Effectiveness of Spiritual Components Training on Life Satisfaction of Persian Orphan Adolescents

This study was performed with the purpose of determining the effectiveness of spiritual components training on life satisfaction of Persian orphan adolescents. The study population was from female adolescents of two orphanages located in Kerman, Iran. They were randomly divided into two experimental and two control groups (each group including ten members). The experimental groups were received the spiritual training in ten sessions (spiritual training included components such as image of God, relationship with God, Tawwakul, searching for meaning during difficulties and pain), whereas the control groups were in the waiting list. Life satisfaction questionnaire was completed by one experimental and one control group before the training; and also after it, all four groups filled out the mentioned questionnaire. The analysis of covariance on the results revealed that spiritual components training had a significant positive effect on life satisfaction of the experimental groups in comparison with the control groups. Lastly, discussion, conclusion, some suggestions and directions were indicated.     

Is There a Significant Trend in Prevalence of Consanguineous Marriage in Tehran? A Review of Three Generations

Consanguineous marriage is a common practice in Iran. The present study surveyed the trend in consanguineous marriage across three generations of Iranians. Index cases, consisting of 400 individuals attending the diabetes and osteoporosis clinic in Shariati Hospital, were interviewed. Data on consanguinity status for 1789 marriages within the index cases’ families were obtained. Generation 1 consisted of marriages contracted before 1948, Generation 2 consisted of marriages contracted between 1949 and 1978, and Generation 3 consisted of marriages contracted after 1979. Prevalence of consanguineous marriage within these three generations was 8.8%, 16.6% and 19%, respectively, and represented a significant trend (p < 0.001). First cousin marriage was the most common type of consanguinity (69%). Socioeconomic level of families was not significantly related to having a consanguineous marriage. These data suggest that premarital genetic counseling and mass media efforts are needed to increase public awareness about genetic risks associated with consanguineous marriage.     

Religious Education and Information Technology: Challenges and Problems

Abstract. With advances in information technology, the velocity of information production on the global level has expanded as well. This acceleration has led to the delegitimizing of knowledge, the equating of information with knowledge, and the giving of predominance to information rather than knowledge. This advance has created epistemological challenges for the process of religious education. At the same time, the growth of the internet has created a “rhizomatic space” possessing new methodological characteristics that create problems for religious education. Information technology generates a “hypertextual learning space,” which weakens the place of traditional texts in the learning process, particularly in a traditional religious education process. This hypertextual development is especially problematic for religious education in conservative or fundamentalist traditions. This article analyzes the epistemological, methodological, and contextual problems and challenges posed by information technology for traditional religious education processes.     

Religious Leaders and the Environmental Crisis

Despite the presence of forward‐looking religious leaders at higher levels, there is little recognition and understanding among local‐level leaders about climate change and the irreversible impacts of global warming. This article illustrates this lack of insight among religious leaders and provides suggestions to increase their awareness of the environmental crisis and its solutions. It uses as examples Islamic teachings that Muslim muftis can use to protect the environment, and emphasizes religious leaders’ influence, roles, and responsibility in establishing justice for the earth, for the next generations, and for all creation. Although most of the facts and examples in this article are from a Middle East and North Africa Region and Islamic perspective, its arguments can be applied generally.     

Autonomy,Euthanasia and the Right to Die with Dignity: A Comparison of Kantian Ethics and Shicite Teachings

This article engages in a conceptual analysis and discussion of the definition of euthanasia, including a number of inherent distinctions, together with a concomitant examination of various value perspectives that are applied to the way the idea of ‘life’ itself is understood, especially the notion of autonomy. Among a number of considerations, the pro-life and pro-choice controversy and its relevance cannot be ignored in the context of a comprehensive discussion of the issue from a Shi^cite point of view. An attempt is made to show that euthanasia is a sophisticated normative subject with different aspects and categories. An outright normative refutation of the act by many Muslim writers and jurists seems to be a kind of oversimplification of this multi-faceted issue.     

Shunyata,A Philosophical Endeavor Against Assured Philosophical Method in Realizing Truth and Existence and Establishing Perfection of Wisdom Through Non-dual Experience

Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research - Madhyamaka defines existence in self-being. There is interdependency between all beings and the human mind. Everything is empty from...     

Comparison Study of the Effects of Resistance and Endurance Exercise Interventions for the Treatment of Depression: A Meta-Analytical Review

Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - With an increase in depression rates and medication and psychotherapy being the primary treatment interventions for decreasing depressive symptoms, exercise...     

The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Versus Duloxetine on the Laboratory Indices of Inflammation in Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy - Proinflammatory cytokines have been introduced as surrogate markers of inflammation in fibromyalgia (FM). In this study, we aimed to...