Jugendreligion und Zweireichelehre

Author(s): Joachim von Wedel / Language(s): German Issue: 1/2015

The evolution of individual religious experiences nowadays is regularly described by theories of subsequent “stages of faith” (Fowler, Oser et al.), which presuppose, generally speaking, a development from child religious heteronomy to adult religious autonomy. Descriptions based on these theories could be read as histories of gradual individual progress leaving not much space for sharp fractions or the unforeseen. But these sharp fractions seem indeed to occur, and there is a significant probability for a specific youth receptivity for ideas with messianic connotations, i.e. ideas presupposing the possibility of a “new world” achievable by and within religious communities. The “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” or the religious youth movements of the 1970s may serve as examples. If we ask the question how to assess this sort of youth receptivity, we should turn not only to psychology or pedagogy, but also to theology, which has long experiences of millenarism. It emphatically, in all its main denominations, rejects millenarism, but at the same time does not ignore the problematic relationship of between “world” and millenaristic parishioners. Here Martin Luther’s Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms provides us with some basic insights: a) both parts, world and millenaristic parish, have a legitimate right to existence on the premise of mutual recognition, b) not the division between them should be emphasized, but their mutual replenishment, thus encouraging useful cooperation, and c) Luther’s eschatological reservation slows down any dynamic of messianic religiosity, and thus supports a rather existentialist and individualistic, less harmful understanding.

Принос към проучването на среднобългарския превод на словата на книжовника Авва Доротей от Газа

Author(s): Ivan Iliev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2014

Growing up close to the Pope. Italian youth and their religious belonging

Author(s): Roberto F. Scalon,Roberta Ricucci / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The debate on the relationship between young people and religion oscillates between the diffusion of religious individualization and the advancing process of secularization. These processes effect also Italian youth. In a scenario where belonging to Catholicism is still widespread among the population, the paper discusses how young people are developing their religious behaviour and their position on four specific burning issues in several societal and life areas. The first concerns the presence of the crucifix in public spaces. The second deals with a fiscal question and refers to whether or not religious institutions should enjoy benefits of this type from the State. The third point regards the role of religion (and specifically the Catholic religion) in the field of education and training, with specific reference to the teaching of only Catholic religion in all schools, from primary to upper secondary. The last point involves the sphere of communications and concerns the plausibility (desirability?) of interventions in the public debate – aimed at influencing people’s opinions - by religious institutions on socially and politically sensitive questions. All these issues are debated by means of both the most recent survey data available and scientific discussion about the role of religion in the lives of young people. The findings draw a picture in which Italian young people are, on one hand, “children of their time”, sharing with other international peers an independent way of managing their relationship with religion and, on the other, continue to recognize Catholicism as a point of reference of their Italian identity.

Ten obcy i Kościół

Author(s): Krzysztof Zadarko / Language(s): Polish Issue: 662/2015

The Role of Middle Eastern Classic Secular Texts in Forming National Identity and Intercultural Relations: Mu’allaqat

Author(s): Zane Šteinmane / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

Despite the undeniable fragmentation of the Arab people, and discarding idealist views that overemphasize the similarities, essential elements persist that form the orientation of certain people affirming their needs, interests and goals with a common reference. Since the overwhelming majority of Arabs are Muslim, the two identities – religious and secular - are linked and overlapping, but are not necessarily inseparable. In the aftermath of colonialism, the second World War, and the growing influence of the Western philosophy, a literary movement of the local itelligence called “al-Nahda” inspired the establishment of Arab nationalism. In their attempts to form a national identity, certain elements of unity (language, common culture, sociopolitical experiences, economic interests, and a collective memory of their place and role in history) were highlighted.

