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Abstract
Investigating the potential compatibility between the ongoing shariʿa-compliant cyber reforms with the standards enshrined in the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, the article regards the contemporary European digital agenda as a point of reference to examine the variegated Muslim responses to modern technologies, including virtual Islamic (e-)counseling. Comparing Western and Islamic attitudes toward the usage of robotics and a (human-centric) artificial intelligence, it becomes clear that these tools must support individuals, being Islamic scholars or Western legal professionals. While skillfully relying on different languages and transcending domestic borders, European Islamic bodies can also engage in synergetic collaborations with state institutions at inter/national levels by aligning themselves with the cyber reorientation of the digital public space.
Abstract
With the in-depth implementation of the Chinese rural revitalization strategy, the integration of art and fashion elements has brought new vitality and development momentum to rural areas. Based on the theory of aesthetic needs and cultural empowerment and community participation, this paper proposes specific mechanisms about how to enhance environmental aesthetics, form cultural identity, and community participation and also how to increase tourism attraction through art fashion. This paper analyzes the main challenges encountered in the implementation of art fashion empowerment, including the unbalanced allocation of resources, the adaptability of cultural differences, the balance between sustainability and economic benefits, and the lack of education and training. Based on this, the paper puts forward an effective path to realize the rural action of art fashion empowerment, including the combination of comprehensive art and local characteristics, the support of policies and funds, the continuous promotion of community education and the innovation of cross-field cooperation. By integrating arts and local characteristics, strengthening policy and financial support, building education systems, and promoting cross-sectoral cooperation, we can inject lasting vitality into rural revitalization. This paper deeply analyzes the application of art fashion in rural areas and its positive impact, aiming at providing a new perspective and practical path for rural revitalization, making it an important force to promote the overall development of rural areas.
Abstract
The research delves into the intricate geopolitical dynamics underpinning the economy of the South Pacific region, focusing on attaining self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability amidst competing interests from global powers such as the United States, Australia, Japan, India, New Zealand, and China. It scrutinizes the geopolitical and geoeconomic factors influencing Pacific nations, curating data from academic papers, policy documents, media, and relevant websites. Challenges, opportunities, and concerns facing the region are discerned within historical and contemporary contexts, emphasizing the need for Pacific nations to integrate with China and India’s economies. Recommendations prioritize transparent, sustainable partnerships, advocating for alignment with Chinese and Indian economic prowess while safeguarding regional interests and values. A mixed-methods research framework is employed, upholding ethical standards and furnishing pragmatic recommendations for policymakers, international entities, and local stakeholders. Emphasizing reconciliation, community empowerment, and sustainable development, the research aims for a more equitable and resilient future. By illuminating the enduring imprint of colonialism on the region’s socio-economic trajectory and geopolitical dynamics, this study contributes to understanding and navigating the complexities of colonial legacies in the South Pacific Islands.
Abstract
This article aims to explore how the entanglement of Protestant Christianity and race and racism is manifested in contemporary Dutch society, and to identify which themes for introspection this yields for majority white Dutch Protestant churches. We argue that introspection on perceived superiority of white Dutch Protestantism is crucial to uncover subtle, unconscious mechanisms and ideas that are present in majority white Dutch Protestant churches and that contribute to maintaining racism. Furthermore, we argue that contemporary topical issues such as racism and colonial history run the risk of being pushed to the margins again as long as there is no systematic review of power and privilege of white Dutch Protestantism.
Abstract
This article presents positions on the digitability of religion as they are lived and reasoned about by digital natives who claim to be religious, spiritual, and/or searching and curious in this regard. Data were collected through explorative participant observations and semistructured interviews with digital natives with transmigratory biography elements in Switzerland. Examples of the borders that interlocutors drew between digitable and nondigitable aspects of religion are also presented to provide an overview of the emic assumptions about the possibilities and limits of religious digitability in the field. The analysis revealed that digital natives tended to see almost all aspects of religion but not all aspects of the religious community experience as digitable, and sometimes value the nondigitability of certain nuances of community explicitly.
Abstract
There are 120 Jains living in Switzerland today. Desiring to exchange information about their religion and to expand their knowledge, they started to meet in 2008. This initiated a community-building process in which Jains of different branches took part. Such a process, as well as the diaspora situation itself, is always connected with negotiations and religious transformations, which is also evident in the Swiss context. Following the common meetings, a distinct form of Jainism was created in Switzerland. This new form is supradenominational and universal and based on aspects such as vegetarianism, environmentalism, and nonviolence. Additionally, the Swiss Jains developed new strategies of knowledge transfer. This article focuses on not only the formation of a Swiss Jain community but also its dissolution as no common gatherings have taken place since 2016. Therefore, factors are named that can lead to the dissolution of a community.
Abstract
The role of religion in Western societies has gained renewed attention in recent years. While choirs have been studied to varying extents in the social sciences, the geography of choirs has received little attention, particularly in human geography. Using questionnaire responses from secular choir members, this exploratory study examines the possible differences and/or similarities of secular choir’s sacral and/or secular activity in urban and rural spaces in Sweden. The study reveals two primary findings. First, it reveals that secular choir members engage in a mixture of secular and sacred activities, suggesting that these activities can be considered postsecular. Second, the data challenges the geographical perception of rural environments as more sacred/traditional, as they have a high proportion of secular activities. Likewise, the results questions the geographical perception of urban environments as secular/modern, as they demonstrate an even distribution of sacred activities.