Different Forms Of Religiosity Research Articles

A Review of Research on the Role of Different Types of Religiosity in Terror Management

This review paper aims to reveal the role of different types of religiosity based on research addressing religiosity in terms of in-group and out-group distinction within the scope of Terror Management Theory (TMT). Studies point out two important results of the phenomenon: the first is the fact that general religiosity focusing on only one aspect of religiosity (religious belongingness, afterlife belief, etc.) to measure religiosity increases worldview defense, supporting the hypothesis of mortality salience. The second is the fact that different religious orientations (intrinsic, fundamentalist, etc.) cause various reactions, depending on their unique characteristics when mortality is salient. In the current study, possible reasons for the differences between research findings are discussed. In order to clarify the roles that different types of religiosity play in terror management, a classification based on the strong-flexible and exclusive-inclusive poles of the “belief” and “belonging” dimensions suggested by Sarouglu has been proposed. It has been argued that religiosity types would function in terror management in different ways, depending on the classification in which they are placed. For example, when the religious worldview is threatened, the strong-exclusive pattern (e.g., religious fundamentalism) can lead to more negative reactions, while the strong-inclusive pattern (e.g., intrinsic religiosity) can be associated with positive processes in inter-group relationships. Future research on this classification and types of religiosity can provide unique contributions to developing TMT. On the other hand, knowing the roles of different forms of religiosity in managing existential concerns may be of therapeutic benefit in coping with death, bereavement, grief and related processes.

Revisiting the Religious Openness Hypothesis in a Migration Context: The Case of Muslims with a Turkish Migration Background in Germany

Abstract The religious openness hypothesis, which states that religious traditions have the potential to integrate faith with intellect, is examined in this study within a migration context for the first time. Based on two lines of research, our central question is whether the sociological context or the Islamic tradition per se explains the (in)compatibility of faith and intellect orientation and their relation to psychological openness. Religious openness, psychological openness (ambiguity tolerance and acculturation strategies) and religiosity were measured among Muslims with a Turkish migration background in Germany. Our findings show a non-significant relationship between faith and intellect orientation and we therefore propose that the secular context is the crucial explaining factor. Religious reflection also moderates the link between different forms of religiosity and ambiguity tolerance. Finally, heterogeneous religious rationalities were uncovered that challenge the negative view of Muslims as fanatic, closed-minded people which prevails among the German majority society.

The relation between religiosity, family cohesion and ethical leadership: a study of family firms in Turkey

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the links among different forms of religiosity, family cohesion and ethical leadership in family firms operating in Turkey.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted with 210 respondents working in 51 family firms operating in Istanbul. Data regarding ethical leadership perceptions were collected separately from employees (non-family member) and managers (family member), and responses were matched in firm level to investigate the relations between variables calculated separately as perceptions of managers and employees. Confirmatory factor analysis and reliability statistics were used for ascertaining the dimensionality and factor structures of the constructs. Correlation analysis, structural equation modeling and bootstrapping method were used for investigating the relationships among variables.FindingsResults of the study demonstrated that family cohesion, intrinsic religiosity and spiritual well-being-oriented religiosity were positively, while secular religiosity was negatively related with ethical leadership levels rated by family member managers. Although none of these variables showed significant correlations with ethical leadership perceptions of non-family member employees, ethical leadership perceptions of the family managers and ethical leadership perceptions of employees were positively correlated, and intrinsic religiosity and spiritual well-being-oriented religiosity had significant indirect effects on ethical leadership perceptions of employees.Originality/valueGiven the lack of studies addressing the links between different forms of religiosity with ethical leadership especially in the Turkish context and the gap regarding research designs analyzing these relationships from the perspectives of managers and employees, the study provides important contributions.

Choosing Choice: How Gender and Religiosity Shape Abortion Attitudes among Latinos

AbstractThe relationship between religiosity and political attitudes is well established in the United States, particularly around gendered issues like abortion. However, this relationship can be complicated by the highly gendered and racialized nature of social identities. In this paper, we explore how different forms of religiosity (belonging to a denomination, specific religious beliefs, and religious behavior in church and in private) interact with gender to shape Latino abortion preferences. Using two sets of national survey data, we find that Evangelicalism and church attendance are more strongly associated with anti-abortion attitudes among Latino men, while religious beliefs are gender neutral. Our results illustrate the importance of intersectional approaches to studies of social identities and political preferences, as well as the importance of including gender in research on the role of the Evangelical church on immigrant political behavior.

