MEASURING THE RELIGIOUS VARIABLE: Nine Proposed Dimensions.

The null-hypothesis that "religion" is unidimensional was tested on a local sample of Methodists. Relevant literature was examined for possible dimensions. Eleven were found or constructed and questionnaire items covering many aspects of individual belief and congregational involvement were selected as possible indicators. Factor and cluster analyses were used. Sixteen factors and twelve clusters of some interest were obtained. Agreements between the analyses led to the conclusions that: 1. For these data, the unidimensional view should be rejected; 2. Nine dimensions can be presented for further study, several of which awe similar to some previously proposed in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]