Description

The Dimensions of Religious Ideology (Διαστάσεις Θρησκευτικής Ιδεολογίας) refer to the various aspects of religious beliefs and teachings that individuals adopt. These dimensions include the fundamental beliefs, values, and teachings that guide the lives of believers and shape their understanding of the world and their place in it.

Goal

The goal of analyzing the dimensions of religious ideology is to understand how religious beliefs and teachings influence people’s thinking, behavior, and values. This helps in comprehending the impact of religion on personal and social life, as well as decision-making and moral behavior.

Analysis

The dimensions of religious ideology include:
Dogmatic Belief: Refers to the acceptance of fundamental religious dogmas and teachings considered to be true and unchangeable.
Theological Perceptions: Concerns beliefs and views about the nature of God or gods, the creation of the world, and the relationship between humans and God.
Moral and Ethical Beliefs: Involves the moral principles and values that guide the behavior of believers, based on religious teachings.
Eschatological Beliefs: Refers to beliefs about the afterlife, the final judgment, and the end of the world.
Soteriological Beliefs: Relates to beliefs about salvation, redemption, and the means through which salvation can be achieved.

Scoring

The scoring of the dimensions of religious ideology is typically done through questionnaires and scales that assess the agreement or disagreement of individuals with various statements related to religious beliefs. Responses are usually rated on Likert scales, e.g., from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree).

Bibliography

Glock, C. Y., & Stark, R. (1965). Religion and Society in Tension. Chicago: Rand McNally.
King, P. E., & Boyatzis, C. J. (2004). Exploring adolescent spiritual and religious development: Current and future theoretical and empirical perspectives. Applied Developmental Science, 8(1), 2-6.
Hill, P. C., & Hood, R. W. Jr. (1999). Measures of Religiosity. Birmingham, AL: Religious Education Press.
Stark, R., & Bainbridge, W. S. (1987). A Theory of Religion. Peter Lang Publishing.