Hello, angel21-ga
You pose an interesting question, which has an immense variety of
answers. However, I will try to point you to a number of response
which will help your formulate a comprehensive answer based on
different thoughts.
In the book “Sociology of Knowledge Notes and Comments,” by Don
Dotson (1996), a Chapter titled “Knowledge and Social Imagery” by
David Bloor relates some ways that church attendance among inner city
youth has resulted in religious behavior.
“The church also offers distinctive experiences, most notably the
promise of a relationship with a powerful and loving Other. Having a
relationship with a God who cares about them is beneficial in itself,
but there are other advantages. For example, principles of right and
wrong may be easier to inculcate if they are communicated by God, a
group of people who share similar religious beliefs may be more
close-knit, and such a community is likely to be diverse in age and
more personally engaged with, and accepting of, individual members.”
(Religious behavior) provides a clear ability to determine what is
right and wrong.” A 16-year-old Latino female stated, "As a Christian,
I know what I'm supposed to do and what I'm not."
(Religious behavior includes) “An allegiance and structure of
priorities that affects life decisions and behavior. "They say, when
your priorities kick in, it's God, family and it goes like that, even
your work or your studies, that comes last."
(Religious behavior involves) “A concrete value system that helps
develop and direct “right” behavior. “Also mentioned, but less
frequently, was the church's role in shaping identity. An 18-year-old
Latino male said, "I feel that if I didn't go to church that I'd
probably be somebody else, smoking pot, selling drugs, stuff like
that."
Religious behavior allows one to feel part of a larger community.
“All sixteen in the churched group noted that the church provided the
opportunity to be a part of a community.”
Fifteen youths in the churched group mentioned that the church
fostered a relationship with God. A 16-year-old Haitian male stated
that this is important because "you have to have somebody watching
your back, and if that's God, then that's mighty big."
Religious behavior conveys a sense of meaning in life. “Further, the
church fosters identity development. It strengthens youths' self-worth
and the conviction that their lives have meaning.”
Read the "You Have to Have Somebody Watching Your Back, and if That’s
God, Then That’s Mighty Big,” by Kaye V. Cook. Adolescence (Winter
2000) at http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2248/140_35/70777834/print.jhtml
A rather complicated article, titled “Secularisation” is a must-read
for you, as it discusses the terms you mentioned in your question….
“operationalising” religious behavior. The article discusses the way
that religious thinking, practice and institutions have lost their
social significance.
One essential component of religious behavior gleaned from the
article is the desire and need to believe in a mystical explanation of
the world, versus a rationalistic view. When rationalisation takes
over, religious behavior declines. For example, church attendance
might be one aspect of religious behavior that suffers.
As for measuring religious behavior and commitment, the article has
this to say:
“In addition to the already mentioned problem of significance,
there seems no adequate way of testing religious commitment (or even
defining it. Thus in 1987, 79% of a UK sample said that they believed
in the existence of a personal god or in some 'sort of spirit or vital
force that controls life’( Svennevig,1987 ). But what does this mean?
Does this belief, for example, have any impact upon behavior?”
Without wanting to stray far far from your question about the
personal reflection of religious behavior, the article states several
ways society indicates the loss of religious values. By analyzing the
six characteristics below, and transforming them into behaviors
reflected by an individual, you can get a pretty clear idea of some of
the qualities that define religious behavior.
“Decline of Religion-where religious symbols, doctrines and
institutions lose their social significance.” (transfer this to the
individual)
“Conformity with the world-where religious movements become
orientated to the goals of 'this world' rather than the 'next'.”
(transfer this to the individual)
“Disengagement-where the church loses functions to other
institutions and becomes less significant in moral and political
terms.” (transfer this to the individual)
“Transposition of religious beliefs and institutions- where what
previously regarded as grounded in divine power become seen as human
creations.” (transfer this to the individual)
“Desacralisation of the world-scientific and rational explanations
take precedence over religious faith.” (transfer this to the
individual)
“From sacred to secular society-religion moves from its central
position and takes its place in a market' of other possible
philosophies.”(transfer this to the individual)
Read the entire article, “Secularisation” at
http://www.esher.ac.uk/scextranet/sociology/secularisation.htm
Some interesting shared, religious behaviors inherent in
fundamentalist religious movements, such as Judaism, Christianity and
Islam have been identified as follows:
Attachment to a central symbol..(which) becomes central to the
belief and practices of the group.
Non-negotiability. “There is only one ‘absolute truth’ and being
completely known, it is non-negotiable.”
Militancy. “If a non-negotiable truth is known, then it is
important that others know this truth.” Evangelism is the key.
The feeling of agreement (and belonging) among members of the same
religious belief. “If the truth is revealed to a fundamentalist group,
then an individual’s membership of the group entails agreement with
this truth.”
Read “Fundamentalism” at
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/3499/asr103_2.htm
In an interview with Dr. Abdol-Karim Soroush, he defines what he
considers the most defining characteristics of a religious society
(and thus, religious behavior):
“I believe that a religious society is a moral society. In a
religious society, the important thing is to behave morally….But
there’s a great degree of compliance between a moral society and a
religious society. Morals can easily accommodate rights and duties;
not rights and duties, of course, that are of the nature of social
contracts, but rights and duties that bind the individual even when he
is alone. The most simple examples are telling the truth, not speaking
behind people’s backs, not maligning people, not bringing people into
disrepute and so on, until we get to much more subtle rights and
values. I’m of the opinion that this is how a religious society should
be.”
Read “Contraction and Expansion of Women’s Rights: an Interview with
Dr. Abdol-Karim Soroush” at http://www.seraj.org/zanan.htm
As a summary, the qualities I have found to be indicative of
religious behavior are as follows”
The desire to believe, and expression of belief in a higher,
central power.
The desire to belong to a central, close-knit group of believers.
The desire to follow a concrete set of behaviors established as
right and moral by fellow believers.
The desire for allegiance to a God, a group, and a structure of
defined priorities.
The desire for a meaning in life, outside of yourself.
The allegiance to a religious institution.
The desire to be set apart from “the (non-religious) world.
The desire to believe in a mystical, powerful God as opposed to
scientific reasoning.
Steadfastness in a religious belief and the powerful determination
to protect that belief.
Non-negotiation about other explanations regarding human
existence.
Morality, truthfulness, honesty, respect, and desire to behave
righteously, even in secret.
I hope this gives you some food for thought, and provides some
answers to your question.
umiat-ga
Search terms on Google
+Characteristic of +"religious behavior"
Definition of religious behavior |
