Religious Conversion

The Rite of Baptism has always been one of the most important liturgical celebration of the Church. Every liturgical tradition has developed its own order (syr. taksā) which very often expresses not only the mentality of the local people but also the theology and the way of leading the theological reflection. Undoubtedly one of the most interesting liturgical rites one can find in the treasure of the Church of the East. In fact, from that tradition we have such prominent liturgical customs like the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, which by some reasons is called as “the Gem of the Orient”, or the Sacrament of the Holy Leaven (Malkā), which contain the original and extraordinary rich amount of the East Syriac theological intuitions.
The main purpose of this study is the analysis of the liturgical meaning of the word "Amin" in the final prayer of “loosing water from its consecration” of East Syriac Order of Baptism (the research is based on the edition of Taksa d-qudshe d-qurbana w-da'mada, Urmi 1890). Starting from the hermeneutical presentation of the prayer itself, we will try to find out the theological basis of the sanctifying power included in the word “Amin”. To get the final result the research will make use of some other liturgical texts and the writings of Syriac Fathers.

Le « château intérieur » nous donne-t-il une méthode de lectio divina ? À travers l'exemple de la fille de Jephté. La doctrine de sainte Thérèse d'Avila et de saint Jean de la Croix a permis d'éclairer les voies de l'« oraison mentale », mais elle n'a pas, semble-t-il, donné de méthode particulière pour la lectio divina.

Il volume raccoglie le relazioni presentate all'incontro di studi A quattrocento anni dalla Istoria del concilio tridentino di fra Paolo Sarpi promosso dalla Pontificia Facoltà Teologica «Marianum» e dall'Istituto Storico dell'Ordine dei Servi di Maria (Roma, 28 novembre 2019) Tutti i diritti di riproduzione, anche parziale, riservati per tutti i paesi.

The Encomium of Antonios, Metropolitan of Larissa, for his predecessor Kyprianos of Larissa is undoubtedly both a significant textual source for the local history of the Metropolis of Larissa in the 14th century, and a fascinating encomium that deviates from the stereotypes of the genre. Antonios, an important ecclesiastical writer, composed and delivered this text in 1362 on the occasion of Kyprianos’ canonisation. The work intertwines Kyprianos' biography with Antonios' own, while providing numerous valuable insights into the historical events in the region during the period 1330–1362. This study illuminates the key figures, events, and the purpose behind the composition of the encomium, followed by a critical edition of the text with suggested improvements to the existing critical editions.

The study examines the work entitled The Shepherd Man (Pásztorember) by the Jesuit János Molnár, published in 1775. The author’s aim is to popularize science, considering it his mission not only to educate and enlighten pastors but also to spiritually nurture them by disseminating prayers and reflections. He provides pastors with physical and astronomical knowledge in understandable language and opposes superstition. Utilizing the source works of Buffon and Linnaeus, he writes a substantial zoological overview. In the analyzed work, the allegorical approach, the influence of physico-theology, and the endeavor to attain a level of natural science commensurate with the era are uniquely blended. Due to the use of first Hungarian language terms, I recommend the book to the attention of linguistic research.

We are delighted to present this insightful book 'Buddhism in Buryatia'. As the publisher, it is our privilege to bring forth this work that sheds light on the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Buryatia. Buddhism has played a profound role in shaping the lives and beliefs of the Buryat people for centuries. This book serves as a comprehensive guide, offering a deep exploration into the history, teachings, and practices of Buddhism as it exists within the unique context of Buryatia. The authors present a captivating narrative that unveils the intertwined relationship between Buddhism and the Buryat culture. The book delves into the origins of Buddhism in Buryatia, tracing its roots and the legendary figures who propagated its teachings. Within these pages, readers will embark on a journey that illuminates the various Buddhist traditions, rituals, and ceremonies that have become integral parts of Buryat life. It is our hope that this book will not only serve as a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and students but also as an invitation for readers from all walks of life to immerse themselves in the wisdom and beauty of Buddhism in Buryatia. By fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, we believe that this work can contribute to the preservation and promotion of Buryatia's unique heritage. We express our sincere gratitude to the authors of the book Alexandre Andreyev and Irina Garri for their exceptional dedication and passion in crafting this remarkable book. May this book serve as a beacon of knowledge and inspiration, guiding readers into the profound teachings of Buddhism in Buryatia and fostering a deep appreciation for the enduring cultural legacy it represents.