Does religiosity matter?: explaining right-wing extremist attitudes and the vote for the Alternative for Germany (AfD)

Especially in the East of Germany the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany has been very succesful in recent elections. The academic discourse concentrates on a lot of prominent theories to explain the vote for AfD as well as right-wing extremist attitudes. However, in this context religiosity is still a black box as the research reveals contradictory results due to the insufficient measurement of religiosity. Against this background the paper reflects on the theory of authoritarian personality (Adorno et. al 1950) and takes different forms of religiosity into account. Based on the analysis of a representative population survey (ALLBUS 2018), the paper discusse the role of different forms of religiosity such as commitment to church, attachment to god and belief in supernatural powers. The paper reveals that these factors play a role in a way that expecially belief in supernatural powers correlates with right-wing extremism and attachment to church is especially an immunizing factor in the East of Germany, where the doctrine of the churches as well as the democratic history is particularly helpful to prevent right-wing extremist views as well as the vote for the AfD.

Sårbarhetens mysterium

Globalization strengthens mutual interdependency between persons, nations and peoples. Such dependency implies exposed and experienced vulnerability. The significance of religion in people's lives seems to increase with their experience of insecurity. Whereas secularization continues where people enjoy a basic level of welfare and security, the perceived importance and impact of religion is generally increasing around the globe, due to globalized experiences of precariousness and vulnerability affecting the majority. This situation raises the question of how different forms of religiosity relate to people’s sense of vulnerability. In this article I explore in what ways a Lutheran and ecumenical theological approach inspired by liberation and feminist theologies may provide resources that make it possible to see human vulnerability as a value and strength that should be protected, not removed. Might vulnerability even be perceived as sacred? Can God be seen as a deus vulnerabilis? I also ask in what ways liturgical practice may visualize and operationalize such a theology of vulnerability.

Beyond “Heartless Conservative” and “Bleeding Heart Liberal” Caricatures: How Religiosity Shapes the Relationship Between Political Orientation and Empathy

AbstractIs political orientation associated with self‐reported empathy? Popular caricatures frame political orientation in terms of the “heartless conservative” and the “bleeding heart liberal.” Yet, previous research has produced findings that present mixed evidence to support these caricatures. Using data from the 2004 General Social Survey, analyses show that the caricatures of the caring liberal and the cold‐hearted conservative are supported by results for empathy—in which conservatives have lower levels of empathy than liberals—but this pattern holds only when individuals also have low levels of religiosity. In the context of high religiosity, self‐identified conservatives do not have lower empathy than self‐identified liberals, net of a host of sociodemographic characteristics. Our observations demonstrate that patterns in empathy across political orientation are evident only when levels of different forms of religiosity are considered.

Religious Quest Orientation and Anti-Gay Sentiment: Nuancing the Relationship Between Religiosity and Negative Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Among Young Muslims and Christians in Flanders

Public opinion research has repeatedly shown that religious people generally report more prejudice against homosexuality. However, previous research exploring the general mechanisms that underpin this relationship mostly relied on Christian samples in North America. Studies outside North America are few in number and limited in the forms of religiosity they address. Of all indicators that have been studied so far, a religious quest orientation was found to be the only one negatively related to anti-gay sentiments. This leaves open the question whether the mechanisms for different forms of religiosity can also be found outside North America. Against that background this research note assesses how religious quest orientation, self-rated religiosity, religious behavior, and authoritarianism are related to prejudice against homosexuality among Christian and Muslim youth aged 14–23 in Flanders (N = 2,834). This study is the first that investigates the relationship between religious quest orientation and anti-gay sentiments among Muslims. For both Christians and Muslims, we found that even taking into account a wide range of social background and religious characteristics, having a religious quest orientation is related to less prejudice toward homosexuality.

Religious forms in secularized society: Three Catholic groups in comparison

Despite the evidence of a progressive disenchantment, the religious sphere maintains a strong grip on current societies though undertaking some transformations. Pluralism, individualism and privatization are three features we cannot ignore if we choose to study religion in the contemporary world and, more broadly, if we choose to study modernity. The aim of this article is to illustrate some features of the different forms of religiosity in the secular age (Taylor, 2007). We have focused on modern Catholicism, with particular reference to religious experience in the Catholic lay group. The stories of Catholic militants show that the motivation behind their choice is the crucial factor to analyze their religious experience and worldview. In this sense, we will try to reflect on some indicators that can help us to understand the resources and limits of the contemporary Catholic pluralism and the aspects of the ‘modern desire for God’ (Abbruzzese, 2010).

