Illuminating Genetic Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The discovery of the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls had an incomparable impact on the historical understanding of Judaism and Christianity. "Piecing together" scroll fragments is like solving jigsaw puzzles with an unknown number of missing parts. We used the fact that most scrolls are made from animal skins to "fingerprint" pieces based on DNA sequences. Genetic sorting of the scrolls illuminates their textual relationship and historical significance. Disambiguating the contested relationship between Jeremiah fragments supplies evidence that some scrolls were brought to the Qumran caves from elsewhere; significantly, they demonstrate that divergent versions of Jeremiah circulated in parallel throughout Israel (ancient Judea). Similarly, patterns discovered in non-biblical scrolls, particularly the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice, suggest that the Qumran scrolls represent the broader cultural milieu of the period. Finally, genetic analysis divorces debated fragments from the Qumran scrolls. Our study demonstrates that interdisciplinary approaches enrich the scholar's toolkit.

Religion and educational mobility in Africa.

The African people and leaders1,2 have long seen education as a driving force of development and liberation, a view shared by international institutions3,4, as schooling has large economic and non-economic returns, particularly in low-income settings5. In this study, we examine the educational progress across faiths throughout postcolonial Africa, home to some of the world's largest Christian and Muslim communities. We construct comprehensive religion-specific measures of intergenerational mobility in education using census data from 2,286 districts in 21 countries and document the following. First, Christians have better mobility outcomes than Traditionalists and Muslims. Second, differences in intergenerational mobility between Christians and Muslims persist among those residing in the same district, in households with comparable economic and family backgrounds. Third, although Muslims benefit as much as Christians when they move early in life to high-mobility regions, they are less likely to do so. Their low internal mobility accentuates the educational deficit, as Muslims reside on average in areas that are less urbanized and more remote with limited infrastructure. Fourth, the Christian-Muslim gap is most prominent in areas with large Muslim communities, where the latter also register the lowest emigration rates. As African governments and international organizations invest heavily in educational programmes, our findings highlight the need to understand better the private and social returns to schooling across faiths in religiously segregated communities and to carefully think about religious inequalities in the take-up of educational policies6.

Religious leaders can motivate men to cede power and reduce intimate partner violence: Experimental evidence from Uganda.

Violence committed by men against women in intimate relationships is a pervasive problem around the world. Patriarchal norms that place men as the head of household are often to blame. Previous research suggests that trusted authorities can shift perceptions of norms and create behavior change. In many settings, a compelling authority on behavior in relationships is religious leaders, who are influential sources of information about proper conduct in relationships and gatekeepers of marriage, but may also uphold traditional gender roles. One way leaders exert their influence is through premarital or couples counseling courses. In this study, we test whether, if given an opportunity to offer a more progressive religious interpretation of gender roles during these courses, religious leaders could motivate men to share power and thereby reduce violence. Building on existing faith networks of Christian religious leaders in western Uganda, we conducted a large pair-matched, randomized controlled trial among 1,680 heterosexual couples in which participants were randomized to attend a 12-session group counseling course or wait-listed. We find that the program shifted power from men to women and reduced intimate partner violence by five percentage points, comparable with more intensive secular programs. These improvements were largest among couples counseled by religious leaders who held the most progressive views at baseline and who critically engaged with the material. Our findings suggest that religious leaders can be effective agents of change for reducing violence.

Some experiments and remarks regarding the possible formation of blood stains on the Turin Shroud: stains attributed to the crown of thorns, the lance wound and the belt of blood.

