Item Detail
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19723
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1
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0
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English
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Personal Communities : The Social and Normative Bases of Religion (Mormonism, Networks)
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University of Minnesota
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Ph.D.
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"The social and normative bases of religion are examined using data collected from a random sample of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in the United States. The social bases of religion are the processes by which individuals develop and maintain a set of religious beliefs. Individuals acquire their world view through socialization processes and by continued interaction with others. The normative bases of religion are the processes by which individuals are encouraged to behave consistent with their world views. Two conceptual models are developed and tested: (1) a model of the dimensions of religiosity, and (2) a model of the social and normative bases of religion. Religiosity is viewed as multidimensional. A distinction is made between personal and institutional modes of religiosity, and the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of religiosity. As a test of the relative influence of the social and normative bases of religion, the study examines the influence of several sets of variables on religious behavior: (1) religious socialization, (2) personal community relationships, (3) social demographic characteristics, and (4) religious belief and commitment. A method of collecting information about personal communities (network relationships) via questionnaire is presented. The influence of personal community relationships on religiosity is explored. Number, strength and religious salience of network ties is examined suggesting the importance of personal communities in sustaining religiosity. Personal community relationships influence religious belief and commitment. The amount of influence is stronger for institutional religiosity. Findings also suggest that multistranded ingroup relationships have an important impact on conformity to the norms and expectations of the religious group. Religious commitment has the strongest influence on religious behavior, although each of the other variable sets also contributes to the amount of variance being explained. It is also evident that religious socialization, and personal community relationships influence religious behavior indirectly through the impact each variable set has on religious belief and commitment." [Author's abstract]