Journal of Dharma

THE DANCE BETWEEN SACRED INCONSISTENCIES AND PROFANE CONSISTENCIES

Mathew Attumkal — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Religion and ethics are intrinsically interconnected. The essence of religion is compromised in the absence of ethics, and without a religious foundation, ethics becomes susceptible to destructive tendencies, partisanship, bias and arbitrariness. Similar to how agricultural crops thrive in open fields and trees flourish in designated spaces, religious belief and ethical values flourish within the parameters of human societies. Away from societies, ethics may lose its role as the custodian of moral norms, and religion, built upon the bonds of relationships, could potentially lose its significance. The current issue of the Journal of Dharma delves into a herculean task of analyzing the ethical interface of religious societies primarily due to the ambiguity surrounding the notion ‘religious society’. Some scholars view all religions as societies, while others perceive sects within established religions or associations operating in tandem with religions as societies. Further, scholars occasionally encounter difficulty in distinguishing between systems and structures within a religious framework, causing confusion regarding the inherent connection between moral and spiritual dimensions. In our research, the term is employed in a broadly inclusive manner, encompassing all societies dedicated to promoting religious doctrines, morals, and principles as well as those actively striving to foster harmony and interconnectedness among the realms of God-Humans-Nature.

FROM GOD TO HUMANITY

Kasno, Nazar Husain Hadi Pranata Wibawa and Ahmad Khoirul Fata — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article accentuates the need for a paradigm shift in Islamic theology from theocentric to anthropocentric themes. Despite its historical significance, contemporary Islamic theology meets stagnation and a disconnect from pressing human issues. Scholars advocate for a contextualized theology that actively engages with societal problems. The authors echo this call, asserting that a praxis-oriented approach is crucial for Islamic theology's relevance. The article also argues that theocentric doctrines, while significant in their time, are inadequate for addressing contemporary challenges. Religion-ethical themes such as tawhid (oneness of God), social justice, and liberation spirituality are proposed for reconstruction to align with modern human thought and address universal problems. The hermeneutical circle is a dynamic process involving cultivating reality, dialogue with sacred texts, and continuous interpretation. This study aims to bridge the gap between traditional texts and the present context, allowing for a meaningful reconstruction of Islamic theology. By shifting the paradigm from theocentrism to anthropocentrism, the authors envision a theology that defends God and protects and empowers humanity. The proposed methodological approach also facilitated a paradigm shift, so that Islamic theology remains a dynamic and relevant force in the modern world.

SELF-PROTECTED COMMUNITIES TOWARDS RELATIONAL COMMUNITIES

Zhengcan Huang and Enguo Wang — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The world is endowed with people who have plethora of talents and capabilities. This research pinpoints the relational-ethical theory concerning social and religious life of humans as well as their horizontal and vertical relations. It delves into the intricacies of relations, focusing on marital issues, women's rights, gender-based violence, and similar concerns. Simultaneously, it dismantles the mindset that seeks to transform the world into a Christendom driven by self-interest. The study draws on C. S. Song and Denise M. Ackermann's frameworks to envision the role of relational-ethical communities, challenging the narrow perspectives prevalent in today's world. Consequently, the research adopts the relational-ethical model to showcase its broader aspect, breaking down individualism and employing analogies from St. Paul to advocate for a more just world.

AN OVERVIEW OF MUSLIM SPIRITUAL ECO-EDUCATION

Benaouda Bensaid — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Recent attention to eco-education and environmental education reveals a gap in comprehending the interconnection between religion, spirituality, and eco-education. This paper explores the intersection of Muslim spirituality and environmental education, highlighting interconnectivity, co-existence, and spirituality's role in understanding humanity's place, stewardship of natural resources, and regulation of ecological footprints. It delves into the cultivation of awareness, values, and attitudes for environmental preservation, exploring motivations, engagement, and skills vital for sustaining the learning process and promoting conservation. The study scrutinizes how Muslim spirituality shapes the core concepts and methodologies of eco-education, impacting global challenges like climate change and sustainability. It stresses the necessity of exploring environmentally focused educational programs guided by spiritual principles, urging an investigation into barriers hindering the translation of theoretical principles and frameworks into practical applications. The study calls for further exploration of strategies sustaining the symbiotic relationship between spirituality and evolving literature, as well as practical experiences in eco-education.

