The Challenges of Pluralism: Locating Religion in a World of Diversity

This is a postprint (author's final draft) version of an article published in the journal Social Compass in 2010. The final version of this article may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0037768610362406 (login may be required). The version made available in OpenBU was supplied by the author.

The Decline of the Cow: Agricultural and Settlement Change in Early Medieval Ireland

This article considers cows and dairying as the basis a17of value system in early societies, particularly in Ireland. Only in a very few instances is it possible to demonstrate that such systems existed. When it does, it can be shown that cows and dairying were imbedded in the social or religious institutions of these cultures. Cattle had a value and meaning much greater than their economic worth in terms of food, hides, tallow etc. Such a systems, however, does not allow economic development as dairy produce does not easily lend itself to the production, and accumulation, of significant surplus nor is dairy produce particularly suitable for economic expansion based on trade. Its perishable nature militates against both roles. In order to develop political power that is based on economic power and wealth it is necessary to change the emphasis from livestock to cereal production.

The Deconstructed Church: Understanding Emerging Christianity

The Emerging Church Movement (ECM) is a reform movement within Western Christianity that reacts against its roots in conservative evangelicalism by “de-constructing” contemporary expressions of Christianity. Emerging Christians see themselves as overturning out-dated interpretations of the bible, transforming hierarchical religious institutions, and re-orientating Christianity to step outside the walls of church buildings toward working among and serving others in the “real world.”

Drawing on ethnographic observations from emerging congregations, pub churches, neo-monastic communities, conferences, online networks, in-depth interviews, and congregational surveys in the US, UK, and Ireland, this book provides a comprehensive social scientific analysis of the development and significance of the ECM. Emerging Christians are shaping a distinct religious orientation that encourages individualism, deep relationships with others, new ideas around the nature of truth, doubt, and God, and innovations in preaching, worship, Eucharist, and leadership.

Tourism in Timor Leste: contributions to a sustainable development

The main goal of this thesis is to analyse tourism as a contributor to sustainable development, from a supply and demand perspective, in Timor-Leste, a destination not only “young” but also framed in an early stage of touristic development. From the supply side, studies 1 and 2 present a literature review on the concept of sustainable development, in small islands destinations, its weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and whose attractiveness lies in an integrated set of natural resources (attractive beaches, biodiversity, the coral triangle, a rich fauna and flora), its geographic location, tropical climate, socio cultural tradition and a Luso-Timorense cultural mix, that can meet the needs of important segments of the tourist demand. In these studies, the focus is on the residents’ attitudes in relation to sustainable development and, in particular, on the perceptions of local leaders about the importance of the operationalization of the concept. As Timor-Leste is a “young” destination, it is travel industry is still faced with several problems in order to be able to satisfy the demand and to meet the tourists’ motivations, preferences and requirements. In this perspective, the study 3 examines diaspora tourism, while a niche market, allowing for not only the entry of Timor-Leste in the international tourism market, but also an articulation between the people of Timor-Leste in the diasporas and the development of sustainable tourism . In general, the results show that the development of sustainable tourism cannot be successfully implemented without the involvement of all stakeholders such as residents, public sector (local government, policy makers, planners), private sector (tourism operators), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that include civil society, religious institutions, the academic community (the supply side), and Timorese diasporas tourists as consumers (the demand side).

The Educational Experience of Students of Chinese Origin in a French-Speaking Context : the role of school, family, and community

Cette recherche vise à documenter l’expérience scolaire des élèves québécois d’origine chinoise à l’école secondaire de langue française et à examiner les dynamiques qui influencent la réussite scolaire de ces élèves. Elle s’intéresse plus précisément aux impacts des facteurs relatifs à l’école, à la famille immigrante, et à ceux de la communauté ethnique sur l’intégration de ces jeunes dans un contexte francophone. Les données ont été principalement recueillies à travers des entretiens semi-structurés approfondis auprès d’élèves d’origine chinoise et de différents acteurs du paradigme éducatif (parents, acteurs scolaires et intervenants communautaires). D’autres instruments, tels que l’analyse du contenu de documents et de médias, ont également été utilisés afin de fournir des informations contextuelles et d’enrichir les données d’entrevues. Les données ont été analysées selon un cadre théorique ouvert et inclusif où la réussite scolaire des élèves issus de l’immigration est mesurée en mettant l’accent sur l’influence de la maîtrise de la langue d’enseignement, du capital culturel et social de la famille et de la communauté immigrante, ainsi que des facteurs systémiques au niveau de l’école. Les résultats de cette étude dans trois écoles cibles montrent qu’en général les élèves d’origine chinoise connaissent une expérience positive, surtout en ce qui concerne leur performance scolaire en mathématiques et sciences. Cependant, les nouveaux arrivants ont tendance à éprouver des difficultés dans l’apprentissage du français et pour leur intégration sociale. En effet, le processus d’intégration socioscolaire des jeunes chinois est sous l’influence des différents milieux qu’ils fréquentent. À propos de l’influence des dynamiques scolaires, les résultats de la recherche indiquent qu’une relation maître-élève positive joue un rôle important dans la réussite éducative de ces élèves. Toutefois, l’insuffisance du soutien à l’apprentissage défavorise l’intégration linguistique et sociale des élèves nouvellement arrivés. Les données de cette étude soulignent notamment le rôle de la famille immigrante et de la communauté ethnique dans l’expérience scolaire de ces jeunes. D’une part, sous l’impact des dynamiques familiales, notamment ce qui à trait au projet migratoire, à la culture chinoise et à l’expérience pré- et post-migratoire, les parents immigrants chinois s’impliquent activement dans les études de leurs enfants, malgré des barrières linguistiques et culturelles. D’autre part, afin de surmonter les effets négatifs des faibles liens entretenus avec l’école de langue française, les parents chinois ont largement recours aux ressources au sein de la communauté ethnique, tels que les médias de langue chinoise, les organismes ethnospécifiques de services aux immigrants, l’école du samedi et les institutions religieuses ethniques. Ces institutions sociales ethniques contribuent à soutenir les valeurs culturelles, échanger des informations, établir des modèles pour les jeunes et à fournir des services appropriés en matière culturelle et linguistique.

