{"title":"Rereading minor women characters of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata through their contemporary adaptation in the novels of Kavita Kane","authors":"Nisha Tyagi, Kumar Gautam Anand","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226970","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226970","url":null,"abstract":"This study explores the changes in the portrayal of minor women characters in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to that of the contemporary fictional narratives of Kavita Kane. Women’s struggle, except in the Vedic period, expresses their endeavor for self-reliance and individuality. It also carries their subsequent efforts to camouflage or appropriate the patriarchal norms to be at peace with society. The struggle of marginalized women in epic stories—whether misrepresented, represented, or silenced—is now being brought to light by reframing their roles as protagonists who assert themselves, fight for their rights, and challenge the pre-determined social and cultural expectations that have caused their oppression in a male-dominated society. These stories prompt us to question gender and class-based discrimination by highlighting female characters’ neglected mental abilities.","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139838897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Naha Confucius Temple lawsuit and religion-making in Japan’s courts of law","authors":"Ernils Larsson","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226968","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226968","url":null,"abstract":"This paper critically examines the process of “religion-making” as it occurs in Japanese courts of law, through an analysis of the recent Naha Confucius Temple case. The case concerned a small Confucius temple built on public land in Naha, the prefectural capital of Okinawa. The mayor of Naha had decided to waver lease for the land, since he considered the temple to be an “educational institution” focused primarily on disseminating knowledge about Okinawan history and local cultural heritage. Although the organization behind the temple was legally registered as a general incorporated foundation, the plaintiff argued that their activities and objectives were clearly religious in nature. In rulings handed down between 2018 and 2021, all three instances of the judiciary ruled in favor of the plaintiff, deciding that despite the organization’s legal status and stated objectives, their connection to Confucianism meant that they should be considered a “religious organization” under law.","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139949277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Contextualism in Ayatollāh Borūjerdī’s Jurisprudential Methodology","authors":"Rahim Nobahar","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226973","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226973","url":null,"abstract":"This article sheds light on the fiqhī methodology of Ayatollāh S. Hosain Tabātabāī Borūjerdī (1875-1961). According to the author, one of the most prominent features of his methodology is a broad contextualism. Bringing evidence from Ayatollāh Borūjerdī’s major writings, the article explains different aspects and dimensions of his contextualist approach. It explains how he has moved away from a pure textualist approach while keeping his fidelity to the text at the same time. The article also shows how this idea has been reflected in the works of Ayatollāh Borūjerdī’s followers. It suggests the ways in which this methodological approach can be developed and applied across all Islamic textual sources, including the narrations of the Prophet and the Qur’ān.","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139595921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The world religions paradigm: Why context matters in religious studies","authors":"Beverly Vencatsamy","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226966","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226966","url":null,"abstract":"The World Religions Paradigm (WRP) has long served as the predominant framework for teaching Religious Studies globally and in South Africa. However, criticisms of the WRP highlight its tendency to marginalize non-Christian, non-Western, and non-white perspectives. This article examines these critiques in the context of South Africa, particularly in light of the events of 2015–2016, when the #MustFall movement sought to raise and address issues of decolonization. This article will argue that South Africa provides a pertinent example of the need to re-evaluate pedagogical choices in Religious Studies education by emphasizing the importance of context in re-shaping the curriculum.","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139612602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Draupadi and the paradigm of woman empowerment in Hinduism","authors":"Kalyani Hazri","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226975","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226975","url":null,"abstract":"This article aims to bring insights from the philosophy of Hinduism to contribute to contemporary issues related to justice/injustice, empowerment, and liberation. To make important observations, and raise significant questions in this direction, it analyzes and discusses in detail the character of Draupadi from the Indian epic The Mahabharata. The article invites critics to debate the potential for empowerment in feminine virtues through the example of Draupadi who defends her importance and value on the basis of stri-dharma (righteous feminine actions). The article also propounds that the typical masculine traits (aggression, individualistic and courageous actions, etc.) in the personality of Draupadi result from the socio-political normativity that puts Draupadi's virtue under examination because she had unconventionally married five men. Draupadi is under emotional and psychological pressure to publicly prove her virtuous self and this finds expression in emotionally-charged situations apparently as masculine traits.","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139525377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mapping a good society model in Ayatollah Khomeini’s religious political thought: Possibilities and challenges","authors":"Arash Hasanpour, Ali Rabbani","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226974","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226974","url":null,"abstract":"This article identifies the components of a good society in the thought of Ayatollah Khomeini. Over several decades, he experienced a voluntary and compulsory odyssey-like journey, the result of which was theorizing about a good society and Islamic government. From the young Ayatollah Khomeini to the late “Imam” Khomeini, several images are attributed to him. We find that the good society can be realized according to pure Mohammadian Islam and religious democracy. We claim that Khomeini’s thought evolved in the face of the Other and this Other has changed the perception of his identity and thought over time. This study shows that in a historical continuum, there are two breaks along the religious-political thought of Khomeini. Contrary to the common orthodox image of him, we claim that despite the contradictions, his thought has the capacity to reconcile Islam and modernity in a new religious-political framework. Nevertheless, one can observe the transformation, the elitist view, and the multiplicity of positions in his political, cultural, and social opinions.","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139617804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An introduction to religious language exploring theolinguistics in contemporary contexts","authors":"Fariz Alnizar","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226969","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226969","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139622288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Book Review: Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women’s Humanity from Evangelicalism","authors":"Tess E Starman","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226965","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226965","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139533709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Judging jewish identity in the United States","authors":"Warren S. Goldstein","doi":"10.1177/20503032241226967","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226967","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139440824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Scripture in stormont: Incidental reference to the Bible in Northern Irish politics","authors":"J. Andrew Doole","doi":"10.1177/20503032231199483","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032231199483","url":null,"abstract":"The Bible has long permeated Northern Irish culture and politics and continues to play a role even today, as politicians appeal to the words of Scripture in reference to their position on social policy issues such as equal marriage and abortion. In this article, however, I will show that the Bible also appears incidentally in Northern Irish politics, employed in discourse to demean, console, or entertain, and not to direct policy decisions. I discuss examples of reference to the Bible in the Northern Ireland Assembly and show that by comparing others (or oneself) to characters from the Bible, members are mostly engaging in criticism or mild attack of political opponents, but not without a certain role for humor in what might be designated “biblical banter.” I thus illuminate one aspect of the cultural role played by the Bible in the everyday language of politics in Northern Ireland.","PeriodicalId":43214,"journal":{"name":"Critical Research on Religion","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135691523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}