God's Voice in a Secular Society

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-27
Author(s):  
Taniya Hussain

This article addresses the problem of defining the terms ‘secularism’ and ‘religion’ and the difficulty of accepting the strict separation of religion from politics that some say is needed for a truly secular society. It offers a ‘relationship model’ for religion that sees it as the practice of balancing the responsibilities arising from the relationships between oneself, God, fellow human and living beings and the environment. Examining the attitudes of the Founding Fathers of European secularism, it argues that secular society can only exist if we face the shadows of our colonial past and the literalist theological narrative which is quickly being digested within some Muslim communities. This narrative and how it is affecting Muslim communities in Europe, as well as the shadows of the colonial past, pose a danger to secular society and affects all communities across Europe and these are conversations that need to be held.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Saleema Farah Burney

Abstract Moving away from politicised and institutional agendas, research on Muslims has now begun to document the voices and concerns of individual Muslim women. Based on two years of doctoral fieldwork in and around London, this paper raises methodological dilemmas in the study of Muslim communities. It then presents data showcasing how Muslim women are successfully creating hybrid identities, and navigating new sites and opportunities for mutual exchange with non-Muslims. It argues that their public interactions as religious women living in a liberal secular society provide hope for a plural Britain, built on a convivial and interactive model of integration.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 524-538
Author(s):  
Rickard Lagervall

The presence of Muslim populations in Western European societies is a relatively new phenomenon which is raising questions about how these societies treat religious minorities. This article considers the situation in Sweden, beginning with a brief history of the development of the Swedish state from one based on the Lutheran faith to today's secular society in which state and religion are officially separated. It moves on to discuss the emergence of a sizable Muslim population in the latter part of the 20th century and considers the ways in which the secular character and religious neutrality of the state offer such religious minorities space to practise their religions. However, as Swedish society, politics and law are still premised on certain Christian notions of what religion should be, Muslims and more particularly Islamic organizations in the country have to find ways to adapt themselves to these pre-existing religious structures. Thus the presence of a large Muslim minority has affected the mindset of the members of this minority as well as the Swedish host society.


ALQALAM ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 380
Author(s):  
Chairul Akmal

This research analyzes some factors affecting economic activities in relation with the conduct of pilgrimage. Those factors are the pilgrimage cost, the amount of pilgrims, and the amount of pilgrimage officers. The objective of this research is to acquire the information of how each factor and all factors together affect the economic activities. This research also analyzes the effect of foods and drinks expenses, the effect of nonfoods and drinks expenses, and the effect of miscellaneous expenses on UMKM - Micro, Small, Medium enterprises' economic activities.             This research is conducted in DKI Jakarta in 2007. The population of this research is the average economic activities in DKI Jakarta in 2007. There are 42 respondents (Banks), 157 respondents (travel agencies), and 50 respondents (UMKM - Micro, Small, Medium enterprises) which are taken as samples from the population using the purposive sampling method. The data is obtained by the researcher using questioners and secondary data which is taken from 1990-2007.             The methodology used in this research is based on. the causal relationship model In testing the hypothesis of this research, the researcher uses the simple and multiple regression methods, and path analysis method. The significant rate a = 0,05 used in determining the interpretation of the statistic result. The data is processed using SPSS (Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences) version 12.00.             The results of the analysis in the 1st equation -are (i) the effect of the pilgrimage cost on banks' revenues is quite strong, (ii) the effect of the pilgrimage cost on travel agencies' revenues is quite strong, (iii) the effect of the pilgrimage cost on UMKM - Micro, Small, Medium enterprises' revenues is weak.             The results of the analysis in the 2nd equation are (i) the effect, of the amount of pilgrims on Banks' revenues is very weak, (ii) the effect of the amount of pilgrims on travel agencies' revenues is very weak, (iii) the effect of the amount of pilgrims on UMKM - Micro, Smal4 Medium enterprises' revenues is very weak.             The results of the analysis in the 3rd equation are (i) the effect of the amount of pilgrimage officers on banks' revenues is very weak, (ii) the effect of the amount of pilgrimage officers on travel agencies' revenues is very weak, (iii) the effect of the amount officers on UMKM-Micro, Small Medium enterprises' revenues is very weak.   The results of the analysis in the 4th equation are (i) the effect of all three factors which are the pilgrimage cost, the amount of pilgrims, and the amount of pilgrimage officers simultaneously on banks' revenues is very strong, (ii) The effect of all three factors which are pilgrimage costs, the amount of pilgrims, and the amount of pilgrimage officers simultaneously on travel agencies' revenues is strong, (iii) The effect of all three factors which are pilgrimage costs, the amount of pilgrims, and the amount of pilgrimage officers simultaneously on UMKM-Micro, Small Medium enterprises' revenues is strong.             The result of the analysis in the 5th equation is the effect of foods and drinks expenses on UMKM-Micro, Small Medium enterprises' revenues is weak. In the 6th equation, the effect of nonfoods and drinks expenses on UMKM-Micro, small Medium enterprises' revenues is weak. In the 7th equation, the effect of miscellaneous expenses on UMKM - Micro, Small Medium enterprises' revenues is quite strong. In the 8th equation, the effect of all three factors which are the effect of foods and drinks expenses, the effect of nonfoods and drinks expenses, and the effect of miscellaneous expenses simultaneously on UMKM-Micro, Small Medium enterprises' revenues is quite strong.             The implication of the research results mentioned above is the factors in the conduct of pilgrimage do increase the economic activities (Banks, Travel Agencies, and UMKM - Micro, Smal4 Medium enterprises) in DKI Jakarta. Therefore, considering that matter, the General Director of the conduct of pilgrimage division of Department of Religion Republic of Indonesia should determine the pilgrimage cost which is affordable, increase the service, and provide a good information system which will result in a better conduct of the pilgrimage. Key word: The Costs of Hajj, Hajj Officer, Travel Agency, UMKM


