Levels Of Religious Belief Research Articles

Becoming Europeanized Muslims: Religious Identity Formation among Millennials in the Indonesian Muslim Diaspora in the Netherlands

Abstract This article aims to provide insight into the formation of religious identity among the millennial generation of the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in the Netherlands, identifying its main influencing factors. Our empirical study identified a dynamic and diverse process regarding the formation of the millennial group’s religious identity, expressed dynamically in various aspects of Islamic teachings at the level of religious beliefs, morals or ethics, and practices. The negotiation process between their Islamic and Western identities produced various identity statuses, namely diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and achievement. The process shifts between exploration and commitment. The study concludes that religious identities formed through exploration are more established and more adaptable to environmental changes than those based on commitment with no exploration. Second, the formation of the Indonesian Muslim millennial diaspora’s religious identity is influenced by three key factors, namely social environment, reference groups, and role models.

The buffering effect of religious belief on the associations between perceived female sexual pain and partner sexual and relationship satisfaction

This study focused on the association between female sexual pain (FSP) and male partners’ sexual and relationship satisfaction and the possible buffering effect of religiousness. A sample of 133 religious Jewish men assessed their partner’s FSP as well as their own level of religious belief and sexual and relationship satisfaction. The female partners also assessed male sexual and relationship satisfaction. FSP was significantly associated with self-assessed and partner-assessed sexual satisfaction and with self-assessed relationship satisfaction. Religious belief demonstrated a significant buffering effect on the associations between FSP and partner assessments of sexual and relationship satisfaction.

Religiously Unaffiliated Youth in Europe: Shifting Remnants of Belief and Practice in Contexts of Diffused Religion and Cohort Decline

AbstractThis study investigates the remnants and dynamics of religious beliefs and practices among religiously unaffiliated youth in Europe, comparing them with the older unaffiliated as well as with the religiously affiliated. Using EVS 2017–2021 data to test contrasting hypotheses of diffused religion and cohort replacement, the study draws three main conclusions. First, youth believe more on average and older age groups believe less when it comes to eschatological beliefs among both the unaffiliated and the affiliated. Second, youth practice less and older age groups practice more on average among both the unaffiliated and the affiliated. Third, the gaps in levels of religious beliefs and practices remain between the religiously unaffiliated and the religiously affiliated among younger populations, but this gap is now narrower for religious practices. Results confirm both hypotheses (diffused religion and cohort replacement) depending on the dimensions of religiosity at study.

Resonance or Alienation: An Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors of Religious Belief Choices among China’s Generation Z

The relationship between secularity or modernity and religious belief choices is a hot topic of academic concern. However, there has been scarce attention from the academic community regarding the religious belief choices and driving factors of China’s Generation Z, who have grown up in a secular or modern society. In this paper, we use the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS) and a modified Cost and Rewards Scale to measure this group’s tendency towards “religious centrality”, and investigate the inherent driving factors using logistic regression. The results show that the religiousness of China’s Generation Z is higher than the overall level of religious beliefs in China. Their choice of religious beliefs is the result of a rational consideration and balance of “religious rewards”, but most of them are not driven by the consideration of “afterlife rewards” as the supernatural core factor of religion. Instead, they are driven by the actual benefits brought by the choice of religious beliefs and the factors that affect these benefits, such as religious socialization. This conclusion validates the opinions of Stark and Finke, as well as Hartmut Rosa, and breaks the status quo of single research model and method in previous relevant studies.

Equitable identification of gifted students with the relationship of religiosity and ethical sensitivity level of teachers

As teachers are the gatekeepers in identification procedure, it is crucial to understand how teachers’ openness and beliefs may affect the equitable identification. To be specific, we focused on how teachers’ level of religious beliefs and ethical sensitivity impact notions of fairness in the identification of gifted students, particularly those from traditionally underrepresented groups. Study participants were 46 teachers who attended a Midwestern Catholic University in the U.S. Based on the results measuring teachers’ religiosity, ethical sensitivity, and equitable identification index from vignettes, we found that there were no statistically significant score differences of religiosity and ethics level of teachers when they were divided into two groups, one showing equitable identification versus the other comparatively not. However, the majority of teachers (70%) fairly identified students regardless of their religiosity, ethical sensitivity, school experiences, confidence level serving gifted students, and current academic status when the vignettes had different students’ race and family income status information.

