HIV/AIDS policy for employers in religious communities

Surveys of national religious denominational offices and of churches in Texas were conducted to evaluate the prevalence of HIV/AIDS policies for members and employees, and to get feedback on a proposed HIV/AIDS policy. Most religious organizations in Texas do not have a HIV/AIDS policy for their employees. Analysis of the data from 77 church questionnaire surveys revealed only 17 (22.1%) policies in existence. From the current data, policies for employees were most prevalent among Catholic churches with 8 (47.1%) and Baptist churches with 7 (41.2%). Nine of the churches (52.9%) who had HIV/AIDS policies for their employees were categorized as having 2501-5000 members. In 1994 and 1995 the largest number of policies developed by churches totaled 8 (47.1%). The findings of this exploratory study in Texas were consistent with the survey of 7 national denominational offices which demonstrated that only the Lutheran church had a policy (14.3%). The literature is consistent with the finding that some churches have decided no separate HIV/AIDS policy is needed for employees. More than half of the employers reporting a HIV/AIDS related experience still feel they do not need a specific policy (CDC, 1992). The range of number of employees in churches varied widely from a high of 54.5% of churches with 15-50 employees to a low of 7.8% of churches with more than 100 employees. Seventy-one of the churches (92.2%) reported that they had no employees infected with HIV/AIDS, while 1 church (1.3%) reported having more than 1 employee infected with HIV/AIDS. This indicates that churches are reacting to incidence of the HIV/AIDS infection rather than preparing ahead. The results of this study clearly indicate the need to develop a comprehensive HIV/AIDS policy for employees in religious communities. Church employees must carefully consider all the issues in the workplace when adopting and implementing a HIV/AIDS policy. A comprehensive policy was developed and guidelines are suggested. ^

Culturally sensitive cancer education: Effect on knowledge, cancer fatalism, and participation in mobile mammography screening among African-American women

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally sensitive educational intervention that used an African American lay survivor of breast cancer to increase knowledge of breast cancer, decrease cancer fatalism, and increase participation in mobile mammography screening among African American women. ^ Design. Experimental pretest/posttest design. ^ Setting. Two predominantly African American churches in a large southwestern metropolitan city. ^ Sample. Participants included 93 African American women, 40 years of age and older. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 48) or a control group (n = 45). ^ Methods. Pretest and post-test measures included the Breast Cancer Knowledge Test and the Powe Fatalism Inventory. In addition, demographic and breast screening practices were collected by questionnaire. The intervention group received a breast cancer educational testimonial from an African American lay survivor of breast cancer, who answered questions and addressed concerns, while stressing the importance of taking responsibility for one's own health and spreading disease prevention messages throughout the African American community. The control group viewed the American Cancer Society “Keep In Touch” video prepared specifically for African American women. Participants in both groups were given culturally sensitive educational materials designed to increase knowledge about breast cancer, and were instructed on breast self-examination by an African American registered nurse, using ethnically appropriate breast models. In addition, after the post-test, all eligible participants were given an opportunity to have a free mammogram via a mobile mammography unit parked at the church. ^ Findings. Participants in the intervention group had a significant increase (p = .03) in knowledge of breast cancer and a significant decrease (p = .000) in fatalism scores compared to those individuals in the control group. The intervention group had a 61% participation rate in screening, while the control group had a 39% participation rate in screening. However, the difference was not statistically significant at the .05 level (p = .07). ^ Conclusions. Results demonstrate that culturally sensitive breast cancer education is successful in increasing knowledge and decreasing cancer fatalism. While there was a trend toward behavior change in the intervention group, more research needs to be done in this area. ^

