Latina/o Conversion and Miracle-Seeking at a Buddhist Temple

The growing diversification of the US Latino religious’ experiences calls for scholarly attention beyond Protestant or Catholic categories. This study begins to answer this call. Using interview data with 26 Latinos collected over 2 years of observation at the True Lama Meditation Center (TLMC) in Houston, Texas, we describe how Latinos who convert to Buddhism or actively attend the temple while also continuing to attend Christian services (both Catholic and Protestant) see themselves and understand their religious identities and practices. We then explore the reasons for their conversion or changes in religious identities and practices through various theoretical lens. Although the majority of respondents now claim to be Buddhist, many did not switch religions but augmented or extended their religious identities and practices. Reasons for conversion to Buddhism or concurrent involvement at the temple and Buddhist faith practices include seeking material support and miracles and those seeking spiritual fulfillment they felt they were not getting in Christian faith practices

Latino Protestants and Their Political and Social Engagement (Chapter Six of Latino Protestants in America: Growing and Diverse)

Excerpt: On a rainy early spring morning in a modest brick Presbyterian church just outside the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, California, sixtyfour worshippers gather. The entire worship is in Spanish. During the sermon, the pastor makes a passing reference to how few of the attenders now live in Oakland proper, that many have to drive farther than ever for church services. The implicit message: the leadership of the church realizes that gentrification of San Francisco has spilled over the Bay Bridge and now threatens the availability of affordable housing throughout Oakland. In response, the congregation has started programs that offer legal advice for responding to rent-hiking landlords and identifying housing options around the city. Though resources and attenders tend to be somewhat scarce, the leadership has creatively organized in an effort to address the structural and policy concerns of housing. Beyond that, the pastor proudly notes that this church readily offers immigration status services, computer classes, and English classes

The Contexts of Conversion among U.S. Latinos

The growth of Protestantism among U.S. Latinos has been the focus of considerable discussion among researchers. Yet few studies investigate how Latino Protestants and Latino Catholics differ, or which types of Latinos convert from Catholicism to Protestantism. Our study tests various theories about why some Latinos convert including a modified version of the semi-involuntary thesis, the national origin hypothesis, and assimilation theory. We use data from a large national sample of U.S. Latinos and find some support for assimilation theory and less for the semi-involuntary thesis. However, context matters. If we divide Latinos into national origin groups, these groups strongly predict who converts and who are lifelong Protestants. We discuss how war may influence the religious composition of early migrants and thus shape both the religious composition and conversion of later migrants

Religion and Attitudes toward Same-Sex Marriage among U.S. Latinos

Objectives. This study examines links between multiple aspects of religious involvement and attitudes toward same-sex marriage among U.S. Latinos. The primary focus is on variations by affiliation and participation, but the possible mediating roles of biblical beliefs, clergy cues, and the role of religion in shaping political views are also considered. Methods. We use binary logistic regression models to analyze data from a large nationwide sample of U.S. Latinos conducted by the Pew Hispanic Forum in late 2006. Results. Findings highlight the strong opposition to same-sex marriage among Latino evangelical (or conservative) Protestants and members of sectarian groups (e.g., LDS), even compared with devout Catholics. Although each of the hypothesized mediators is significantly linked with attitudes toward same-sex marriage, for the most part controlling for them does not alter the massive affiliation/attendance differences in attitudes toward same-sex marriage. Conclusions. This study illustrates the importance of religious cleavages in public opinion on social issues within the diverse U.S. Latino population. The significance of religious variations in Hispanic civic life is likely to increase with the growth of the Latino population and the rising numbers of Protestants and sectarians among Latinos

Attitudes toward Marriage, Divorce, Cohabitation, and Casual Sex among Working-Age Latinos: Does Religion Matter?

The rapid growth of the Latino population in the United States has renewed interest in Latino family research. It has often been assumed that Catholicism is a key factor influencing Latinos’ attitudes toward the family, despite the fact that nearly one third of Latinos are not Catholic. This article uses data from the 2006 National Survey of Religion and Family Life, a survey of working-age adults (aged 18-59 years) in the lower 48 states, to explore the relationship between multiple dimensions of religiosity—denomination, church attendance, prayer, and beliefs about the Bible—and Latinos’ attitudes regarding marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and casual sex. Compared with Catholics, evangelical Protestants tend to hold more conservative attitudes on family-related issues. Latinos who attend services regularly and pray frequently also report more traditional views. Findings involving literalist views of the Bible are more equivocal. Taken together, religious variables are just as potent as socioeconomic and demographic factors in explaining individual-level variation in Latinos’ attitudes. Study limitations are noted, and several directions for future research are identified

