Religious Orientation 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.

Unveiling the Inner World: Exploring Emotional Intelligence, Faith, and Time Perspective among Italian Nuns

The aim of this study was to verify whether emotional intelligence and intrinsic religious orientation have a positive influence on a balanced time perspective (BTP) in the lives of Italian consecrated women. A positive, balanced time perspective, together with the ability to recognize one’s own emotions and those of others, is integral to people’s experience of religiosity in their lives. In this way, a balanced time perspective can open the experience of religiosity, contributing to a better world, along with all those who are engaged in a religious sentiment that is no longer limited to single segments of self-interest. In this study, we provided evidence that religious beliefs (not just participation in corporate religious life) can provide an alternative source of understanding emotions and perceiving time, for the religious people who live their consecrated life together. We tested whether this phenomenon was specific to the potential associations between various aspects of religious belief, emotional intelligence, and time perspective. This research was conducted on a sample of 283 Italian nuns, and it was verified that both emotional intelligence and intrinsic religiosity contribute significantly to a BTP. Furthermore, the fact that emotional intelligence is mediated by intrinsic religious orientation increases the benefits of emotional intelligence on the BTP of Italian nuns. Altogether, our results suggest that religiosity is linked to a balanced temporal profile and to a positive way of understanding emotions. More specifically, the pattern of relationships between religion, emotions, and time can influence and deepen both the individual and collective understanding of humanity among these religious women and create space for mutual engagement despite obvious differences. These results are in line with the requisites of Public Theology, as they allow us to specify selectively the developments on a more secure and empirical basis of how religiosity can affect the life of people, by exposing the submerged theological assumptions that characterize the internal beliefs of religiosity. Moreover, the research data indicate that the deep aspects of religiosity influence greatly the day-to-day living of religious women. This practical influence of religiosity confirms the urgency of opening up theological reflection in the public sphere of life. In fact, as long as the religiosity of the nuns is not reduced to private practice, theological reflection will also be opened to its public significance in the different fields of their apostolic mission.

KEBAHAGIAAN SISWA BOARDING SCHOOL: MENELAAH PERAN PENTING ORIENTASI RELIGIUS DAN KUALITAS PERTEMANAN

This study aims to examine the extent to which religious orientation and friendship quality can influence student happiness at SMP Muhammadiyah Boarding School ‘X’ in Banyumas Regency, Central Java. This study used a quantitative approach to analyse the relationship between variables. Data were collected using the Orientation to Happiness (OTH) scale, Religious Orientation Scale (ROS), and Friendship Qualities Scale (FQS). By applying the Partial Least Square (PLS)-SEM method, the results showed that religious orientation and friendship qualities play a significant role in achieving students' happiness in boarding schools. The findings of this study provide a stronger basis for the development of interventions or programmes aimed at increasing students' happiness in boarding schools. For future researchers, it is recommended to conduct a broader and more comprehensive study involving mediator and moderator variables.

Tackling ‘Big’ questions at the bioscience-Islam interface: reporting on the efficacy of an educational programme designed for Muslim high school students

ABSTRACT ‘Big Questions' about the human being regarding its origin, nature, malleability, culpability and uniqueness lie at the core of the religion-science dialogue. Modern science discoveries have spurred Muslim intellectuals and students to grapple with these fundamental questions anew. In this study, we measured the efficacy of a novel curriculum at the intersection of bioscience and Islam tailored for American Muslim high school students. The educational intervention comprised seven seminars, each developed and delivered by a bioscientist-theologian dyad. Outcome measures, based on the Kilpatrick’s Evaluation model were: (a) knowledge; (b) participant interest, intention, and preparedness to learn, engage with, and pursue opportunities at this intersection; and (c) opinion/belief about science-religion compatibility. Our seminars positively impacted participant knowledge and preparedness (knowledge: pre = 14.7, post = 18.6, p = <0.01, preparedness: pre = 10.8, post = 12.8, p < 0.01). There was no change in aggregate participant interest, intention and opinion/belief pre- and post-intervention (interest: pre = 51.2, post = 50.6, p = 0.35, intention: pre = 18.7, post = 18.5, p = 0.74, opinion: pre = 42.5, post = 41.1, p = 0.12). Baseline interest independently predicted knowledge gain (B: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.13, 1.23, p = 0.02), while lower baseline knowledge predicted improvement in preparedness (B: −0.07, 95%CI: −0.13, −0.01, p = 0.02). We encourage researchers and educators to continue exploring ways to build stable professional identities among students with religious orientations at the science-religion intersection.