To celebrate the end of the MSCA project “Under the Guidance of Mary. “Moriscos” and “Indios” against the expansion of the Spanish Empire and the politics of Marian devotion”, articulated between Brown University (RI, USA) and the Spanish National Research Council (Madrid, Spain), we invite researchers to participate in an international conference that would be held in Madrid on May 12-13, 2026. Inspired by the research conducted during this three-year project, around the fabrication by Tlaxcalan and Granadan native elites of forged stories and artifacts that projected the Virgin as the guardian of these regions and their native population, this international meeting aims to promote new insights into the political significance of devotional culture and the comparative study of “native” populations under Spanish rule. Centered around the multiple expressions and the rhetorical use of Marian devotion, this event intends to reunite and foster an open dialogue among researchers working on Early Modern Iberia, Morisco Studies, Spanish Colonial America, and Native American communities, and welcome ongoing research in the comparative study of these communities and the global dynamics of the Spanish Empire. The conference invites contributions that explore the politics of devotional culture and its transformations, the role and agency of native elites across the Atlantic, the debates about Indigenous and Morisco integration and assimilability, and the formulation of civic rights across Spain’s colonial domains.

This article examines the mass Christian conversions in Indonesia following the 1965 G30S/PKI coup attempt, analysing them not as isolated expressions of faith but as strategic responses to intense socio-political pressures. Using Anthony Giddens’ structuration theory as a framework, this study explores how state policies, ideological realignments, and individual agency co-constructed new religious identities in the volatile aftermath of anti-communist purges. Focusing primarily on Java between 1965 and 1971, the research reveals that many conversions—particularly among Abangan Muslims—were influenced by a mix of survival instincts, religious practicalities, and the humanitarian outreach of Christian missionaries. Prisons became key microcosms where structural coercion intersected with strategic agency, often resulting in collective religious shifts. The study further explores Muslim responses, including rising interreligious tensions and violent backlash, as well as the Suharto regime’s evolving stance—from implicit support to tighter regulation of missionary activities. Ultimately, the paper argues that mass conversions were embedded in a broader state project to reconstruct national identity through religious conformity, positioning Christianity as both a tool and a symptom of New Order ideological engineering. This study contributes to broader discussions on religion, power, and identity formation in postcolonial states experiencing ideological rupture and sociopolitical reconfiguration.

Die Schwelle zwischen dem 15. und 16. Jahrhundert stellt eine historische Periode dar, in der sich die geopolitische Landschaft und das innere Blickfeld sowohl für Christen als auch für Juden radikal änderten. Die veränderten Gegebenheiten lösten andere Erwartungen und das Bedürfnis nach neuen historischen Interpretationen aus. In diesem Kontext kann Ferrara, wie auch andere italienische Städte, als ein paradigmatisches Beispiel angesehen werden, als ein begrenzter Raum, in dem das spirituelle und kulturelle Wiederaufleben innerhalb der jüdischen Gesellschaft Gestalt annehmen konnte. Die Durchlässigkeit zwischen der künstlerischen und kulturellen christlichen Welt und jüdisch-intellektuellen Erzeugnissen bedingte ein gedeihendes Umfeld, das zudem durch die Einführung einer jüdischen Typographie und durch wachsende Ansprüche der Juden im Herzogtum der Este bestärkt wurde. Die indirekten Einflüsse auf dieses intellektuelle Wiederaufleben wirkten sich nach der Verlegung der Hauptstadt von Ferrara nach Modena tiefgreifend auf einer sozialen Ebene aus. Sie erlauben uns, das Fortdauern wichtiger Kommunikationsmuster zwischen Christen und Juden im Alltag zu erfassen. Das Einsetzen der Inquisition bietet uns mittels juristischer Archive die wichtigsten Instrumente, um soziale Dynamiken zu verstehen. Diese erlauben uns, neue denkbare Interpretationen als Schlüssel für die Gegebenheiten im Ghetto und für die Gründe seiner Errichtung in Betracht zu ziehen. Die städtische Trennungslinie ist nichts anderes als ein weiterer Versuch, die unsichtbaren Räume der Gedankenwelten voneinander abzugrenzen. Die nachhaltige Wirksamkeit der räumlichen Trennung weist einige Schwachpunkte auf, die während der gesamten Existenzphase des Ghettos von 1638 bis 1789 bestehen blieben.

