Defining Sikhism: Boundaries of Religion and Ethnicity Among Sikhs in the US

U.S. immigration has brought rising numbers of non-western religious practitioners whose religious and ethnic identities are linked, and there has been a concurrent rise in white Americans converting to these faiths. Research on religious-ethnic traditions has not addressed how communities of white converts impact religious-ethnic traditions. I study this phenomena among US Sikhs, comparing members of two Sikh communities. I ask how they construct their Sikh identity and what boundaries they draw around this identity. I draw on participant observation and 31 in-depth interviews with both Indian Sikhs in Houston and members of Sikh Dharma, a predominantly white Sikh community. I find that respondents in each community draw on the same elements (symbols, practices, values) to construct Sikh identity, however, they diverge in regards to the specific practices they emphasize. Differences in religious practice become boundaries between respondents, separating Indian Sikhs and members of Sikh Dharma along both religious and ethnic lines. Furthermore, members of Sikh Dharma redefine both Sikh practice and the boundaries around Sikhism, despite the dissent of Indian Sikhs. Thus, my findings suggest that white practitioners of non-white religious-ethnic traditions have outsized agency in defining Sikhism for themselves and the broader American public

A faith for all? Boundaries of religion and ethnicity among Sikhs

The religious demographics of the United States are changing, shaped by immigration and conversion of Americans to non-Western religious traditions. Research on nonwhite immigrant religious traditions has not addressed how communities of white converts challenge the link between religion and ethnicity. I address this gap, drawing on participant observation and 31 in-depth interviews with both Indian Sikhs and members of Sikh Dharma, a predominantly white Sikh community. I find that although respondents in each community draw on the same elements to construct Sikh identity (symbols, values, and practices); they diverge in regards to the specific practices they emphasize. Members of Sikh Dharma redefine both Sikh practice and the boundaries around Sikhism, incorporating new practices and beliefs while also critiquing the interconnection of Punjabi culture with Sikhism. Indian Sikhs express concern about the presentation of these new practices as Sikh practices. Results have implications for the ever-changing relationship of religion and ethnicity

Development of Squeeze Flow models for Thermal Interface Materials contained between planar and non-planar geometries

The goal of this thesis is to analytically model the Squeeze Flow behavior of particle-filled Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs) contained between planar and non-planar geometries. The fluid models studied in this thesis are both Newtonian and non-Newtonian in nature. Specifically, the Newtonian behavior is modeled as a power- law fluid, which is a more general representation of Newtonian fluid. For power-law fluids, different index values are used to address shear thickening and shear thinning fluid behavior. The non-Newtonian behavior is modeled as a Bingham fluid, which includes an yield strength beyond which flow begins (viscoplastic fluid). The parallel plate geometries between which the fluids are squeezed are of circular, rectangular, and square shapes. The non-planar geometry considered involves a cylindrical post at the center of one of the two circular disks. The velocity, pressure, and force solutions are obtained for each model. In an effort to model real TIMs that contain a particle phase, the homogenized, effective viscosity of the fluids are incorporated into the developed analytical models. The three models used to homogenize particle- filled fluids are: Einstein\u27s model, Bruggeman\u27s model, and Maxwell-Garnett\u27s model. These models are constructed on bases of a well separated approximation, which means particles are far enough from each other to influence others. These models are valid only for low volume fraction of particles. In reality, these TIMs have high volume of particles in them, which can\u27t be captured by analytical models. For these highly particle-filled TIMs, numerical models are required. The developed analytical solutions to Newtonian behavior of the fluids are validated using squeeze flow models created in a commercial finite element code (COM- SOL). From the non-planar geometries, it is confirmed that as the post size is reduced to zero, the derived results reduce to parallel plate solutions. The influence of the size of the post on the force is systematically analyzed from which it is observed that the force required to compress the fluid increases with the post size, and that the force solution deviates by a greater amount from the parallel plate solution. From planar plate geometry, it is inferred that, for the same type fluid present within the plates of different shapes, circular plates require the most force to squeeze the material, whereas the rectangular plates require the least force. A detailed analysis is carried out on the fluid contained within rectangular plates to determine the squeezing force as a function of back pressure, fluid yield strength, and fluid viscosity. A comprehensive study is carried out to determine the Bond-Line Thickness (BLT) of Newtonian and Bingham fluids contained within circular plates. It is demonstrated that finite BLT is achieved in-case of fluids with yield stress. It is shown that materials with greater yield strength, produce higher BLTs. From viscous effects, it is inferred that greater the viscosity of the fluid, the greater the time it takes to reach the final state. The effect of back pressure is shown to increase the BLT. Lastly, it is shown that as particles are added into the fluid, the effective viscosity increases and as a result a greater force is required to squeeze the fluid material

