Divine power in Indigenous Christianity: translation, theology, and Pacific politics. This project analyses missionary activities and theological education in Oceania to understand how Indigenous political activity is shaped by Christian theological principles. Oceania has politically influential Christian churches and increasingly fragile governments. An understanding of their interconnections is needed for Australia's benefit.
Religious clerics, medical authorities, and sexuality in Islamic interpretations of reproductive health technologies in Egypt. Taking reproductive health in Egypt as a case study, this research investigates how religious and secular authorities interact to shape access to and availability of medical technologies. The resulting ethnography and research articles will broaden international understandings of the relationship between Islam, sexuality, and modernity.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100824
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Intimate relationships and the politics of personhood in the Philippines. Through the lens of young women's intimate relationships on Siquijor Island, Philippines, this project seeks to understand better changing norms of sociality in a globalising world. This project focuses on transgressive relationships which, as instances of rule-breaking, highlight implicit social expectations of inter-personal connection and obligation.
Social engagement in Spiritualism. This project aims to investigate the sociological, anthropological and historical dimensions of Spiritualism in Australia, a small but highly influential religious movement. 19th century Spiritualist ideas about the afterlife have shaped many citizens’ beliefs that individual personality survives death in a family-centred spirit realm. Combining both sociological and anthropological approaches, the project will map the production and effect of belief on family, ....Social engagement in Spiritualism. This project aims to investigate the sociological, anthropological and historical dimensions of Spiritualism in Australia, a small but highly influential religious movement. 19th century Spiritualist ideas about the afterlife have shaped many citizens’ beliefs that individual personality survives death in a family-centred spirit realm. Combining both sociological and anthropological approaches, the project will map the production and effect of belief on family, civic participation and ethics. This project aims to give scholars a fuller, more accurate view of religious dynamics in Australia.Read moreRead less
The African Diaspora and Pentecostalism in Australia. This project aims to investigate the new African Diaspora in Australia and its embrace of Pentecostalism. The African community in Australia has often been associated with poor settlement outcomes, and has also been subject to racialised moral panic regarding so-called ‘African gangs.’ This project will use new methods to understand the role of Pentecostal translocal and transnational networks in supporting African communities to overcome the ....The African Diaspora and Pentecostalism in Australia. This project aims to investigate the new African Diaspora in Australia and its embrace of Pentecostalism. The African community in Australia has often been associated with poor settlement outcomes, and has also been subject to racialised moral panic regarding so-called ‘African gangs.’ This project will use new methods to understand the role of Pentecostal translocal and transnational networks in supporting African communities to overcome the challenges of settlement. The project expects to contribute to policy efforts to improve outcomes for new African arrivals in Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101178
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$344,324.00
Summary
Water Harvesting and the Cultural Politics of Resource Equity. This project aims to provide a new framework for understanding water equity challenges in urban South Asia. Equitable water access is an everyday struggle in this region. For example, in New Delhi, millions suffer from inadequate supplies, while the wealthy enjoy more than their share. The project plans to investigate how people respond to water stress by adopting techniques such as water harvesting. It also plans to examine the degr ....Water Harvesting and the Cultural Politics of Resource Equity. This project aims to provide a new framework for understanding water equity challenges in urban South Asia. Equitable water access is an everyday struggle in this region. For example, in New Delhi, millions suffer from inadequate supplies, while the wealthy enjoy more than their share. The project plans to investigate how people respond to water stress by adopting techniques such as water harvesting. It also plans to examine the degree to which water harvesting leads to social inclusion or exclusion. Through ethnographic examinations of the water values, resource subjectivities and power dynamics that influence the success of urban water harvesting, the projects intends to gain insights to improve regional water policy and aid effectiveness.Read moreRead less
The Maronites of Lebanon: Arab Christians in the Era of ISIS. This project aims to capture ethnographically the way Maronite culture is evolving in response to regional pressures. The Maronites of Lebanon were the dominant community of modern Lebanon. Since the end of the civil war (1975–90), they have lost their economic power to the Sunnis associated with the Gulf capitalism that has rebuilt Lebanon. They have also lost their military and political power to the Shi'a who have accumulated milit ....The Maronites of Lebanon: Arab Christians in the Era of ISIS. This project aims to capture ethnographically the way Maronite culture is evolving in response to regional pressures. The Maronites of Lebanon were the dominant community of modern Lebanon. Since the end of the civil war (1975–90), they have lost their economic power to the Sunnis associated with the Gulf capitalism that has rebuilt Lebanon. They have also lost their military and political power to the Shi'a who have accumulated military strength through their struggle against Israel's occupation and their links to Iran. The Maronites are also declining numerically and, most dramatically today, like all Arab Christians, living with the spectre of Islamic fundamentalism in the region, particularly the threat of ISIS (Islamic State).Read moreRead less
A third way between religion and secularism: new Southeast Asian spiritualities. In the conflicts between religious fundamentalists and advocates of western-style secularism, the development of far more moderate religious trends are overlooked. This project investigates one of these: the development of a new spiritualism mainly among members of Southeast Asia's educated and professional classes.
Critical conversations: An ethnographic study of Australian organ donation. There is an urgent need for new culturally sensitive ways of improving organ donation rates in Australia, which are lower in culturally and linguistically diverse groups. The project aims to reorient the research focus from decisions made prior to death to the actual times and clinical spaces in which these decisions occur. Through a comparative cross-cultural analysis this research will provide essential knowledge that ....Critical conversations: An ethnographic study of Australian organ donation. There is an urgent need for new culturally sensitive ways of improving organ donation rates in Australia, which are lower in culturally and linguistically diverse groups. The project aims to reorient the research focus from decisions made prior to death to the actual times and clinical spaces in which these decisions occur. Through a comparative cross-cultural analysis this research will provide essential knowledge that will inform innovative approaches to understanding organ donation. The outcomes will have a strong bearing on how organ donation communication, professional protocols, and ultimately, organ donation practice evolve in Australia. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101506
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,612.00
Summary
Supporting end-of-life care in a culturally diverse society. Given Australia's diverse ageing population, there is increasingly urgent need for culturally sensitive end-of-life care. Currently, end-of-life planning is promoted and standardised in the form of advance care directives, which have a lower uptake in culturally and linguistically diverse groups. The project aims to identify and theorise points of uptake and resistance to advance care planning in Australia's largest Asian populations. ....Supporting end-of-life care in a culturally diverse society. Given Australia's diverse ageing population, there is increasingly urgent need for culturally sensitive end-of-life care. Currently, end-of-life planning is promoted and standardised in the form of advance care directives, which have a lower uptake in culturally and linguistically diverse groups. The project aims to identify and theorise points of uptake and resistance to advance care planning in Australia's largest Asian populations. This new knowledge will be used to develop strategies for cross-cultural understanding in relation to end-of-life care preferences. The outcomes will have a strong bearing on how community attitudes, the experience of individuals, professional protocols, and ultimately, legislation evolve in Australia.Read moreRead less