Daud Arif’s Post

In our new study of 16 relatively wealthy nations, we aimed to identify predictors of negative attitudes toward ethnic, racial, and religious diversity. The strongest predictors were perceived domestic conflict (perception of conflict between ethnic and religious groups in one's country), being older, and dissatisfaction with the way democracy works in one's country. Household income was not associated with attitudes toward diversity. Our model produced similar results when tested separately in Australia. Regardless of whether actual conflict exists, perceptions of intergroup tensions can exacerbate anti-diversity attitudes and warrant attention in interventions and policies. Free to read: https://lnkd.in/gqW6YJas

PDF Orthodox Identities in Western Europe: Migration, Settlement and Innovation Maria Hämmerli, Jean-François Mayer digsell https://lnkd.in/e2w_Bm2z The Orthodox migration in the West matters, despite its unobtrusive presence. And it matters in a way that has not yet been explored in social and religious studies: in terms of size, geographical scope, theological input and social impact. This book explores the adjustment of Orthodox migrants and their churches to Western social and religious contexts in different scenarios. This variety is consistent with Orthodox internal diversity regarding ethnicity, migration circumstances, Church-State relations and in line with the specificities of the receiving country in terms of religious landscape, degree of secularisation, legal treatment of immigrant religious institutions or socio-economic configurations. … Read More » https://lnkd.in/e6xtDKsm

I recently did a study of active Catholics in the US. The data shows that while 50% of US Catholics are Caucasian, we are also much more Hispanic that the US population. And the Hispanic percentage of total Catholics is growing. In this part 1 of 2 conversation with Dr. Hosffman Ospino, we discuss his study about successful ministry to young Hispanics. I think there is a lesson in this for how to engage young people of all ethnic backgrounds! #ACST #Catholic #Hispanic #Latino #Faith https://lnkd.in/gDNwNkFA

Trust in religion among women in Australia: a quantitative analysis. This report presents the first dedicated study to identify the impacts of religious child abuse scandals in Australia and examines related demographic and attitudinal factors contributing to women’s low trust and what this means for their perspectives on the role of religious organisations in Australia’s economy and society. #religion #women#trust #australia #childabuse #economy #society

𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬 🏠🔎📈 | 𝐏𝐍𝐀𝐒 CFPR Associates’ Work | 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐮 𝐙𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠, Qing Lai and Yu Xie This study adopts a mixed-methods research design to investigate inconsistencies in marriage and cohabitation experiences between different religious communities in modern China. It examines the tensions between state interventions promoting later family formations, and the religious norms of early marriages within the Muslim community. According to the research findings, cohabitation is perceived as a socially acceptable alternative for Chinese Muslims to reconcile both national and religious expectations. The results conclude a positive correlation between one’s religiosity and one’s tendency to experience cohabitation. Moreover, despite cohabitation being seemingly modern, Chinese Muslim parents have also been found to actively encourage and facilitate it for their children, to preserve some semblance of traditional and religious ideals. Altogether, the study underscores the significance of recognizing how family dynamics can evolve and be shaped by distinct social environments. Link: https://lnkd.in/gq33xC4z Photo Source: Pew Research Centre

Moving from theory to practice in conceptualizing social cohesion between different ethnicities and religious identities.

My latest for The Pillar, on the interreligious and ecumenical aspect of World Youth Day https://lnkd.in/dyUE-Njb

During this participatory discussion with panelists Nwandi Lawson, Joy DeGruy, Derik Smith, and Nanabah Foguth, an exploration of how particular identity categories can be located with a broader understanding of the human family in its entirety is dissected. It examines connections with contemporary notions of global citizenship, and it considers how recognition of our common humanity can be translated into adjustments to social structures, governing institutions, and relationships between individuals and communities. #humanity #GlobalCitizenship #Bahai

The war against #Christianity in #Australia continues, with the latest shot being fired by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The ABS are currently finalising questions for the 2026 census, and changes to the question regarding religious #faith are particularly telling. #auspol #ausnews #auspol2024 #religiousfreedom #politics #immigration #religion #secularism

wealth' is an entirely man-made idea, with no scientific logic or parallel in Nature. We invented a token to facilitate the uniquely human occupation of trading, we then invented its rules, and then we went ahead and got the whole world to agree to its rules - irrespective of whether others were traders or not. That is how all of us ended up choosing the money-centric way of life over other ways of life. If the purpose of having a way of life is to get through life in the nicest way possible, it matters which way of life we choose. The best way of life would then be one which doesn't bring violence into any of the three relationships we have - with ourselves, with others, and with Nature/Earth. Which is what Dharma is. The set of principles of the least violent way of life. Either with the threat of war or levers of global finance, governments across the world have been pushing entirely violent and expansionist ideas of economics on their people. In the name of growth, development, success, progress. Indigenous ways of life have trouble agreeing to ideas that earth is a resource. Which is why they end up poor when they enter the money way of life.