Initiation,Trance And Possession in an Afro-Brazilian Religion-The Narratives of a mineiro maranhense

This article presents the process of initiation to the Tambor de Mina, the mainreli-gious tradition in Maranh?o, a state in the north of Brazil .The Tambor de Mina designates an ec-static and inziatic ...     

Opinions toward suicide: Cross-national evaluation of cultural and religious effects on individuals

This study evaluates the role that religious and cultural values have on individual opinions toward suicide worldwide. Using multilevel modeling with data from the fourth wave of the World Values Survey (42,299 individuals in 43 countries), the current study is designed to analyze the effect of individual (i.e., micro-level), and country (i.e., macro-level) characteristics on opinions toward suicide. Specifically, cultural values, religious affiliation, religious importance, and church attendance are analyzed at both the individual and country levels to evaluate the impact of individual and country level effects on opinions toward suicide. The results show that individual opinions toward suicide are influenced by individual belief as well as by the cultural and religious characteristics of their country. The results suggest that evaluation of individual opinions toward controversial behavior should account for the unique and cross-interaction effects of micro- and macro-level effects.     

论宋代文化中的"眉山现象"

宋代文化发达,而西南小州眉山又是最发达的地区之一,我们称之为"眉山现象".这与唐五代及宋"靖康之难"后的移民运动密切相关.据研究,眉山是当时接受移民最多的地区,大量的北方"衣冠之族"带来了黄河流域的先进文化,它与巴蜀本土文化相融合,由家族文化发展为文化家族,通过教育与科举,部分人成为各个领域的精英.所谓"眉山现象",是南北文化融合的硕果.     

爱的宗教——浅析张洁《祖母绿》

文学与宗教异曲同工,宗教成为集体无意识影响作家,文学中渗透着宗教情韵。中国当代作家张洁的小说《祖母绿》,就具有着浅淡的宗教气息。     

Mindfulness, vulnerability, and love: Spiritual lessons from frail elders, earnest young pilgrims, and middle aged rockers

Gerontologists have studied religion and spirituality for almost three decades. Much of this work focuses on determining how elders' religious and spiritual beliefs and practices affect various indicators of well-being. This paper critiques many of the assumptions underlying this research and suggests alternatives to individualistic formulations of well-being. Experiences in spiritual communities of various types may help aging persons to be mindfully present to others, to recognize that all are vulnerable to the afflictions of aging and the certainty of death, and to love and care for others while working to promote justice. In this paper, I describe how my marriage to a minister enabled me to develop relationships with frail elders and young adults seeking to live faithfully. These friends have influenced my work and have helped to shape my views on my own aging.     

梅山武功历史成因探析

梅山武功是一种在湖南新化农村广为流传的地域拳种,具有浓郁的地方文化特征.其形成和发展是多种社会因素影响和作用的结果,要以发展为主题,科学分析梅山武功历史流变,以期为继承与发展梅山武功服务.     

论人类文化精神的时代性特征

文化精神是渗透在一个社会物质、制度和精神中的思维方式和价值取向。而文化精 神从历史发展的共性上又经历了宗教的、哲学的和科学的时代。因此，认识人类文化精神的 三个时代就是认识先进文化的发展方向，具有重要的现实意义。     

论原始宗教在早期文明发展中的文化价值

原始宗教是原始氏族———部落制社会的伴生物,是氏族制社会的上层建筑。适应氏族———部落制的社会存在,原始宗教的根本目的,就是最大限度地满足初民的生存需要和群体组织延续的需要,原始宗教在事实上从诸多方面满足了这种需要,在人类早期文明发展史上体现了其应有的文化价值。可以说,如果没有原始宗教及其文化功能的发挥,人类文明的维系、积累和传承就失去了精神的动力。     

The effects of religion on subjective aging in Singapore: An interreligious comparison

This interreligious comparison deals with Buddhist and Christian Chinese elderly Singaporeans. Based on the data gathered from in-depth interviews with five Buddhists and five Christians, this article explores how religion plays a role in the adjustment to the physical, social, and existential aging processes. It investigates the similarities and differences between Buddhist and Christian beliefs in terms of their effects on the subjective experience of aging. Findings indicate that religion can play an integrative role that facilitates adjustment to the aging process. Also, they suggest that though there are fundamental, irreducible differences in terms of religious beliefs and practices between Buddhism and Christianity, there are far less differences in the ways they impact on the integrative aging process. Some negative effects of religion on aging and some viewpoints about successful aging are presented in the discussion.