The twisted path to sacredness: a grounded theory study of irrational religious orientation and its psycho-sociological implications

This research delves into the nuances, origins, and societal effects of irrational religious orientations within China’s Generation Z, employing grounded theory methodology for a comprehensive analysis. The focus is on those born between 1995 and 2010, a demographic raised amidst rapid information technology growth and significantly influenced by digitalization and globalization. The study identifies three primary dimensions of irrational religious orientations in Generation Z: religious spiritual dependence, religious instrumental tendency, and religious uniqueness identity. These are shaped by factors such as the overwhelming influx of information via digital media, societal pressures and psychological dilemmas, conflicts in values and identity crises, as well as feelings of social isolation and the need for group belonging. To address these trends, the study suggests several interventions: enhancing multicultural and values education, implementing stricter online information regulation and literacy programs, boosting mental health awareness and support, and fostering engagement in social and cultural activities. These recommendations are essential for comprehensively understanding and effectively responding to the irrational religious orientations of Generation Z, ultimately contributing to their overall well-being and healthy development.

The Qualitative Differences Between Self-Identification as a Born-Again and/or Evangelical Christian

How do members of the evangelical religious tradition choose to identify themselves, and how do they define terms such as “evangelical” or “born-again?” Extant scholarship traditionally utilizes quantitative data in order to isolate the pitfalls associated with this conflation. In order to validate these quantitative measures and to better understand how adherents of the evangelical religious tradition conceptualize these identities, I leverage 63 face-to-face interviews conducted with white evangelicals. I find that “evangelical” is not commonly used among adherents, who view the term as esoteric and ill-defined. Democrats specifically recoil against the term due to its perceived conservative nature; however, some Republicans also eschew identifying as such, viewing it in some cases as too liberal or contaminated by the media. I also find that the term “born-again” is much more commonly used, regardless of the respondent’s partisanship. This work reveals the continuing politicization of “evangelical” and the endogeneity of religious orientations to politics.

When income meets faith: the development and application of the Chinese generation Z unconventional religious orientation scale

This study seeks to analyze the psychological construction of Unconventional Religious Orientations and their association with individual income level satisfaction within Generation Z. Generation Z, individuals born between 1995 and 2010, grew up in a socio-cultural context marked by digitization and globalization. This study identifies three key dimensions of Unconventional Religious Orientations: religious spiritual dependence, religious instrumental tendencies, and religious uniqueness identity. By combining rootedness theory, semi-structured interviews, and literature review, we constructed and refined a set of relevant scales. Using exploratory and validation factor analyses (EFA and CFA), we verified the structural validity of the scale. The results of the analyses revealed significant negative correlations between satisfaction with income level and all dimensions of Unconventional Religious Orientation for Generation Z, suggesting that Unconventional Religious Orientation tends to diminish as income satisfaction increases. In addition, the significant positive correlations between these dimensions of religious inclination imply that they may share certain underlying factors in their psychological structure. This study not only successfully developed a set of psychometric instruments for Unconventional Religious Orientations, but also provided a new psychological perspective for understanding the dynamic interaction between economic satisfaction and religious psychological attitudes in Generation Z.

عصر حاضر میں شخصیت کی تعمیر: نفسیاتی اثرات اور اسلامی تعلیمات

This article examines the personality development aspect from an Islamic perspective. Drawing on Islamic teachings and principles, it examines how morality, social interactions, and faith shape an individual's character. The article examines how virtues that align with Islamic teachings can be developed through prayer, moral behavior, and community service. By combining psychological concepts with Islamic philosophy, this article aims to offer insights into an all-encompassing approach to personality development within an Islamic framework. Some theorists contend that religion provides the most complete framework for values and that religious orientations fall under an extrinsic category.

