SCIENTIA MORALITAS - International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research

SCIENTIA MORALITAS - International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm SCIENTIA MORALITAS - International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research is an open access, blind peer-reviewed Journal published by the Scientia Moralitas Research Institute. SCIENTIA MORALITAS is a multidisciplinary journal publishing a wide range of high-quality papers in the field of humanities, education, theology, human rights, economics, philosophy, juridical, political and communication sciences, religion, history, current events, legal and social issues, human behavior and so on. The Journal is registered with the Library of Congress (DC, USA): <a href="https://portal.issn.org/resource/ISSN/2472-5331">ISSN 2472-5331</a> <a href="https://portal.issn.org/resource/issn/2472-5358">(Print)</a><a href="https://portal.issn.org/resource/issn/2472-5358"> ISSN 2472-5358</a> (Online) and is published twice a year in both print and online. SCIENTIA MORALITAS Journal is indexed and abstracted in the following databases/resources: <a href="https://kanalregister.hkdir.no/publiseringskanaler/erihplus/periodical/info.action?id=490649">ERIH PLUS</a>, <a href="http://econpapers.repec.org/article/smojournl/">RePEc</a>, <a href="https://www.ceeol.com/search/journal-detail?id=1857">CEEOL</a>, <a href="http://scholar.cnki.net/WebPress/brief.aspx?q=%e6%9d%a5%e6%ba%90%3a(Scientia+Moralitas-International+Journal+of+Multidisciplinary+Research)&dbcode=SJXA&type=dbpub">CNKI</a>, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=ro&view_op=list_works&authuser=7&gmla=AJsN-F4PD5a0UrvDxTpJvUaU8BgwB6zOapq3eiipoiwQAc51qZ04D5FStiqGA9eNOwh_9ifBMkjpW2iE8U4FIzJUMihvjXg2n0JcrVHjRxQdRtdDYcAri5ityQ9LKSqQFc0HFIV9pvno&user=pzH6258AAAAJ">Google Scholar</a>, <a href="http://oaji.net/journal-archive-stats.html?number=5169">OAJI</a>, <a href="http://www.citefactor.org/journal/index/16926/scientia-moralitas-international-journal-of-multidisciplinary-research#.Wnm43ZOdWi7">CiteFactor,</a> <a href="http://journalseeker.researchbib.com/view/issn/2472-5358">ResearchBib</a>, <a href="http://www.journalfactor.org/Journal.php?JOURNAL=JF1833&NAME=SCIENTIA%20MORALITAS%20-%20International%20Journal%20of%20Multidisciplinary%20Research">Journal Factor</a>, <a href="https://iijif.com/journals-master/">IIJIF</a>, <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/scientia-moralitas/oclc/949857603&referer=brief_results">WorldCat</a>. RAIS en-US SCIENTIA MORALITAS - International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research 2472-5331 ‘Owning’ Unborn Children: Their Moral Status and Rights – A Critique of the Bodily Autonomy Argument https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/222 The bodily autonomy argument is central in the debate on abortion and is used within the areas of law, medicine, and philosophy. The purpose of this paper is to highlight that even upon conceding that women have the right to bodily autonomy, this right is not absolute. Though this caveat is not unorthodox in and of itself, even if, for the sake of argument, unborn children are viewed as ‘property’ and are ‘owned’ by the mother (‘Premise’), both concepts being defined within the framework of Foetal Bundle Theory, it does not follow that pregnant women can treat the foetus however they desire. Therefore, the bodily autonomy argument cannot be used to justify a termination. This paper further argues that even if the truth of this Premise is granted, it does not nullify an unborn child’s moral status or rights. Therefore, their moral status and rights should be taken into consideration when evaluating the justification of a termination. This paper is both topical and timely given the recent overturning of Roe v Wade (1973). Johnny Michael Sakr Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-22 2023-06-22 8 1 1 20 Some Perspectives on Religion, the Effects of Globalization and the Universalization of the Christian Message https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/223 Human creativity has always generated new cultures, both material and non-material, such as ideas, objects, beliefs, traditions, customs, behavior, language, culture, institutions, etc. These diverse dimensions, often associated with spirituality, through which man manifested his presence in the cosmos, are real testimonies to his desire to find himself in a matrix that enables him to express himself to eternity. A kind of pattern with which to quantify and authenticate the diversity of expressions that define it. In other words, to analyze and measure his existence everywhere and always with the same measure. An act to univocally unify and universalize the specifics of all the parts that make it up in being. From the perspective of religion, however, it is definitely about something much deeper than the diversity of presence and creation through which man defines and measures the dimensions of his own worlds, because regardless of whether they are grounded in the sacred, the transcendent or the spirit, religion remains indisputably the unmistakable testimony of God’s presence and, at the same time, of the multiple and diverse forms of manifestations through which the divine reveals its Being. These global human diversities reflect the way in which the identity of faith, founded on the conviction that God has revealed himself and on the dogmatic truths that testify to this fact, such as: the teaching about the creation of the world, the continuous presence of God in creation, the struggle of the Church to defend religious convictions, of the emblematic saints and martyrs who contributed to the foundation of the common memory in the great spiritual community of the Kingdom of God, highlights the image of a history based on the diversity of epiphanies and theophanies. In order to perpetuate these virtues and values of faith, this study is addressed to the generations in search of and building their own paradise, from the perspective of the relationship between the globalized world, which proposes a revalued life, and the dissemination of the Christian message that the Church of Christ addresses to all nations (Matthew 28: 19). Cristian Vasile