1. PATTERNS OF BELIEF AT THE DENOMINATIONAL AND CONGREGATIONAL LEVELS.
- Author
-
Davidson, James D.
- Subjects
CHURCH membership ,CONGREGATIONAL churches ,CHURCH polity ,CHRISTIAN sects ,BELIEF & doubt ,CULTURAL pluralism - Abstract
This paper examines the homogeneity and heterogeneity of church members' beliefs at the denominational and congregational levels. Homogeneity is defined as the extent to which one pattern of belief tends to dominate all others. Heterogeneity is defined as the extent to which more than one pattern of belief exists within a group. Data were obtained from Baptist and Methodist members of two middle class and two working class congregations. The data indicated that heterogeneity prevailed in both denominations and in three of the four congregations. A discussion of these findings focuses on some of the functional implications of heterogeneity and the role of heterogeneity in some of the crises religious groups are facing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1972
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