Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This research explores the complex interplay between heritage and religion within the Waldensian and Methodist heritage community in the Waldensian Valleys of Italy. By investigating heritage as a...Show moreThis research explores the complex interplay between heritage and religion within the Waldensian and Methodist heritage community in the Waldensian Valleys of Italy. By investigating heritage as a cultural process and employing scale-making as a tool for understanding localized identities, the study examines how different scales of heritage—local, national, and transnational—are produced, authorized, and contested. Furthermore, this research offers an interesting viewpoint into the secular and sacred dimensions of heritage, analyzing how religious practices and memories are sacralized and secularized through heritagization processesShow less
In a world increasingly shaped by globalization, understanding and fostering good cross-group relations became crucial to mitigating intergroup differences and potential conflicts. Drawing on...Show moreIn a world increasingly shaped by globalization, understanding and fostering good cross-group relations became crucial to mitigating intergroup differences and potential conflicts. Drawing on intergroup contact theory, the goal of this paper is to investigate whether the well-established effects of intergroup contact on prejudice reduction hold true in non-Western countries as it does in a Western context. The paper further criticises prior literature on its lack of generalizability beyond Western perspectives, and argues that cultural specificities and diversity of human behaviour globally should be considered when examining the dynamics of prejudice. The central hypothesis posits that intergroup contact with outgroup members generally leads to lower prejudice levels among the dominant group. This is further operationalized by using interfaith meeting attendance among Muslims as an indicator of intergroup contact with Christians, as well as using social distancing levels as indicators of prejudice. Final results indicate a significant negative relationship between intergroup contact and prejudice levels, supporting the central hypothesis. In return, this contributes to a broader understanding of prejudice dynamics and the effectiveness of intergroup contact as a tool for prejudice reduction in non-Western contexts. By focusing on Muslim-Christian interactions in the "Global East," the research sheds light on the nuances of cross-group relations in diverse cultural settings, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive approach in intergroup contact research.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Film- en literatuurwetenschap (BA)
closed access
Deze scriptie biedt een ecokritische, literatuurwetenschappelijke lezing van de oergeschiedenis in de Hebreeuwse Bijbel en het Oude Testament, zoals beschreven in Genesis, en onderzoekt de...Show moreDeze scriptie biedt een ecokritische, literatuurwetenschappelijke lezing van de oergeschiedenis in de Hebreeuwse Bijbel en het Oude Testament, zoals beschreven in Genesis, en onderzoekt de relevantie daarvan voor hedendaagse discussies over klimaatverandering. Daarbij maak ik gebruik van een theoretische lens om drie belangrijke verhalen uit het Bijbelboek te analyseren: de scheppingsdaad, de paradijsvertelling en het verhaal over Noach en de zondvloed. Deze lens stel ik samen aan de hand van begrippen uit de theorieën van milieufilosofen Arne Næss en Bruno Latour en gaat uit van een specifiek begrip van ‘Schepping.’ Deze notie van ‘Schepping’ benadert de wereld in Genesis met behulp van een driehoeksverhouding tussen God, de Aarde en de Mens om zo de verbanden en de onderlinge afhankelijkheid van deze figuren uit te lichten. Zo komt naar voren hoe de tekst patronen van interconnectiviteit vertoont, en een beeld bevat van de wereld als cyclisch proces waarin alle elementen van belang zijn. Dit beeld nuanceert en compliceert het antropocentrische dualisme tussen mens en natuur dat de Bijbel volgens historicus Lynn White vertoont, en dat volgens hem een oorzaak is voor de ecologische crisis van nu. Door tegelijkertijd theologische lezingen van de tekst te bespreken en in de interpretatie van God in de Genesiswereld genoeg ruimte te houden voor een religieus begrip van God, blijft deze ecokritische lezing in het midden tussen religie en wetenschap. Dit zijn twee domeinen die op veel manieren tegenover elkaar lijken te staan in een debat dat door Bruno Latour wordt aangehaald, en dat ook in deze analyse centraal zal staan. Door de dialoog tussen deze twee domeinen in stand te houden, poogt deze lezing aan te tonen waarom religieuze wereldbeelden zoals dat in Genesis relevant kunnen zijn in wetenschappelijke discussies over klimaatkwesties.Show less
The concept of the Protestant Work Ethic (PWE) was proposed in 1905 and its key features are hard work, asceticism, and success. The main unanswered question in the context of PWE is its relation...Show moreThe concept of the Protestant Work Ethic (PWE) was proposed in 1905 and its key features are hard work, asceticism, and success. The main unanswered question in the context of PWE is its relation to demographic variables. Relationships between PWE and demographic variables are still not clear. The current study aims to answer the research question: “How do demographic variables influence the Protestant Work Ethic?” To address this question, the thesis proposes a single-factor model of PWE, which is assessed on five demographic variables: formal education, age, family size, marital status, and religion. Groups were created for each of the five variables in order to assess their relationship with PWE. For the statistical analysis, multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) was used and measurement invariance was evaluated in order to