Can Divine Intervention Aid in Domestic Violence Prevention? An Analysis of Bystanders' Advertising Attitudes and Reporting Intentions in India

The research explores how religious symbols can be used in advertising to encourage bystander intervention in the context of domestic violence. Using symbolic interactionism as the theoretical framework, a 4 (Ad type: Control vs. Visual vs. Verbal vs. Visual/Verbal) × 2 (Religiosity: Low vs. High) between-subjects experimental design was conducted to assess impact on attitudes toward the ad and intention to help. A national sample (N = 402) of Hindu adults from India was recruited. The findings suggest level of religiosity is critical to the process with highly religious individuals displaying higher levels of involvement, concern for others and willingness to report abuse. No significant differences were found across visual and verbal religious symbol conditions. Implications for advertisers and government agencies are presented.     

宗教文化立场的书写与言说——20世纪后20年小说语言论之五

20世纪后20年,不少作家站在宗教文化的立场展开书写与言说。在对神圣之物心理的作用下,无论是小说中的人物语言,还是故事的叙述人的语言,都是敬畏式的语言;在宗教精神的制导下,人们可以由形而下开始,向着形而上的终极意义发出追问;宗教徒非常相信语言的力量,总是怀着虔诚的心态面对语言并进入语言;宗教文化的神秘性很容易给小说语言涂上厚厚的神秘色彩;新老教徒之间的言语就很容易形成一种师生式的语言;立足于宗教文化立场的作家常常在创作中由日常语言走向宗教语言。     

Socio-Cultural Change and Business Ethics in Post-Soviet Countries: The Cases of Belarus and Estonia

The aim of this literature-based study is to explore the influence of socio-cultural factors on business ethics in post-soviet countries with dissimilar cultural contexts. Specifically, this article seeks to identify and compare contextual influences on informal norms of morality in business in transitional post-soviet societies. In order to pursue this investigation, the countries of Belarus and Estonia were identified as being among the most noteworthy examples of culturally different post-soviet countries in transition. The study reveals contradictory manifestations of mixtures of business norms in both Estonia and Belarus, which are conditioned by the merger of an autocratic bureaucratic soviet system with more participative and empowering forms of western management. The most persistent changes relate to moves from patriarchal and paternalistic types of relationship and low work motivation. The significance of these differences, which include nationality and religious legacies, will almost inevitably be overlooked should the countries be placed under the general umbrella of ‘former soviet states’ when considering business ethics in these contexts.     

Impact of Religion on Halal Meat Consumption Decision Making in Belgium

This study investigates the determinants of halal meat consumption within a Belgian Muslim migration population using the theory of planned behavior as a conceptual framework, with a focus on the role of self-identity as a Muslim and acculturation in the host country. Cross-sectional data were collected through a survey with 367 Muslims mainly originating from North Africa and living in Belgium. Findings reveal that in general, a positive health attitude toward halal meat predicts the intention to consume halal meat among Muslims. Perceived lack of safety measures or poor belief in the safety controls are shown to be potential barriers preventing Muslim consumers from eating halal meat. Low acculturated Muslims rely strongly on their positive personal attitude toward the health status of halal meat, whereas high acculturated Muslims rely on health attitude, animal welfare attitudes, and safety when intending to consume halal meat. Muslims with a high Muslim self-identity intend to eat halal meat because they believe that it is healthy whereas Muslims with a low Muslim self-identity are rather influenced by religious peers, together with their personal health attitude and availability concerns.     

