BELIEF: Sociology of Religion Journal Journal Title : BELIEF: Sociology of Religion Journal ISSN : 3025-9118 (online) DOI Prefix : 10.30983/belief Editor in Chief : Tyka Rahman, M.Si Managing Editor : Khairul Amin, S.Ag., M.Phil. Publisher : Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi Frequency : 2 issues per year (June and December) Citation Analysis : Scopus | SINTA | Google Scholar BELIEF: Sociology of Religion Journal is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed academic journal that explores the social dimensions of religion in contemporary societies. Published by the Sociology of Religion Study Program, Faculty of Ushuluddin, Adab, and Da’wah, Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia, the journal appears twice a year (June and December) and follows a double-blind peer-review process to maintain the highest standards of academic quality and research integrity. BELIEF seeks to promote a deeper understanding of the role, function, and transformation of religion within diverse social, cultural, political, educational, and economic contexts. It provides an open platform for sociologists, scholars of religion, activists, and researchers to share ideas and present empirical as well as theoretical studies that address the dynamic interactions between religion and society. The journal particularly encourages research that highlights the significance of religion in shaping social change, identity, and public life. The journal’s scope encompasses a wide range of topics, including but not limited to Religion and Culture, Religion and Politics, Religion and Education, Religion and Economy, Religion and Health, Religion and Equality, Digital Religion, Conflict and Peace, and Religion and Ecology. Through these areas of study, BELIEF: Sociology of Religion Journal aims to advance global academic discourse on the sociological understanding of religion and its evolving role in modern society. Journal Secretariat: Data Center Building, 2nd floor, State Islamic University of Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi. Gurun Aua St, Kubang Putih, Banuhampu, Agam - West Sumatra - Indonesia.
Faith, Ritual, and Social Boundaries: An Analysis of Religious Behavior in the An-Nadzir Community of South Sulawesi
This study aims to analyze the religious behavior of the An-Nadzir community in Romang Lompoa Village, Bontomarannu District, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi. The focus of the research is directed at the dimensions of religious behavior, influencing factors, and its social implications in the context of the local community. The research method uses a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation of five key informants consisting of religious figures, community leaders, and ordinary members. Data analysis was conducted using thematic methods, complemented by source and method triangulation techniques to maintain validity. The results show that the religious behavior of the An-Nadzir community includes a cognitive dimension in the form of belief in the importance of upholding Allah's law and the sunnah of the Prophet; an emotional dimension that brings peace and spiritual experience to members; and a behavioral dimension in the form of the Latiful Akbar dhikr ritual, distinctive prayer procedures, and outward symbols such as turbans, veils, and blond hair. The community structure is organized through hierarchical leadership centered on an amir. Interactions with the outside community are relatively harmonious through mutual cooperation and economic engagement, although the community often faces stigma and criticism. The study's conclusions confirm that the An-Nadzir community is able to survive as a minority religious group through internal solidarity, social openness, and resilience in maintaining its religious identity. These findings contribute to the literature on minority religiosity in Indonesia and offer practical implications for strengthening pluralism and social tolerance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Andi Dody May Putra Agustang, Muhammad Nur, Indriani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Religious Understanding among Foster Children through Social and Spiritual Guidance Programs at the Aisyiyah Orphanage, Matur, West Sumatra
This research is motivated by the need to understand the level of religious understanding among foster children in carrying out social and spiritual guidance activities, as reflected in their behavior and their ability to comprehend and apply what they learn. Education is not only acquired through formal institutions but also through informal settings, such as activities conducted in orphanages, which serve as compulsory supplementary educational programs for foster children. This study aims to analyze the religious understanding developed through social and spiritual guidance activities at the Aisyiyah Matur Branch Orphanage. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach. The informants consist of foster children, caregivers, and administrators within the orphanage environment. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The theoretical framework used in this study is Talcott Parsons’ structural functionalism theory, particularly the AGIL (Adaptation, Goal Attainment, Integration, and Latency) scheme. The findings indicate that the level of religious understanding among foster children varies. Some foster children demonstrate a low level of religious understanding in participating in social and spiritual guidance activities, as evidenced by behaviors such as joking with peers, sleeping during activities, or not participating at all. These conditions are influenced by factors such as busy schedules, boredom, and less engaging learning methods. However, other foster children are able to internalize and apply the religious values they learn, enabling them to demonstrate positive behavior and compete with children outside the orphanage environment.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nurdeli Indah Sari https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Between Faith and Psychiatry: A Sociological Inquiry into the Use of Roqya for Mental Disorders
This paper aims to show the relationship between cultural and religious interpretations of mental disorders and the use of spiritual healing practices. The interest of this study lies in understanding how these interpretations can guide curative choice, especially in the Moroccan context, where modern medicine coexists with traditional and religious practices. Interrogating these explanations in the hospital context, where two completely distinct conceptions may come into conflict, is an essential and novel task. Through a qualitative approach and with the use of interviews conducted with families of patients hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital in the city of Fez, this work highlights the presence of supernatural conceptions of mental disorders in the participants, such as possession, the evil eye, and witchcraft. Thus, it is evident that these conceptions have led to the adoption of a healing practice based on Koranic recitations, known as Roqya. This research is not intended to be generalized due to the small sample size; its results represent the experiences of the participants interviewed within the context of the study. However, the significance of it lies in the fact that it stresses the importance of a medical approach that is open to cultural interpretations of mental disorders and aware of their impact on patients' choices.