Naturally Ambivalent: Religion\u27s Role in Shaping Environmental Action

This article examines the role of religion in shaping environmental action by bringing contemporary arguments in cultural sociology to bear on longstanding debates about the role of religion in environmental care. Drawing on 169 in-depth interviews from 22 Christian, Muslim, and Jewish congregations in Houston and Chicago, we examine conditions under which religion enables and constrains environmental action. Findings reveal that religious institutions can motivate members\u27 environmental actions when they cultivate not only declarative environmental beliefs but also nondeclarative environmental practices. Religion may inhibit environmental concern when respondents believe environmental commitment undermines their religious beliefs, but such justifications are disconnected from the actual environmental practices they nevertheless engage in. We also find that religious individuals largely attribute motivations for their environmental action to institutions other rather than religion. Our findings shed new theoretical light on the mixed results that characterize research on religion and the environment

Gossip as Social Control: Informal Sanctions on Ethical Violations in Scientific Workplaces

Research on misconduct in science has largely focused on egregious violations such as fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. Recent scholarship, however, calls for greater attention to forms of everyday misconduct and how scientists navigate ethical ambiguity when they are unable or unwilling to make formal accusations. Drawing on interview data from 251 physicists and biologists from both elite and non-elite universities and research institutes in the United States, United Kingdom, and India, we find that scientists are often reticent or unable to take formal action against many behaviors they perceive as unethical and irresponsible. As a result, they resort to informal gossip to warn colleagues of transgressors. Many express confidence that such pro-social gossip can serve as a means of social control by tarnishing the reputations of transgressors. Yet its effectiveness as a form of social control is limited, particularly when transgressors enjoy higher status than gossipers. We identify two types and three consequences of such gossip and assess the effectiveness of gossip as a means of social control. Finally, we consider the implications of our study for understanding and decreasing misconduct in science

Political conservatism, religion, and environmental consumption in the United States

The role of political conservatism and religion in shaping attitudes toward environmental consumption in the US is examined. Previous research suggests that while there is a mixed relationship between religiosity (measured in various ways) and environmentalism, political conservatives are unlikely to support pro-environment measures. Using nationally representative survey data, mixed results are found regarding the relationship of religiosity and environmental consumption: religious attendance and religious identity are positively related to environmental consumption, while belief in an involved God and biblical literalism are negatively related. Increased levels of religiosity, however, mute the otherwise strong negative effect of political conservatism. This suggests, surprisingly, that Green marketers and activists are likely to face less conservative resistance to environmental consumption among religious Americans

Indian scientists’ definitions of religion and spirituality

Scientists are often assumed to be irreligious and little research has examined the role of religion and spirituality in their lives. Recent research shows that many scientists do articulate a commitment to the sacred and see religion and spirituality as influencing their work. However, we lack a basic understanding of how scientists define religion and spirituality, particularly outside of the Western world. We examine Indian Scientists’ definitions of religion and spirituality and their tie to scientists’ views on the relationship between religion and science. Drawing on 80 in-depth interviews with Indian scientists, we find that although science often operates as a global institution, national context influences definitions of religion and spirituality. Further, the views a scientist has about the relationship between religion and science are linked to their definition of religion. To understand and navigate the relationship between religion and science, we must study definitions of religion and spirituality, as well as the way they are shaped by national context

SCIENCE–RELIGION BOUNDARIES IN INDIAN SCIENTIFIC WORKPLACES

Recent social scientific studies have focused on the different ways in which scientists conceive of the relationship between science and religion, conflict, complementary, independent, or some other understanding. However, there is still much less research on scientists’ religious lives outside the United States and the United Kingdom. Drawing on data from participant observation, in-depth interviews (N = 80) and nationally representative surveys (N = 1,763) with physicists and biologists in India, we begin to address this gap. We find that even though the majority of scientists report the independence view through our survey, when interviewed they say that religion and scientific work overlap considerably and in distinctive ways from the United States and the United Kingdom. Specifically, Indian scientific institutions (1) seek religious authorization, (2) offer religious accommodation to staff and students, and (3) facilitate selective integration of religion into the workplace. Our article shows how, in spite of scientists’ espoused preferences for non-overlapping magisteria and attempts to construct boundaries between religion and science, religion overlaps with science in scientific workplaces

Alternative Spirituality among Global Scientists

Scholars, especially those in the West, often attribute the construction of alternative spirituality to a culture of individualism. Here, we explore how non-religious scientists construct spirituality in different national contexts, focusing on academic physicists and biologists. Two research questions guide our analyses: How do scientists construct an alternative spirituality and to what extent are their constructions conditioned by the contexts in which they live and work? We rely on surveys of 6,470 scientists in four national/regional contexts and on interviews with 65 self-identified spiritual but not-religious scientists. Our findings reveal that alternative spirituality is more prevalent among scientists in Taiwan and France than in the UK and the US. Second, we find that the construction of spirituality redefines the cultural meanings bundled with religion in these respective contexts. Our research helps to explain how the construction of spirituality is changing the face of religion in different societal contexts