The Gender of Chinese Christianity: Evaluating a New Research Perspective

This paper will discuss how the gender perspective can be applied to the study of the Early Modern Jesuit China mission. I will show that the category of gender provides a promising research perspective on Sino-Western cultural exchange, for it brings to the forefront important aspects of social life in the “contact zone” of Chinese Christian communities. I will argue that through the intercultural contact initiated by the Jesuit China mission, gender roles started to shift slightly on both sides. On the one hand, the Jesuits adopted the Confucian ideal of the separation of the sexes (nannü zhi bie), building for example separate Churches for women, something unknown in Europe. On the other hand, Chinese Christians were urged to reconsider aspects of their traditional gender norms, when for instance some men left their concubines in order to become Christian. The paper will be divided in three parts. First, it will focus on the history of concepts and discuss what gender relations meant in the context of the Early Modern China mission. Then it will turn to the representation of female religiosity in Jesuit Annual Letters and show how the gender perspective can lead to a re-evaluation this source genre. Finally, it will reflect on how the gender perspective can give us fresh insights into well-known paradigms on Sino-Western relations, taking the accommodation paradigm as an example.

Die Sakralisierung des Alpenraums: Kulturelle Interpretationsmuster der rätischen Kapuzinermission (17. und 18. Jh.)

The Capuchins of the Rhaetic Missions had to deal with local forms of catholic piety, which for them were almost as exotic as the religious practices of non-Christian communities in Asia or America. Therefore they regarded it as their task to propagate the true faith among the “schismatic” Catholics from the Grisons. For this purpose, the Capuchins developed a particular pattern of interpretation: They created a sacred territory in which the divine grace can be experienced by the faithful. Hence the missionaries built new churches and chapels, decorated the old ones in baroque style and brought numerous of holy relics from Italy. Thus, they enforced the sacralisation of the alpine space. Recent developments in cultural studies and social sciences make it possible to capture such processes of spacing more precisely. In the course of the “spatial turn”, space is no longer conceived as a physical entity but now is regarded as a human construct. The paper discusses possibilities and limitations of “space” as an analytical category for the study of mission within Catholicism. The sociological concept of space developed by Martina Löw (2001) is used as starting point. This allows the simultaneous consideration of social interactions and cultural contexts in construction of “sacred space”.

Die katholische Kirche und Moralpolitik in Österreich: Reformdynamiken in der Regulierung von Schwangerschaftsabbrüchen und der Anerkennung gleichgeschlechtlicher Partnerschaften

Eine vergleichende Analyse der Regulierung von Schwangerschaftsabbrüchen und gleichgeschlechtlichen Partnerschaften in Westeuropa im Zeitraum von 1960 bis 2010 zeigt, dass katholisch geprägte Staaten diese Bereiche grundsätzlich nicht weniger stark liberalisiert haben als andere Länder. Allerdings drosselt der Katholizismus offensichtlich die Geschwindigkeit von Reformprozessen. Auf Basis einer detaillierten explorativen Analyse der Politikentwicklungen in Österreich, das sehr früh die Gesetzgebung zum Schwangerschaftsabbruch lockerte, jedoch bei der Einführung registrierter homosexueller Partnerschaften lange zögerte, leiten wir induktiv theoretische Implikationen ab: Die katholische Kirche kann permissive Reformen so lange verhindern, wie institutionelle und kulturelle Gelegenheitsstrukturen nicht der säkular-liberalen Opposition behilflich sind, erfolgreiches Agenda-Setting zu betreiben und Mehrheiten für einen Politikwechsel zu gewinnen.

Being Open, Being Faithful: The Journey of Interreligious Dialogue

What does Christian identity mean in the face of religious pluralism? In some ways, the frontier of global Christianity lies not in repairing its past divisions so much as bravely facing its future in a world of many other faiths and conflicting convictions. Being Open, Being Faithful is a brief history, astute analysis, and trustworthy guide for Christian encounters in this pluralistic environment. A central argument of this perceptive book is that interreligious dialogue has moved so far as to fundamentally change the attitudes and openness of world religious traditions to each other, promising a future more open and less hostile than one might otherwise think. The book presents and reflects on the recent history of interreligious encounter and dialogue, and it traces the manifold difficulties involved, especially as they are experienced in Roman Catholic and World Council of Churches' engagements with other faiths. Yet, it goes even further: along with the history of such encounters, Being Open, Being Faithful examines the issue of Christian discipleship in the context of interfaith engagement, the operative models, the thorny issue of core theological commitments, and what might be the shape of Christian identity in light of such encounters.

