Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
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In dit onderzoek wordt de ethische halal beweging in Nederland onder de loep genomen. Het onderzoek is exploratief van aard en is gericht op de ontstaansgeschiedenis, drijfveren en belangrijke...Show moreIn dit onderzoek wordt de ethische halal beweging in Nederland onder de loep genomen. Het onderzoek is exploratief van aard en is gericht op de ontstaansgeschiedenis, drijfveren en belangrijke actoren van de ethische halal beweging. De ethische halal beweging wordt gedefinieerd als een beweging die zich ten aanzien van voedselethiek in haar ideeën, activiteiten en praktijk laat inspireren en leiden door de islam. Deze beweging staat niet op zichzelf, maar is een bredere islamitische beweging die aandacht vraagt voor milieu-ethische kwesties. De Groene Moslims in Nederland een pioniersrol door duurzaamheidsthema’s vanuit islamitisch perspectief te belichten. Ook maakt zij zich hard voor de ethische dimensie van halal door dit begrip te koppelen aan milieubeheer, dierenwelzijn, voedselethiek en gezond leven. In Nederland probeert zij een beweging op gang te brengen -die in de internationale context- goed aansluit bij de ethische halal beweging. Onderzocht zal worden hoe de Groene Moslims theoretisch en praktisch uiting geven aan de islamitische voedselethiek.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
Conversion to Judaism is a very important topic when discussing the modern state of Israel. The Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel decides who is recognized as a Jew within the State of Israel...Show moreConversion to Judaism is a very important topic when discussing the modern state of Israel. The Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel decides who is recognized as a Jew within the State of Israel and, because of this, decides how conversions should take place. The conversion procedures the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel supports is extremely stringent, and the Chief Rabbinate also annuls conversions they deem too lenient. This is a stark contrast to what was practiced with regards to conversion a few decades ago. Throughout Jewish history, conversion procedures were never as stringent as they are today, and annulments of conversions were unheard of. This paper seeks to explain why the stringent approach to conversion in place today arose. To do this, there will be an examination of Jewish history, religious texts, and the politics of the religious sphere of the modern state of Israel. In answering this question, this paper wants to push a two-fold theory that can be used in examining other religions. This two-fold theory examines the way religions interact with other religions, as well as how religions will interact with other cultures. The two-fold theory, thus, can be used to explain culture as being inherently intertwined with religion.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
This thesis is focussed on the relational aspects of the conversion process: how conversion may change the relationship with close others (for example, parents, god) and how relationships with...Show moreThis thesis is focussed on the relational aspects of the conversion process: how conversion may change the relationship with close others (for example, parents, god) and how relationships with close others may affect how the conversion proceeds. In addition to a literature study, there is an exploratory survey study among female converts to Islam.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
This thesis provides a critical analysis of the CSR discussion about the unnaturalness of atheism. It is argued that the CSR discussion is characterized by a very limited concept of atheism and it...Show moreThis thesis provides a critical analysis of the CSR discussion about the unnaturalness of atheism. It is argued that the CSR discussion is characterized by a very limited concept of atheism and it is proposed that the discussion is in need of a new terminology and that that it should be more sensitive to the varieties of atheism.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
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The thesis looks into the usefulness of using the concept 'catholic bias' as opposed to 'protestant bias'. This was done by examining the Catholic background of two anthropologists. It argues that...Show moreThe thesis looks into the usefulness of using the concept 'catholic bias' as opposed to 'protestant bias'. This was done by examining the Catholic background of two anthropologists. It argues that the Catholic background had an important influence on their anthropological work, which makes the concept of 'Catholic bias' interesting for further research. It further argues a positive contribution of religious backgrounds, or bias, as a source of inspiration and unique understanding.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
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This research question relates Meerten and Berend ter Borg’s maintenance mechanisms to the tensions within the reformatoric community while acknowledging the existence of different approaches among...Show moreThis research question relates Meerten and Berend ter Borg’s maintenance mechanisms to the tensions within the reformatoric community while acknowledging the existence of different approaches among the pillar’s elite. I dedicate specific attention to the identification of three general patterns. In the first place, I identify the location and nature of the disturbances facing the reformatoric community. I differentiate between primary and secondary disturbances to indicate whether these arise from outside (primary) or within (secondary) the pillar. In the second place, I comment on the choice and use of maintenance mechanisms. Opposing integration and defence mechanisms that are based on the same shared element tend to be invoked during discussions concerning the community’s future. Moreover, some mechanisms have greater salience in the community’s context due to their rooting within its ontological framework. In the third place, I analyse the differences between the pillar’s progressive and conservative factions. I highlight that their differentiated use of maintenance mechanisms stems from their differentiated identification of disturbances. I conclude with a brief reflection on the three innovations I propose to Ter Borg and Ter Borg’s framework: the identification of shared elements among opposing integration and defence mechanisms, the introduction of judgment and expulsion as theodicy’s defensive counterpart, and the classification and influence of disturbances on the use of maintenance mechanisms.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
The first part of this thesis attempts to demonstrate the historical traces of the belief in reincarnation among Jews, Christian and Muslims. The second part is dedicated to a hermeneutical...Show moreThe first part of this thesis attempts to demonstrate the historical traces of the belief in reincarnation among Jews, Christian and Muslims. The second part is dedicated to a hermeneutical analysis of the Bible and the Quran regarding the indications to reincarnation in general, and reincarnation of the Messiah in particular.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
