Suchergebnisse

In line with the theories of variability, fluctuation and instability of ethno-cultural identities, this paper deals with some sensitive issues surrounding the creation of new (sub-ethnic and sub-cultural) microidentities within one nation, in this case within the Macedonian nation. The research focuses on the initiative for declaring one part of the Macedonian nation, the Macedonians of Islamic religion, to be a separate ethnic group in 2011. It analyses the regional and historical background from which this initiative originated, mostly as an echo of the multicultural strategies and policies in the European and international context. It shows how the unstable politics destabilized the already fragile and fluctuating identity of this group toward an identity of resistance or even heresy, inspite of having preserved their primary Slavic linguistic and cultural identity. The paper argues that the Macedonians of Islamic religion are a part of the Macedonian social, cultural and religious reality and should therefore be recognized as a specific cultural-religious community within the Macedonian national entity. This issue is seen as very important in the present context, since the Macedonian identity is preasured and relativized itself. The paper underlines that the Macedonian national identity is inclusive, layered, more general and complex than its religious factor. Therefore this researcher proposes inclusive state policies for all Macedonians regardless of religious affiliation, inclusive civilizational strategies with inter-connective spiritual values (inter-religious palimpsests and symbiosis) and inclusive state secular strategies as protection against religious radicalisms, atavisms and conflicts.

Neither native nor stranger : places, encounters, prophecies --. - "A war between soldiers and prophets" : embodied resistance in colonial Belgian Congo, 1921 --. - Threatening gestures, immoral bodies : Kingunza after Kimbangu --. - Dancing with the invisible : everyday performances under Mobutu Sese Seko --. - Dancing disorder in Mobutu's Zaire : animation politique and gendered nationalisms --. - Bundu dia Kongo and embodied revolutions : performing Kongo pride --. - Transforming modern society

This paper focuses on the role religion plays in Ghanaian football. The study seeks to examine why in Ghanaian football, participants such as administrators, players and supporters spend much time and money on religious rituals and practices towards achieving success. The paper discovers that religion plays a substantial role in Ghanaian football and it is difficult to take away the religious elements from Ghanaian football, due to the benefits football participants derive from their religious activities. Nonetheless, the study indicates that success of football does not only depend on religion but also on training, discipline and commitment to the game.

The notions of 'the sacred' and 'the profane', coined by Emile Durkheim and reinforced by Mircea Eliade, have become indispensable for the historian of religions. No matter how details may vary, every society, every human tradition singles out certain things, acts, words or places as totally distinct from others. In these special things, acts, words or places 'real reality' (Eliade) is present, made available or conveyed, and therefore they differ from all ordinary, profane reality.

Religion and culture are interwoven and this can be seen among the Oron people in their use of the shrine as a socio-cultural and ethical institution. The shrine is an embodiment and the symbol of the very traditional religion of the people. As such, the shrine serves as a medium through which the norms, values, ethics, taboos, and morals are taught and enforced. There is also a great relationship between religion and justice as the shrine (Afi/Obio) as an ethical institution serves as a tribunal of justice by the deities, divinities, and ancestors under the guidance and administration of the priest in tackling and resolving criminal activities, disputes as well as restoring social order and justice in Oron traditional society. The Oron Afi/Obio (Shrine) method of administering justice is beyond the Empirical application of the modern judiciary system that relies on physical facts and shreds of evidence, while the shrine, also, uses spiritual methods that involve Oath taking, incantation and necromancy. Globalization rather than modifying the lapses and loopholes of this system in the parlance of morality, ethics, and health has led to its abolition and break down. This work adopts the qualitative method. This work as primary research uses the conflict theory, phenomenological and Historical method. It identifies globalization as a threat to the traditional justice system and recommends that the shrine is a multi-faceted institution whose function can be adopted and applied to the Nigerian legal system where there is no or little evidence and oath swearing for politicians in our contemporary society.

S.C. van Bijsterveld, Godsdienstvrijheid in Europees perspectief. WEJ Tjeenk Willink, 1998, XIII+203 pp. - Religions in European Union Law/ Les Religions dans le droit communautaire. Proceedings of the Colloquium Luxembourg/ Trier, November 21-22, 1996. Pubblicazioni di Diritto Ecclesiastico, Università degli Studi di Milano, 13. Bruylant, Giuffrè Editore, Nomos Verlag, 1998, ISBN 88-14-07140-3, 196 pp. - State and Church in the European Union, Gerhard Robbers (ed.). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, Baden-Baden 1996. 344 pp.