Die deutsche Revolution, die National-Versammlung und die Fürsten : Herzensergießungen eines deutschen Mannes aus dem Lehrstande

Boberach: Vom Standpunkt eines norddeutschen Protestanten wird die Deutsche Nationalversammlung kritisiert, weil ihre Mehrheit Österreich von Deutschland trennen und den ungeeigneten König von Preußen zum Kaiser machen will. - Wentzke: Oberflächliche Kritik der sogenannten "Volksvertreter" der Paulskirche und ihrer falschen Dekretalien. Gegen Schmerlings doppelzüngiges Verhalten und gegen Gagerns aristokratisches Auftreten bei der Ermordung Blums. Verfasser, ein norddeutscher Protestant, kann sich keinen preußischen Kaiser, kein Deutschland ohne Österreich denken. Vor allem besitzt Friedrich Wilhelm IV. keinerlei Zuneigung. Erzherzog Johann ist der einzige, der als Kaiser die Idee der Volkssouveränität verwirklichen kann

«Einige Zeit aufs Singen verwendet». Musik als Kernressource dörflicher Kultur am Beispiel des schweizerischen 18. Jahrhunderts

Dealing with popular music in premodern times historical research usually focuses on so called “Volksmusik”. But already in the 18th century researchers were disappointed to find only few traces of imaginary “traditional” music in Switzerland. They unfortunately overlooked that common people kept on with their own stubborn musical culture: Beginning with the Reformation the authorities encouraged the communities to employ schoolmasters who were able to teach music. Their goal was that everybody should be able to participate in liturgical music actively. Over generations even people with no special musical talent adopted their own repertoire of psalms plus techniques of reading music and polyphonic singing. Spontaneous choral singing evolved into a common everyday practice. The most ambitious and brightest teachers even taught instrumental lessons at home on their proper pianos and chamber organs or encouraged the villagers to build new prestigious organs in their churches. The financial burden of such instruments weighted heavily on the communities. Some of them received financial support from the government, albeit unwillingly because it was obvious to the rulers that the villages just wanted to overtop each other. Homemade music was the most important issue in the cultural life of most parishes. Rich communes spent a lot of money to win the best voices on-site for their church choirs. Belonging to an elitists’ singer association paved the way to the farmer-village’s highlevel sociability.

Racing against Time: Varying Patterns of Social Mobilization in Serbia and Georgia

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, a number of actors started to engage in the power struggle for the opportunities to shape the new order in successive nation-states. In Serbia and Georgia historically hegemonic Orthodox Christian churches were among the firsts in the frontlines for political and economic power. More than a decade has passed since the so-called Coloured Revolutions in Georgia and Serbia, and the Orthodox churches still remain participants of an ongoing socio-political transition of these states. The revival of public role of religion appeared temporary in Serbia followed by a gradual decline of an influence of the Orthodox Church over political life and legal process. However, in Georgia the public and political role of religion increased rather than declined albeit changed shape. Examining the degree to which the two Orthodox churches can influence the political agenda in Serbia and Georgia, the paper attempts to understand how church-State relations work in practice. By bringing rich empirical data from the field (70 interviews with (arch)bishops, priests and religious clerics in Georgia and Serbia added to field observations), the paper reflects on the themes under which the two Orthodox churches mobilize public protest in Serbia and Georgia. The paper further looks at varying State responses and their broader implication for church-state problematique.

