Late Additions
A Theological Investigation into Zomi Search for the Lost Paradise: A Southeast Asian Pentecostal Reflection View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Rev Thang San Mung
This research proposes a Pentecostal pneumatological reading of the recent social-political story of Zomi, an ethnic Christian minority in Myanmar. In recent decades, Zomi felt the loss of their paradisal dreamland amid the ups and downs of modern Burman politics. In its origin, the “Paradise lost and found” is a biblical concept that has become a basic driving motif of some significant Christian movements, in which the Zomi are also no exception. Accordingly, this research observes how various social, political, and religious groups have read this biblical theme differently in the past and analyzes what implications they bear for Zomi, an ethnic minority group in Myanmar. The spatial geographical reading is the most prevalent motif of all those preceding movements is the observation at a glance. However, this research advocates Pentecostal/Charismatic spirituality as another missing link for Zomi in their search for the lost Paradise.
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno in the Sacred and Profane Spaces of Quiapo View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Albert Romero
The Historic City of Manila is composed of different districts, one of the most important is Quiapo which is known as the home of the miraculous image of the suffering Jesus – the Black Nazarene. Quiapo is bounded by the Pasig River in the South-West, San Miguel in the South-East and Sampaloc in the North-East. The church of Quiapo is at the center of the City of Manila where devotees from different walks of life and beliefs pay homage to the miraculous image every day. The image of the Nazarene was brought to Manila during the 1600 by the Augustinian Recolect friars from Mexico to establish special devotion. From then on such devotion to the Nazarene attracted numberless of devotees due to its miraculous effects to the physical and spiritual needs of the believers. Today, Quiapo is a melting pot for different beliefs and religious practices that include Catholicism, Folk religion, fortune telling, special ritual for talisman, blessed herbs and extraordinary semi-precious stones for healing. This paper shares the heterogeneity of religious rituals by various folk believers, articulated Christians and talisman merchants. Folk religiosity is also considered as practices by people from different walks of life.
Filipino Prophets View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Melito Cruz
Filipino believers and theists are always looking for alternative of worship since time immemorial. The history of faith provides that when the foreign religious missionaries arrived in the Philippine archipelago from 14th century onwards, Filipino theists find very difficult to adjust due to their animistic adherence. When Catholicism and Protestantism conquered the animistic Filipinos, several devotees have embraced the new foreign beliefs and religion, while others were looked for another possibility or substitute divine beings. Today, numerous Filipino prophets emerged in the Philippine Islands affirming to their followers that they were chosen by the divine Being in a solitude of prayer and meditation. This paper elucidates and shares selected Filipino prophets and their doctrines that their members and followers live and practice. Mixed methods research approach were used to collect and analyze comprehensively both quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources. The results show that Filipino prophets are still significant for their members and sympathizer, despite the fact that the self-proclaimed “divine anointed one” is in question.
Unmasking the Deviance Undercurrent: The Anatomy of Sexual Depravity in Pastoral Contexts View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Mashudu Muthivhi
Within the hallowed halls of religious sanctuaries, a sinister phenomenon thrives—the 'unacknowledged known.' This unsettling concept encapsulates a reality where sexual exploitation of vulnerable women persists beneath the surface, often overlooked or swept under the rug. The paradox of powerful religious figures with feeble sexual ethics reinforces this perversion, enabling them to prey upon the innocent with impunity. It's a twisted dance of authority and subjugation that leaves victims silenced and scarred. Central to this disturbing dynamic is the disproportionate power wielded by male religious practitioners. The construct of hegemonic masculinity within religious hierarchies exacerbates the problem, further entrenching the imbalance of power. The consecrated aggressor is shielded by a cloak of authority, rendering the holy casualty vulnerable and voiceless. This power dynamic dismantles the spiritual haven that the Church should provide, leaving victims subjected to a new form of spiritual oppression. The Church; arguably and chronically so, proves reticent to sexual offences and oppressions by her functionaries within the institution. The article also ventures into the murky waters of clerical reaction to sexual offences and victimisation. Too often, the Church's response has been one of denial, cover-ups, or superficial apologies that lack genuine remorse. This inadequate reaction perpetuates a cycle of mistrust and further victimisation, shrouding the institution in a cloud of disgrace.
Unlike my Neighbor: The Impact of Physical Proximity on Interpretations of Abrahamic Scriptural Mandates to Differentiate
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Elizabeth Latham
Each of the three major Abrahamic religions has its own scriptural passage enjoining its followers to differentiate themselves from the “other.” Commentators have historically interpreted them according to the qualities and practices of the “others,” and geographical proximity seems to be the single greatest factor in determining who is referenced, directly or by allusion. This pattern has manifested across space and time, from the menstrual practices of Arab Muslims in the Middle Ages to the naming conventions of enlightenment-era Albanian Christians to the liturgical tendencies of modern American Jews. Through a comparative analysis of religious texts, historical accounts, and contemporary observations, I identify the proximity pattern and argue that competition for resources, status, and influence is what leads to the exacting scriptural interpretations based on practices of nearby groups. The interpreters may not consider these groups to be the most sinful, nor even the most culturally similar and in need of differentiation—it is the proximity that presents the issue. In the second section, I discuss the geographical implications; the practices that began with physical proximity foster stronger inter-group boundaries over time, leading to the formation of enclaves, ghettos, or religiously distinct neighborhoods. By highlighting the reciprocal relationship between physical geography and religious interpretation, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of religious differentiation within Abrahamic traditions. It underscores the significance of considering spatial dynamics in the study of historic scriptural interpretation by illuminating ways in which physical proximity shapes religious practice and vice versa.