Health Outcomes and Volunteering: The Moderating Role of Religiosity

In this paper, we examine whether and what extent public and private forms of religiosity act as moderators of the volunteering and well-being relationship in mid- to later-life. We use data from the second wave of the National Survey of Midlife Devel- opment in the United States (n = 1,805). We analyzed the relationships between volun- teering and indicators of well-being (self-rated physical and mental health), and tested the moderating effects of public and private religiosity on the volunteering and well-being relationship. Our findings suggest that salubrious effects of volunteering on the self-per- ceived physical and mental health of middle- aged and older- aged adults varied by their participation in different forms of religiosity. In particular, volunteers who engaged in more public forms of religiosity reported significantly better physical and mental health than non-volunteers who engaged in these forms of religiosity. In other words, individuals who were actively engaged public forms of religious practices and who volunteered, maximized the associated health benefits.

The complex and elusive nature of religious prosociality: Reply to Myers (2012) and Saroglou (2012).

This reply explores issues raised in comments by Myers (2012) and Saroglou (2012) on Galen (2012) regarding whether religiosity has any influence on prosociality. Areas of contention include (a) the distinction between religious belief and other influences, mainly the socialization effects of group behavior; (b) whether behavior largely restricted to the ingroup is genuine prosociality; (c) methodological issues such as the validity of self-report and peer-reported data and effects of social desirability; (d) the often paradoxical relationships with different forms of religiosity; and (e) potential curvilinear effects. Recent work regarding these issues is highlighted, and future directions that may productively resolve these debates are suggested.

Control or Conviction: Religion and Adolescent Initiation of Marijuana Use

Much research on adolescent deviance has supported a theory of social control, asserting that the lack of ties to institutions (such as school and parents) increases an adolescent's likelihood of using illicit substances. Researchers in this tradition often posit religion as one among many sources of norm enforcement. Yet religion may impact adolescents' behavior more directly through its ability to create beliefs and identities that are incompatible with illegal substance use. This paper uses a nationally representative, longitudinal data set of adolescents, the National Study of Youth and Religion, to examine the influence of traditional measures of social control, religious social control, and a new measure of religious salience on the probability of adolescents' first marijuana use. Results demonstrate that religious salience is more predictive of this initiation than are measures of involvement with religious organizations and several common social control indicators. We also find substantial interactions between different forms of religiosity. In the conclusion, we consider broader implications for understanding religion's influence on deviance.

Seeking Guidance from the Spirits: Neo-Shamanic Divination Rituals in Modern Dutch Society

Despite the fact that the Netherlands is one of the most secularized countries of Western Europe, different forms of religiosity have emerged, such as charismatic movements and alternative spirituality. Some people are seeking to find security and religious fulfilment in the complicated context of modern Dutch society through unusual, irrational and creative new spiritual practices. Neo-shaman divination rituals offer enchanted repertoires to cope with decision-making and problems of the soul. This paper explores the ways in which especially highly educated women engage in creative trance journeys to meet neo-shamanic guides. The neo-shamanic worldview and symbolic healing practices offer them new religious expressions to get a grip on the existential insecurities of an unsure future.

The Sense of Divine Control and the Self-Concept

Using data from adults aged 65 and older in the District of Columbia and two adjoining counties in Maryland, this study examines the relationship between the sense of divine control and two self-concepts: self-esteem and mastery. Perceived divine control involves the extent to which an individual perceives that God controls the direction and outcomes of life. Among Whites only, divine control is associated negatively with mastery. Adjustments for socioeconomic status, other forms of religiosity, and stressors contribute to that race-contingent association. In addition, among Blacks, divine control is associated positively with self-esteem—especially among Black women. That effect remains net of socioeconomic and other controls. Conversely, among white men, divine control is associated negatively with self-esteem, although adjustment for socioeconomic status explains most of that association. The authors discuss these findings in the context of the ongoing debate about the psychological effects of different forms of religiosity.

Religiosidade e problemas com o álcool: um estudo de caso

Este estudo buscou analisar a relação entre os fatores problemas com o álcool e religiosidade. Para tanto, foi utilizado um estudo de caso único, composto por narrativas biográficas e sonhos do sujeito, um homem de mais de 50 anos. A partir desse material, buscou-se verificar como os fatores se manifestavam consciente e inconscientemente, seguindo a teoria e a metodologia de interpretação de C. G. Jung. Conscientemente, a religiosidade manifestou-se através da crença no espiritismo e no que Jung chama de religio; inconscientemente, através de uma religiosidade que chamamos de dionisíaca. O estudo demonstra que as diferentes formas de religiosidade manifestas pelo sujeito apresentaram relações complexas com os problemas com o álcool - desde incitação ao beber e acirramento dos problemas relacionados até possibilidades de resolução dos problemas. As relações do sujeito com os valores coletivos que incentivam o consumo de álcool também foram objeto de estudo. Conclui-se que a religiosidade, de maneira geral, contribuiu para uma relativização na percepção desses valores, fortalecendo uma compreensão mais individual do problema com o álcool. O estudo propõe, ainda, maior atenção ao fator religiosidade na pesquisa sobre álcool.