Stress and coping in African American grandparents who are raising grandchildren

Over the years, substantial increases have occurred in the number of children being raised by their grandparents. A small number of studies have reported that grandparents raising grandchildren experience an increase in stress due to the demands of caregiving. The primary objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the degree of stress in African American (AA) grandparents who are raising their grandchildren age 12 years or younger; (2) identify the variables pertaining to the demographic characteristics of the grandparent caregiver and characteristics of the caregiving situation; (3) identify the coping strategies reported by AA grandparents; and (4) identify the relative importance of demographic and situational variables pertaining to the grandparent caregiver and caregiving situation, and coping strategies in influencing the degree of stress experienced. ^ An exploratory, descriptive, cross sectional design was used to study stress and coping in 50 AA grandparents who ranged in age from 44–87 years (M = 63.12). Data were collected via one personal interview in January/February 2001 at area senior centers or churches which the grandparent attends in Harris County, Texas. Five home interviews were done as requested by grandparents. ^ The instruments used to measure stress and coping were the Parenting Stress Index developed by Abidin and Folkman and Lazarus' Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results of the study found that the grandparents is this study were a highly stressed group. Ninety-four percent of the sample demonstrated a “clinically significant” level of stress. Situational variables associated with lower stress levels were use of counseling, use of special school programs such as tutoring and special education, and increased length of caregiving (>5 years). ^ The most frequently used coping strategies overall were seeking social support and positive reappraisal. Six coping strategies were significantly correlated to lower reported stress: positive reappraisal, accepting responsibility, confrontive coping, self-control, planful problem solving, and distancing. ^ The findings from this study have limited generalizability. Nonetheless, this study was useful in adding to the limited amount of literature on AA grandparents who are rearing their grandchildren. The results clearly suggest the need for affordable counseling, support groups, education related to available resources, stress management, and interventions that increase the use of coping strategies found to reduce perceived stress. Future research should investigate levels of stress in AA and other grandparent caregivers longitudinally, as well as focus on stress and coping in grandparents raising grandchildren with special needs. ^

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 26 - Korrespondenzen mit Betty Drury und Fritz Karsen (p. I 13, 280-486)

3 Brief zwischen Gretel Karplus und Max Horkheimer, 10.06.1939, 1939; 8 Briefe zwiachen Liselotte Karplus und Max Horkheimer, 1936-1938; 80 Briefe uns Beilagen sowie Briefwechsel zwischen Betty Drury, Fritz Karsen und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1948; 7 Briefe zwischen Betty Drury und Max Horkheimer, 1938; 4 Briefe zwischen Stephen Duggan vom Institute of International Education, New York, Fritz Karsen und Max Horkheimer, 30.12.1937, 14.02.1938, 24.05.1938; Institute of International Education, New York; 8 Briefe zwischen Oswald Schlockow und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1937; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Katz,... 1940; 2 Briefe zwischen Simon Katzenstein und Max Horkheimer, 04.10.1936, 20.10.1936; 5 Briefe zwischen Thekla Kauffmann 10.12.1938-1939; 4 Briefe und 1 Beilage zwischen Fritz Kaufmann und Max Horkheimer, 1936-1937; 9 Briefe zwischen Rudolf Kayser und Max Horkheimer, 1937-1939; 2 Briefe zwischen Joseph Keil und Max Horkheimer, 21.01.1949, 26.01.1949; 2 Briefe zwischen Werner Kelm und Max Horkheimer, 18.06.1948, 20.06.1948; 1 Brief von Adolf Keller vom World Council of Churches New York an Max Horkheimer; 2 Briefe zwischen Hans Kelsen und Max Horkheimer, 29.02.1936, 26.05.1936; 3 Briefe zwischen Hermann Kesten und Max Horkheimer, 31.01.1947, 1947;

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 670 - "Treatise on Antisemitism" und zugehörige Dokumente (p. IX 124-IX 134)