The Turin Shroud (TS) is a Christian relic interpreted to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. It exhibits red discolorations that have been interpreted as blood stains and that are the subjects of a highly controversial discussion. We conducted experiments to identify theoretically possible explanations for the stains attributed to the crown of thorns, the lance wound and the belt of blood. In the experiments with a focus on the stains attributed to the crown of thorns, a very similar stain pattern as on the TS could be provoked by simulating the following sequence of events: blood from antemortem scalp wounds is covering hair and face; blood is coagulating and/or drying; blood components are mobilised by postmortem washing and oiling. A stain pattern very similar to the belt of blood on the TS was successfully provoked by simulating the following sequence of events: The body is lying in a supine position, blood or bloodied water flowing from a wound at the right lateral chest wall; the body is rotated to the left side; the Shroud is tucked under the back; the body is rotated back to a supine position and laid onto the Shroud. The so-called serum ring surrounding the stain attributed to the lance wound could be reproduced by sequential application of serum and whole blood samples or of pleural effusion and whole blood samples onto cotton cloth. It is obvious that any attempt to interpret the assumed blood stain pattern on the TS has serious limitations. Nevertheless, it seems remarkable that we were able to reproduce findings that appear to be very similar to stains on the TS.

A Randomized Study to Determine the Effect of a Culturally Focused Video Intervention on Improving HPV Vaccine Intentions in a Christian Population in the United States.

Safe and effective vaccines have been developed that protect against high-risk strains of HPV, but uptake is relatively low. We previously identified factors such as sexual attitudes and HPV knowledge that impact the intent of Christian parents to vaccinate their children against HPV. We hypothesized that culturally specific interventions in the form of short videos would be effective at improving HPV vaccine intentions and attitudes. We made three short educational videos, one with a Christian focus, one informational about HPV, and one control. Videos were distributed electronically with accompanying surveys, and responses were measured before and after watching a randomly selected video. The religious-focused and educational interventions significantly (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0015) improved intentions towards HPV vaccination. The religiously-focused video also significantly diminished the belief that the HPV vaccine is unnecessary because of a family's values (p = 0.014). Parents significantly credited both interventions with improving their intent to vaccinate their children against HPV (p < 0.001 for both). These results suggest that culturally focused educational interventions are effective at influencing vaccine intentions and attitudes, even when those are based on religious or cultural feelings. Highly specific interventions are likely to be necessary for optimal improvement in vaccine hesitancy.

The end point of it is abstinence: a qualitative analysis of underlying factors influencing Christian leaders' adoption and implementation of sex and sexuality education in Bolgatanga, Ghana.

Adolescents' sexual and reproductive health challenges are of global public health concern and good quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education has an important role to play in addressing these negative sexual health outcomes. Yet in most Sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana, there is limited implementation of SRH education. Several environmental factors hinder the implementation of SRH education with the attitudes expressed by religious leaders having a major impact. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 Christian leaders in Bolgatanga, Ghana, to explore the factors influencing their decision to adopt and implement SRH education. Findings show that although Christian leaders were aware of (unsafe) sexual practices among adolescents, they held a conservative position on SRH education. While leaders were open to educating adolescents about sexual health, most held the opinion that SRH education for adolescents should be limited to abstinence-only and not acknowledge sexual activity or promote contraceptive use. Beliefs related to sexual morality, the perceived cause(s) of teenage pregnancy, and perceived responsibility for SRH education influenced Christian leaders' thinking about SRH education. Implementing SRH education programmes to address young people's sexual behaviour will require intervention programmes to change Christian leaders' beliefs and attitudes towards SRH education.

Religion, Spirituality, and Health Revisited: Bringing Mainline Western Protestant Perspectives Back into the Discourse-Theology's "Seat at the Table".

Theological perspectives have been given short shrift in the literature on religion and health research. This study demonstrates how including different schools of mainline Western Protestant theological thought (evolutionist, correlationist, and dialectical) in the scientific process could contribute to clarifying controversies. The issue is not just theoretical: Theology can even challenge assumptions on elicitability and reproducibility. Theology perceives spirituality as a dialogue with the Total Other, thus making each encounter with the transcendent (not just the individuality of the person) unique and unpredictable. By accepting setbacks on a journey with wide-ranging aspirations, theology redefines health as the momentum of constant striving toward the divine spirit. Since these theological insights relate to interventions that affect patients' intimacy, attempting to recognize the (albeit implicit) spiritual-theological standpoint of the patient and the self-and how these relate to authentic traditions of spirituality-appears to be an essential prerequisite for ethical spiritual intervention.

