage cannot be overemphasised. As indicated above that onomastics can also be approached from a historic approach, Chapter 3 looks at the changing political scenario in South Africa that has had an impact on the culture of indigenous people, their identity and the existence of Euro-western names among them. The arrival of white people in South Africa contaminated the indigenous culture and the African belief systems. The traditional belief system of the indigenous people is discussed in Chapter three together with the advent of Christianity. Chapter four looks at the sociological approach in onomastics. Names of any nature exist in a society. These names reflect the social dynamics of the societies where they are found. The society plays a major role in influencing the choice of names given to individuals and entities. These names have different functions in societies. The different functions that names have in various communities are also discussed. In Chapter four the significance of anthroponyms and toponyms is discussed. Various types of names are also looked at. Political changes witnessed in the country play a major role in transforming the country whether economically, culturally or socially. The impact of political changes and the attitudes of South Africans towards name changes are discussed in Chapter five. President Thabo Mbeki's call for an African renaissance came at the time when South Africa attained its independence. The adoption of African names was on the increase during this period. Chapter six looks at the link between changing naming patterns and the African renaissance. As an African renaissance calls for the rebirth of African culture and ways of living, xenophobic attitudes among Africans are examined. It is argued that Africa's rebirth is dependant on various issues including the respect and value that Africans give each other. Onomastics, as mentioned above can be studied using different approaches, however the limitedness of this study prevents discussion on all approaches. Onomastics is a relatively new field in South Africa, however its multidisciplinary nature and the abundance of data, invites more studies to be conducted. Chapter seven makes recommendations on some of the onomastic studies that may be conducted in future. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

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The thesis links African Theology with three notions: identity, mission and empowerment. Out of this linkage arise three interrelated themes that dominate the thesis. Firstly, different African theologies can be read as different modes of the quest for identity. The thesis demonstrates how the quest for identity in African Theology fits into political, philosophical, religious and other quests for identity in Africa, which are driven by historical factors such as the slave trade, imperialism, colonialism and neocolonialism. The responses of inculturation and liberation theologies to these historical factors of disempowerment leads to the conclusion that being Christian can be both liberating and fully compatible with being African. Secondly, the quest for identity in African Theology properly belongs to the notion of mission understood as missio Dei. This conclusion is derived from an examination of critical aspects of missio Dei. These include determining the purposes of missio Dei as being the restoration of the imago Dei and the salvation and liberation of humankind. The conclusion is also derived from acknowledging that missio Dei is effected through missiones ecclesiae and missio hominum. Thirdly, constructing mission as missio Dei leads to the notion of the quest for identity as a mission of empowerment and an empowerment for mission. A multidiscipline theoretical framework of empowerment leads to a stipulation of ways in which African theology, through a quest for identity, is empowering or can empower its interlocutors. At the same time the mission of empowerment becomes an empowerment for mission. This is especially significant in the light ofthe acknowledged southward shift in Christianity's centre of gravity. That shift implies African Christianity having a missionary responsibility that extends to the rest of the world. The quest for identity in African Theology is fraught with ambiguities, dilemmas and risks. But this is a price various African theologies are willing to pay in order both to help uplift the historically disadvantaged Africans and also to secure the future of Christianity on the continent. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

The last two decades have set the global trend of internationalized education on a new course. Besides the usual flow of international students from their home countries to Western universities, an opposite flow emerged. In the Middle East, for instance, the number of international campuses nearly doubled between 2000 and 2009, and Egypt has been no exception. Starting 2003, Egypt has witnessed a remarkable surge of private international universities that use English as a medium of instruction, adopt foreign curricula and have partnerships with universities in Europe, North America, and recently Asia. This trend has raised identity loss concerns among many intellectuals and educational researchers whose worries mainly revolved around national, religious, and linguistic identities. This longitudinal qualitative study, thus, aimed to understand how Egyptian freshman students at an international University in Cairo construct and negotiate their national, religious and linguistic identities. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 12 students at three different points of their first year at the university, and a focus group was organized at the beginning of their second year. Results revealed a more complex picture than the widespread simplistic rhetoric about international universities’ influence on students’ identity construction. The participants’ social and academic backgrounds and unique life experiences were an important factor in their identity construction and negotiation; they seemed to determine the ranking of those identities on their hierarchy of identities, which in turn shaped how they constructed and negotiated them. Moreover, participants realized and used their agency to negotiate their identities and resolve identity crises when these happened. They also resorted to other identity agents, particularly family and students’ clubs. This study contributes to the Egyptian debate on educational reform and adds to the literature on English as a medium of instruction, identity formation, and internationalized education by shedding light on the intricate ways in which students navigate through international education, and by suggesting pedagogical and policy implications applicable not only to liberal-education institutions in the region, but perhaps also to other universities in Europe and North America that attract international students, particularly with the recent waves of refugees from the Middle East.

