The Role of Religion in Family Dynamics

Concurrent Sessions 7

Presider: Julie Zaloudek

Location
Borein B
Session #
232
Session Type
Paper Session
Organized By
  • Religion, Spirituality & Family

About the Session

  • 232-01 - Does Religious Motivation Influence the Conceptualization and Acceptability of Forgiveness as a Therapeutic Intervention?
    Presented by: Ryan Seedall, Mark Butler, Jennifer Elledge
  • 232-02 - The Effects of Denomination on Religious Socialization for Jewish Youth
    Presented by: Anthony James, Ashlie Lester, Greg Brooks
  • 232-03 - Testing the Transformational Model of Religious Socialization
    Presented by: Ashlie Lester, David Schramm
  • 232-04 - Familial Relationship Outcomes of Coming Out Atheist
    Presented by: Benjamin Meyers, Jesse Smith, Kevin Simonson, Kevin Zimmerman

Abstract(s)

Does Religious Motivation Influence the Conceptualization and Acceptability of Forgiveness as a Therapeutic Intervention?

Presented by: Ryan Seedall, Mark Butler, Jennifer Elledge

A positive association exists between intrinsic religious motivation and personal and relationship health. Additionally, forgiveness has been identified as an effective therapeutic intervention. However, research has not investigated the relationship between religious motivation and acceptance of forgiveness as a therapeutic intervention. This study explored this relationship. Intrinsic religious motivation was associated with the overall acceptability of forgiveness and when framed as a spiritual issue, while extrinsic-social religious motivation was not associated with forgiveness acceptability. Extrinsic-personal religious motivation was associated with forgiveness acceptability when framed as a spiritual issue but also with a common misconception of forgiveness. Therapeutic implications are discussed.

The Effects of Denomination on Religious Socialization for Jewish Youth

Presented by: Anthony James, Ashlie Lester, Greg Brooks

We tested the transmission model of religious socialization on a sample of 233 Jewish parent-child pairs, across Judaic denominations (i.e., moderator). We expected that Parents' Jewish factors would be linked with identical factors for their children. Our results indicate only partial support for the transmission model with this sample. Parents' religious practices and denomination were the strongest links to their children's Jewishness. These findings suggest that context plays an important role in the effectiveness of the transmission model. Future studies should include more religiously diverse samples to test the universality of the transmission model across families, contexts, and faiths.

Testing the Transformational Model of Religious Socialization

Presented by: Ashlie Lester, David Schramm

Religiosity has been linked to positive mental and physical mental health outcomes. The transformational model of religious socialization has been used to explain the process by which individuals develop their religious faith. The current study provides empirical support for this model using Waves 1-3 of the National Study of Youth and Religion. Preliminary results of the multiple regression analysis suggest that parents' religiosity, parenting style, and their interaction significantly predict the proportion of children's religiously-similar friends. This, in turn, predicts child religiosity years later. These findings may help parents and religious institutions more effectively transmit faith and its associated benefits.

Familial Relationship Outcomes of Coming Out Atheist

Presented by: Benjamin Meyers, Jesse Smith, Kevin Simonson, Kevin Zimmerman

How do family members react when one of the family members "comes out" as atheist? As one of America's least trusted groups, ranking below Muslims and gays, atheists continue to be marginalized and stigmatized, even by members of their own families. Further compounding the marginalization of nonbelievers is Christian privilege, the institutionalization of a Christian standard that perpetuates the notion that all people are or should be Christian. This qualitative study reports the experiences of 75 atheists from around the U.S. when they tell their family members that they do not believe in God.

Bundle name
Conference Session