"Treatise on Antisemitism", Unterlagen zur Buchveröffentlichung, 1945-1946; "Tentative Outline of Contens", a) Typoskript, 6 Blatt; b) Typoskript, 2 Blatt; c) Typoskript, 2 Blatt; "Section 2: Modern European Antisemitism". Typoskript, 5 Blatt; "Section 4: Political Antisemitism in America". Typoskript, 5 Blatt; "Section 5: Religious and Social Ideologies". Typoskript, 7 Blatt; "The Nature of Anti-Semitism. Psychologocal Topics to be Surveyed", a) Typoskript, 2 Blatt; b) Typoskript, 2 Blatt; "Proposed Project for a Treatise on Antisemitism" und "Tentative Outline of Contents". Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Ergänzungen, 8 Blatt; "Notes on the Content for Sections on American Antisemitism for the proposed book". Typoskript, 9 Blatt; Über den Aufbau des Buchs, eigenhändige Notiz von Max Horkheimer, 1 Blatt; Löwenthal, Leo: "Memorandum to Max Horkheimer, re: books", 25.11.1946. Typoskript, 6 Blatt; Memoranden über Besprechungen betreffend "Traetise", 28.05-10.10.1945, Typoskript, 6 Blatt; Jaeger, Werner: 1 Brief mit Unterschrift an Gordon W. Allport, Cambridge, Mass., 21.06.1945, 1 Blatt; Statements for AJC on account 'Treatise', Juli 1945 - Mai 1947, 19 Blatt; Unterlagen zur deutschen Ausgabe der "Studies in Prejudice", 1950-1952; "German Version of the Series 'Studies in Prejudice'". Typoskript, 3 Blatt; "Bericht über den Plan zur Herstellung einer deutschen Fassung der Studies in Prejudice". Typoskript, 4 Blatt; Memoranden zur Arbeit an der deutschen Ausgabe, 15.01.1951- 05.12.1952, Typoskript, 7 Blatt; Record of Meeting Commentary and Institute of Social Research", 29.05.1946; Diskussionsteilnehmer: Cohen, Elliot; Glazer, Nathan; Greenberg, Clement; Warshow, Robert; Löwenthal, Leo; Massing, Paul; Pollock, Friedrich; Weil, Felix; Gurland, A.R.L.; Jahoda, Marie; Löwe, Adolf; Typoskript, 19 Blatt; "Some Notes to the 'tentative draft discussed with R.'", Datierung unklar, um 1943? Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 4 Blatt; "Re: Antisemitism in occupied Europe", Datierung unklar, etwa 1945-1948?; Typsokript, 3 Blatt; "Studies Undertaken in the Project on Political Antisemitism", Tabellarische Aufzählung, Datierung unklar, Typoskript, 1 Blatt; Institut of Social Research: "Instructions", Anweisungen für Interviewer, Fragebogen, Datierung unklar, Entwurf, Typoskript, 4 Blatt; Über Forschungsunternehmungen zu ethischen Vorurteilesstrukturen in den USA zwischen 1928 und 1939, Datierung unklar, Typoskript, 2 Blatt; Institut of Social Research: "Section I: Protestantism and Antisemitism. Section II: Report on the General Body of Protestant Antisemitic Feeling", Datierung unklar, Typoskript, 29 Blatt; Horkheimer, Max: "Re: Anti-Semitism- Spearhead of Nazism", Datierung unklar, Typoskript, 6 Blatt; Adorno, Theodor W.: "Re: Questionaire on Anti-Semitism", Datierung unklar. Typoskript, 5 Blatt; Adorno, Theodor W.: "Outline of a socio-psychological study", Datierung unklar. Typoskript mit eigenhändigen Korrekturen, 4 Blatt; "Sample: Responsiveness of Types of Anti-Semites to Anti-Semitic Propaganda", 2 handschriftliche Tabellen-Schemata, Datierung unklar, 2 Blatt;

