The Role of Social Factors in the Acquisition of Religious Beliefs

Date
2007-12
Authors
Johnson, Brian
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study utilizes qualitative interview and data analysis techniques to investigate how the social context and mode of transmission of religious concepts influence the process by which those concepts are accepted by individuals and intrapsychically transformed into beliefs. Five members of Christian church congregations in the Williamsport, Pennsylvania area were interviewed concerning their personal histories of religious belief. Findings largely support several existing theoretical models of the social and cognitive determinants of religious belief acquisition, but also suggest that it may be appropriate to accord greater salience to some particular aspects of those theories. Possible implications of this theoretical framework for cross-cultural interactions are also addressed.
Description
other
Senior field research paper submitted as part of undergraduate coursework in Sociology and Anthropology at Lycoming College.
Keywords
religion, belief, social transmission, socialization, cognition, meaning, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Ethnology, US
Citation
Johnson, Brian. 2007. "The Role of Social Factors in the Acquisition of Religious Beliefs." Thesis, Departments of Sociology and Anthropology, Lycoming College.
Extent
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Table of Contents
Rights
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.