The Millet are a Turkish-speaking, Muslim people who have experienced a movement to Christ in the past three decades. Healing and other supernatural encounters are a prominent feature of their conversion testimonies. This article reports the results of the analysis of 71 conversion narratives collected from 50 interviews, 25 YouTube and Facebook recordings, and one booklet. The interviews were collected in 2006 and 2007, and the videos were recorded and uploaded between 2021 and 2024. The narratives cover the period from the early Millet movement in the 1980s until 2024. The Millet usually encounter the power of God through Christians who pray for them, often in the context of a Christian meeting. Although they hear the words of the gospel, they experience God bodily. Feeling God affirms to them God's desire for relationship with them, as well as his power to bring change into their lives. At the same time, the way Christians welcome them into their midst encourages, supports, and introduces newcomers to the feeling of God's presence.

This study examines the transformation of rural settlement in the Shephelah region of Ottoman Palestine as a reflection of communal adaptation to changes in the political and security landscapes. Focusing on Khirbet Drūsye (Horvat Midras), we integrate archaeological evidence with Ottoman fiscal surveys and Sharia court registers to trace the site’s transition from a prosperous Mamluk-era village to a seasonal habitation (ʿizbeh) by the 1550s. This spatial reconfiguration illustrates how rural communities modified their settlement patterns and economic strategies in response to the declining security environment during the Early Ottoman period. The study of Drūsye, alongside other cases in the southern Bilād al-Shām/Levant, highlights not only the diverse ways that settlement systems evolved in response to political and economic pressures but also reveals sophisticated settlement patterns that challenge our understanding of 'permanent' versus 'transient' occupation. More broadly, the case demonstrates the methodological value of combining archaeological and documentary sources to reconstruct historical geographies and understand local responses to imperial transition. Beyond its regional focus, the case of Drūsye demonstrates a more general lesson: rural communities under imperial regimes often developed flexible, hybrid strategies of land use that challenge simple distinctions between permanence and abandonment. Such adaptive patterns have relevance for comparative studies of frontier zones, resilience, and the archaeology of “decline”.

This study explores strategic leadership succession and youth ministry development as essential mechanisms for ensuring organizational continuity in Nigerian Pentecostal churches. While leadership succession has long been a priority across societal institutions, many Pentecostal churches in Nigeria still lack intentional, structured frameworks for developing emerging leaders, particularly among youth. Despite biblical precedents and historical models, generational tensions, perceived immaturity, and fear of losing traditional values have hindered effective youth inclusion in leadership. This research adopts a descriptive survey design, engaging one hundred respondents, comprising both youth and older adults, from selected Pentecostal churches in Lagos and Ogun States. Using structured questionnaires, the study examines intergenerational perceptions, the role of discipleship, and the preparedness of youth for leadership. Findings reveal that while a majority affirm the importance of intentional discipleship and mentorship, concerns remain about youth readiness and character. However, mutual willingness to mentor and be mentored, along with relational discipleship, emerged as critical to sustainable leadership succession. The study concludes that investing in youth through spiritual formation, leadership training, and intergenerational trust is vital for maintaining the long-term relevance and growth of the church. It recommends strengthening discipleship structures, reforming perceptions, and fostering strategic youth engagement to bridge generational gaps. This research contributes to leadership development discourse by advocating for a theologically grounded and relationally driven approach to youth leadership succession within Pentecostal contexts.