Sains Insani ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-84
Author(s):  
Azarudin Awang ◽  
Azman Che Mat ◽  
Sophian Ramli

Bagi sesebuah negara yang mempunyai etnik pelbagai anutan kepercayaan dan perbezaan amalan budaya, dialog antara agama berperanan membetulkan semula kekaburan dalam kehidupan beragama dan berbudaya. Melalui peranan Saudara Baru, dialog antara agama mampu menjadi medan bagi menjelaskan kebenaran tentang agama Islam kepada masyarakat bukan Muslim dan pelaksanaan amalan budaya asal kepada Muslim asal. Objektif kajian ini ialah melihat pengalaman pelaksanaan dialog antara agama di Terengganu dan relevansi dalam kehidupan beragama di negara Brunei. Metode kajian ini menggunakan kajian dokumen yang menyentuh komuniti Cina Muslim di Terengganu dan Brunei. Pengalaman pelaksanaan dialog antara agama di Terengganu dan negara Brunei memperlihatkan dialog antara agama mampu membetulkan salah faham dan selanjutnya mengendurkan ketegangan hubungan antara agama dan budaya antara komuniti Saudara Baru, ahli keluarga bukan Muslim dan masyarakat Muslim asal. Biarpun begitu, adalah dicadangkan agar kajian yang menyentuh dialog antara agama perlu diperkukuhkan sebagai medium membina semula peradaban memandangkan penduduk di kedua-dua lokasi ini terdiri daripada berbilang etnik dan agama sedangkan pada masa yang sama masalah yang menyentuh hubungan antara agama sentiasa timbul. Abstract: For a country with diverse ethics of beliefs and cultural practices, interfaith dialogue plays a role to redefine ambiguity in religious and cultural life. Through the role of the New Muslim (Muslim Convert), interfaith dialogue can become a medium to explain the truth about Islam to the non-Muslims and the implementation of real cultural practices to the others Muslim. The objective of this study is to examine the experience of interfaith dialogue in Terengganu and in Brunei. The method of this study is being conducted in document research that related with the Muslim Chinese community in Terengganu and Brunei. In addition, interviews with people involved in the management of New Muslims also carried out. The experience of interfaith dialogue in Terengganu and Brunei shows that dialogue capable explains misunderstandings and further loosening the tension between religion and culture among New Muslims, non-Muslim family members and Muslim communities. However, it is recommended that studies on interfaith dialogue should be strengthened as a medium for rebuilding civilization as the residents of both locations are multi-ethnic and religious while at the same time the problem of interreligious persists.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-382
Author(s):  
Dina Sensi

The European action named “Faiths and Social cohesion”. Building up Social Participation in Religious Difference: Local Muslim Communities inEurope» was assessed during the last six months of the project. The objective was to assess the impact of the actions taken. 


Author(s):  
Ian Sabroe ◽  
Phil Withington

Francis Bacon is famous today as one of the founding fathers of the so-called ‘scientific revolution’ of the seventeenth century. Although not an especially successful scientist himself, he was nevertheless the most eloquent and influential spokesperson for an approach to knowledge that promised to transform human understanding of both humanity and its relationship with the natural and social worlds. The central features of this approach, as they emerged in Bacon’s own writings and the work of his protégés and associates after 1605, are equally well known. They include the importance of experiment, observation, and a sceptical attitude towards inherited wisdom (from the ‘ancients’ in general and Aristotle in particular).


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