Petcu Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-22 2023-06-22 8 1 21 33 A Structured Literature Review of the Impact of ESG Activities on Firm Performance https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/224 The purpose of this paper is to review empirical studies on the impact of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) activities on firm performance. After nearly two decades of its initial formal proposal in 2004 by United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Investment, significant advances can be observed regarding progress on ESG activities in different regions worldwide. The existing literature has numerous debates about the relationship between ESG activities and financial performance with heterogeneous results. A growing body of empirical literature has evaluated positive implications of ESG activities on firm performance, while other studies indicate a negative relationship. This study aims to investigate this discrepancy by accumulating knowledge from ESG-related literature and uncover the discourse on ESG. Consequently, this research provides different views and contributes to a better understanding of the ESG concept. In particular, due to recent regulatory initiatives by the European Union, such as the European Taxonomy and additional disclosure requirements, the focus of this study is on the data conducted on European companies. Maria Arsin Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-22 2023-06-22 8 1 34 45 Mosaic of Factors Promoting Succession Strategies in the New Financial Context of Moroccan Companies: Focus on Family Businesses https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/225 The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between family governance specificities of the Moroccan unlisted businesses and the success of succession strategies. The study conducted qualitative research using semi-structured interviews with managers from a sample of 20 unlisted Moroccan family businesses, including 8 SMEs, 6 large firms, and 6 VSEs. The results highlight the influence of Moroccan cultural specificities on the governance processes, and consequently, the success of family business succession. These influences essentially manifest themselves in two antecedents: succession planning and process, and cultural constraints that manifest in different configurations of family business succession governance. KEYWORDS: family business, governance, succession plan, succession process Azzeddine Allioui Omar Aoudi Moataz Bellah Alaya Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-22 2023-06-22 8 1 46 61 Aspects of Biblical Philosophy on the Development of World Civilizations https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/226 It is worth noting how a secular perspective can be harmonized with what Holy Scripture presents and especially how the text of Scripture becomes relevant in a context where we are talking about the development of world civilizations. By bridging the gap between the secular and the religious, a common element emerges—the analysis of human society and its development, mechanisms, and consequences, things that we find, one and the other, in the same material of history with the distinction that different causes may be present. In this paper, we have tried to show that human explanations of the development of world civilizations are not always sufficient because, according to human logic, certain events could not have taken place. From this perspective, it is important to know the scriptural perspective on events in world history because the revelation of Scripture usually goes somewhere beyond what we see and what we have recorded as events in history, penetrating somewhere into the heart of the issues, providing a broader vision of our world’s events. KEYWORDS: philosophy of the Bible, development of civilizations, political forces, religious forces, globalization Ioan-Gheorghe Rotaru Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-22 2023-06-22 8 1 62 79 Synchronous and Asynchronous Engagement on Moodle in an English Course Offered through Blended Mode https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/228 Learner engagement is a crucial component of the teaching learning process. More emphasis is placed on learner engagement with the introduction of technology-based learning. Learner engagement with the content, instructor, other learners, learning environment, assessment activities and feedback on Moodle in synchronous and asynchronous learning was investigated in this study for a pre-degree English language course. The study found that there was presence of asynchronous engagement in all the forms of engagement. However, synchronous engagement was only present for learner engagement with the content, instructor, and other learners. The study also found that overall, asynchronous engagement was more prevalent than synchronous engagement. KEYWORDS: asynchronous, blended mode, Moodle, synchronous Komal Karishma Krishna Raghuwaiya Govinda Lingam Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-27 2023-06-27 8 1 80 96 Taming the Tongue: James 3:1–12 https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/229 This article provides an exegetical insight into James 3:1-12, a text that discusses the topic of taming the tongue. The text encompasses several genres, such as homiletics, wisdom, and parenesis. It has one particular translation issue. It contains several illustrations, mostly from nature. Its literary style is influenced by Jewish wisdom literature, Greco-Roman rhetoric and style, and the sayings of Jesus. The theme of speech appears in other parts of this epistle and connects this text with the broader biblical context of wisdom literature and deuterocanonical wisdom books. With clear, strong, and memorable wording, this text warns readers about the dangers of uncontrolled speech and emphasizes the need to tame the tongue. The purpose of this article is to highlight the profound significance of the message found in James 3:1-12, emphasizing its implications for Christians. KEYWORDS: James 3:1-12, tongue, speech, exhortation Goran Medved Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-27 2023-06-27 8 1 97 104 Divine Silence – Between Fascination and Deification