This study examines the transformation of rural settlement in the Shephelah region of Ottoman Palestine as a reflection of communal adaptation to changes in the political and security landscapes. Focusing on Khirbet Drusye (Horvat Midras), we integrate archaeological evidence with Ottoman fiscal surveys and Sharia court registers to trace the site's transition from a prosperous Mamluk-era village to a seasonal habitation (ʿizbeh) by the 1550s. This spatial reconfiguration illustrates how rural communities modified their settlement patterns and economic strategies in response to the declining security environment during the Early Ottoman period. The study of Drusye, alongside other cases in the southern Bilad al-Sham/Levant, highlights not only the diverse ways that settlement systems evolved in response to political and economic pressures but also reveals sophisticated settlement patterns that challenge our understanding of “permanent” versus “transient” occupation. More broadly, the case demonstrates the methodological value of combining archaeological and documentary sources to reconstruct historical geographies and understand local responses to imperial transition. Beyond its regional focus, the case of Drusye demonstrates a more general lesson: rural communities under imperial regimes often developed flexible, hybrid strategies of land use that challenge simple distinctions between permanence and abandonment. Such adaptive patterns have relevance for comparative studies of frontier zones, resilience, and the archaeology of decline.

This paper explores to what extent the ritual performance of the Cantigas, paradigmatically represented by the “Cantigas das festas”, intended to be performed on the main Marian festivities in the cathedral of former Ishbiliya, was designed to immerse Seville’s diverse audience in the indefinite temporality of the biblical narration, offering an attractive vision of the life of the Virgin, which sought to simultaneously evoke the Islamic conception of Maryam and reaffirm the supremacy of the Christian version of the history of revelation.

Apocalypses and the classical rabbinic literature are usually treated as two distinct genres with little overlap.1 While the rabbis would surely have been aware of the former, as many apocalyptic works are contemporaneous to them, the near absence of direct reference to apocalypses in their own compositions affirms their fundamentally rejectionist position with regard to this genre as a whole. The four kingdoms apocalyptic prophecy from the book of Daniel was nevertheless an important thematic construct for the rabbis. Yet, even with respect to such an apocalyptic text as this, as we shall be reminded, the rabbis have only a limited appetite. This paper will deal with the relation between Rome and Persia as perceived by the rabbis in light of this four kingdoms motif, focusing on the Babylonian rabbis and examining, in particular, a debate found in the Babylonian Talmud on whether or not Rome would ultimately subdue Persia. The four kingdoms structure plays a major role in numerous rabbinic homilies, being linked to additional verses and subjects. For example, it is applied in the Mekhilta to non-kosher animals. In this tradition, the camel is Babylonia; the hare is Media; the rabbit is Greece and the boar is Rome. Or, alternatively, associations with the covenant of Abram are made via Gen 15:12, "As the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell upon Abram and a great dark dread descended upon him." ...

Written for teachers, seekers, and proselytes, this book addresses the foundational doctrines of biblical Christianity by taking A Closer Look at Things Relating to Conversion: “The Drawing of the Holy Spirit”, “Repentance”, “Coming to Faith in God”, “The Meaning of Baptism”, “Receiving the Gift of the Holy Spirit”, and “You Must Be Born Again”.

This study intends to explore the reality of religious conversion around the determinants of the background and the religious life of conversions after a religious conversion. This research is patterned with a phenomenological approach to reveal the subjective experience of conversion. The results showed that: The determinant factor behind the conversion to religious conversion was due to marriage. The conversion of religion that he did was not only due to the consequences of the constitutional mandate regarding the obligation to marry with the same conviction (Marriage Law No. 1 of 1974, Article 2), also because it was based on mutual feelings of mutual interest (same like). The religious life of subjects after religious conversion shows positive results in terms of dimensions; Convertible Islamic religious knowledge is increasingly increasing; The practice of converting Islamic religion in daily life is also increasing; The commitment to conversion to Islam is very strong, which is indicated by the more solid in Islam and the inclusion of several other family members in Islam through its influence.

