Description

The Faith Maturity Scale (AQ-38) is a psychometric tool designed to assess the degree of maturity in an individual’s faith. This scale evaluates the development of an individual’s religious or spiritual beliefs, focusing on how mature and stable these beliefs are. The AQ-38 provides an understanding of the depth of an individual’s faith and how it influences their worldview and behaviors.

Objective

The main objective of the Faith Maturity Scale is to offer a reliable and valid means of evaluating faith maturity. It helps researchers and clinicians understand how different stages of faith influence personal growth, mental health, relationships, and social functioning. It can be used in both individual and group assessments to explore spiritual development and its correlation with psychological well-being.

Analysis

The AQ-38 includes various dimensions that assess faith maturity, such as:
Faith in Self (Personal Faith):
Measures an individual’s internalized beliefs and trust in their own religious or spiritual journey.
Example statements: “I am confident in my personal beliefs, even during difficult times.”
Faith in Others (Social and Relational Faith):
Evaluates how individuals view and interact with others based on their faith.
Example statements: “I believe that others can be trusted to share in my spiritual journey.”
Faith in the Divine (Spiritual or Religious Faith):
Assesses the individual’s relationship with God or the divine, reflecting how mature their religious or spiritual beliefs are.
Example statements: “I trust in God’s guidance even when I don’t fully understand His plan.”
Reflection on Faith (Faith Growth and Adaptability):
Evaluates how open an individual is to personal growth and transformation within their faith.
Example statements: “I am open to rethinking my beliefs as I encounter new spiritual insights.”
Commitment to Faith (Faith Practice):
Measures the individual’s dedication to practicing their faith in everyday life.
Example statements: “I actively seek to live my life according to my faith.”

Scoring

The AQ-38 is scored using Likert scales, where participants rate each statement from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Responses are aggregated to produce a total score that reflects the maturity of the individual’s faith. Higher scores indicate greater maturity and depth in the individual’s faith.

References

Pew Research Center. (2010). The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050.
Fowler, J. W. (1981). Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning. HarperOne.
Wuthnow, R. (1998). After Heaven: Spirituality in America Since the 1950s. University of California Press.
Pargament, K. I. (1997). Psychology of Religion and Coping: Theory, Research, Practice. Guilford Press.