The persistence of spiritual experience among churchgoing and non-churchgoing Italians: sociological and psychological perspectives
The study presented in this article draws on theories and methods developed within the psychology of religion to examine, from a fresh perspective, a problem established within the sociology of religion: the oddity of the Italian situation'. The study employs the notion of openness to mystical...
Authors: | ; ; |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Carfax Publ.
[2018]
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In: |
Journal of contemporary religion
Year: 2018, Volume: 33, Issue: 3, Pages: 447-465 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Italy
/ Church attendance
/ Spiritual experience
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IxTheo Classification: | CB Christian life; spirituality KBJ Italy |
Further subjects: | B
Mysticism
B Italy B Secularisation B Spiritual Experience |
Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Verlag) |
Summary: | The study presented in this article draws on theories and methods developed within the psychology of religion to examine, from a fresh perspective, a problem established within the sociology of religion: the oddity of the Italian situation'. The study employs the notion of openness to mystical experience as an indicator of the level of spiritual awareness among a sample of 1,155 Italians ranging in age from 14 to 80 years. The data demonstrated that, while levels of openness to mystical experience remain quite high among non-churchgoing Italians, these levels are significantly associated with sex, age, religious attendance, and personal prayer. Moreover, the differences between attenders and non-attenders are sensitive to the ways in which aspects of mystical experience are expressed. The dialogue between the psychology of religion and the sociology of religion generates fresh insight into the religious and spiritual landscape of Italy today. |
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ISSN: | 1469-9419 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of contemporary religion
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/13537903.2018.1535371 |