Denominational and Age Comparisons of God Concepts

Jacqueline L. Noffke · Susan H. McFadden

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Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology Study and Philosophy of Religion Religion and Society Interactions

Abstract

This study examines whether denominational and age differences emerge in endorsement of Christian God descriptions developed using the three highest loading adjectives in each of Spilka, Benson, and Nussbaum’s (1964) six God concept factors. Previous research suggests that conceptualizations of God may vary based on religious affiliation, and life‐span development researchers assert that new, adaptive cognitive processes may emerge in later adulthood. Participants were divided into three age categories and asked to rate their agreement to six God descriptions. Significant denominational differences in God factor endorsement were revealed for all factors. No age differences across denomination were determined. Denominational differences appear to corroborate sociological descriptions of denomination‐based variations in religious doctrine and practices. The overall lack of age differences may suggest that God concepts are cognitive organizations that remain stable over time, possibly due to reinforcement from church attendance. All data were collected from church attendees.

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1913Totem and Taboo 1973God Image as a Function of Self-Esteem and Locus of Control 1992An Attachment-Theory Approach Psychology of Religion 1968The Conceptualization of God as Seen in Adjective Ratings 2009Relativistic and Dialectical Thought in Three Adult Age-Groups 1990Adult Age Group Differences in Story Recall Style 1985Gender Differences in Images of God 1975Parents, Self, and God: A Test of Competing Theories of Individual-Religion Relationships

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