Inconsistency of Belief among Roman Catholic Girls: Concerning Religion, Astrology, Reincarnation

Abstract

The religious attitudes of 227 junior and senior students at a Catholic girls high school are examined. Students who expressed a belief in astrology did not report religious attitudes which differed significantly from the other students. Those who expressed belief in reincarnation manifested only slight differences in attitudes. Students expressing a belief in astrology were. more likely to express a belief in reincarnation. These results were held to be inconsistent with cognitive theories which stress the importance of attitude consistency. The author presents a functional perspective. Although these attitudes are structurally incompatible with each other, they serve similar functions for some adolescent girls: the provision of security in the face of confusion and uncertainty.