The Impact of Levels of Religious Belief and Practices on Heart Rate Variability

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation between consecutive heart beats over time. Increased HRV is positively correlated with better overall cardiac health. There are many lifestyle and biological factors that affect HRV. Research has examined the effects of chanting, reading holy texts, or praying on HRV, however, there has been little research done on how religion affects HRV. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between levels of religious beliefs and practice and HRV. Inter‐ and intra‐religious beliefs and levels of practice were measured using a scale from 1 to 5. HRVs were generated using an HRV analysis program (LabChart, ADInstruments) from a lead I electrocardiogram (EKG), measuring from one R wave to the next R wave (R‐R). EKGs, measuring 9 time‐domain measurements of HRV, were performed on 67 participants. T‐tests and Bonferroni analyses were performed on the data to determine significance. Data was analyzed from participants identifying as members of 4 different religious traditions: atheist, Catholic, non‐denominational Christian, and Jewish. There is a significant difference (p=0.03, n=10) in SDRR (std dev of R‐R time) of Catholics with different levels of religious practice, but not atheists (p=0.5, n=15), Christians (p=0.6, n=17), or Jews (p=0.7, n=11). Similarly, there is a significant difference (p=0.006, n=15) in SDRR of atheists with different levels of religious beliefs, but not Catholics (p=0.4,n=10), Christians (p=0.7, n=17), or Jews (p=0.2, n=11). The data supports significant differences in HRV between members of the same religious traditions having differing levels of practice, however the cause of this affect remains unknown.

Baylor Faith and Character Study: Methods and Preliminary Findings

For Christian colleges and universities, students’ spiritual formation and character development are important outcomes. However, unlike academic outcomes of retention and graduation, systematic efforts to measure outcomes of faith and character are far from ubiquitous. The purpose of this article is to report the efforts of Baylor University to address the gap between mission and measurement. Guided by prevailing theories, an interdisciplinary research team launched the Baylor Faith and Character Study in August 2018. Data collection for the broader project involved surveys and interviews at three points in time: a student’s first semester at Baylor, a student’s final semester at Baylor, and 10 years after degree completion. Preliminary, cross-sectional findings from survey data reveal that levels of religious belief and practice were nearly equivalent for first-year students, seniors, and alumni, while seniors exhibited stronger character in several areas than first-year students. A discussion of conclusions and implications closes the article.

The effects of spiritual experience and church commitment among South Korean young adult immigrants in the United States: a mixed-methods study

Background Korean American immigrants have become one of the largest Asian American ethnic group in the United States, and Christianity have been preserving their ethnic identities. However, little is known if church commitment is associated with developing emotional well-being and work capacity. The study aims to understand the attachment to church and its effect on level of emotional well-being and work (or school) performance among South Korean young adult immigrants who have a strong faith in Christianity. Methods A sequential, mixed-methods study examined two dimensions of church attachment, level of religious belief and involvement in church activities. A total of 23 participants was initially recruited through purposive and snowball sampling, and then 22 of them were divided into two high-belief groups—high-active church members and low-active church members – for further analysis. A screening questionnaire, a quantitative component, was used to exclude a low-level believer. Consecutively, an in-depth interview, a qualitative component, was conducted to further investigate the emotional well-being and work (or school) performance. Results Although a small sample was collected, it generated initial insights into the effects of time commitment for church among immigrants. Regardless of leadership roles and level of activity at church, strong beliefs appeared to improve emotional well-being and support motivation to improve the performance of major activity of daily living. Conclusions The major significance was to support further research on religious belief and practice and its potential association with emotional well-being and social adjustment for Koreans, as well as other immigrants. The study applied a culturally specific lens to focus on a particular minority immigrant population.

