THE ISLAMIC VEIL: PATRIARCHAL OPPRESSION, RELIGIOUS IDENTITY, OR EMPOWERMENT?

ABSTRACT: Contemporary discourses have come to associate the hijab and the veiled woman with gender-oppressive customs in Islam. This meaning was created and perpetuated by the Western hegemonic discourses, which have homogenized, reified, de-contextualized, and ‘otherized’ it. The Muslim veil has also been politicized, making it a heavily contested symbol that needs to be understood … Read more

MAGIC, SCIENCE, AND RELIGION – SUMMARY NOTES

Religion can be explained as a relationship between human beings and a power ( supernatural). This relationship includes beliefs, practices, and customs, and usually involves devotional and ritual observances. It comprises sacred texts which refer to the moral order of human conduct and several verses, essays, and sayings which help as a guidance towards the … Read more

Sociological Theories of Religion: Durkheim, Weber, and Marx

Abstract Religion can be perceived as a system of beliefs that adds meaning to our existence. In simpler terms, religion is a cultural system consisting of moral beliefs, values, myths, and rituals that are present in every society in one form or another. Understanding religion is quite challenging in contemporary times due to its diverse … Read more

Inter-caste and interreligious marriages and The State Intervention

Synopsis: Inter-caste and interreligious marriages in India, although have been a subject of academic discussion, especially in social sciences, account for a diminishing percentage of all marriages in India. Religious and caste-based atrocities serve as the most important reason behind such statistics. Hence, this article will focus on the aspects of marital democracy in India … Read more