泉州城市规划与宗教旅游的冲突研究

泉州是我国首批公布的24个历史文化名城,其宗教种类繁多,历史悠久、史迹丰富,在海内外有很大影响。泉州的宗教旅游近年来也得到了蓬勃的发展,然而在宗教旅游的迅猛发展过程中,也爆发出一些问题,如与城市规划产生的矛盾。本文通过阐述泉州宗教旅游发展现状,分析城市规划对宗教旅游发展的阻碍及制约因素,并针对这些问题提出相应的建议。     

Spiritual myths of consumption: puritanism,transcendentalism and the consubstantiation of the American consumer

ABSTRACT

Contemporary consumer trends in America are profoundly influenced by the enduring religious values of Puritanism and the more secular spiritual values of Transcendentalism. Both belief systems have deeply penetrated American collective memory. While they share common historical roots, the tensions that emerge from their differences describe a typology of three enduring collective myths of American culture – the Myth of the American Dream, the Myth of the American Adam and the Myth of American Exceptionalism. These myths, in turn, define three contemporary consumer movements – Voluntary Simplicity, Transformational Consumption and Radical Consumption.     

Sober business: Shared value creation between the insurance industry and the temperance movement

This study examines how the Swedish insurance company Ansvar established and expended an international business from the 1930s to the 1990s with the motives to insure total abstainers while battling against alcohol abuse in society. Anvar represented a for-profit business that aimed at addressing social issues. The case provides a historical example of how shared value was created between the company and the temperance movement for the joint goal of improving society through temperance. The article argues that the company’s decline was due to changing values, where alcohol was no longer seen as a threat to society.     

Religion and Economic Development in History: Institutions and the Role of Religious Networks

I argue that the role of religion on economic performance is mainly through the networks of small religious groups. These groups form social networks that enable individuals to conduct non-formal contract enforcement mechanisms. I analyze the effects of religions on societies, focusing mainly on the institutional aspects that affect the capabilities of creating social capital via networks which enhance cooperation and decrease transaction costs. Since the interaction between institutions and organizations is expected to shape the institutional evolution and economic performance of an economy, religions that have a communal form of organization rather than a vertical (hierarchical) structure, thus allowing many different denominational sub-communities within a society, can be more beneficiary for development and growth. Such institutions may not only provide allocative and production efficiency, but also adaptive efficiency that is a key to long-run growth. However, these effects may turn negative depending on these institutions’ role in causing group hostility and exclusion.     

Is it godly to waste food? How understanding consumers' religion can help reduce consumer food waste

Food waste is a problem worldwide, but solutions have yet to adequately incorporate consumers' core values—values which are often rooted in religion. Study 1 shows that restrictive religious norms (e.g., rules about food consumption, fasting) lead to greater food waste, whereas supportive religious norms (e.g., sharing food) lead to reduced food waste. Study 2 replicates prior findings and rules out competing explanations. Study 3 manipulates marketing messaging to show that consumers with higher (lower) levels of religiosity are more likely to reduce food waste with a prevention (promotion) framed message partnered with environmental reasoning or a promotion (prevention) framed message partnered with people-based reasoning. Implications for marketers, consumer advocacy groups, and policy makers desiring to reduce food waste are provided.     

Consecrating Capitalism: The United States Prosperity Gospel and Neoliberalism

Neoliberalism relies on optimism. Without faith in meritocracy—unwavering belief that rewards will eventually and justly come to those who work hard enough—support for the capitalist system and belief in neoliberalism would unravel. How that optimism is perpetuated in the face of persistent income inequality and exploitation within the workplace requires an examination of those cultural institutions which reinforce and reproduce optimism over practical experience. This research focuses on one particular religious institution of the United States—the Prosperity Gospel.

The Prosperity Gospel is a modern, neoliberal variation of Pentecostalism that is premised on the belief that a Biblical covenant between the individual believer and God guarantees that believer blessings of health and wealth, provided she demonstrates adequate faith. Accordingly, for those who are less adept at navigating the business world, financial success is still available for those believers who can dedicate themselves with the same frenzied ambition to the spiritual world. The Prosperity Gospel thus supports and sustains neoliberalism; the Prosperity Gospel is an institution which provides ref-uge to individuals from the exigencies of the market as well as a social practice which reinforces individual responsibility and fault. The Prosperity Gospel is the spiritual articulation of neoliberalism as well as a reinforcing institution.