This study intends to explore the reality of religious conversion around the determinants of the background and the religious life of conversions after a religious conversion. This research is patterned with a phenomenological approach to reveal the subjective experience of conversion. The results showed that: The determinant factor behind the conversion to religious conversion was due to marriage. The conversion of religion that he did was not only due to the consequences of the constitutional mandate regarding the obligation to marry with the same conviction (Marriage Law No. 1 of 1974, Article 2), also because it was based on mutual feelings of mutual interest (same like). The religious life of subjects after religious conversion shows positive results in terms of dimensions; Convertible Islamic religious knowledge is increasingly increasing; The practice of converting Islamic religion in daily life is also increasing; The commitment to conversion to Islam is very strong, which i...

The Orthodox Church of Finland operates in an established minority setting in northeastern Europe. This article studies people in conversion processes and produces knowledge of significant factors in creating belonging to a religious community. Survey responses of people who had participated in a parish's catechumen courses were subjected to data-driven content analysis. Five factors were detected: parish activities, liturgical life, contact with people in the community, the overall experience of community, and one's own activeness. The results show a gap between the social aspect and the sense of community in the conversion studies.

No está permitida la reproducción total o parcial de este libro, ni su incorporación a un sistema informático, ni su transmisión en cualquier forma o por cualquier medio, sea éste electrónico, mecánico, por fotocopia, por grabación u otros métodos, sin el permiso previo y por escrito del editor. La infracción de los derechos mencionados puede ser constitutiva de delito contra la propiedad intelectual (art. 270 y siguientes del Código Penal). Diríjase a Cedro (Centro Español de Derechos Reprográ cos) si necesita fotocopiar o escanear algún fragmento de esta obra. Puede contactar con Cedro a través de la web www.conlicencia.com o por teléfono en el 917021970/932720407 Este libro ha sido sometido a evaluación por parte de nuestro Consejo Editorial Para mayor información, véase www.dykinson.com/quienes_somos La edición de esta obra se ha llevado a cabo en el marco del Proyecto I+D+i Generación de Conocimiento titulado Estudio de las morerías del valle del Duero: Análisis espacial, material y simbólico de los apartamientos de moros en la Castilla medieval nanciado por el MCIN/AEI (PID2020-112898GB-I00)

Dank der günstigen naturräumlichen Lage wurde der Würzburger Raum schon in der Vorgeschichte intensiv besiedelt. Die Entstehung des frühmittelalterlichen Herzogs- und Bischofssitzes und seine Entwicklung zur Stadt lassen sich anhand archäologischer Quellen punktuell beleuchten. Dabei zeigen sich im links- und rechtsmainischen Stadtgebiet sowie auf dem Marienberg mitunter innere Differenzierungen während der Merowinger- und Karolingerzeit.

Or le-‘et ‘erev was the most popular missionary pamphlet printed by the Pietist Institutum Judaicum et Muhammedicum in Halle (Saale). This Yiddish booklet garnered much attention among Jews and Christians alike, and it was translated into several languages, including Dutch. One Dutch translation was penned by a Jewish convert who later reverted to Judaism and faced various accusations relating to his translation. This article focuses on that Dutch translation and the largely unknown personality of its author. The translation and its accompanying paratexts are compared with another eighteenth-century Dutch translation of the same pamphlet, thus shedding light on the translation techniques used, as well as the nature of the work and its intended audience. The translator’s multiple identities appear in a diverse corpus of documents under several aliases. In his largely unknown Hebrew apologia, Or le-‘et boker, which demonstrates a profound knowledge of Judaism as well as remarkable literary skills, he rewrote the story of his reconversion as a tale of repentance and redemption. Despite the idiosyncrasy of this fascinating life story, which transitions between Christianity and Judaism, the translator should be viewed as belonging to a larger group of less-known eighteenth-century Jewish authors and reformers. The members of this group sought to improve piety and religious education among their coreligionists and shared eighteenth-century Christian pietist notions of religiosity.

