In this paper, two questions are been put forward: whether doping falls within the athlete's freedom to do what they can to enhance their performance and whether or not is necessary an establishment of limits on the scientific research concerning these substances. Following this line of thought, two aspects of freedom are raised: the freedom of the athlete, and the freedom of the scientist. These two aspects are discussed within a moral framework, in particular that of moral relativism. For the (...) first question, based on the theory, the athlete may consider that there is no absolute truth about doping, such as e.g. that it is wrong and not beneficial for sports, athletes, etc. The morally rightness of doping depends on the moral character of each athlete and/or the association, the country she/he represents. For the second question, one might consider that research in the field in question is not morally wrong. By investigating the properties of various substances we could be led to cures for several diseases and even to the augmentation of human capabilities. Both aspects are also discussed through selected interview answers of professional athletes. (shrink)

This seventeen issue of DIALOGO [2023] is dedicated to the multi-theme `Freedom, Human Rights, Global Crises, Solidarity & Values ` - addressing several actual issues with a central focus on human rights, seen in our society nowadays concerning globalization amid global crises that occurred in the latest years, and beyond towards a holistic approach of private vs universal values. Finally, DIALOGO collates several articles relating to the empirical measurement of religion and health—an increasingly important area of research. We start our (...) endeavor with the inquiry, “What can we do to preserve human rights and values amid social changes?”. (shrink)

The primary purpose of this study is to understand if/how patients of hospice healthcare require ‘Spiritual’ or/and ‘Religious’ assistance and if its involvement in palliative care helps greatly. We have built a correlative of two scales and administrated them on the same sample, along with complete demographics questions to a group of people under palliative care and several people directly connected with patients, relatives- families. This methodological study is designed to assess the reliability and validity of two scales simultaneously for (...) the same terminally ill patients (TIP): Paloutzian and Ellison’s (1982) Spiritual Well-being Scale. The scale was administered to 49 individuals, of which 45 are patients and 4 family members caring for a terminally ill relative. Background: Coping is a multifactorial and individual process related to responding to stressful situations, such as being a caregiver of a person with health conditions or terminal illness [such as in hospice]. Spiritual [S] / religious [R] coping is an essential internal resource used by individuals enduring stressful situations or, in this particular case, confronting imminent death. Instruments: The 14-item Brief RCOPE is widely used to assess religious coping. The other instrument we have used for S/R assessment is the Spiritual Well-Being (SWB) Scale, a general measure of the subjective quality of life. Neither one is available in the Romanian version Ciocan Tudor-Cosmin (2023) developed following Romanian culture. He worked with Professor Ray Paloutzian - author of the latter scale - to translate and validate the use of the translated scales. Objective: To investigate the S/RWB among palliative care patients in Romania and to identify the correlates of Spiritual and Religious Well-Being. Secondary: To translate, adapt and validate both the 14-item Brief RCOPE and SWBS in Romanian for caregivers of palliative patients facing death. Method: The methodological guideline provided by Ray Paloutzian and Craig W. Ellison was used to examine the psychometric properties of SWBS, while the manual provided by Kenneth Pargament on his website helped us accommodate the Brief RCOPE to Romanian culture and understanding. Results: The linguistic and conceptual equivalence of the scales was determined. The internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s a = 0.891 for SWBS and a = 0.798 for RCOPE). The Principal Axis Factor (PAF) analysis with varimax rotation identified two factors comprising 13 items, and one item was excluded from the scale (14/RCOPE). The faith subscale (SWBS) showed similar distributions. Christians engaged in religious activities reported higher SWB in the meaning and peace subscale than patients without religious attendance. In the multivariate analysis, religious Frequency (P < 0.001), and individual spiritual activities (P < 0.003) were significantly related to a greater SWB. Conclusion: The Romanian versions of the SWBS and Brief RCOPE are reliable and valid measures for assessing both the spiritual and religious coping of patients in hospice, their families, and their caregivers. Although faith practices may be beneficial to improve spiritual well-being among Orthodox Christians (the majority in Romania), further research is needed to determine what individual spiritual activities can be supported by Orthodox Christians positively engaged – since they are very skeptical about practices other than religious ones, introduced by the traditional Church. (shrink)

This is a follow-up to the practical research on hospice healthcare patients that proved they need either ‘Spiritual’ or/and ‘Religious’ assistance and that these needs are basic, natural, and almost standard. Since that research with direct involvement in palliative care greatly helps the multidisciplinary team develop an improved intervention plan, I thought additional explanations are necessary. In this regard, I have written this article to further interpret my observations on palliative care over the last couple of years. To conclude most (...) straightforwardly, the research draws a demarcated line between how people in ‘total suffering’ relate to Spiritual vs. Religious assistance as these two ways are very similar on the surface, but when engaged, they start building distinct, self-sustaining paths. Why is that, and how can each assist hospice - this is the target of the current text. (shrink)

