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: Transcending the personal and political: Provocations

authors: Morrison, Michele

abstract: Each case study in this book stands alone. The leaders portrayed in these narratives, and the authors who collaborated with them in the re-storying of their lived experience, bring unique worldviews and particular theoretical lenses to bear. le is appropriate chat readers should do the same. In this concluding chapter we seek not to prescribe meaning nor constrain interpretation but to highlight three emerging themes: complexity, agency, and action. Rather than summarise each case we select examples that evoke and illustrate the points we wish co make. We consider the implications of complexity, agency, and action for practitioners, policy makers, and the education profession (pre- and in-service). Finally, we conclude with a series of provocations that we hope will ignite passionate debate, professional commitment, and the political will necessary co reach national consensus over what we mean by social justice and how we best go about achieving this.

text: Transcending the personal and political: Provocations Each case study in this book stands alone. The leaders portrayed in these narratives, and the authors who collaborated with them in the re-storying of their lived experience, bring unique worldviews and particular theoretical lenses to bear. le is appropriate chat readers should do the same. In this concluding chapter we seek not to prescribe meaning nor constrain interpretation but to highlight three emerging themes: complexity, agency, and action. Rather than summarise each case we select examples that evoke and illustrate the points we wish co make. We consider the implications of complexity, agency, and action for practitioners, policy makers, and the education profession (pre- and in-service). Finally, we conclude with a series of provocations that we hope will ignite passionate debate, professional commitment, and the political will necessary co reach national consensus over what we mean by social justice and how we best go about achieving this.

year: 2017

title: Are historical perpetual leases on Maori owned land (Native reserves) a basis for currently enforceable fiduciary obligations?

authors: Dimitrov, Dara

subjects: fiduciary obligations

abstract: Colonial perpetual leases over what were once native reserves continue to trouble the New Zealand government. The colonial Public Trust Office was tasked with managing and administering Māori property affairs, with a focus on the administration of the native reserves. However, if the perpetual leases continue to be viewed through the contractual lens, relief for the Māori landowners will not be forthcoming. Therefore, examining the rationale for imposing fiduciary duties upon the colonial Public Trust Office is essential. Where traditional legal fiduciary literature explores the onerous proscriptive duties that bind persons occupying a fiduciary position, this article establishes that the extensive statutory role assigned to colonial Public Trust officers in managing the native reserves for their Māori beneficiaries created a fiduciary relationship. Moreover, this article shows that, when the colonial Public Trust Office exercised its powers, this often led to conflicts of interest with their Māori beneficiaries.

text: Are historical perpetual leases on Maori owned land (Native reserves) a basis for currently enforceable fiduciary obligations? Colonial perpetual leases over what were once native reserves continue to trouble the New Zealand government. The colonial Public Trust Office was tasked with managing and administering Māori property affairs, with a focus on the administration of the native reserves. However, if the perpetual leases continue to be viewed through the contractual lens, relief for the Māori landowners will not be forthcoming. Therefore, examining the rationale for imposing fiduciary duties upon the colonial Public Trust Office is essential. Where traditional legal fiduciary literature explores the onerous proscriptive duties that bind persons occupying a fiduciary position, this article establishes that the extensive statutory role assigned to colonial Public Trust officers in managing the native reserves for their Māori beneficiaries created a fiduciary relationship. Moreover, this article shows that, when the colonial Public Trust Office exercised its powers, this often led to conflicts of interest with their Māori beneficiaries.

year: 2024