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Category: Traditie & ritueel

Becoming two

Sam Heeremans explores the transformative journey of birth in the Netherlands through the lens of doulas. Doulas provide non-medical support to birthing women, emphasizing the spiritual aspects of childbirth within the cultural context. The role is deeply rooted in accompanying women through intense bodily and possibly spiritual shifts, distancing from romanticized notions. Heeremans’ fieldwork reveals a cultural appreciation, augmenting a woman’s experience with communal and ritualistic dimensions inherent in becoming a mother.

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Easter gardens and Christmas trees

By Fridus Steijlen – In Ambon, Fridus Steijlen observed Taman Paskah, public religious displays commemorating Easter, with symbolic crosses and caves. These were contrasted with secular Christmas decorations, subtly blending Christian and local traditions. As Easter approaches, religious symbols replace Christmas ones, reflecting the community’s deep Christian faith and the social significance of these holidays.

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Religion has left the hospital: the uneasy silence of professionalization

By Peter Versteeg – Have you ever wondered why something happened to you? I hope you haven’t because this question often arises when people are faced with something really serious, such as a severe illness or a traumatic event. But what is the nature of this “why” question? Does it seek a philosophical answer or is it an emotional outburst that cannot be answered?

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