Religious orientations on attitude toward a secular state: Case of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in north regions of Kazakhstan

The main objective of this study was to explore the connections between orientations (Quest, Intrinsic, and Extrinsic) and peoples' attitudes towards a secular state among members of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in the northern regions of Kazakhstan. To achieve this, established scales were used to assess participants' perspectives on secularism and their religious orientations. The article analyses the opinion on the separation of church and state using measures of tendency. There were also calculated Pearson correlation coefficients to understand how religious beliefs interacted with views on governance. The findings indicated that there was an inclination towards secularism among the participants. While some respondents valued the guidance provided by the Church in decisions, others preferred a separation between religious institutions and legislative affairs. However, when examining orientations, none showed a significant influence on attitudes towards a secular state. This highlights the relationship between religious beliefs and societal views on governance. Overall, this study emphasises that while religious orientation provides insights into beliefs, it does not solely determine attitudes towards secularism. It underscores that belief systems are multifaceted and interact intricately with governance perspectives. Future research should focus on uncovering factors that influence these perspectives within and beyond the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGIOUS ORIENTATION AND PERSONALITY IN LGBTQI INDIVIDUALS

The links between personality and religious orientation have been studied in various religions and populations across the globe. However, an important limitation is that the relationship was not researched in LGBTQI populations. With this study, we aimed to fill this gap. 128 LGBTQI individuals responded to two questionnaires measuring the Big Five personality factors and the bi-dimensional model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Religious Orientation. Our results show that men reported higher levels of Religious Orientation than women and non-binary participants. Neuroticism and Conscientiousness were significantly related to Intrinsic religious orientation, but only the former was a significant predictor of it. The results are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications.

Reactions to COVID-19 Media Awareness Campaigns: Insights from Gweru Urban High Density Suburbs

This study explored the public’s reaction to COVID-19 awareness campaigns against a myriad of conspiracies towards the COVID-19 vaccines. These conspiracies are peddled in both the mainstream and social media platforms. It is this study’s contention that some awareness messages were very convincing culminating in some sections of the public being vaccinated while on the other hand the messages were misconstrued leading to some sections of the public also rejecting to be vaccinated. In a quest to unravel the myths behind the conspiracies, this study through a mixed methods approach, interrogated 500 residents of Senga and Nehosho suburbs of Gweru of their opinions by Facebook and WhatsApp platforms. These platforms were used to avoid the spread of the pandemic through physical contact. Findings from the study indicated that the media played a crucial role in informing the public of the COVID-19 pandemic, culminating in some people getting vaccinated while on the other hand, some rightly rejected the vaccines. Those who got vaccinated indicated that the awareness messages were quite informative and thus convinced them to seek projection. On the other hand, those who rejected the vaccines did so due to ignorance, fear of the unknown, religious and political orientation among other reasons. The study therefore recommends that media messages be packaged with education so as to fully equip audiences with proper information in order for them to make informed decisions.

How different backgrounds in video interviews can bias evaluations of applicants

AbstractOrganizations are increasingly using technology‐enabled formats such as asynchronous video interviews (AVIs) to evaluate candidates. However, the personal environment of applicants visible in AVI recordings may introduce additional bias in the evaluation of interview performance. This study extends existing research by examining the influence of cues signaling affiliation with Islam or homosexuality in the background and comparing them with a neutral background using an experimental design and a German sample (N = 222). Results showed that visible signs of religious affiliation with Islam led to lower perceived competence, while perceived warmth and interview performance were unaffected. Visual cues of homosexuality had no effect on perceptions of the applicant. In addition, personal characteristics of the raters, such as their intrinsic religious orientation or their attitudes towards homosexuality influenced applicants’ ratings, so that a non‐Muslim religious orientation was negatively associated with evaluations of the Muslim candidate and a negative attitude towards homosexuality was negatively associated with evaluations of the homosexual candidate. This study thus contributes to the literature on AVIs and discrimination against Muslims and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community in personnel selection contexts.