In all its paradigms, the ideal modern public health systems should have eradicated by now the spreading of the most fatal diseases, like cancer or cardiovascular disorders. Not only it has not, but these diseases are actually growing, showing the limits of the modern public health and the need of a paradigm shift. Using a narrative review, this paper aims to emphasize the limits of curative modern medicine and the benefits of yoga and meditation practices as prevention for the most (...) common diseases, recognizing them as an important tool in public health systems. The relationship between yoga practice and the health status of individuals shows that they are strongly interdependent, being able to correct destructive behaviors and improve the quality of life. The spiritual practice of yoga is a way of restoring the “factory settings” by returning to essence, tradition, ancient knowledge and thus creating the mental and emotional environment for healing and thriving in human beings. (shrink)

This article constitutes a short report on HeartMath meditation explorations with a longer breath cycle. Five HeartMath practitioners unanimously reported significant and meaningful increases in coherence and performance data using longer breath cycles. This finding is discussed in relation to the HeartMath coherence model, and other heart rate variability based models, with special reference to meditation phenomena and practices.

Mystical, panentheistic lines from Wordsworth’s poem, Tintern Abbey, constitute inductive case study material to introduce HeartMath science’s Global Consciousness Project (GCP). This case study provides a temporal dimension along which to view the cosmic significance of Wordsworth’s “felt sense”, Teilhard de Chardin’s “noosphere” and the GCP. A heuristic phenomenological method is employed. This method facilitates discussion of previous South African research with traditional healers that led to collaboration with the HeartMath Institute, based in California, and establishment of an African Global (...) Coherence Initiative Magnetometer. This latter magnetometer is one of six GCI planetary magnetometers, with the other five currently operating in in California, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, Canada and New Zealand. The present study introduces GCP2, an update, expanded version of the Global Consciousness Project, which complments GCI. Previously operating from the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), GCP2 is now harmoniously housed by the HeartMath Institute, where its data complements both GCI and Tree Rhythm projects in amplifying interconnectedness science and global healing practices. Contemporary, endemic, planetary contexts of chaos, pollution, mindless destructiveness and war, provide urgent argument for GCP2. (shrink)

The great wisdom traditions typically emphasize various forms of love, especially cosmic, agape type love. The African value of Ubuntu implies essential humanity, developed through the ongoing evolutionary event of humanization, socialization, enculturation, and communal spirituality. In addition to cosmic love and everyday caring practices, Ubuntu includes human essentials such as compassion, empathy, and respect. This contribution adopts a narrative approach. The authors tell a story of their involvement in the HeartMath system, with special reference to HeartMath related research before (...) and after the establishment of the African Global Coherence Magnetometer at Bonamanzi Game Reserve. Their studies indicate the effectiveness of the Global Coherence Application (app). This electronic app, developed along scientific biofeedback principles, can be downloaded free of charge. It is highly recommended for persons interested in amplifying the effect of their meditation, contemplation and prayer. (shrink)

The concept of human rights is over three millennia old. The oldest document listed three specific rights: physical liberty, shelter, and life. By the present time, many more have been added through various countries’ legal systems and important historical documents. Probably the most comprehensive such document is the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although not all-inclusive in terms of incorporating all the human rights proposed by previous documents, the broad acceptance of the Declaration as a model for human (...) rights observance has constituted a hopeful sign. Unfortunately, the protection of human rights has been in a decline for some recent years. Examples and social forces leading to this decline are examined. (shrink)

This paper aims to problematize the scientific discourse in the field of humanities in the context of the fundamental changes that have taken place in the life, roles, and the socioeconomic and cultural impact of universities. The premise that drives the present research is the stringent need for conceptual and applied innovation to have an ethical dimension, to be supported by values such as responsibility and truth. The aim of this study is two-fold. First, it investigates two subgenres of scientific (...) discourse, seen prototypically - (literary) text analysis and the linguistic corpus, to unravel how values are involved at any stage of scientific research, from the design of the approach to the interpretation and communication of research findings. Second, it bridges a gap in the specialized literature where there is little debate regarding the specific ways of putting these values into practice (i.e., into discourse). The paper demonstrates that the two subgenres under investigation, although much and obviously different, calibrate their tools and procedural scenarios by reference to the values of responsibility and respect. (shrink)

By spelling out the link between Transhumanism, the 4th Industrial Revolution, and globalism, which together form the economic thrust of mankind’s projected future, this paper invites a rethink about the direction envisaged by modern-day society. The underlying linking factor of these enterprises is the Humanist movement that, like Transhumanism, shares a Utopian view of the world and supplies the relative ethical underpinning for these ‘so-called’ new advances. Three Manifestos lay out the objectives of the Humanist Association, describing it as a (...) religion that is supposed to replace other older deity-based religions. Its progressive philosophy of life without theism or other supernational beliefs leads to a break with the past and affirms humans’ “ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good.” Nevertheless, can we live ethical lives where the accent is on fulfilling only our personal desires, which include the right to unrestricted contraception, abortion and divorce and death with dignity eg. Euthanasia and suicide? Ethical relativism is taken to a new extreme by Transhumanism, which rests on the idea that humans should embrace self-directed human evolution using technology to transcend their current natural state and limitations, ie disease, ageing, and even death. According to this author, it is time we moved beyond the limited materialist view, not through global movements like Humanism and Transhumanism, but through exploring and discovering our spiritual nature and the spiritual underpinning of reality. Through this endeavor, we can learn to live in harmony with each other and nature, where the accent is on service to others. Based on experience, we soon realize that our happiness depends on others being happy and includes looking after the weak, the aged, and the infirm. Ethical relativism and lack of clear values will not get us there; on the contrary, they will probably lead to hell on earth. (shrink)

