Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
Just after the beginning of the twenty-first century, the statement that ‘multiculturalism in the Netherlands has failed’ seems common. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether or not...Show moreJust after the beginning of the twenty-first century, the statement that ‘multiculturalism in the Netherlands has failed’ seems common. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether or not the Dutch ‘multicultural society’ has failed, according to John W. Berry’s concept of multiculturalism. In the first chapter of this literature study, theories of acculturation are explained and John W. Berry’s concept of bi-dimensional acculturation is formulated. The second chapter shows a historical overview of immigration policy in the Netherlands. In the third chapter, the debate on the multicultural society in the Netherlands is reconstructed through discourse analysis and gives an analysis of the five major arguments for the failure of the multicultural society. In the fourth chapter, a comparison is made of Berry’s theory of bi-dimensional acculturation and the Dutch concept of multiculturalism. The last chapter shows consequences of ineffective acculturation. This study shows that there is multiple explanation of the term ‘multiculturalism’ and that the Dutch government has never declared a multicultural policy of integration. According to Berry’s bi-dimensional model of acculturation, policies of integration in the Netherlands doesn’t seem that multicultural at al.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
After the Second World War church members abandoned the traditional churches in large numbers in The Netherlands. At the same time a new movement started to grow, namely the evangelical movement....Show moreAfter the Second World War church members abandoned the traditional churches in large numbers in The Netherlands. At the same time a new movement started to grow, namely the evangelical movement. This research looks into the cultural and social factors that stimulated the growth of the evangelical movement from 1945 till 1980 in The Netherlands. Special attention is given to the cultural and social changes in the 1960’s and what the influences were on the evangelical movement. The thesis also contributes to the question: how the religious landscape in The Netherlands has changed in the second half of the twentieth century and how these changes and the growth of the evangelical movement are connected with each other.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
Subjective well-being as the object of science in positive psychology, connects the fields of science and morality (virtues) with each other. This development immediately raises the question of to...Show moreSubjective well-being as the object of science in positive psychology, connects the fields of science and morality (virtues) with each other. This development immediately raises the question of to what degree the Western conceptualization of happiness and related virtues introduced by positive psychology can be generalized and applied outside the western context. The concept of happiness in the Islamic tradition when no longer connected to any ontological, historical and cultural collective context can easily be transformed in meaning according to the contemporary socio-political and economic ideologies in a certain society. Therefore, in order to effectively benefit from the richness of Islamic religious wisdom, I think it is important to also have a perception of happiness within Islam’s own cultural, yet especially theological framework. This thesis attempts to examine, the underlying value system of humanistic, but mainly positive psychology related to happiness and presents an Islamic outlook on human potential and the associated objectives and values that the Quran regards as determinants of human happiness. The research question of this thesis reads: “What are the fundamental differences when the Western perspective on happiness in positive psychology is compared with the perspective on happiness from a Quranic understanding?”Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
In 'Loyal to Jehovah's Good News' the author tries to come to a closer understanding of the concept of loyalty using loyalty among Jehovah's Witnesses as a case-study. Within the thesis the...Show moreIn 'Loyal to Jehovah's Good News' the author tries to come to a closer understanding of the concept of loyalty using loyalty among Jehovah's Witnesses as a case-study. Within the thesis the teachings of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society on the concept of loyalty are studied, and manifestations of loyalty among Jehovah's Witnesses are studied within three practical examples namely their doorstep ministry, their neutrality, and their refusal of blood transfusion. With the case-study of Jehovah's Witnesses in mind the author shows loyalty could be seen as the prime motivator of religious behaviour within the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, and the author comes to a better defintion of the concept of (religious) loyalty in general. In addition, the author introduces other motivators of religious behaviour and argues that more research in necessary.Show less