L'intento principale di questo lavoro è analizzare la figura di
Jamel Chérif attraverso la sua conversione ala religione
Bahái, avvenuta intorno agli anni Otanta del X secolo,
dopo un percorso molto tortuoso e sofferente, costelato di
momenti di riflessione, debolezza, insicurezza e di momenti
di forte sconforto e fragilità emotiva. Con lo scopo di
evidenziare le modalità espressive del testimone e il suo
punto di vista, si è scelto di riportare diversi estratti dela sua
storia di vita, raccolta nel maggio 2022.

Migration was as common in ancient times as it is today. This book offers the first synthesis of the current state of research. It begins by presenting the relevant theories and develops a typology suitable for the era, distinguishing between voluntary and forced, individual and mass, privately and publicly directed changes of location. In a third step, meaningful examples provide a panorama of ancient migration history from the early Greeks to the Migration Period.

This paper examines the conceptual alteration of miaoben (妙本 Wondrous Foundation) and yingyong (應用 Responding Function) in Emperor Tang Xuanzong's imperial commentary and exegesis on the Daodejing. Focusing on the Imperial Commentary (IC) and Imperial Exegesis (IE), it challenges the prevailing scholarly assumption that these two texts form a coherent interpretative framework. In the IC, Xuanzong constructs Dao through a dual structure: miaoben, representing the Dao's ontological foundation, and yingyong, signifying its generative and operative functions. However, the IE restructures this conceptual framework, reducing yingyong to a subordinate role and equating miaoben with the Dao. This shift signifies a rupture in Xuanzong's thought, reflecting both doctrinal and political considerations. By critically engaging with existing scholarship and providing a detailed textual analysis, this study reveals that the IC and IE are not a unified intellectual project but rather distinct stages of Xuanzong's evolving interpretation of the Daodejing.

Many have written about Bob Dylan’s complex relationship to his Jewish upbringing. In this study, I focus on a facet of Dylan’s Jewishness that has not been sufficiently appreciated, the link between Jews and melancholia. The philosophic import of the melancholic nature of the asymptotic curvature of messianic time, which one may elicit from a plethora of Jewish sources across the centuries, and by extension of the finitude of temporality more generally, finds a deep resonance in Dylan’s oeuvre. In particular, Dylan has been acutely attuned to the apocalyptic component of Judaism, which incarnates the infinite negativity of time; that is, the impossible possibility that makes it continually possible—indeed necessary—that the future that is coming threatens not to be the future that has been anticipated.

Note to reader: this is the published version of the essay, which was greatly reduced due to editorial pressures, and this lamentably included eliminating many of the citations from Dylan's songs.

Several attempts have been made to date the Torah or Pentateuch using various clues. This paper argues one such clue is the subject of failed prophecy. Some scholars have proposed the Torah or Pentateuch may have been created in Hellenistic times, the third through second centuries BC.

In printed Bibles, Ezra-Nehemiah is two books, but one book in manuscripts of the Old Testament.1 Perhaps it was divided to make Nehemiah separate, because the beginning of Nehemiah resembles the beginning of a prophetic book. Further, most of Ezra 4-7 is in Aramaic, the international language, not Hebrew. Like bilingual people in the modern world, the original readers could evidently be expected to move between the two languages. The pages that follow will first outline Ezra-Nehemiah to provide a context for discussing the topic of justice in the two books and reflecting on its contemporary significance.