RELIGION IN THOUGHT MURTADHA MUTHAHHARI

This writing is based on the background that religious formalism is increasingly becoming a fundamental problem. This is marked by the patterns and behavior of people who claim to be religious but there is no concrete implementation in their daily lives. This research was conducted to determine the concept of religion as a fitrah for humans as well as how religious beliefs are to the level of the relationship between religion and science according to Murtadha Motahhari. This research is a qualitative study that uses a sociological analysis approach, while the data in this study come from content analysis collected from various sources. , the level of religious belief, until people know God, the criticisms of Murtadha muthahhari which are an integral part of the life of the above figures to practice true religious values. Religion as human nature gives birth to the belief that religion is the only way to fulfill all needs, so that religion is not only a label or social formality but is able to become a guide in life and life. All religions teach goodness and peace, and no religion teaches violence. But sometimes there is violence in the name of religion because of a lack of understanding or a distortion of the source of religion itself. So that religion is sometimes used, and it seems that religion and religious practice are the opposite. So what is blamed on the concept of religion itself is actually the one who is wrong for religious actors.

The predictive role of social intelligence in successful aging in the elderly

Introduction: Successful aging is a concept that seemingly provides a good approach to increase an individual's success in old age. The results of studies have shown that various factors can predict a successful aging. Social intelligence is one of the parameters that can predict a person's success in life. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample consisted of 288 elderly people in the city of Karaj who were selected at first by cluster sampling method and then by convenience sampling method. In order to evaluate successful aging (based on Rowe and Kahn's theory), the following questionnaires were used in addition to emphasizing the absence of chronic disease: World Health Organization's mental well-being questionnaire, Katz physical functioning questionnaire, and Duke social support and interaction questionnaire. To investigate the social intelligence, the Tromso social intelligence questionnaire was used. The data were analyzed by a descriptive test and also logistic regression in SPSS software version 22. Results: The mean age of the elderly was 65.24 ± 5.10. The successful aging rate was 7.3%. In logistic regression analysis, social intelligence significantly predicted successful aging. Moreover, variables of body mass index, previous job, level of religious beliefs, marital status, education level, the person they were living with and the use of assistive devices had a significant correlation with successful aging. Conclusion: Due to the high predictive power of social intelligence in successful aging and since this variable can be taught and learned, by emphasizing this variable and other predictor variables, this period can be enriched for the elderly along with a better quality of life.

Influence of religious beliefs and spirituality on decision to insure

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the level of religious beliefs and individual spirituality of small business owners on their decision to insure.Design/methodology/approachSmall business owners from India were asked about their perceptions regarding the relationship between their level of religious beliefs and spirituality and their decision to insure.FindingsThe results of this study show that the level of religious beliefs and individual spirituality of small business owners positively influence their decisions to purchase commercial insurance and life insurance to manage financial risk in India.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a co-relational study that investigated the association between the level of religious beliefs, spirituality, and decision to insure. There is not necessarily a causal relationship between the two. The findings of this study may only be generalized to individuals similar to those that were included in this research.Originality/valueThis study adds to literature on the relationship between the level of religious beliefs, spirituality, and decision to insure. The findings may be useful for financial planners, small business owners and financial management consultants.

Influence of religious beliefs on estate planning decisions: evidence from Canadian survey data

This study examines the influence of individuals' religious beliefs on estate planning decisions (EPDs). Employed and self-employed individuals from Canada were surveyed regarding their perceptions of their level of religious beliefs (LRB) and EPDs. The survey indicates that individuals' LRB positively influences their EPDs in Canada. Findings show that individual assets and education positively, and marital status and family size negatively influence EPDs of Canadians. This study contributes to the literature on the relationship between the LRB and EPDs. The findings may be useful for personal financial planners and personal financial management consultants.