Copyright (c) 2026 LAILA EL BOUTAHIRI, Dr Mohamed Fadil https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Digitalising Religious Practice: Community Engagement in Qurban Rituals at Masjid Jogokariyan
The development of modern technology has brought significant changes in the implementation of religious community worship. The challenge is how mosques, as religious institutions, can respond to this transformation without compromising the core values of their teachings. This study examines how mosques influence community involvement in qurbani worship and how mosques manage these activities in a modern context while still benefiting the community. The purpose of this study is to analyze the form of digitalization applied and its impact on the participation of the ummah in the implementation of qurbani worship. The method employed is field research, with observation as the data-collection technique. The results of this study show that digitalization, such as online registration, qurbani management information systems, and real-time reporting, has increased transparency, trust, and community involvement in the implementation of qurbani worship. Thus, the digitalization implemented at the Jogokariyan mosque strengthens religious community engagement and underscores the mosque's role as a public service grounded in religious values, adapted to contemporary contexts.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zerin Amalina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Ratib Samman as a Local Islamic Ritual: Religious Meaning, Moral Discipline, and Social Solidarity in Minangkabau Society
This study examines Ratib Samman as a local Islamic ritual practiced in Jorong Salimpariak, West Sumatra, and analyzes its significance from the perspective of the sociology of religion. Using a qualitative approach that combines participant observation, in-depth interviews, and textual analysis of ritual recitations (radai), this research explores how Ratib Samman functions as a form of lived Islam embedded in local social life. The findings show that Ratib Samman is not merely a devotional practice but a multifaceted ritual that reinforces social solidarity, transmits moral and religious values, and shapes embodied religious dispositions. The use of religious poetry and synchronized bodily movements enables participants to internalize theological teachings while fostering collective identity and moral discipline. Furthermore, the ritual plays an important role in providing meaning and emotional support for individuals and families, illustrating how religious practices respond to social and existential concerns. This study contributes to the sociology of religion by demonstrating that local Islamic rituals should be understood as active social processes rather than passive outcomes of cultural acculturation. By foregrounding ritual practice, embodiment, and symbolic meaning, the study offers insight into how religion continues to shape moral life and social cohesion in contemporary Muslim communities.
Copyright (c) 2026 Prima Dini Susanti, Silfia Hanani; Muhammad Taufik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Latent Social Capital in the Marpege-Pege Wedding Tradition
This research explores the Marpege-pege tradition in traditional Angkola Batak weddings as a social mechanism that addresses the high costs of marriage, especially the bridewealth obligation (tuhor). Conducted in Sialogo Village, West Angkola District, South Tapanuli Regency, the study focuses on (1) how the Marpege-pege tradition is practiced and (2) its role in the community. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach and Robert K. Merton’s structural functionalism framework, data were gathered through observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation with community members. Results reveal that Marpege-pege is a coordinated collective effort of monetary contributions organized by the groom’s family, involving stages: Manyapai Boru, Marpege-pege, and Pataru Tuhor. From a functionalist view, this tradition has an obvious role in easing wedding expenses. Additionally, it fosters latent functions like enhanced social solidarity, stronger community bonds, and the preservation of cultural values across generations. These latent functions bolster social capital by supporting reciprocal relationships and collective responsibility within the community. The study concludes that Marpege-pege is more than just an economic tactic; it is a culturally embedded tradition that sustains social cohesion and cultural continuity in Angkola Batak society.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nurhalimah Nasution; Syafwan Rozi, Penmardianto https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0