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Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 89 No. 4, 2019.

Review article

A Qualitative‑Narrative Study of Children’s Religiosity in the Context of Five Dimensions of Religiosity

Vlaho Kovačević orcid id orcid.org/0000-0001-8247-3941 ; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Split, Croatia
Goran Kardum orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-5766-361X ; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Split, Croatia
Krunoslav Malenica ; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Split, Croatia

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Abstract

Study of spirituality and religiosity among children is underrepresented in research in the context of growth and development, especially when it comes to qualitative studies. The aim of this study is the understanding of religiosity among children within the frame of five fundamental dimensions of religiosity – ideological, experiential, intellectual, consequential, and ritualistic. By using the multidimensional conceptualisation of religiosity, the authors carried out qualitative‑narrative study of the relation between everydayness and religiosity among twelve pupils of the age of 13 and 14. Reports of children in interviews show that they envision God as a person who is above their level of existence, but who is at the same time similar to or same as them. They do not differentiate between supernatural and natural, but instead presuppose as ordinary experience, which is in accordance with the level of cognitive development. They identify conscience with God’s inner voice and they relate peace and searching in silence with knowledge of God. These two dimensions are related to one’s attitude towards and acceptance of the other, while they generally identify religiosity with the psychological dimension of belonging. Future studies should utilise mixed methodology, i.e., questionnaires, deep interviews, and discussion groups.

Keywords

qualitative research; narrative research; dimensions of religiosity; development of religiosity; everyday life and religious changes.

Hrčak ID:

234290

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/234290

Publication date:

17.2.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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