Protocol for the transition from chemical management to integrated management of eucallipterus tiliae

This work consists of two objectives: 1. Design a protocol to carry out a transition from chemical control to biological control in the treatment of aphid Eucallipterus tiliae in the species Tilia sp. 2. Analyze the predisposition and behavior of people to make this change.Este trabajo consta de dos objetivos 1. Diseñar un protocolo para llevar a cabo una transición de control químico a control biológico en el tratamiento del pulgón Eucallipterus tiliae en la especie Tilia sp. 2. Analizar la predisposición y comportamiento de la gente a realizar este cambio.Aquest treball consta de dos objectius: 1. Dissenyar un protocol per a dur a terme una transició de control químic a control biològic en el tractament del pugó Eucallipterus tiliae en l'espècie Tilia sp. 2. Analitzar la predisposició i el comportament de la gent a realitzar aquest canvi.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats SosteniblesObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i Benesta

The study of self-relationship and family attitudes and values in adult sportsman (on the example of ethnic and practicing Muslims)

The aim of this study is to identify the self-relationship and family attitudes and values correlation of professing Islam (practicing Muslims) and secular, ethnic Muslims in adolescence. The leading methods of this problem study are the theoretical analysis of scientific psychological literature as well as the empirical research method (testing), using techniques that allow to diagnose self-relationships, family attitudes and values. The experiment involved 100 people: 50 men religiously practicing Muslims, 50 - ethnic Muslims. The average age of the subjects is 18 - 23 years old. The study concludes that practitioners and ethnic Muslims have high self-relationship results in the components of "self-confidence", "self-esteem", "self-acceptance", "self-guidance." For religiously practicing Muslims there is no "internal conflict"; ethnic Muslims have high "internal conflict". The study of family attitudes revealed for both groups a strong focus on mainly joint activities in all areas of family life and a less loyal attitude to divorce, as well as for religiously practicing Muslims the importance of children's role in family life. Ethnic Muslims are characterized by personal identification with their spouse, social activity. The emotional and psychotherapeutic side of the family is important for them. And for practicing Muslims parent-educational attitude, personal identification with a spouse, and emotional-psychotherapeutic attitude are important. The study of terminal values has highlighted the importance of spiritual satisfaction, achievements, self-development for ethnic and practicing Muslims, as well as the importance of high material position for ethnic Muslims. Among life spheres, professional life and training are important for Muslims, for ethnic Muslims - the sphere of interests. The materials of this paper can be used by psychologists in working with students at Universities, Madrassas, Sunday and secondary schools. The relevance of the problem is due to the insufficient development of the correlation concept of self-relationship and family attitudes and values in adolescence (for example, ethnic and practicing Muslims). Despite there are many research options and methods for measuring it in this direction. The research materials are of practical value for psychological and pedagogical support in the educational process, as well as in the advisory work of young people who adhere to religious beliefs, observe the canons of Islam, or do not adhere to religious canons. The scientific novelty of the research problem and its originality is specified by the interest of self-consciousness, self-determination in adolescence, and family attitudes and values in the context of religious affiliation. Since juvenile period is a sensitive indicator of ongoing changes and determines the entire potential of the society development, the future of the society consequently depends greatly on the value foundation of the younger generation

Physicochemical characteristics of non-starch polysaccharides extracted from cassava tubers

This research mainly focused on isolation of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) from different parts of cassava tuber by using water extraction and to evaluate the effect of NSP addition into flour on nutritional composition, swelling and solubility, pasting properties and dough characteristics by farinograph and extensograph. Three origins of (NSP) extracted were used: cassava peels, coarse and fine portions from cassava flesh. The isolation of NSP was done by using water extraction method and designated as water-extractable (WEP) and water un-extractable non starch polysaccharides (WUP). The percentage yield of WEP (0.24 - 1.64%) from water extraction was significantly lower as compared to WUP (2.58 - 4.33%). Upon the incorporation of 5% NSP, the cassava flour showed lower moisture content compared to the sample without the addition of NSP, while fats and crude fiber content of cassava flours were found to be increased upon the incorporation of 5% NSP from all origins. Swelling power and solubility of cassava flour were being reduced upon the incorporation of 5% of NSP from cassava peel and coarse portion of cassava flesh. The changes in dough characteristics showed that water absorption of the samples upon the addition of 5% NSP into wheat flour was found to be higher compared to control wheat flour. In contrast, dough stability and extensibility, tolerance index, resistance to extension, as well as the work input necessary for dough deformation from wheat flour with addition of 5% NSP resulted lower than control wheat flour. Overall, NSP extracted from cassava peels and coarse portion of cassava flesh performed similar characteristics and functional properties upon the incorporation into the flour