A juventude na sociedade contemporânea tem assumido uma postura em relação ao sagrado e a religiosidade bem diferente da religião institucionalizada. Nesta pesquisa busca-se identificar algumas características da formação da identidade religiosa dos jovens, diante de um campo religioso cada vez mais plural, em uma cultura globalizada e consumista. Observa-se que é comum entre a juventude o trânsito religioso, uma flutuação entre denominações e sistemas, buscando construir a sua estrutura de sentido. Diante da forte influência da subjetividade em relação às escolhas religiosas, a religião torna-se "invisível", porque se localiza na subjetividade dos indivíduos que agora têm que construir a sua estrutura de sentido, caracterizando-se como identidades sempre mais provisórias e nômades / Youth in contemporary society has taken a position in relation to the holy and to the religiosity completely different from established religion. This research intends to identify some characteristics on formation of religious identity of youth faced with a religious field more and more plural in a global and consumption culture. We notice that is usual among youth the religious traffic, a floating between denominations and systems searching to build their structure of meaning. Faced with the strong influence of subjectivity in relation to the religious choices, the religion become "invisible" because it is located in the subjectivity of the person who has to build now its structure of meaning described always much more provisional and nomad

A presente dissertação tem como objetivo geral identificar pensamentos e sentimentos das pessoas ante a morte, buscando compreender como esta crise interfere na identidade religiosa do adulto. O trabalho visa identificar como a crise ante a morte interfere na reconfiguração da identidade religiosa dos adultos pesquisados bem como averiguar se dentre os sentimentos elencados surgem medos relacionados à morte e a situação pós-morte. Esta pesquisa usa a abordagem qualitativa dos dados, sobretudo por não se pretender generalizar resultados. A partir desta perspectiva, utiliza-se o método fenomenológico, com o propósito de identificar os significados dos sentimentos vividos pelos adultos, diante da crise ante a morte. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, o instrumento da coleta de dados é a entrevista semi-estruturada, baseando-se em duas perguntas norteadoras. A amostra consta de doze sujeitos com idade entre cinqüenta e quatro e noventa anos que se declaram pertencendo à religião católica, espírita, evangélica, sem religião definida e alguns que se auto-atribuíram denominações religiosas novas, criadas no momento da própria entrevista. Com os dados em mãos, faz-se a análise qualitativa das vivências e representações, buscando delimitar e descrever fenomenologicamente o conteúdo das entrevistas em unidades de significados, confrontando-as com as teorias embasadoras. Os resultados das análises demonstram que os adultos que vivenciam uma situação de crise ante a morte, tendem a questionar os seus valores religiosos, desenvolvendo algumas atitudes que se refletem em um movimento de reconfiguração de suas identidades religiosas: uns retraindo-se, distanciando-se ou rompendo completamente com os laços afetivos que os ligam as instituições religiosas de origem, outros, de modo contrário, aproximam-se e intensificam as suas relações com suas instituições ou grupos religiosos. E ainda outros, afastando-se fazem do seu lar, um lugar sagrado e passam de um tipo de fé herdada, para um tipo de fé pessoal, íntima, que se reflete no seu cotidiano, donde se pode concluir que o confronto com a morte, ocasiona uma crise de natureza psicoespiritual / The present report has the objective to identify thoughts and feelings of people toward death, searching to understand how this crisis interferes in the adult religious identity. The essay aims to identify how crisis facing death interferes in the religious identity reconfiguration of researched adults, as well as, to find out if among those feelings there is a fear related to death and the after death situation. This research uses a qualitative approach of data, once, one does not intend to generalize results. It is used the phenomenological method from this perspective, to identify the meaning of feelings undergone by adults due to death crisis. We collect data from semi-structured interviews with two main questions for the proposed objectives. The sample is of twelve persons from 54 to 90 years old, that say to be Catholic Spirit, Evangelic, no defined Religion and some self-defined with new religious denominations, created at the moment of the interview. The qualitative analysis of experiences and representations is carried out with the data seeking to delimitate the interview content phenomenological description in meaning units, to confront them with based upon theories. The results of the analysis show that adults go through crisis situation when facing death, they tend to question their religious values, developing attitudes that are reflected in their religious identity reconfiguration: some of them withdrawing themselves or completely breaking the affective ties that link them to their religious institutions, others, differently, get closer and intensify ones relations with those institutions or religious groups. And others at home have a holy place, going from the inherited faith to an inner faith, that it is reflected in daily life, so, one can conclude that, an existential crisis happens, when facing death