Religious Doubt and Identity Formation: Salient Predictors of Adolescent Religious Doubt

Different ideological perspectives about religious doubt spawn controversy and confusion among some Christians. Typically misunderstood as unbelief, doubt is often characterized as dangerous if not outright prohibited by Scripture. As this study demonstrates, comprehending religious doubt through th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychology and theology
Authors: Puffer, Keith A. (Author) ; Pence, Kris G. (Author) ; Graverson, T. Martin (Author) ; Wolfe, Michael (Author) ; Pate, Ellen (Author) ; Clegg, Stacy (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage Publishing 2008
In: Journal of psychology and theology
Year: 2008, Volume: 36, Issue: 4, Pages: 270-284
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:Different ideological perspectives about religious doubt spawn controversy and confusion among some Christians. Typically misunderstood as unbelief, doubt is often characterized as dangerous if not outright prohibited by Scripture. As this study demonstrates, comprehending religious doubt through the lens of Marcia's ego identity statuses offers a more nuanced understanding of the cognitive phenomenon. Multiple regression analyses of survey data from 604 religious adolescents revealed identity moratorium, identity achievement, and doctrinal uncertainties are positive predictors of doubt while identity foreclosure, identity diffusion, and religious satisfaction are negative predictors. Implications from the findings relevant to Erikson and Batson's theories are discussed along with practical applications for those in the church community working with youth.
ISSN:2328-1162
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of psychology and theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/009164710803600403