An Assessment of Strategies Adopted in Translating Selected Chapters of Atwans's Memoir: “A Country of Words” into Arabic

This study explored the strategies adopted in translating selected chapters from Abdelbari Atwan's political memoir A Country of Words by Husam Al-Din Mohammad. Back translation was used as a method. That is, an Arab Palestinian refugee endeavors to interpret his thoughts and transfer his experience of the Arabic culture to English as a SLT, and then the translator transfers those thoughts back into the original Arabic language as a TLT. The translation is analyzed in terms of its cultural, religious and political orientations endorsed by the researcher who seeks to identify and analyze the main problematic outcomes of the translation by means of observing the contextual and cultural concordance of the two texts. The analysis attempts to figure out if the translation retains the pragmatic and semantic orientation of each expression, the problems that the translator comes across in the process of translation, and the strategic issues adopted by the translator to retain the functional-equivalence of each expression. The study concluded that the strategies enable both the writer and the translator to preserve the Arabic language, which is the essence and the distinguishing feature of the Arabic culture. Atwan, as a bilingual writer, captured the Arabic aesthetic taste in his original text by preserving the Arabic cultural content and form in the original text.

The stability of life script and life story events of Nigerian young adults across religion and gender

ABSTRACT The cultural life scripts are shared semantic knowledge of the expected life course in a given culture characterised by a bump for positive events in the second and third life decades, but none for negative events [Berntsen, D., & Rubin, D. C. (2004). Cultural life scripts structure recall from autobiographical memory. Memory & Cognition, 32, 427-442. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03195836]. We investigated the stability of Nigerian young adults' life scripts and life stories across religion and gender. One-hundred-and-seventy-four participants completed the life script and life story tasks, and the revised religious orientation scale. We found that the life scripts and life stories consisted of mainly positive events with a reminiscence bump located in the 10s and 20s; however, we also found a small bump for negative events. There was a high mention rate of religion-specific events in both the life scripts and life stories of participants across religion and gender. The level of religiosity had effects on the importance ratings of the life scripts and life stories. In sum, despite minor variations, the life scripts and life stories were consistent across religion and gender.

A Grounded Theory of Christian Public Administrators’ Integration of Faith and Work

About 28% of U.S. public administrators profess to be Christians who regularly attend church. Given potential impacts on public policy and services, it is important to understand how these administrators integrate faith and work. Following a constructivist grounded theory approach, this study presents a taxonomy of Christian public administrators’ faith–work integration based on analysis of 30 in-depth interviews. The taxonomy’s axes are: (1) purpose—pious versus instrumental, and (2) locus—personal, workplace relationships, or societal. All participants share faith-driven work motivation aligned with public administration values. Their mode of faith–work integration varies based on perceived religious liberty and orientations toward a sacred–secular divide versus a holistic Christian worldview. The model suggests individuals motivated by theonomic and proselytizing goals may self-select out of government service. This research offers implications for public sector leaders, educators, and Christian public administrators seeking insight into how to relate their faith and work.

Understanding Religious Egocentrism

The exploration of religious egocentrism reveals its prevalence and significance within religious discourse, with implications for individual development and societal interactions. Rooted in early developmental stages and characterized by narcissism and self-centeredness, religious egocentrism influences perceptions of morality, relationships with others, and interpretations of divine concepts. Contrasting religious egocentrism with radicalism and extremism underscores nuanced distinctions in cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions. While religious radicalism shares certain traits with egocentrism, such as literal interpretations of sacred texts and emphasis on religious symbols, extremism diverges by glorifying violence and imposing personal beliefs on others. This delineation underscores the spectrum of religious orientations, ranging from egocentrism's self-centeredness to extremism's militant ideology.

The Structural Pattern of Family Functioning Based on Religious Orientation in Working Men and Women of Hamedan City with the Role of Resilience as a Mediator