Building Faith: A Reflection on Two Forms of Religious Materiality in Tenrikyo

Author(s): Saburo Morishita / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

It is no secret that many Japanese new religions have built massive buildings so as to adequately accommodate followers at their religious centres. It goes without saying that both the general public and the media have criticized these new religions precisely because of such eye-opening manifestations. These unfavourable assessments have largely been based on the idea that what matters in religion is not so much what is seen than what cannot be seen, i.e. the spiritual. With the “material turn” in the study of religion, however, a new set of questions deemphasizing doctrines and concepts but highlighting the materiality of a religion has led scholars to reconsider the consequences of religious objects regardless of their scale, place and time. This essay will appropriate some of the tools circulating in the discipline of religious studies to reexamine some of the material aspects of Tenrikyo, one of the “older” Japanese new religions. It will first try to dismantle the dynamics of Tenrikyo’s religious architecture, namely the Main Sanctuary and the Oyasato-yakata building complex, both located at the religion’s headquarters in Tenri, Nara, Japan. These edifices will be taken here as a type of “public materiality” for they are open and visible to anyone who happens to visit the religious city. Second, an attempt will be made to clarify the meaning of the kakisage, a written document that is given to Tenrikyo followers upon having received sanction to perform a special healing rite upon those afflicted with an illness. In line with the concocted term, “public materiality,” this sacred document will be recognized here as a type of “private materiality” for it is personalized and given only to an individual who has made a commitment for the Tenrikyo mission. By so doing, areas of similarities as well as differences with Japanese religious history will be brought up along the way in this essay.

PERSONU RĀDĪTĀJS

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Latvian Issue: 1/2015

Dzieci jednego Boga

Author(s): Michał Janocha / Language(s): Polish Issue: 662/2015

По-дълбокият генезис на Новата музика на ХХ век: за субстанциалното в нея

Author(s): Tsenka Yordanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2015

The aims of this study are the hermeneutical presentation of the multiple complex problems and concerns for consistency of the New Music of the 20th century, as well as it spiritual-cultural claims. The aims of this study also are the hermeneutic of some of the most complex musical content and comprises topics of the deeper levels of the inner sense, value, art’s truth content of the some of the most uncompromising compositions of the New Music and the new inner stylistic organization of some of it different trends. No one who studies the emancipation of the New Music from old pre-established form, as well as its rise and its aging, will be able to dispense with the multiple complex problems of deepest formative powers. And also no one will be able to dispense with the alleged intellectuality and sophisticated new articulation both of the pure musical thinking-itself and the critical thought of it. And all these are some of the topics discussed here too. The aims of this study also are the hermeneutics and at the philosophical aesthetics of the spiritual origins and the deeper reality of the great compositions in the trends of the New complexity and in the New simplicity of the New Music. The complex relationship of the new truth content to the new criteria for inner consistency is interpreted in the text though the ideas of the immanent reason of the scores themselves and the transcending of the pieces beyond their differentiated, complex empirical material and availabilities. From the most generalized and unspecific to the most extreme concretion it is up to the changing the status quo that constitutes the essence, or Being, of the New Music.

Повторението в музиката и токатата

Author(s): Mariyana Buleva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2015

Repetition in music is a phenomenon thoroughly studied mostly in works on musical form. The issue of repetition nevertheless is constantly arousing interest, especially in studies on minimalism, pop music and musical language. The attempts of defining repetition in music are usually associated with the law of identity. Still, post-modern philosophy provides a new vision and this paper is an attempt to rethink repetition as a difference in the vein of Gilles Deleuze. The subject of this study is the genre of toccata, which would most dynamically recreate repeatability and provide at the same time an opportunity to trace out the rethinking of musical time in various ages, from Baroque to modern days. Motion, change and repetition are interpreted as an idea, preserved over the centuries and rethought in the modern twentieth century through the urban rhythm and machine-like nature of motion. Repeatability in toccata is interpreted as a process of implementation, differentiation and individualisation, as a transition from an external to an internal repetition. The paper focuses on two pieces by Bulgarian composers: Pancho Vladigerov’s Toccata, Op. 36, No. 5. Episodes collection of keyboard works (1941) and Vassil Kazandjiev’s Toccata (1957). This choice is motivated by the fact that these are works by a teacher and his disciple with the one by Vassil Kazandjiev preserving a colourful page of their creative communication. Vladigerov’s piece highlights the periodical variance and the activation of modal traits of musical thinking. Kazandjiev’s Toccata features a variation and an asymmetry at a motif level, as well as the simultaneous action of the external (static) and the internal (dynamic) repetition in the episodes with an ostinato bass. A conclusion is reached that repetition could have quite a different meaning and be a determinant of a stylistic fixture.

