Creative insight and mystical union differ as to depth of withdrawal, which is a way of saying how closely they are bound to the phenomenal world. The difference between the creative and the mystical reflects disparities in the descent. The similarities reflect the common process through which descent is achieved. Neuropsychology is critical in revealing the imaginal undersurface of veridical o...

As physicians encounter an increasingly diverse patient population, socioeconomic circumstances, religious values and cultural practices may present barriers to the delivery of quality care. Increasing cultural competence is often cited as a way to reduce healthcare disparities arising from value and cultural differences between patients and providers. Cultural competence entails not only a kno...

The study of law and religion has tended to focus on debates over “church and state.” The central question has been how the law ought to structure the relationship between religion and the government. Many of the legal conflicts over religion, however, take place in a commercial context. They are thus not simply puzzles of how God and Caesar should interact. They also present the question of ho...

Seminary educators must negotiate two often disparate expectations in the formation of an ethical professional identity among their students. The first expectation runs deep in the traditions of professional education. It emphasizes the development of expertise—especially the expertise of critical reflection. This leads seminary educators to focus attention on developing among their students ca...

All known human societies have a worldview that deserves to be called religion; all religions must explain death. Anthropologists study the diversity of religious systems, present and past, in order to understand what is common to humanity. Rather than starting from the view of a particular revelation or set of doctrines, the anthropologist tries to step outside his or her own subjective worldv...

Education is a human right. It prepares human beings for life, helps to develop individual abilities and opens up social opportunities—e.g., earning one’s own living. Religion interprets our human existence in connection to a transcendental dimension. Religion can also influence moral values and behavior. The Christian religion established a basis for social life, and thus deals with religious ...

This essay seeks to summarize and compare the theological ideas of Jonathan Edwards, a western philosopher, with those of Feyz Kashani, an eastern philosopher. The reason for this study is the numerous conjunctions that are seen in their ideas. These include the harmony of heart and reason in respect to belief, the priority of the heart in the reflection of truth, the belief in centrality of th...

Harmonious living in a diverse society presents complex challenges due to the potential for significant conflict. Radicalism, intolerance, and social conflict often occur, especially concerning religious pluralism. Educational institutions, which are expected build nation's character, also prone religion's education labeling. Hence, Christian had two choices: strengthen dogmatic teaching or emb...

creation is one of the basic concepts which have a prominent role in all aspects of the islamic world-view; especially that man has been invited to thinking and reflection in the creature and creative. that is why the philosophers, theologians and mystics have presented their view points in this sphere and opened a new opinion. asharites tried to develop the sphere of divine will and power took...

THERE ARE promising and problematic connections between ethics and the emerging phenomena of spirituality. Any definitive resolution of this relationship would be premature because the discipline of spirituality is still defining itself. The variety of spiritualities is enormous, ranging from New Age practices to feminist political writings and Twelve Step programs. On the positive side, certai...