Religious Belief as an Independent Variable

The author examines (1) the conditions under which religion is most likely to perform its comfort and challenge functions and (2) the extent to which religion today tends to perform these two functions. Evidence from Baptists and Methodists in two Indiana communities indicates that the comfort funct...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Davidson, James D. 1942- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell [1972]
In: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Year: 1972, Volume: 11, Issue: 1, Pages: 65-75
Further subjects:B Baptists
B Methodism
B Neighborhoods
B Communities
B Churches
B Questionnaires
B Scientific Belief
B Social beliefs
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Description
Summary:The author examines (1) the conditions under which religion is most likely to perform its comfort and challenge functions and (2) the extent to which religion today tends to perform these two functions. Evidence from Baptists and Methodists in two Indiana communities indicates that the comfort function is positively related to the maintenance of "vertical" beliefs, but is not associated with "horizontal" beliefs; the prophetic function is positively related to "horizontal" beliefs, but is negatively related to "vertical" beliefs. Finally, the data indicate that religion tends to provide comfort and support more than it inspires social protest and change.
ISSN:1468-5906
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2307/1384299