Новата музика и българското кино от 60-те и 70-те години. Филмовата музика на Симеон Пиронков и Васил Казанджиев – щрихи в езика на неконформисткия филм

Author(s): Angelina Petrova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2015

The symphonic concept of Bulgarian film music of the second half of the twentieth century is associated with the figures of Philip Koutev, Lubomir Pipkov, etc. The advent of freely atonal, 12-tone and aleatoric-sonorous music to films (mostly by Simeon Pironkoff and Vassil Kazandjiev) breaks off with the stylistics of the ‘officious’ model, being a province of ‘free speech’. Experimenting in musical language became indispensable to the open film dramaturgy looking for new horizons. Thus film music proved to be an essential part of the so-called nonconformist film, represented by such directors as Rangel Vulchanov, Binka Zhelyazkova, Borislav Sharaliev. An ascending trajectory was created of banned and/or ‘dissident film’, distancing themselves from the ‘Socialist Realism’, scored with 12- tone, aleatoric and sonorous music. Simeon Pironkov’s music to Rangel Vulchanov’s On a Small Island and Binka Zhelyazkova’s The Tied Up Balloon was emblematic of that trend. Since the early 1960s through the 1970s, collage established itself in film music, which incorporated the diversity of the actual sounding environment: jazz, pop music, noises, etc. ‘Collage’ musical dramaturgy was brought into being in Simeon Pironkov’s music to The Swimming Pool and The Big Night Bathe and in Vasil Kazandjiev’s music to Knight Without Armour, Thorn Apple, The Master of Boyana and The She-Wolf. In Kazandjiev’s music to some of the films, episodes of sonorous and aleatoric nature are treated as intra- frame music, while other abstracts – in a language as close to that of pop songs as possible – are part of the soundtrack. One of the best feature films with music by Dimiter Griva – Be Blessed – is also of that period. The poetic resistance of composers and directors reveals the non-normativity of dramaturgy and of the music to it; the pressure of the socially dissident position makes itself felt. In parallel, however, in both arts both the filmmakers (great Bulgarian directors) and the composers (creating a context in its own right of the New Music) evince differences in regard to the West-European paradigm. Urge for non-commercial music and distancing from the ideologically imposed pattern are significant in this regard.

ECONOMIC THINKING AS A SIGNIFICANT PREREQUISITE FOR THE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT AND FUNCTIONING OF THE DEFENCE SECTOR

Author(s): Viera Frianova / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The objective of the article is to draw attention of readers to the importanc eof economic thinking in order to solve various current economic problems in thedefence sector as well as to indicate how economic thinking and behaviour of thesector members, especially managers, can increase the overall effi ciency of theArmed Forces activities or the effi ciency of the defence sector activities. The authorin the article defi nes the general economic principles (3E principles) of resourcemanagement, highlights the problem of application of the effi ciency principle in thepublic sector and also in terms of the Department of Defence of the Slovak Republicand suggests some possible ways to solve some of current economic issues. In thiscontext the author of the article also points to the need to educate managers inthe economic fi eld. The article is the output of a research and development projectundertaken at the Armed Forces Academy of General M. R. Štefánik in Liptovský Mikuláš, the Slovak Republic

SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION ENERGY POLICY IN CENTRAL ASIA

Author(s): Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The importance of Central Asia region in energy market creates certain approachof Russian Federation. It infl uences not only situation in the region but also short andlong term prospects of economic development of adjacent regions, i.e. North, Eastand South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Russian economic policy determinesand defi nes certain forms of international cooperation, which, in turn, results in itsimportance for international political relations. The article points out the essence ofRussian Federation policy towards Central Asia and adjacent regions which consistsin conducting geo-economic activities determining geo-political activities.

MILESTONES OF HUMAN SECURITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE XXI CENTURY

Author(s): Filofteia Repez / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

Human security stands as a favourite subject of many debates and analyses.A world wherein overall security exists is just a dream. But nothing can stop thisdream from changing into reality. That depends on political leaders, as well as oneach individual. The aim of this article is to overview some theoretical approachesto human security and to present the human development index calculated for theEuropean Union states and some main aspects of human security components inthe European Union. The goal of this analysis is two fold: to present some aspectsthat are remarkable for the human security framework in the European Union at thebeginning of the XXI century and also a modest milestone for this type of analyses.

LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOW WAGE WORK IMPLICATIONS ON SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT

Author(s): Maria Constantinescu / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The very intense turmoil close to Romania’s border generates a very complex processto take adequate decisions in all aspects of our society. If these decisions are not takenproperly, many problems may arise. An important aspect is represented by the economic fi eldwhere all goods and services are marketed based on supply and demand laws. If the marketis not stable, a lot of other domains are infl uenced, such as the social one. The link betweenthe economic and social domains is represented in this respect by unemployment and lowwage work. Even in developed countries these two phenomena create big tensions which areexported to the entire world. This paper intends to emphasize the link among unemployment,low wage work and national security taking into consideration the challenges of economicglobalization, deregulation and technological change.

CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE FIELD OF SAFETY IN POLISH-SLOVAK PROJECTS. THEORETICAL APPROACHES AND A CASE STUDY

Author(s): Marek Walancik,Joanna Kurowska-Pysz / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The paper focuses on the issues related to the improvement of safety in the borderland,thanks to the use of EU funds for cross-border cooperation by local governments, dedicatedto solving common cross-border problems, inter alia, in the area of risk prevention andelimination of their consequences. The authors analyzed the determinants of the activitiesconducted by selected local government units in cross-border cooperation to ensure safety,including projects related to risks that could potentially occur in the borderland. Theproposals include recommendations on future directions for cooperation between localborderland governments to improve safety in these areas.

SECURITY AND DEFENCE SOURCES FOR THE ARMED FORCES OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Author(s): Milan Sopóci,Marek Walancik / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The article deals with some aspects of security and defence sources for the armed forcesof the Slovak Republic. It compares the possibilities of several NATO states in terms of theirGross National Product (GNP) and their expenses for the armed forces. The article refersto the negative impingement of expenses reduction on the position of the SR and the Slovakarmed forces developed with its NATO and EU partners . It also focuses on the possibilities toobtain funding sources for the development of armed forces from special NATO programmes.

GEO-STRATEGIC PREMISES FOR CONTEMPORARY CONFLICTS

Author(s): Georgi Dimov,Valeri Ivanov / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

This article presents the authors’ views on the specifi c impact of geopolitical and geostrategicfactors, conditions and tendencies of the contemporary security environment.Moreover, it examines how geopolitical concepts and geo-strategic actions refl ect oninternational relationships after the Cold War. The authors imply the idea that by developinga new strategy, the so called Selective Opposition strategy, many contradictions, frictionsand confl icts could be decreased. Of course, the way of thinking needs to be changed in orderto raise the hopes for a more peaceful world

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ARMED CONFRONTATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND UKRAINE

Author(s): Daniel Stefanescu / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The current paper highlights the possibilities of methodologically working with theconcept of hybrid warfare within an international environment characterized by highmarginal confl icts. In this context, the convergence of opponents, methods and means aswell as the fusion of capabilities have appeared within hybrid wars. These wars defy andincorporate conventional, unconventional, military and non-military capabilities, as wellas combined tactics and terrorism. Thus, the hybrid war aims at catching up with technicalor doctrine asymmetry. Defi ning hybrid war cannot be a stand-alone operation. It requiresa reconfi guration of the entire defi nition frame, primarily a reconfi guration of the sensitiveboundaries between peace and war, as they were foreshadowed by the fi rst representatives ofpolitical realism. The work brings to the fore not only the issue of reconsidering confl ictuality,but also the challenge of a broader framework for defi ning the war itself, the coordinatesbeing different from those that defi ned the classic war.

FORMS OF REPEATED DISCOURSE (DOUBLESPEAK) IN ROMANIAN MILITARY MASS MEDIA

Author(s): Alexandru Constantinescu,Adrian Lesenciuc / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The main objective of this paper is to present a thorough analysis of forms of repeatedinterviews present in the Romanian military mass media. Starting from the particularities ofthe repeated discourse, expressed through langue de bois during the communist era and fromits concealed forms displayed within the current Romanian written journals, we debated overthe linguistic patterns used for the accomplishment of two permanent sections of the weekly“Military Observer”. The current paper, part of an ampler research focused on the achievementof a comparative study realized by means of the contents analysis of two sections of the journal,aims at investigating elements of discursive nature that reveal a form of the unconcealed usageof the langue de bois within the “Interview” section of the military publication.