title: Rescuing religious non-realism from Cupitt

authors: Walker, Ruth

subjects: religious non-realism

abstract: Don Cupitt's version of religious non-realism based as it is on linguistic constructivism, radical relativism and the view that culture forms human nature has been attacked with devastating effect by realists in the last few years. I argue that there is another strand in Cupitt's thinking, his biological naturalism, that supports a different version of religious non-realism and that he failed to see this possibility because of his global non-realism and commitment to the strong programme in the sociology of scientific knowledge. Cupitt's biological naturalism should have led smoothly into evolutionary psychology, which has an account of religious belief that supports a non-realist interpretation. Evolutionary psychology shows that religious beliefs are natural, normal and about matters of the deepest significance to humans. They gain their character from the operation of evolved structures of the mind and cannot be reduced to other sorts of belief. I argue that the form of religious non-realism that emerges from taking biological naturalism seriously has a future because it respects the nature of religious belief and seeks to build on its capacity as a unique source of meaning in people's lives. There is also enough common ground with religious realism for there to be genuine dialogue between the two.

text: Rescuing religious non-realism from Cupitt Don Cupitt's version of religious non-realism based as it is on linguistic constructivism, radical relativism and the view that culture forms human nature has been attacked with devastating effect by realists in the last few years. I argue that there is another strand in Cupitt's thinking, his biological naturalism, that supports a different version of religious non-realism and that he failed to see this possibility because of his global non-realism and commitment to the strong programme in the sociology of scientific knowledge. Cupitt's biological naturalism should have led smoothly into evolutionary psychology, which has an account of religious belief that supports a non-realist interpretation. Evolutionary psychology shows that religious beliefs are natural, normal and about matters of the deepest significance to humans. They gain their character from the operation of evolved structures of the mind and cannot be reduced to other sorts of belief. I argue that the form of religious non-realism that emerges from taking biological naturalism seriously has a future because it respects the nature of religious belief and seeks to build on its capacity as a unique source of meaning in people's lives. There is also enough common ground with religious realism for there to be genuine dialogue between the two.

year: 2006

title: Disentangling the impacts of anxiety, stress and depression on immunity

authors: Catherine, Breeze

abstract: While immunity and psychological distress are strongly associated, studies seldom consider how different types of distress relate to immune functioning. The literature tends to emphasis the impact of stress on immunity. The present study estimated the unique contributions of stress, depression and anxiety on immune function in culturally diverse samples of adults from Italy, New Zealand and India. The participants were Italian (n = 1061), New Zealand (n = 1037), and Indian (n = 384) volunteers. Stepwise multiple linear regression and dominance analysis were used to analyse differences in immunity uniquely explained by anxiety, depression, and stress, with immune functioning defined by physical symptoms. While samples from the three countries differed significantly, anxiety consistently explained the greatest proportion of differences in immunity. After accounting for the effect of anxiety, stress and depression explained only small portion of variation in immune functioning, differing between countries. The association of anxiety with immune functioning was consistent across three different countries and the unique impact was further confirmed by the results of dominance analysis. These findings suggest a clear link between anxiety and immunity, when disentangling between distress types. This challenges the prevailing stress- disease model and calls for further research into the impact of anxiety on immunity. If future research supports a causal link where anxiety precedes immunity deficiency, interventions to reduce anxiety may improve immune functioning and health outcomes in the general population.

text: Disentangling the impacts of anxiety, stress and depression on immunity While immunity and psychological distress are strongly associated, studies seldom consider how different types of distress relate to immune functioning. The literature tends to emphasis the impact of stress on immunity. The present study estimated the unique contributions of stress, depression and anxiety on immune function in culturally diverse samples of adults from Italy, New Zealand and India. The participants were Italian (n = 1061), New Zealand (n = 1037), and Indian (n = 384) volunteers. Stepwise multiple linear regression and dominance analysis were used to analyse differences in immunity uniquely explained by anxiety, depression, and stress, with immune functioning defined by physical symptoms. While samples from the three countries differed significantly, anxiety consistently explained the greatest proportion of differences in immunity. After accounting for the effect of anxiety, stress and depression explained only small portion of variation in immune functioning, differing between countries. The association of anxiety with immune functioning was consistent across three different countries and the unique impact was further confirmed by the results of dominance analysis. These findings suggest a clear link between anxiety and immunity, when disentangling between distress types. This challenges the prevailing stress- disease model and calls for further research into the impact of anxiety on immunity. If future research supports a causal link where anxiety precedes immunity deficiency, interventions to reduce anxiety may improve immune functioning and health outcomes in the general population.

year: 2024-04-28

title: La gouvernance des rivières en Nouvelle-Zélande : une solution élégante ?

authors: Te Aho, Linda

subjects: Water governance,

abstract: Governance of Water in New Zealand: An Elegant Solution? This chapter is grounded in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand while drawing on larger references, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, the Rio+20 Declaration and constitutional provisions for Rights of Nature. The chapter analyses a proposed new model for the contentious issue of freshwater governance in New Zealand based on responsible use which also addresses the complex world of state-Māori relations.

text: La gouvernance des rivières en Nouvelle-Zélande : une solution élégante ? Governance of Water in New Zealand: An Elegant Solution? This chapter is grounded in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand while drawing on larger references, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, the Rio+20 Declaration and constitutional provisions for Rights of Nature. The chapter analyses a proposed new model for the contentious issue of freshwater governance in New Zealand based on responsible use which also addresses the complex world of state-Māori relations.

year: 2018