Abstract
The Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS), the Francis Scale of Attitude towards Christianity (FAC) and the Post-Critical Belief Scale (PCB) are three prominent measures of religiosity. Comparing the three measures on theoretical grounds, one may assume that high religiosity (CRS) is linked to both a strong attitude towards Christianity (FAC) and to orthodoxy (PCB), while no religiosity (CRS) may be associated with both a low expressed attitude towards Christianity (FAC) and external critique (PCB). This paper examines that assumption on the basis of a convenience sample of N = 4.396 participants that filled in an online questionnaire (age: M = 47; SD = 15.90; 47% females; denomination: 1226 Roman-Catholics, 2369 Protestants, and 801 participants that have left the Roman Catholic or Protestant church). Factor analysis supports the one-dimensional structure of CRS and FAC. Exploratory factor analysis reconstructs the two-dimensional structure of PCB. There is a very high positive correlation between CRS and FAC (r = 0.92), indicating that CRS and FAC measure the same issue within a Christian context. Moreover, CRS and external critique of PCB correlate heavily negatively (r = −0.83). Finally, there is a very moderate negative correlation between CRS and relativism (r = −0.26). Multiple regression analysis reveals that both factors predict much of CRS (R2 = 0.75) or FAC (R2 = 0.83), while age and gender are of minor impact. Region, education, and income do not predict the outcome of CRS or FAC at all. This result will be discussed.
Highlights
Measuring religiosity is a well-developed field in the sociology and the psychology of religion.There are many validated instruments, covering a broad spectrum, that conceptualize religiosity as belief, attitude, orientation, commitment, and experience, among others (Hill and Hood 1999)
Multiple regression analysis reveals that both factors predict much of Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS) (R2 = 0.75) or Francis Scale of Attitude towards Christianity (FAC) (R2 = 0.83), while age and gender are of minor impact
Comparing FAC, Post-Critical Belief Scale (PCB) and CRS, all these instruments offer theoretically sound and validated access to the individual’s religiosity. They do so, against the background of different theoretical approaches: FAC is based in an attitudinal approach, PCB realizes a theory of cognitive styles and CRS follows an attributional concept
Summary
Measuring religiosity is a well-developed field in the sociology and the psychology of religion. To assess the centrality of religiosity, the CRS is based on the classical five dimensions of religion: ideology, intellect, experience, public practice, and private practice (Huber and Huber 2012, 711f.) These dimensions have been operationalized as generally as possible to create an instrument that is viable across various religious traditions. Comparing FAC, PCB and CRS, all these instruments offer theoretically sound and validated access to the individual’s religiosity They do so, against the background of different theoretical approaches: FAC is based in an attitudinal approach, PCB realizes a theory of cognitive styles and CRS follows an attributional concept. Centrality is assessed according to a general model of religion and a largely general item wording This evaluation raises the question of whether FAC, PCB, and CRS measure the same phenomenon. How do these two dimensions relate to FAC and CRS?
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