Religion and Attitudes towards Socioeconomic Human Rights An Empirical Study of Young Adults in Norway

Abstract

This chapter discusses a theory for the theoretical basis of the relationship between religion on the one hand and political issues, such as human rights, on the other. It explains some of the key terms used, which results in the presentation of the conceptual model. It also focuses on the methods of the research conducted. The chapter presents the empirical results of the research among a population of young adults in Norway. The chapter uses the typology for measuring religion on an individual level, and refers to them as types of religiosity. It discusses and analyses the relationship between these types of religiosity and attitudes to human rights among young people. The religious types were highlighted by Woodhead and Heelas in their book Religion in Modern Times : religions of difference, religions of humanity and spiritualities of life. Keywords: Heelas; human rights; humanity; Norway; religion; Woodhead