Impact of cultural factors on the elderly utilization from healthcare services provided by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences' Hospitals - 2014

Aim: As we know, due to the undesirable structural and functional changes arise from aging, old people need more healthcare services than other groups in society. Many factors affect utilization of health services in this age group. Cultural factors can be named as the most important since they play a basic role in determining people's lifestyle and ultimately in the health protection behaviors. Therefore, this paper is aimed at investigation of cultural factors, affecting old people benefit of health services in Isfahan province in 2014. Methods: This study was descriptive analytic, conducted in later 2014. The research population consisted of people aged over 60 years who had been admitted in 12 hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Two hundred seventy-five people were selected and entered into the research using random sampling method. Data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire in three scopes, and finally the data analyzed at two levels of descriptive level (including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation (SD) and inferential level (including statistical tests comparing independent group means, correlation coefficient test, and multivariable regression) in SPSS 22 software. Result: The results showed that the level of utilization for people who had routine exercises and jugging was 0.3 units of SD upper than others. Meanwhile, by increasing exercise frequency, level of religious beliefs and opinions and the having a proper and healthy diet, the utilization of healthcare services decreases by −0.198, −0.150 and −0.196, respectively. In fact, 5.5% of changes in health services utilization variable are explained by the research independent variables. Conclusion: The study showed that doctors' recommendations on physical activities, reasonable increase in exercise frequency, access to rich and healthy food, and religious beliefs can affect old people's utilization of health services; but they cannot explain all variances of it. Therefore, according to complexity of health related issues, other involved variables should be identified and investigated.

Why post on social networking sites (SNS)? Examining motives for visiting and sharing pilgrimage experiences on SNS

Traditional pilgrimages were driven by religious beliefs; modern tourists instead visit pilgrimage destinations in response to various motives, including the search for individual, spiritual peace. Despite the increasing popularity of pilgrimage and social network sites (SNS) among tourists, little research has considered what motivates tourists to visit pilgrimage destinations and then post their pilgrimage experiences on SNS. This study identifies travelers’ motivations to visit pilgrimage destinations as well as antecedents of their intentions to share their pilgrimage experiences on SNS. An online survey, administered to 304 adults in the United States, reveals that spiritual, travel, friendship, self-presentation, and status motives relate positively to intentions to visit pilgrimage destinations and share pilgrimage experiences on SNS. The significance of the motives also differs with the level of religious belief. This study provides practical implications that can help the tourism industry develop enhanced pilgrimage destination marketing strategies.

INVESTIGATE THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CONSTRUCTION OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE PROVINCE OF CHAHARMAHAL & BAKHTIARI

The most important form of social life in Iranian history was rural life which has always encompassed a significant portion of the human population and in social, economic and cultural life of Iranian society played an important role throughout history. Hence, the social environments which we live in them not only include a series of random events or actions but include the basic orders or patterns in how people behave and in their relationships that have with each other, but the concept of social structure is not something else that, social structure, not individuals, but are aspects of selecting the interact behavior such as the roles and social organization that refers to structural clusters of roles and this is influenced by the interactions of people and is affecting on these interactions. The aim of this research is to investigate the factors affecting the construction of rural communities in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari. The concept of social structure, has been investigated with indicators of social relationships, romantic relationships, the level of religious beliefs, social cohesion and lifestyle, and the relationship between population density variable has been tested with each of these dimensions. In examining the validity of the scale structure was used the first order confirmatory factor analysis by using Amos Graphics software and being positivity of factor loadings indicates this point of methodology that made indicators by researcher have validated and in studying the hypothesis of the persons, social cohesion, social relationships and lifestyle of individuals.

