New Beginnings
Religion in Deed: Alcoholics Anonymous Organization as a Functional Equivalent of Religion
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Mahmoud Sadri, Phillip Pierce
The principles of humility, honesty, and service are the principles on which the “Alcoholics Anonymous” (AA) organization is based on. We believe these principles are the reason it has succeeded and continues to expand on a global scale. These principles, we argue, makes AA a functional equivalent of religion in a Durkheimian (1913) sense. Thus, we argue, the purpose of the organization is to enable its members to live life “on life’s terms” rather than a simple method for alcohol recovery (Alcoholics Anonymous, 1976). Alcoholics Anonymous allows no associated with any known religion, but spirituality, pervades its rituals, symbols, and cultic activities. AA members are enjoined to freely admit their faults (honesty), accept the reality of life (humility), and devote themselves to service of others. AA is a unique “religion” in that it promises no significant self-improvement or future rewards; the ability to live life on life’s terms on a daily basis is the only stated, realized, and celebrated goal of the organization.
Question of Freedom: Muslim Women and Image Reproduction in the West View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Nada Alfeir
This paper claims that the stylization and reproduction of images of veiled women in Western societies constrain these women's rights, subject them to oppression and public discrimination, and assist with the othering that Western societies use to claim their cultural superiority over them, Muslim women. Using Stuart Hall's model of representation and reproduction, which argues that representation is the process of producing the meaning of our mental concepts with language, this paper establishes that the iconic reproduction of images of veiled women in Western societies expresses a shared meaning against Muslim women. This research engages the theory of semiotics, which is the study of signs and signifying practices. Out of the semiotics used in the stylization and reproduction of the images of veiled women, the representation changes their basic meaning to cultural meaning. This research establishes that this practice subjects Muslim women to oppression, discrimination, and negative public scrutiny. Additionally, the research indicates that despite the cultural and religious significance of the veil in Muslim societies, Western society believes that the veil is a symbol of the oppression of the rights of these women and cultural backwardness that clashes with the cultural modernity of the West. In conclusion, this research points out that bans on veils in major Western countries such as the UK and France may influence similar decisions in the US. Such decisions may further implicate Muslim women in Western societies and contribute to their dilemma when attempting to reconcile Western cultural values and their native Islamic practices.
Unfolding the Religious-social Practices on the Sustainability of Culinary Business During COVID-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence From Indonesia View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Muhamad Fadhil Nurdin, Bintarsih Sekarningrum, Gigin Basar, Hadiyanto Rachim, Tofan R Zaky
One of the economic sectors affected during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia was Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), especially the culinary business, with a decline of 43.09%. However, not all culinary enterprises have experienced a decline in performance. For example, Wakaf Pro 99 Sinergi Foundation, a culinary business unit, has been able to boost profits since 2020. This research aims to comprehensively explore the capacity and accountability of non-profit institutions in operating Islamic philanthropy-based culinary businesses to deal with the economic crisis. This qualitative study draws upon contemporary sociologists' works, such as Durkheim's work on religion and social bonds, Tocqueville's work on civil society and Bourdieu, Giddens and Foucault's works on social reality. The current study results suggest that social practice with the basis of religion unintentionally produce a profitable waqf-based culinary business during the Covid-19 pandemic. The religious core values of this foundation are derived from the teachings of Islamic finance, which are encapsulated during decision-making and regular works. In developing human resources, the Sinergi Foundation instils the belief that "giving the best contribution" becomes a common value to strengthen and expand social solidarity for the community's welfare. Collectively, this research contributes to designing the role of Islamic philanthropy-based funds in SMEs and generating input for stakeholders to develop effective and efficient post-COVID pandemic assistance programs.