AN APPROACH TOWARDS ETHICAL BODY

Xin Zhang and Lei Zhang — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper focusses on the missionary enterprises within the Chinese territory. Some scholars have argued that the purpose of these missionaries was to reinvent China based on western ideas, architecture, culture, etc. To reorient the ethical model from cultural and identity crises, this paper has employed the frameworks of Albert Memmi and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. To steer this missiological journey for the benefit of communities, the study approaches the entire expedition from an ethical standpoint. Simultaneously, it utilizes St. Paul’s analogy of the ethical body—reflecting the image of God and the body of Christ—to address and resolve contemporary issues in China.

PHENOMENOLOGICAL ETHICS IN A MULTI-RELIGIOUS SOCIETY

Nicholas Onyemechi Alumona and Grace Ogelenya — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Multi-religious societies are prone to conflicts because of several factors that create room for divisiveness. Nigeria has been witnessing religious conflicts, especially between Muslims and Christians. It consequently appears as if religious conflicts in Nigeria and other multi-religious societies have defied the logic of conflict resolution. This breeds the problem of entrenching peace among religions with seemingly opposing doctrines and varying perceptions of the Supreme Being. Employing the methods of analysis and phenomenology, this essay argues that phenomenological ethics as a presuppositionless method of determining what is right or wrong is a better approach of not only resolving conflicts but also preventing them. It concludes by positing that a comprehensive teaching of phenomenological ethics in different religions can translate the method into an attitude which inculcates in one’s psyche oneness as the ultimate goal of every religion, culminating in peaceful co-existence.

SPREADING RELIGION AND CULTURE THROUGH INTERNET MEMES

Navrang Rathi and Pooja Jain — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper delves into the use of Internet memes as a means of spreading religion and ethical values in modern society. With the rise of the Internet and social media, memes have gained popularity as a form of shared content with the ability to convey meaningful messages. The research evaluates the prevalence and impact of memes in religious and ethical contexts. Through this research, the authors present their viewpoint after mulling over the findings of authors like Limor Shifman. The study asserts that memes can facilitate discussions, promote religious literacy, reinforce beliefs, and instil ethical values. Additionally, it anticipates that religious and ethical memes may influence individuals' actions in their daily lives. This research is significant as it examines the potential of memes to serve as a contemporary tool for spreading religion and ethics in a digital world.

ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SRIMANTA SANKARDEV’S EKAŚARAṆA DHARMA AND ITS CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE

Sudeshna Das and Payel Dutta Chowdhury — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ethics and religion share a symbiotic relationship, although both can exist independently of each other. The ethical dimensions intertwined with religious discourse are dynamic, prompting an exploration of their current associations and contemporary relevance. This paper examines the ethical foundations of the Ekaśaraṇa Dharma, propagated by Srimanta Sankardev, a well-known revered saint-scholar from 15^th-16^th century Assam. The argument posits that an ethical interface between individuals and an inclusive religion serves as a potent tool for contemporary sustenance. The paper also examines the functioning of the sattras (monasteries) and the namghars (prayer houses) which propagated the Ekaśaraṇa Dharma, alongside an analysis of Sankardev’s artistic contributions stemming from the movement. This work further scrutinizes Sankardev’s religious philosophy, centered on fostering an all-inclusive society, to ascertain if the foundational principles of Ekaśaraṇa Dharma can effectively address the conflicts prevalent in today's digital world.

ECO-ETHICS OR THEO-ETHICS?

P S Dwivedi, Priyanka Tripathi and PK Verma — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The primary objective of the paper is to understand the ethical interface in the Vedic and the Post-Vedic societies through revisiting the female divine figures who symbolized nature in various texts. It attempts to show how theoethics embodied in the character of Sītā is different from ecoethics required to foster a sustainable society for today’s world. The article draws parallels among the characters of Araṇyani, a Ṛgvedic goddess, Sītā of Vedic literature, and Sītā of Rāmāyaṇa. The paper, further, intends to situate Sītā outside the Rāmāyaṇa to understand her real place. Her character in the Rāmāyaṇa also epitomizes the clash of Sanskṛti (culture, civilization) and Prakŗti (nature). Her character overlaps with the Ṛgvedic goddess Araṇyanī, whose significance in environmental philosophy can be understood from the hymns dedicated to her in the 10th book of the Ṛgveda. Many facets of Sītā’s character can be understood from the hymns dedicated to Araṇyanī, the goddess of forest and fertility. Sītā of Vedic literature, appeared much before the epic Rāmāyaṇa, venerated always for good crop and prosperity. The reappearance of Sītā in the Rāmāyaṇa reinforces her image as nature goddess. This article, upon literature review, argues emphatically that the depiction of Sītā in the Rāmāyaṇa and its succeeding texts basically supports the contention that Araṇyani, a Ṛgvedic goddess, and Sītā of Vedic literature were directly related to nature and are prototypes.