Perceptions of the Functions of Religion and Attitude toward Religious Freedom: Introducing the New Indices of the Functions of Religion (NIFoR)

Olga Breskaya,Giuseppe Giordan,Leslie J Francis

doi:10.3390/rel11100507

Olga Breskaya, Giuseppe Giordan + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11100507

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Journal: Religions	Publication Date: Oct 7, 2020
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Padua, University of Warwick

Abstract

This article proposes, tests, and introduces the New Indices of the Functions of Religion (NIFoR) and explores their relevance for explaining individual differences in attitude toward religious freedom. The theory being tested is that openness to the principles of religious freedom is related to perceptions of the functions of religion in society. A review of extant literature on the functions of religion identified eleven conceptually distinct functions. These functions were operationalised by thirty items. Drawing on data provided by 1035 students in Northern Italy, factor analysis reduced these thirty items to seven latent functions of religion. Regression analysis employing these seven latent functions demonstrated that a more positive attitude toward religious freedom was associated with conceptualising religion as primarily concerned with offering meaning and moral guidance.

Highlights

Brian Wilson’s classic study published in the 1980s, “The functions of religion: A reappraisal”drew attention to the way in which the functions of religion were seen to be changing within the social landscape (Wilson 1988)
We hypothesise that those functions of religion which concern the values of tolerance, interfaith dialogue, and support to disadvantaged and marginalised, i.e., promotion of particular sociopolitical values which are coherent with human rights grounding principles, have a greater positive effect on social perception of religious freedom (H1)
Together with the classical study of functions of religion in producing individual and collective meanings or being a source of solidarity and identity, this approach emphasises the roles that religion performs in constructing the normative frameworks and cultural values of religious freedom in the contexts of growing intolerance (Nussbaum 2012), increasing religious restrictions (Fox 2015) or modern challenges of equal citizenship (Modood and Kastoryano 2007)

Summary

Introduction

Brian Wilson’s classic study published in the 1980s, “The functions of religion: A reappraisal”drew attention to the way in which the functions of religion were seen to be changing within the social landscape (Wilson 1988). Against this background, the two central questions addressed by the present paper concern whether the changing social and religious forms produce new configurations of religious functions, and how empirical research in this field can further understanding by conceptualising and testing measurement instruments. The two central questions addressed by the present paper concern whether the changing social and religious forms produce new configurations of religious functions, and how empirical research in this field can further understanding by conceptualising and testing measurement instruments To address these two central questions, the aim of the present study is to propose, test, and introduce the New Indices of the Functions of Religion (NIFoR). This aim is addressed through the following steps

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Conclusion