El "espíritu nacional" del Ecuador católico: política y religión (Estudios)

Supported by newspaper, collected letters and other documents, this article explores the relationships between politics and religion, taking into account the proposal of “politicized religion” contextually bound to the times of Gabriel García Moreno in Ecuador. It seeks to deepen understanding concerning the use of spirituality, representations and religious institutions for purposes of strengthening the State and its legitimacy of power. At the same time, it goes beyond the limits of this plane in order to advance the construction of a model of a Catholic nation based on an opposition to impiety.

Carismáticos luteranos e católicos : uma abordagem comparativa da performance dos rituais

Esta dissertação procura compreender como a performance ritual contribui na elaboração e sustentação do ethos carismático em duas distintas instituições religiosas: a Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil e a Igreja Católica Apostólica Romana. Para isso, procuro verificar que recursos de performance são acionados no ritual de cada um destes grupos carismáticos. Centro a análise na compreensão de como os artificios da performance agem sobre os participantes do ritual. A fim de alcançar este entendimento, são usados os pressupostos de teorias sobre ritual e performance. Além de estudar o fenômeno supracitado nas duas igrejas separadamente, esta dissertação propõe uma análise comparativa entre as mesmas. O trabalho foi construído com base na pesquisa etnográfica realizada junto a comunidades carismáticas das instituições religiosas em referência, situadas em algumas cidades da Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre.

Programa compartilhar/cheque cidadão: o difícil equacionamento entre carências e direitos

o presente estudo buscou verificar se o programa de garantia de renda mínima instituído no estado do Rio de Janeiro - Programa Compartilhar/Cheque Cidadão - se constitui como um programa social alicerçado na ótica dos direitos de cidadania ou, configura-se, conforme amplas denúncias, como uma política assistencialista e clientelista. Para tanto, efetuamos um estudo de campo eminentemente qualitativo que tencionou capturar a riqueza dos depoimentos prestados por beneficiários do Programa, bem como representantes de instituições religiosas de diferentes credos. Partimos do pressuposto que a pobreza é uma situação antagônica ao direito como conceito e como categoria. Deste ponto de vista, consideramos que o conceito de exclusão social - que, em última análise, configura-se como a principal justificativa para a implantação de programas com este perfil no Brasil - hoje se confronta diretamente com a concepção de universalidade e, com ela, a dos direitos sociais e de cidadania. Os resultados encontrados favorecem uma visão do Programa na qual a lógica da ajuda e da benemerência se sobrepõe à percepção dos direitos e os beneficiários se vêem como carentes e necessitados, não como cidadãos.

Programa cheque-cidadão: avaliação e responsabilidade social do Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

No Brasil, na última década, vários programas de transferência de renda foram implantados, mas os níveis de pobreza não têm diminuído na mesma proporção do aporte de recursos investidos nos programas. Verifica-se, especialmente, a falta de coordenação entre poderes governamentais, entre órgãos gestores, financiadores e executores de políticas públicas. O programa Cheque Cidadão, dado ao grande volume de recursos distribuídos e à participação de instituições religiosas na seleção e distribuição de benefícios, foi objeto de inspeção realizada pelo Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (TCERJ), em Campos dos Goytacazes em setembro de 2004. No ano de 2002, foi tema de pesquisa realizada pelo Instituto de Estudo do Trabalho e Sociedade (IETS), que visava conhecer o programa em seus processos e impacto junto ao público beneficiário. Este trabalho visa à contextualização destes dois eventos nos paradigmas da Nova Gestão Pública (NGP) com indicadores de desempenho de eficiência, eficácia, efetividade e eqüidade, esperando inserir o TCE-RJ no campo das Auditorias Operacionais, e favorecendo a avaliação de políticas públicas como uma forma de contribuição para corresponder à crescente demanda social por um governo orientado para resultados.