This article explores the religious conversion of slaves in the Ottoman Empire and the Crimea as a profound and transforming event in the lives of slaves. We will analyze the conditions, reasons, and consequences of conversion by studying court records from different cities from the 16th to 18th centuries. It will also explore the relation between religious conversion and the agency of the slaves. The primary research inquiries that this working paper seeks to address are as follows: What impact did religious conversion have on the agency of the slaves? What was the impact of conversion on their lives (as well as the lives of their slave owners) during and after being enslaved? Do the circumstances and effects of conversion differ between male and female slaves? This study aims to elucidate these inquiries in an endeavor to offer a new perspective on the relation between enslavement and conversion.

Scholarly research into the theology of Thomas Forsyth Torrance (1913–2007) has increased significantly in the years since his death. Much of the research has focused on his intellectual output and scientific theology (see e.g. Hanna 2004; Munchin 2011; Yom 2013). To date, no significant research has been done to unite his theology and mission practice in spite of the warning by McGrath (1999:237) of the danger of concentrating on Torrance’s intellectual achievement to the detriment of the biography that shaped his theology. Colyer (2001:51) noted the significance of Torrance’s mission-shaped biography, but saw his mission experience in China as a child (1913–1927) and again in retirement (1984–1994) as ‘bookends’ to his life. However, if McGrath’s warning is to be taken seriously, Torrance’s missional biography needs to be considered not as distinct from, but integral to his theological output. To date, the missional nature of much of Torrance’s dogmatic and biblical theology has l...

Child labor remains a pressing issue in developing countries like Pakistan, where socio-economic challenges often push children into hazardous work environments. The Constitution of Pakistan 1973, through Article 11, prohibits child labor, and subsequent federal and provincial legislation has aimed to curb this practice. Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, provinces including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, have enacted laws to eliminate child labor and promote education. However, inconsistencies in provincial laws, limited resources, and lack of enforcement hinder progress. For instance, Punjab’s Restriction on Employment of Children Act 2016 defines a child as under 15 years and restricts hazardous work for adolescents (15–18 years), but enforcement remains weak. This study analyzes these provincial laws, highlighting their strengths, contradictions, and gaps. It underscores the need for uniform legislation, robust enforcement mechanisms, and awareness campaigns to shift societal attitudes toward prioritizing education over child labor. Recommendations include harmonizing age limits across provinces, increasing budgetary allocations for education, and launching public awareness initiatives to protect children’s rights and secure a brighter future for Pakistan’s next generation.

Finding and encouraging Indigenous cultural expressions
that harmonize with Christian faith rather than bringing
in and teaching established Western cultural expressions
has proven to be a far more effective means to spread
the gospel. As Indigenous arts are encouraged, they
are reshaping global Christianity and fulfilling God’s
diverse, multicultural vision of the body of Christ.

This is not my own publication but rather is an important book written at the end of the 19th century by an Indian Christian convert from Islam named Safdar 'Alī. The book is now very hard to find, but I was happy to spot a record of the book in a library in India. This is a clear digital copy of the 'Khullat nāma', graciously made by the library. We needed a copy of this book for the entry on Safdar 'Alī in volume 24 of 'Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History' (Brill). Discovery of this copy makes it possible to include information about it in Safdar's entry. Volume 24 of CMRBH is scheduled for publication in late 2025, and eventually I will be able to post the entry on Safdar and his writings on this platform.