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This thesis is concerned with the complexity of uncovering religiosity in the Netherlands, and focuses on the following questions: How to approach and find religiosity when the church does not...Show moreThis thesis is concerned with the complexity of uncovering religiosity in the Netherlands, and focuses on the following questions: How to approach and find religiosity when the church does not longer serve as a cliffhanger? What is the crucial aspect of religiosity when it is institutionally unaffiliated? I approach the questions by exploring the boundaries between religiosity and non-religiosity via the field of meaning-making. The information is mainly based on primary sources, provided by Dutch research reports about Dutch religiosity, and psychological research into meaning-making in Germany and Austria. The idea and aim is to gain insights into contemporary religiosity by learning more about ‘What drives people?’ and by discovering how people claim religious or non-religious identities (labels). Of course, the complex issue of defining religion is at a certain point unavoidable in the interface with discussing religiosity, and gets attention as well.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
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This Master Thesis has two main aims, both of which should be regarded as preliminary rather than definitive. The first of these is to expand the scholarly knowledge on the subject of tarot...Show moreThis Master Thesis has two main aims, both of which should be regarded as preliminary rather than definitive. The first of these is to expand the scholarly knowledge on the subject of tarot divination, as this is sorely needed within the field. The focus here is on the personal side of this practice rather than the professional side. The second aim is to look at tarot divination and analyze it using theories from the cognitive science of religion (CSR) in order to explain the popularity of the 78 divinatory cards. The result is a comprehensive model.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
This examination of polemical theologian literature of the 8th/9th century Baghdad aims at establishing whether or not cross influence between Church of the East and Islamic authors occurred. In...Show moreThis examination of polemical theologian literature of the 8th/9th century Baghdad aims at establishing whether or not cross influence between Church of the East and Islamic authors occurred. In contrast to present day scholarly opinion, this paper holds that, in distinctive ways, each of the intellectual elite communities appropriated ideas and modes of argumentation of the other.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
2018-08-11T00:00:00Z
This thesis explores the influence of Sayyid Qutb on Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd's methodology of interpreting the Qur'an. Motivated by Abu Zayd's own account and statements of the fact that Qutb has...Show moreThis thesis explores the influence of Sayyid Qutb on Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd's methodology of interpreting the Qur'an. Motivated by Abu Zayd's own account and statements of the fact that Qutb has influenced him, and his definition of Qutb's literary approach as "impressionistic", it compares the literary theories and approaches to the Qur'an of Qutb and Abu Zayd. It asks what Abu Zayd means by "impressionistic". A set of three theological questions (epistemology, nature of the Qur'an, predetermination) is applied to give original and critical insight in the theology and philosophy of these modern Muslim thinkers and how their theology shapes and determines their literary approach. The hypothesis is, that Qutb and Abu Zayd must share in some aspects of their epistemology, their ideas on the nature of the Qur'an, and/or predetermination, as this brings their literary approaches to the Qur'an together. Likewise, differences in their theological foundations explains their differences in the literary theory. My thesis asks these questions through the category of postmodernism, as this makes possible a dialogue between Qutb and Abu Zayd, instead of used typologies of contemporary Islam such as that of W. Shepard, which excludes any dialogue and makes some aspects of their thought unintelligible.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
The Mahabharata, being a humungous epic narrative and a significant Hindu scripture, has been studied intensely by western academics for more than a century. The various characters, scenes and...Show moreThe Mahabharata, being a humungous epic narrative and a significant Hindu scripture, has been studied intensely by western academics for more than a century. The various characters, scenes and doctrines have been subject to academic scrutiny, all seeking to establish the multi-dimensional and even paradoxical aspects and teachings of the epic. However, while characters such as Arjuna, Karna and Draupadi have been focused on by academics and Hindus to look for heroism and epic and moral paragons, the most viable candidate for the moral exemplar, Yudhisthira, remains largely ignored by both academics and Hindus. He is the dharma-raja and the royal heir, he is placed at the pith of the epic narrative. He plays a central role in most of the ethical dilemmas which enforce the story. Yet despite these factors Yudhisthira does not enjoy the same popularity as other characters. This thesis looks into why this is the case. It establishes that Yudhisthira is an epic character through which the contradictory and significant philosophies which defined Epic, ancient Indian history, are explored. Being a didactic instrument in the narrative, Yudhisthira unifies, in confusing fashion, the multiple ideologies presented in the epic. Thus, in Yudhisthira, we find a significant aspec of the narrative which suggests a holistic reading of the entire Mahabharata, and suggests its cohesiveness despite apparent contradictions.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
closed access
Een kritische discoursanalyse van vier visie op de toekomst en de invulling van het vak Godsdienst/Levensbeschouwing. Een aantal artikelen uit Narthex, tijdschrift voor levensbeschouwing en...Show moreEen kritische discoursanalyse van vier visie op de toekomst en de invulling van het vak Godsdienst/Levensbeschouwing. Een aantal artikelen uit Narthex, tijdschrift voor levensbeschouwing en educatie, afkomstig van Thom Geurts, Bert Roebben, Willibrord van den Besselaar en Paul Vermeer over het vak Godsdienst/Levensbeschouwing zijn onderworpen aan een kritische discoursanalyse. Door het uitvoeren van deze kritische discoursanalyse is aangetoond wat de invloed van tekst een taalgebruik is op hun visies op de toekomst en invulling van het vak Godsdienst/Levensbeschouwing.Show less