Evolution Controversy: A Phenomenon Prompted by the Incompatibility between Science and Religious Beliefs

The incompatibility between science and the belief in supernatural causation helps us understand why people do not accept evolution. Belief disrupts, distorts, delays, or stops (3Ds + S) the acceptance of scientific evidence. Here we examine the evolution controversy under three predictions of the incompatibility hypothesis. First, chronological-conflict-and-accommodation, which explains the historical re-emergence of antagonism between evolution and religion when advances in science continue to threaten the belief in supernatural causation; in such situations, creationists' rejection of and subsequent partial acceptance of the new scientific discoveries are expected. Second, change in evolution's acceptance as function of educational attainment, which explains the positive association between acceptance of evolution and level of education. And third, change in evolution's acceptance as function of religiosity, which explains the negative association between acceptance of evolution and level of religious beliefs. We rely on an ample assessment of the attitudes toward evolution by highly-educated audiences (i.e. research faculty, educators of prospective teachers, and college students in the United States) to characterize the associations among the understanding of science and evolution, personal religious convictions, and conservative ideology. We emphasize that harmonious coexistence between science and religion is illusory. If co-persisting in society, their relationship will fluctuate from moderate to intense antagonism.

Modernization and Religious Concord

AbstractTocqueville said that Americans combined a general belief in God with a lack of interest in denominational differences. Although this outlook may be particularly prevalent in the United States, it is also visible in other Western societies, although combined with lower levels of religious belief. This paper investigates the possibility of a relationship between a belief that there is truth in many religions and modernization, using data from the Gallup International Millenium Survey. The belief that there is truth in many religions is more prevalent in more affluent nations. Moreover, this belief does not seem to be merely an intermediate stage in a move away from religion. The relationship is about equally strong among people of all religious backgrounds. The tendency for modernization to lead to “religious concord” may help to explain the relationship between modernization and democracy noticed by Lipset.

Religious and Spiritual Change in College

A long line of research has attempted to examine an assumed conflict between religious belief and scientific knowledge by assessing the religious beliefs of individuals with a high level of scientific training and education, such as faculty at universities. This research has established that there are differences in levels of religious belief across different disciplines, but because of data limitations it has not been able to adequately assess the causal nature of these differences. The research presented here overcomes these limitations using longitudinal data examining different dimensions of religious and spiritual belief among undergraduates. Using four latent variable concepts assessing both positive and negative dimensions of traditional and nontraditional forms of belief, the analysis shows no evidence that students in the natural sciences show a greater decrease in religious belief compared with students in other fields.

Religiosity and Coping in Mothers of Children Diagnosed With Cancer: An Exploratory Analysis

Although several factors related to coping in parents of children diagnosed with cancer have been explored, little is known about their religious beliefs and behavior and its relationship to coping. The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data on the religious beliefs and behaviors of mothers of children with cancer and the relation to their psychological adjustment. Twenty-seven mothers of children diagnosed with cancer completed several measures of religious beliefs and behaviors as well as the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The sample was highly religious and specifically Christian. Thirty percent of the mothers reported elevated levels of depressive symptoms, and these mothers reported lower levels of religious belief and behavior than the mothers who denied depressive symptoms. These data suggest a relationship between religiosity and positive coping behavior that should continue to be explored.

Effects of prayer and religious expression within computer support groups on women with breast cancer

Research indicates that two common ways breast cancer patients or women with breast cancer cope with their diagnosis and subsequent treatments are participating in computer support groups and turning to religion. This study is the first we are aware of to examine how prayer and religious expression within computer support groups can contribute to improved psychosocial outcomes for this population. Surveys were administered before group access and then 4 months later. Message transcripts were analyzed using a word counting program that noted the percentage of words related to religious expression. Finally, messages were qualitatively reviewed to better understand results generated from the word counting program. As hypothesized, writing a higher percentage of religion words was associated with lower levels of negative emotions and higher levels of health self-efficacy and functional well-being, after controlling for patients' levels of religious beliefs. Given the proposed mechanisms for how these benefits occurred and a review of the support group transcripts, it appeared that several different religious coping methods were used such as putting trust in God about the course of their illness, believing in an afterlife and therefore being less afraid of death, finding blessings in their lives and appraising their cancer experience in a more constructive religious light.