account for the differences between the groups. Based on the academic literature five hypotheses were created on the basis of model fit, factor loadings, and predicted factor scores. Only two of the hypotheses were partially supported (religion and family size) due to consistently higher factor loadings. Patterns were observed across most of the groups. Lower-educated participants exhibit distaste for leisure time, while more educated participants tend to be more hard-working. Religious people tend to endorse PWE less. Participants with more siblings endorse PWE more. Young participants tend to be more success-oriented, compared to single participants and middle-aged participants who are more hardworking. Future research should be focused on the area of demographics, the differences between religions in the context of a multidimensional factor model of PWE, and testing measurement invariance.Show less
This thesis has sought to answer how gara, a type of embroidery embellished on traditional sari, works as a communicative tool of Parsi identity to both non-Parsi and Parsi. In order to achieve...Show moreThis thesis has sought to answer how gara, a type of embroidery embellished on traditional sari, works as a communicative tool of Parsi identity to both non-Parsi and Parsi. In order to achieve this, we shall see first how dress is able to communicate identity to oneself and others through a process this thesis dubs embellishment, before focusing in on the social, historical, and religious aspects of gara, and uncovering what collective Parsi identity is communicated through gara exactly. This thesis concludes that the process of embellishment communicates an identity that is Parsi through applying an identity narrative on dress which is interacted with by others to formulate a temporarily fixed identity of the wearer. This identity narrative embellished on gara has social, historical, and religious roots, all of which are discussed in the thesis at length. This thesis thus answers two important questions in the study of identity communication through dress, by explaining how identity can be transmitted though dress, as well as how this identity is formulated.Show less
The country of Iran is currently governed by an Islamic regime and religion is a significant notion not only in the ruling system but also in the social and private life of the citizens. The field...Show moreThe country of Iran is currently governed by an Islamic regime and religion is a significant notion not only in the ruling system but also in the social and private life of the citizens. The field of linguistic landscape concerns the visibility and salience of languages on all the signs in a given territory or region and the landscape of cities as social constructs are deeply affected by the two forces: the governments from the top and the people from the bottom. This research explores the religious signs in the linguistic landscape of the city of Najafabad in Iran. The aim of this research is to see how religion manifests in the city and how it functions in the landscape of the city. In order to conduct the research, the signs with religious content are collected, and studied in terms of language use, font, theme and agency. The results reveal that the number of top-down signs surpasses the bottom-up signs. In analysis, it is concluded that in the landscape of the city of Najafabad, religion functions as an ideological tool for managing the landscape and promoting the ideology among the citizens.Show less
A thesis which contributes a new perspective to the ongoing discussion on the human contacts made between North and Meso-America before Columbus. This is done specifically by looking at maize as an...Show moreA thesis which contributes a new perspective to the ongoing discussion on the human contacts made between North and Meso-America before Columbus. This is done specifically by looking at maize as an exotic good used for ritual and as a medium for narrative. It highlights the religious aspects of exchange and the travel of ideas and narratives with material in a time before writing was widespread. Because of the latter fact, the research is done through a multi-disciplinary approach, utilizing botany, archaeology and ethnology.Show less
The current research considers the notion that right-wing extremism is a potential continuation of Rapaport’s (2004) fourth ‘religious’ wave of terrorism. By exploring the role of religious...Show moreThe current research considers the notion that right-wing extremism is a potential continuation of Rapaport’s (2004) fourth ‘religious’ wave of terrorism. By exploring the role of religious anthropoemic populism and the intuitive motivations of the moral foundations theory, a thematic analysis is conducted on the manifesto of the 2019 Christchurch shooter. The results illustrate that religion may play a minor role in Tarrant’s justifications for violence, but that authority and purity are his primary drivers. This study, therefore, contributes to the argument that the far-right extremist trend signifies the emergence of a new distinct fifth wave of terrorism.Show less
This thesis investigates the Early Modern context of oath swearing and breaking within Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost. This thesis draws on John Kerrigan's work on oaths, as well as on Jonathan...Show moreThis thesis investigates the Early Modern context of oath swearing and breaking within Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost. This thesis draws on John Kerrigan's work on oaths, as well as on Jonathan Gray's work regarding oath's and the English Reformation. The context and rules of oath-theory will show that the oaths sworn by the men of the play have lost spiritual potency, rendering the oaths ineffective. However, the women of the play represent a new way of swearing in which the absent authority (i.e. God) in oaths can be replaced with intimacy and a hallowed human connection. This argument is based on Isabel Karremann's interpretation of Elizabeth Mazzola's "remains of the sacred" (Karremann 67). Subsequently, this thesis will question how Love's Labour's Lost and its oaths can be staged and have been staged in societies that have largely secularised.Show less