Introduction: Family functioning refers to the effectiveness of family members in emotional communication, family rules, family communication and coping with external events. Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the structural pattern of family functioning based on religious orientation in working men and women of Hamedan city with the role of mediator of resilience. Method: The current research was descriptive-correlation based on structural equation modeling. The research population included all married men and women working in government organizations in Hamadan city in 1400-1401. The sample size was 335 working men and women available by non-random sampling method. Family functioning questionnaire (FAD), religious orientation scale (ROS) and resilience scale (RISC) were used. Data analysis software was SPSS-21 and AMOS-24. Results: The results showed that religious orientation (β = -0.518 and p = 0.001) and resilience (β = -0.236 and p = 0.001) have a direct effect on family functioning and religious orientation mediates resilience on Family performance was also significant at 0.1 level. In the following, the indirect relationship of the proposed model was investigated, and a significant value was obtained for the approximation index of goodness of fit (PCLOSE) of 0.001 and the RMSEA index equal to 0.073, which indicated the fit of the model. Conclusion: The results showed that religious orientation can explain the functioning of the family with regard to the role of resilience, so psychologists are recommended to strengthen the functioning of the family and strengthen the foundations of families by holding psychological workshops centered on religion and spirituality. With the help of resilience training to administrative staff. These people help.

Inmates' Adaptation to Prison: Investigating the Mediating Role of Resilience in the Relationship between Religiosity and Prison Adjustment.

Incarceration is one of the most stressful life experiences with negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of the prisoners. Sufficient studies exist on the association between religiosity and adjustment to prison (ATP) but no studies have investigated the mediating variables explaining this link. This study examined the mediating role of resilience on the relationship between religiosity and ATP. Participants 513 inmates (males = 410, females = 103; mean age = 30.86, SD = 7.71 years) drawn from Enugu and Nsukka custodial centres in the South East Nigeria. They responded to Prison Adjustment Questionnaire, Religious Orientation Test and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale in addition to supplying other relevant information. Hayes PROCESS macro for SPSS which uses a regression-based, path-analytical framework, was used in the data analysis. The results showed a significant indirect effect of resilience on the association between religiosity and ATP (β = .45, p < .001, 95% CI [0.27, 0.62]). This result revealed that resilience mediated the relationship between religiosity and ATP, indicating that individuals who are religious may possess higher resilience, leading to improved ATP. In conclusion, the study recommends incorporating comprehensive mental health services with a focus on resilience-building strategies in prison policies. Encouraging detainees' religious beliefs and activities is suggested, along with promoting psychological therapies to enhance resilience and improve adjustment to prison life.

Navigating Faith: Unveiling the Reliability and Validity of the Circumplex Religious Orientation Inventory (CROI) in Indonesia's Diverse Spiritual Landscape

Despite Indonesia's designation as a religiously diverse nation, there is a notable absence of a universally applicable religiosity scale that encompasses all faiths within its borders. Thus, this paper aims to translate, validate, and ensure the reliability of the Circumplex Religious Orientation Inventory (CROI), originally developed by Krauss and Hood in 2013, within the Indonesian cultural context. Data were collected via an online survey administered to 571 male and female volunteers in Indonesia, aged 18 years and above. The translation and assessment of the scale's psychometric properties, including internal consistency, factor analysis, convergent validity, time consistency, and socio-demographic analysis, were conducted. The study findings revealed that the Indonesian version of the CROI exhibited strong internal consistency, positive factor analysis outcomes, consistent responses over time, socio-demographic variations, as well as robust convergent and discriminant validity when compared to widely recognized measures of religiosity, religious orientation, intellectual humility, and religious tolerance. In conclusion, this research underscores the Indonesian version of the CROI as a valuable instrument for assessing religious orientation among individuals aged 18 and above in Indonesia.

The Analysis of Ukrainian Policy in the Field of State-Religious Education: Secondary School

The article provides an overview of approaches to the organization of religious education in secondary schools of Ukraine during the period of its independence, which complements the European experience of studying this issue. Attention is paid both to the historical circumstances of the beginning of school religious education in the interaction of religious, state and educational institutions, and to modern issues related to the policy of introducing subjects of religious and moral orientation in Ukrainian schools. The current legislation in the field of religious education in a secular school, the real practice of its implementation, and the challenges that give an idea of ​​the specifics of Ukraine in this matter in the European space, are analyzed. The legislative work of Ukraine on ­resolving the issue of legal regulation of the possibility of establishing educational institutions of different levels of accreditation by religious organizations is generalized. Statistical data on the state of teaching religious and moral subjects in schools of Ukraine are analyzed. Prospects and possibilities of further teaching of religious education in the Ukrainian public school are considered.