Nationalism in India has never been a monolithic concept but has emerged through multiple, often competing, ideological currents. Among these, two distinct visions stand in stark contrast. The first is Hindutva-based nationalism, which crystallized in the early twentieth century under the influence of V.D. Savarkar and other ideologues. This framework defines the Indian nation primarily in terms of Hindu identity, emphasizing shared ancestry, sacred geography, and cultural-religious homogeneity. It seeks to consolidate the nation by assimilating or marginalizing non-Hindu communities, privileging an ethnocentric model that regards diversity as a threat to unity.
By contrast, Bible-based nationalism, as envisioned and practiced by Christian missionaries and later indigenous Christian reformers, is grounded in biblical theology. This vision understands nationhood not in terms of ethnicity or geography but in relation to divine principles of justice, equality, compassion, and service. It emphasizes the inherent dignity of every person as created in the image of God, and therefore envisions a nation that flourishes when it seeks the welfare of all its communities, particularly the marginalized and oppressed. Missionaries expressed this vision not through political dominance but through transformative contributions in education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, linguistic development, and social reform, thereby embodying a model of nationalism rooted in service and inclusivity.
This article systematically compares these two models of nationalism by analyzing their philosophical roots, definitions of identity and belonging, approaches to diversity, relationship between religion and the state, and practical implications for minorities and marginalized groups. Hindutva nationalism, though powerful in mobilizing mass identity, reveals exclusivist tendencies that often foster division. Bible-based nationalism, while less politically assertive, offers a prophetic and ethical alternative that upholds pluralism and fosters holistic nation-building.
Ultimately, the study highlights the ongoing mandate of the Indian Church: to embody and advance a vision of nationalism that is righteous, inclusive, and oriented toward the common good. Rather than seeking domination, the biblical model calls Christians to be “salt and light” within society—agents of healing, justice, and blessing. In a nation wrestling with competing ideologies, this comparative analysis illuminates the urgent need for a nationalism that exalts righteousness over ethnocentrism, and service over supremacy, thereby pointing toward a truly flourishing India.

This special issue aims to foster dialogue across two geographic and political spaces—the Italian and French colonial empires—as well as across two temporal dimensions: the period of persecution and its aftermath. For Italy, the focus will be on Libya, the Dodecanese, and the Horn of Africa; for France, on the countries of the Afrique française du Nord (Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco). In particular, the issue seeks to explore both the commonalities and differences in the persecution of Jews within these imperial contexts and in the respective policies of post-war reintegration.

Surveying Slavic ramparts in the Wendland region of Lower Saxony. – In recent years, detailed topographical maps of Slavic fortifications in north-eastern Lower Saxony have been produced. Contour maps of the Gartow-Elbholz and Brünkendorf-Schwedenschanze ramparts were compared with interpretative ground plans featuring wedge and line hatching. The Weinberg hill fort near Hitzacker was subjected to further topographical surveying. The historical and archaeological significance of the sites is outlined briefly.

This essay compares key essays on Buddhism by B.R. Ambedkar and Jürgen Habermas vis-à-vis the issue of Buddhism, wealth, and privilege, and the respective statements again to what the Buddha taught, from a Theravada perspective. In doing so, it can be seen that Buddhism does not indeed endorse privilege in this world-but what seems to be privilege and inherited wealth are actual merits from a former life. Since these come with their own dangers, viz. attachment and not putting wealth to good use, wealth may be nice but not more. That someone is better than someone else because of birth and inheritance rather than action is, however, established as completely non-Buddhist, again and again, even by the Buddha himself.

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, head of the drafting committee of India's constitution and a law minister in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. From wikipedia.org Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956) was a prominent leader of India's "Untouchable" castes in the years leading up to Indian independence and the chief architect of the nation's constitution. Known as "Babasaheb" among a large number of new Buddhists from the Mahar and other Scheduled Caste communities today, including young professionals and workers, Dr. Ambedkar is celebrated as one of India's most educated individuals. He is revered as a fatherly figure, having held many roles, such as lawyer, legislator, author, labor leader, cabinet minister, and educator. Dr. Ambedkar is also considered a "bodhisattva" by his followers, one whose memory continues to inspire the daily salute of "Jai Bhim!" (Victory to Ambedkar!) Educated at Columbia University in New York, where he received * This tribute serves as a reminder of the profound impact of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, born on 14 April 1891. His contributions continue to inspire and guide us toward a more inclusive society.

Soka Gakkai Headquarter Complex World Seikyo Center. From facebook.com Many Buddhist schools have formed since the introduction of the tradition from China to Japan in 552 CE. Some of them are essentially home-grown Japanese schools, while others can trace their lineage directly from Chinese traditions that might not even have survived institutionally in China until being re-imported from Japan in the modern period (for example, Shingon Buddhism).