Examining Audiences' Psychological Reactance to Christian-Sourced Excessive Alcohol Consumption Messages in the United States.

This study experimentally investigated the effect of dogmatic and suggestive language in Christian-sourced excessive alcohol consumption messages among college-aged participants who identify as Christians or non-Christians, as well as the role of perceived similarity with the message source, on their self-reported freedom-threat, psychological reactance, and behavioral intentions to consume alcohol. The results from this study support psychological reactance theory and demonstrate the various message strategies to effectively communicate the negative health effects of excessive alcohol consumption to individuals who identify either as Christians or non-Christians.

Religious Leaders' Perspectives on Rural Communities' Responses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed risks to the health and wellness of individuals and communities. Qualitative interviews based on the health belief model were conducted to gain insight into the perspectives of 17 leaders serving in rural Christian, Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim communities in the USA regarding their communities' responses during the pandemic. Nine themes emerged from the narrative data using phenomenological thematic analysis: Some people are more susceptible, Test of faith, Fear and anxiety, Staying connected, Will people follow the protocols? Science and faith can co-exist, Responsibility to self and others, We've had to adjust, and We've had to dispense of that. The religious leaders provided support and hope, adapted religious and social activities, and used faith and religious tenets as foundational principles to encourage compliance with health recommendations.

Religious Belief and Workplace Safety Behavior Among the Informal Automobile Workers in Nigeria.

It is well known that informal workers in developing countries are exposed to occupational health problems (OHPs), and they work unsafely. However, little is known about how their religious beliefs influence their safety behavior at the workplace. This study explores the interaction between the automobile artisans' religious beliefs and their workplace safety behavior. Forty three male artisans (either Christian: n = 17; or Muslim: n = 26) were purposively interviewed. Even though their religious teachings are against risk-taking, the artisans took risks at their workplace. Specific programs like seminars and various outreaches for workers in religious settings influence their perception of OHP prevention. Religious organizations have a role to play in OHP prevention.

Christian Ethical Foundations of Modern Nursing in China.

ABSTRACT: The influence of Western Christian missionary nurses has been recorded in the history and development of nursing in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of Christianity on Chinese nursing ethics. This documentary research used content analysis to investigate Christian value trends over 13 years (1920-1932) as reflected in a major bilingual Chinese nursing journal.

Supporting Spiritual Care With the Saline Process™.

ABSTRACT: Living one's Christian faith and providing appropriate spiritual care in professional nursing practice can seem challenging. The IHS Global® Saline Process™ course equips Christian healthcare workers with knowledge and tools to provide appropriate spiritual support and consider how God is calling them to share his truth and love. After participating in a Saline Process™ course, ongoing engagement helps clinicians grow in practicing what they have learned. Nurses Christian Fellowship International (NCFI) partners with IHS Global® to bring the Saline Process™ to Christian nurses and other clinicians around the world, building the community of providers offering whole-person care.

Loving and Giving to Others: The Spirit of the Second Mile Nursing.

ABSTRACT: The "Spirit of the Second Mile Nursing" (SSMN) has been cultivated in nurses who graduated from McCormick Faculty of Nursing, Thailand. These nurses were taught and they practice to care for clients, family members, and colleagues with compassion, consideration, love, enthusiasm, and willingness throughout the program. This study aimed to explore the SSMN concept using a Grounded Theory Methodology (GTM). The findings show that the SSMN concept is based on "Loving and Giving for others" principles. It consisted of three categories: the Spirit of the Second Mile nurse characteristics, nursing care, and consequences of the SSMN. Knowledge from this study provides nurses with a better understanding of the SSMN concept within the context of a Thai and American Christian view.

How Grounded Are Our Ideals? Rethinking Nursing's Covenant of Care.