Robinson Crusoe has been known for his adventures on a deserted Island, but not many know of the spiritual journey he went through during his time on the island. Robinson Crusoe starts to rethink...Show moreRobinson Crusoe has been known for his adventures on a deserted Island, but not many know of the spiritual journey he went through during his time on the island. Robinson Crusoe starts to rethink his relationship with God and he starts to base his life's purpose on divine providence. After analyzing his conversion I come to find his attitude towards God and religion has not changed as much as one would like to think after reading about his isolation.Show less
The Church of the SubGenius is one of many invented parody religions that have popped up around the turn of the century. These distinct religions, often with catchy and humorous names such as the...Show moreThe Church of the SubGenius is one of many invented parody religions that have popped up around the turn of the century. These distinct religions, often with catchy and humorous names such as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or the United Church of Bacon, confuse people who expect religion to be primarily concerned with spirituality or communication with the divine. If not about those things, what are these religions about? Why are they created, and how have these religions gained such popularity and so many loyal followers who are willing to engage with their subject matter for decades? This thesis aims to answer these questions through an adaptation of theories of minimal counterintuitiveness (MCI) and bizarreness.Show less
Much is unknown about Hadrian's lover Antinous and the success of the cult that was founded after Antinous' death. This thesis answers the question of why the cult of Antinous was successful after...Show moreMuch is unknown about Hadrian's lover Antinous and the success of the cult that was founded after Antinous' death. This thesis answers the question of why the cult of Antinous was successful after the death of Antinous, and why it persisted even after Hadrian's death. With the use of epigraphical, archaeological, numismatic, and papyrological evidence, the thesis has concluded that the widespread use of Antinous' likeness, as well as his ties to his place of birth and place of death, had an impact on the success of the cult. The cult likely thrived too because of spontaneous veneration of Rome's subjects, as well as the aid of grassroots initiatives.Show less
In this research the effects of religion on the perceived impact of immigrants on society is analysed for Poland and Czechia. The data used in this research is from the European Social Survey from...Show moreIn this research the effects of religion on the perceived impact of immigrants on society is analysed for Poland and Czechia. The data used in this research is from the European Social Survey from 2014 and 2016. The data shows that Poland is the most religious country in Europe and Czechia the least religious. The timeframe for this research was based to understand the effect of the refugee crisis on the perception towards immigrants, by analysing the same variables before and after the crisis. The data is analysed first by using an independent samples t-test to compare the means of religious and non-religious respondents. The results from this test indicated that a statistically significant difference between religious and non-religious respondents was found in Poland, but not in Czechia. Furthermore, a logistic regression is performed. The results indicated that religion does not have a predictive factor in both countries. The implications of these results are discussed throughout the analysis section.Show less
How did the distinct cultural, ethnic, and linguistic groups, who originated from valleys separated by natural barriers, and their cultural traditions, become one 'homogenous' constitutional monarchy?
Rising numbers of religious extremism are an increasing concern in Western Europe. As Western Europe is secular, and secular ideology seeks to diminish the influence of religion on society, this...Show moreRising numbers of religious extremism are an increasing concern in Western Europe. As Western Europe is secular, and secular ideology seeks to diminish the influence of religion on society, this rise is peculiar. It raises the question why religious extremism is on the rise in Western Europe despite its secular environment. Evidence suggests there is a causal link between religious extremism and secularism. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate such a causal relation between secularism and religious extremism in Western Europe. To rule out other explanations, this study identified two rival explanations: A cultural disconnect and geopolitical factors. The validity of all three explanations was tested through a case study analysis of France, the Netherlands and Belgium. The results concluded that the cultural disconnect and the geopolitical explanation are not correct. However, the study concluded that certain forms of secularism lead to a rise of religious extremism in Western Europe. The cases demonstrate the mechanism behind this: States enforce disproportionately strict secular policies through a strict separation between the public sphere and the private sphere, and a positive bias towards the pre-existing dominant religion. These two factors trigger reactive religiosity, leading to religious extremism. Conclusively, disproportionate secularism plays a pivotal role in the rise of religious extremism in Western Europe.Show less
