Article Abstracts
vol. 50, no. 3

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD: STATE, RELIGION, AND OPPOSITION TO LEGALLY-IMPOSED RELIGIOUS WEDDINGS

EPHRAIM TABORY AND SHARON SHALEV LEVTZUR
BAR ILAN UNIVERSITY

The intertwining of state and religion in Israel bestows substantial authority to the autonomous Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities. In that respect, citizens enjoy freedom of religion. But the relationship between state and religion also leads to the imposition of religious law on community members even if they are not personally religious. Among Jews, who comprise 80% of the population, this has led to friction between those who are religiously observant and those who are not, as the latter complain about the lack of freedom from religion. We study ten Jewish couples who make wedding plans that cross a threshold of protest over the religious status quo by choosing a non-government recognized alternative service rather than the mandatory state sanctioned Orthodox religious ceremony. Data from interviews with these persons and with five additional nonreligious couples who wed through the state rabbinate indicate that the conflict focuses mostly on the Orthodox rabbinical establishment, perceived as rigid and inflexible. Generally, nonreligious Israelis conform to social norms and conduct their wedding ceremonies in a traditional Jewish manner that is seen to be bound up with their identities as Israelis. Nonreligious Israelis who marry outside of the State Rabbinate reject the state Orthodox religious establishment more than they reject religion.

RELIGIOUS SOCIALIZATION AND IDENTITY FORMATION OF ADOLESCENTS IN HIGH TENSION RELIGIONS

STEPHEN ARMET
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

The study of religious socialization and identity formation has seen a convergence between developmentalists and sociologists, where a line of inquiry explored by Smith and Sikkink emphasizing the effect of socialization and identity formation on religious outcomes, finds a correspondence to Marcia’s typology based on commitment and exploration. The Second Wave of the National Study of Youth and Religion was used to test for the effects of parenting styles and youth autonomy on religious outcomes. Measures of parental socialization and youth identity formation were developed from panel study data and tested using ordered logit regression. Youth in high tension religions were found to show more religious commitment while parental constraints and solidarity with parents were found to be insignificantly associated with religious outcomes. Several directions for future research on the socialization of adolescents by
their parents are discussed.

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN: UNTANGLING THE ENIGMA

MICHAEL ROEMER
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

In Japan, quantitative accounts of religious membership range from more than one and a half times the total population to thirty percent or less, and we do not have a solid understanding of who these religious affiliates are. This paper addresses four core questions to provide a clearer portrayal of Japanese religious affiliation: 1) What is the approximate number of Japanese who claim religious affiliation? 2) How do the figures presented in this study differ from previous statistics and why? 3) Are there significant differences between individual affiliates and those who claim to have a “household” religion? And 4) What are some of the theoretical explanations for religious affiliation in Japan? Using data from large nationally representative probability samples of Japanese adults, multivariate analysis indicates that some deprivation measures (e.g., unemployment and low education and income levels) help explain individual affiliation with “New Religions” but not with Buddhist or Christian groups, and socialization controls (e.g., gender, age, social engagement, and traditional attitudes) can predict belief in Buddhist, New Religion, and Christian religions. Insufficient data has hindered research on this important topic in the past. This study takes advantage of new resources and supports findings from qualitative research, enabling us to explore who are religious affiliates in Japan and why they might claim such associations.

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN A CONSERVATIVE BAPTIST CONGREGATION

KEVIN D. DOUGHERTY, CHRISTOPHER D. BADER, PAUL FROESE,
EDWARD C. POISON, AND BUSTER G. SMITH
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

One of the important goals of congregational research is to examine shared religious characteristics at the organizational level. Yet, data collection using key informants and limited questions concerning belief on congregational surveys can potentially mask significant religious diversity within congregations. Using detailed belief and attitude questions from an abridged version of the 2005 Baylor Religion Survey, we find noteworthy religious and theological variation among the most active adherents of a conservative Southern Baptist church in Central Texas. Unsurprisingly, congregants show broad agreement on belief in God and the importance of religious practices such as attending church and prayer; however, members of this tightly-knit group voice disagreement about their religious identity, conceptions of God, beliefs about heaven, and beliefs about the New Age. Our findings indicate the need for careful attention to these sources of diversity, which may prove consequential to the methods and theory of future congregational research.

YOUTH AND RELIGION IN AOSTA VALLEY

GIUSEPPE GIORDAN
UNIVERSITY OF PADUA (ITALY)

The religiosity of the young is rapidly changing even in a relatively “small” and “protected” context such as the Valley of Aosta, the smallest Italian region, situated in a mountainous area at the foot of Mont Blanc. In this context, characterized by social and cultural belonging to traditional Catholicism up to not many decades ago, a survey has been conducted among some 4,000 adolescents between the age of 14 and 19. Beside the aspects of belief, participation, and religious experience, other aspects were also investigated, especially the role of religion in a more and more pluralistic and globalized context. The results show how young people’s reference to Catholicism is being deeply modified, with a more personal and free approach to rites and beliefs, and with a new opening towards other religions. Such changes indicate a new modality of relating to the sacred, varying by age, sex, and educational level.

PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS IN THE LATTER-DAY SAINT HOME

RACHEL W. LOSER, E. JEFFREY HILL, SHIRLEY R. KLEIN, AND
DAVID C. DOLLAHITE
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

The purpose of this paper is to explore in detail how family religious rituals influence the life of Latter-day Saint individuals and families. It includes qualitative analysis of interviews with highly religious parents and children in 67 families that belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While several challenges of religious rituals were mentioned, no negative influences of religious rituals were reported by this sample. Individual benefits of religious rituals included greater spiritual growth, happier daily life, more focus and direction, and better personal behavior. Familial benefits of religious rituals included strengthened relationships, more family togetherness and unity, increased communication, less contention and more kindness, better parenting. This research focuses on proximal measures of daily religious rituals in an attempt to produce a more complete picture of the meaning and role religion places in family life. As similar research is conducted utilizing samples of different denominations and cultures, a more complete depiction of the interface between religion and family life will be produced. Information derived from this research could be helpful for social scientists, therapists, clergy, and outreach professionals. Limitations are discussed.