Item Detail
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10528
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0
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0
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English
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Life Events and Religious Change
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Review of Religious Research
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September 1989
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31
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23-38
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Data from a nationwide random survey of active and inactive Mormons was used to study the effect of a variety of life events on changes in religious belief and behavior. The study found that negative religious experiences reduced belief and positive religious experiences increased belief. The results also showed that negative events in a person's life (serious illness, separation or divorce, unemployment, etc.), relationship changes, and situational changes is consistently related to lower religiosity. On the other hand, those who observed friends or relatives experience illness, loss of job, death, or divorce were more likely to have reported an increase of faith. Generally, negative life events produce a negative effect on religious belief. In contrast, the experience of positive life events contributes to increased faith.