https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/230 Seen by most of us as an absence, a nothingness, silence reveals its fascination through its power of meaning. Subordinate to the field of communication, silence is not an epiphenomenon of speech, but complementary to it. Finding its limits between ambiguity and paradox, silence proves to have a greater potential for meaning than speech. Deciphering silence requires the initiation of the human subject. Theological silence, whether human or divine, creates the framework for knowing God. Silent concealment of God provides the framework for human ennoblement with God’s character. Enlightenment, rational knowledge, even wonder, are preliminary stages of ennoblement. The completion of this process is through the direct assistance of the Spirit of God. Following the model of the logos becoming a living word, this study aims to outline a rhema of divine silence by reference to narrative cores from the Bible or by penetrating the mysticism of the Eastern Church. KEYWORDS: silence, logos, ambiguous, paradoxical, deification, mystical Bratu-Maximilian Caraman Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-28 2023-06-28 8 1 105 115 Ethics in the Thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/231 The purpose of this paper is to outline Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s ethical thought and examine how his work has been received by theologians over the years. These are preceded by a short biographical note, which serves as contextual background for the discussion. The justification for this study is provided by the renewed interest in Bonhoeffer’s writings in recent decades. KEYWORDS: Bonhoeffer, Ethics, Life Together, Creation and Fall, Reception of Bonhoeffer Cristian Sandu Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-07-09 2023-07-09 8 1 116 124 Social Ethics in a World of Consumption https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/232 The purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of the postmodern consumerist society from the perspective of Christian ethical teaching. The argument shows that the consumerist culture is built on a worldview that originated in the Enlightenment and has acquired a foothold within Eastern Europe and the church. The paper highlights the challenges consumerism poses for living a truly ethical life within the community and proposes that the church, in an act of self-examination, can become a catalyst for change. It can be a voice and an example of alternative living for society at large. KEYWORDS: Consumerism, social ethics, cultural identity, Christian ethics, Christian service Iosif Riviș-Tipei Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-07-09 2023-07-09 8 1 125 135 Interference and Effects of European Court of Human Rights Judgments in Extradition Proceedings between Romania and the United States of America https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/233 Each state decides on the modalities and conditions under which it grants extradition, even if the general rules are laid down in bilateral Conventions and/or Treaties. In Europe, particularly within the Member States of the European Union, extradition has been replaced by the institution of the European Arrest Warrant as a simplified form of extradition. What is characteristic in this geographical area is respect for and application of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, just as in the United States of America, a country with a long democratic tradition, human rights are protected and guaranteed by the Constitution, in particular the Bill of Rights. The judgments of the European Court of Human Rights are mandatory for these states, which are under an obligation to put an end to the violation found and to make reparation for the consequences of the violation, not only in terms of paying the amount ordered by compensation, but also in terms of taking measures in their legal system, including legislative amendments, to put an end to the violation and make reparation for all the effects of the violation. KEYWORDS: international judicial cooperation, extradition, duration of arrest in extradition proceedings, respect for the rights of the extraditable person, European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, provisional measure, risk of impunity, judicial practice Simona Franguloiu Nicoleta-Elena Hegheș Mihaela Pătrăuș Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-07-09 2023-07-09 8 1 136 150 Who Is My Neighbor? Modelling Christian Social Ethics https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/234 The purpose of this paper is to restate the social-ethical implications of Jesus’ message and actions, as documented in the gospels. Additionally, based upon the example provided, it offers a brief reflection on the implications of Jesus' model for the contemporary church. The paper concludes that authentic Christian social ethics should actively work to alleviate poverty, oppression, injustice, and alienation. KEYWORDS: social ethics, Christian ethics, Jesus’ teaching, social involvement, Christian service Ligia-Mariana Măcelaru Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-07-11 2023-07-11 8 1 151 160 Editorial https://www.scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/227 Have you ever noticed that you are often drawn to engaging in difficult, complicated tasks? You may remember at least one situation where you started doing something that required significant effort and yet persisted without giving up. You could have easily said, ”This is too hard,” but you persevered until you succeeded. What makes us choose difficult tasks over easy ones? Behavioral economists often discuss mental effort in economic terms. There's even a theory known as the “law of least effort.” This theory encompasses two important concepts. First, people engage in mental effort as a means to get something for themselves. Remember the times when you stayed up late at night to study for an exam, even if it was an unpleasant experience, you still did it because you needed a good result. Second, both behavioral economists and cognitive psychologists agree that mental effort comes at a cost. Ioan-Gheorghe Rotaru Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2023-06-22 2023-06-22 8 1 ix x