Culture and the social context of health inequalities

There has been a great deal of interest and debate recently concerning the linkages between inequality and health cross-nationally. Exposures to social and health inequalities likely vary as a consequence of different cultural contexts. It is important to guide research by a theoretical perspective that includes cultural and social contexts cross-nationally. If inequality affects health only under specific cultural conditions, this could explain why some of the literature that compares different societies finds no evidence of a relationship between inequality and health in certain countries. A theoretical framework is presented that combines sociological theory with constructs from cultural psychology in order to identify pathways that might lead from cultural dimensions to health inequalities. Three analyses are carried out. The first analysis explores whether there is a relationship between cultural dimensions at the societal level and self-rated health at the individual level. The findings suggest that different cultural norms at the societal level can produce both social and health inequalities, but the effects on health may differ depending on the socio-cultural context. The second analysis tests the hypothesis that health is affected by the density of social networks in a society, levels of societal trust, and inequality. The results suggest that commonly used measures of social cohesion and inequality may have both contextual and compositional effects on health in a large number of countries, and that societal measures of social cohesion and inequality interact with individual measures of social participation, trust, and income, moderating their effects on health. The third analysis explores whether value systems associated with vertical individualist societies may lead to health disparities because of their stigmatizing effects. I test the hypothesis that, within vertical individualist societies, subjective well-being will be affected by a social context where competition and the Protestant work ethic are valued, mediated by inequality. The hypothesis was not supported by the available cross-national data, most likely because of inadequate measures, missing data, and the small sample of vertical individualist countries. The overall findings demonstrate that cultural differences are important contextual factors that should not be overlooked when examining the causes of health inequalities. ^

Improving adherence in African American women with uncontrolled primary hypertension

Background and Objectives: African American (AA) women are disproportionately affected with hypertension (HTN). The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week culturally-tailored educational intervention for AA women with primary HTN who lived in rural Northeast Texas. ^ Methods: Sixty AA women, 29 to 86 years (M 57.98 ±12.37) with primary HTN were recruited from four rural locations and randomized to intervention (n =30) and wait-list control groups ( n =30) to determine the effectiveness of the intervention on knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, social support, adherence to a hypertension regimen, and blood pressure (BP) control. Survey and BP measurements were collected at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks (post intervention) and 6 months post intervention. Culturally-tailored educational classes were provided for 90 minutes once a week for 6 weeks in two local churches and a community center. The wait-list control group received usual care and were offered education at the conclusion of the data collection six months post-intervention. Linear mixed models were used to test for differences between the groups. ^ Results: A significant overall main effect (Time) was found for systolic blood pressure, F(3, 174) =11.104, p=.000, and diastolic blood pressure. F(3, 174) =4.781, p=.003 for both groups. Age was a significant covariate for diastolic blood pressure. F(1, 56) =6.798 p=.012. Participants 57 years or older (n=30) had lower diastolic BPS than participants younger than 57 (n=30). No significant differences were found between groups on knowledge, adherence, or attitudes. Participants with lower incomes had significantly less knowledge about HBP Prevention (r=.036, p=.006). ^ Conclusion: AA women who participated in a 6 week intervention program demonstrated a significant decrease in BP over a 6 month period regardless of whether they were in the intervention or control group. These rural AA women had a relatively good knowledge of HTN and reported an average level of compliance, compared to other populations. Satisfaction with the program was high and there was no attrition, suggesting that AA women will participate in research studies that are culturally tailored to them, held in familiar community locations, and conducted by a trusted person with whom they can identify. Future studies using a different program with larger sample sizes are warranted to try to decrease the high level of HTN-related complications in AA women. ^

Sobre la eficacia histórica de las ideas : la ética protestante y el espíritu del capitalismo

Max Weber desarrolló gran parte de su obra en diálogo con Marx, como lo han insinuado varios autores y lo hemos estudiado detenidamente en otra parte. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar cómo se desarrolla ese “diálogo" (explícito o implícito) con la concepción materialista de la historia -que para Weber es sinónimo de “interpretación económica de la historia"-, en una de las obras más célebres del pensador alemán: “La ética protestante y el espíritu del capitalismo". A la vez, mediante un repaso de la literatura secundaria, se intenta observar cómo ha sido interpretada esta obra a lo largo de la historia de la teoría sociológica, desde el punto de vista de la tensión materialismo / idealismo.