Regime constitucional do direito privado das organizações religiosas

In Brazil, constitutional clauses regarding religious freedom have concrete applications in Private Law. Church-State Law, or "Ecclesiastical Law of the State," studies the legal principles which may be applicable to religious activity, exercised individually and collectively. The study of Church-State Law in Brazil lacks a thorough introduction to the constitutional and civil aspects of religious organizations: such an introduction is the main end of this work. Following a brief introduction, the main aspects of religious freedom and the principle of private autonomy as it concerns religious organizations are explained. A careful introductory analysis of Church-State Law in Brazil is thus developed: (1) the historical aspects, including a detailed account of the relations between Catholicism, the established religion up to 1889, and the government; (2) the current constitutional principles, as presented in the text of the federal Constitution of 1988, regarding the rights and claims of religious organizations; (3) how the same constitutional principles are to be used in the interpretation of Private Law (especially the Civil Code of 2002), fostering and preserving the uniqueness of religious organizations in the Brazilian legal system. A brief complementary chapter presents some aspects of the legal position of religious institutions in three other nations whose constitutional documents have influenced the current Brazilian federal Constitution (France, Spain, and the United States)

Ideal Mariano e docência: a identidade feminina da Proposta Educativa Marista

In the teaching history course it s found the female teacher entering, reflecting significantly in the continuous process of her identity redefinitions and reconstruction. This entering brings, even in a silent and not explicit way, the confluence of gender identity to professional identity, in which are present the relations of the proper to female. In the mastership case, these relations are found imbricated in the teaching identity construction and in the translation of this profession as female, based in Virgin Mary, through Mariano ideal diffused by the catholic church. Therefore there is a lanck in educational historiography towards the register of female teachers presence, mainly in male religious institute, the reason of this study, in which we seek to investigate: how to explain that a female identity can give support to a highly male educational project? What relations can we establish between this female identity and the entering of female teachers in Maristas Province Schools of North Brazil? We performed a bibliographic research in Maristas Schools Libraries, of Marista historial, in Recife, of Pontificia Universidade Católica do Paraná (Catholic University), in Curitiba-PR. We searched for support in studies about pedagogy history, of Marista Institute, Catholic Church, Brasilian Education and of Women; Mariologic studies, the referring to Marista Educational Proposal, to feminization and to teaching identity; and feminist theology productions. The empirical research included 10 schools from referred province and Marista Schools from Lisbon Portugal. Through semi-estructured interviews, we interviewed pioneer female teachers, Marista former Brothers and Brothers from those schools, due to their presence and action within the study period and for the concern to save their memories about the theme. The study reveals the particularities of Mariano ideal as female model and teaching, and her presence in Marista Educational Proposal. This study, in a historical approach, aims to contribute to give visibility to the woman in history and teaching construction in Brazil, mainly in religious institutions from male origin

Educação superior no período noturno no Brasil: políticas, intenções e omissões

Neste artigo analisa-se a oferta de vagas para o período noturno nos cursos de graduação da educação superior no país, com foco nas universidades públicas estaduais paulistas, a fim de se verificar como estas têm atendido à exigência da Constituição Paulista no sentido de se ofertar pelo menos um terço do total de suas vagas a este período. Avalia-se o impacto dessa exigência no contexto maior da oferta de vagas para a educação superior no país, considerando que a Reforma Universitária em trâmite propõe este mesmo índice para as universidades federais. Uma retrospectiva histórica apresenta a origem da educação superior no país, a presença exclusiva das instituições públicas até meados do século XX, a entrada das instituições religiosas no setor privado em 1946, e os desdobramentos da Reforma Universitária de 1968, marco da expansão do setor privado, que contempla atualmente 71,7% das 4,1 milhões de matrículas em cursos de graduação no país. As reflexões indicam que a expansão da educação superior deve priorizar o crescimento da oferta de vagas no sistema público, buscando uma melhor relação de vagas entre o sistema público e o privado, com ênfase nas demandas crescentes do período noturno, visando a um projeto maior de desenvolvimento do país, ordenado pelo Estado e alicerçado na valorização da Educação.

As potencialidades do RPG (Role Playing game) na educação escolar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A articulação de escalas geográficas para a interpretação do contexto religioso evangélico pentecostal: o caso de Londrina (PR)

Pós-graduação em Geografia - FCT

Cartografias das práticas de atenção aos transtornos decorrentes do uso de álcool e outras drogas em territórios sociais de risco

Pós-graduação em Psicologia - FCLAS