In a globalizing world, the interaction between universal human values and religious beliefs becomes an important topic of discussion. While there can be overlap between universal human values and religious teachings, there are also instances where they may diverge or even conflict. In today’s world, where people from diverse cultures and religious backgrounds interact more frequently, the challenge lies in finding common ground and fostering mutual respect and understanding. The reinterpretation of religious teachings within human rights frameworks may provide a (...) common language and set of principles that can be used to bridge the gap between religious beliefs and universal values. It is crucial to approach these discussions with sensitivity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to engage in respectful dialogue between Religion and Philosophy. (shrink)

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented severe challenges for European education, forcing an adjustment to distance learning and physical school closures. Many students have encountered problems with online learning, such as a lack of access to appropriate equipment and tools. Nevertheless, the pandemic has also been an opportunity to improve the education system and introduce new, more effective solutions. These changes concern not only the material side of learning but also the psychological one. The introduction of remote learning meant the need (...) to adapt school statutes, expenditures, and educational strategies. Many European countries have introduced additional financial support. However, many others had to cut back on their education spending, which led to financial difficulties for schools and may harm the quality of teaching. Online learning has become a mainstream teaching method but has drawbacks, such as a lack of direct contact with the teacher and peers, technical difficulties, and social isolation. Nevertheless, research shows that the effectiveness of online learning is comparable to traditional teaching, and in some subjects, it may even prove to be better. For example, studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic have not shown significant differences in teaching outcomes in Poland. (shrink)

This article explores how Afghan families shape migration from Afghanistan and processes of settlement and community formation in Poland using "dialogical" experience with a group of Afghan refugees evacuated from Afghanistan in August 2021. Study inspired by the works of Jacques Derrida, Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas. Lastly, a provisional conclusion will recap the main arguments, insisting on the potential and limits of the hostipitality paradigm for understanding social reality of refugees.

This paper deals with interreligious eco-theological studies on unique, creative, and courageous phenomena initiated by young people to protect the integrity of creation and environmental sustainability as a form of appeal regarding ethics and environmental values in the face of law violations. They are members of a musical group named the Kendeng Squad and use songs to express their concern for environmental injustice. The group is also called an interreligious ecotheological movement because its members come from various religious backgrounds, namely, (...) Sedulur Sikep representing the indigenous religion and Muslim activists, and Catholic activists; and because those songs call for protest against the exploitation of natural resources. Using qualitative analysis, this study found that the movement was able to motivate farmers and indigenous peoples to care about their environment. It has even spread to other places outside Pati Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, and involved music artists of the country. In this sense, eco-music has significantly contributed to the interreligious ecotheological movement. This study initially described the role of eco-music in responding to the ecological crisis hitting the Earth and then related it to interreligious ecotheology. After the general analysis, it then examined the background of the Kendeng Squad and its struggle to express its concerns through eco-musics to protect the North Kendeng Mountains Region. Overall, this paper offered a new insight into how eco-music has been efficacious in encouraging the interreligious ecotheology movement to maintain the integrity of creation and environmental sustainability. (shrink)

This article draws the portrayal of the church support for Romanians as depicted in articles from the most important Irish newspaper, The Irish Times (1992-2020). The articles analyzed show: the help of the Church of Ireland for the Romanian people in the aftermath of the 1989 fall of the communist regime; the interest that the Irish society showed for the Orthodox Church in the context of an increase in the number of immigrants from Romania, a predominantly Orthodox country; the efforts (...) of the churches in Ireland to establish an interfaith dialogue for the benefit of the Romanian immigrants; the focus that remarkable Orthodox priests, such as Father Irineu Crăciun and Father Godfrey O’Donnell, benefitted from in the Irish press due to their constant work for the benefit of the Romanian community in Ireland. (shrink)

I apply Gadamer’s view of historicity to undergo a theological understanding of the historical significance of ancient migration in Psalms, which narrates Israelites’ history, including creation, the patriarchs, Egyptian bondage, Sinai, the wilderness, conquest, life in the land, and the exile and return. Gadamer’s concept of history composed of universal history, the concept of power, and the concept of Spirit are applied to explain the historical significance of Psalms. In terms of Christianity, which appears to be the centerpiece of the (...) historical view of the Western tradition, human history moves towards unity and freedom under the supreme sovereignty of the Spirit, Who makes history. As compared to today’s global issue of immigration, based on this historical understanding, we can get a better understanding of the migratory trend of our contemporary world. (shrink)