ABSTRACT: Covenant has been used to describe the special relationship between nurses and patients yet has been misunderstood in nursing literature. Covenantal elements of keeping promises and nurturing relationship resonate with the work of nursing. However, unlimited devotion puts the nurse at risk for exploitation and burnout. One's conceptualization of covenant is important because it impacts beliefs about allegiance, identity, and responsibilities. This article offers a critical analysis of how the conceptualization of covenant in nursing literature compares to a theological understanding of covenant. The covenantal dimension of a nurse's practice is reframed from the nurse-patient relationship to a professional-societal relationship.

One-Hour Suicide Prevention Training Makes a Difference!

ABSTRACT: Nurses and other healthcare workers in the United States are at increased risk of suicide compared to non-healthcare workers. College students also experience high suicide risk. To impact suicide prevention in these populations, a Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) 1-hour gatekeeper suicide prevention training program was implemented at the University of Detroit Mercy for faculty, staff, and administrators in the College of Health Professions (N = 43). Knowledge in seven areas of suicide significantly increased after the training (p < .001). Sixteen attitudes about suicide improved; however, only two showed a statistically significant change. Results support that 1-hour QPR training can be effectively implemented in a large organization.

Self-Reported Religiosity and Spirituality of Registered Nurses in Virginia.

ABSTRACT: The professional nurse cares for an increasingly diverse population, varying in ethnicity, culture, and faith beliefs that influence health and wellness. The moral obligation of the nurse to provide individualized, holistic care of clients includes spiritual care. Supported by the Agape Model of Nursing, nurses should understand their personal religiosity and its impact on the care they provide. The purpose of this study was to better understand the self-reported religiosity and spirituality of registered nurses licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Growth of a Movement Through Spiritual Leadership: Faith Community Nursing in the United States.

ABSTRACT: Faith community nursing often is anchored in a community through local networks that support the development of both the ministry and the faith community nurse. Such local networks are established and sustained through the leadership of faith community nurses (FCNs). A research study interviewed nurses recognized as foundational to the development of FCNs in the United States from 1984 to 2000. The Waterwheel Model of Spiritual Leadership was used as a construct for interviewing 24 FCN leaders discovered through Delphi methodology. An adaptation of Colazzi's method of qualitative analysis was used to analyze data collected in videotaped format. Three predominant themes emerged that may be instrumental to developing future FCN leaders and growth of this specialty nursing practice.

Covenantal Care: Nursing with God's Love and Justice.

ABSTRACT: With resources stretched thin and the growing risk of compassion fatigue, faith beliefs can offer enriching perspectives for nurses. Covenantal care is a nursing approach rooted in theological insights about humanity's inherent purpose to engage in relationship with God and actively participate in acts of love and justice. Based upon interpretations of Judeo-Christian teachings of imago Dei and God's covenant with humankind, this approach provides guidance for the nurse to care for self, patients, and the wider community. This exploration of theology-in-practice provides an orientating ethos for nurses that reflects the loving, restorative, and dignified care that is at the heart of the Christian faith.

A Lesbian's Miscarriage: Disengaging Bias and Caring Through Presence and Prayer.

ABSTRACT: In my experience of caring for a lesbian couple suffering a miscarriage, I disengaged my bias about their sexual orientation and compassionately cared for their needs. After praying with the couple, I felt a deep connection with them and a palpable peace. Joy shone on their faces and they verbally expressed gratitude. God used me as a caring presence. Christian nurses are vessels for God's love to bring peace and healing.

Faith Community Nursing: Impacting Community-Based Care.

ABSTRACT: Faith community nurses (FCNs) are well positioned to serve individuals needing community-based healthcare within local healthcare systems, large church denominations, or through the support and resources of nonprofit faith community nursing organizations. This article briefly outlines development of the specialty of faith community nursing and proposes areas of research needed to grow the impact of this nursing specialty. Examples of FCNs working in and collaborating with healthcare systems, educational institutions, and congregations illustrate the value and diversity of FCN services for impacting community-based care. An exhaustive list of national, denominational, and regional organizations supporting FCN practice is included.