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DEC 0 3 1993

 

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ABSTRACT

A STUDY CCNoLRNING ENVIRONfllNTAL
INFLUEECES ON THE RELIGIOUS bEIIEFS
O? ROMAN CATHOLIC STUDQNTS

by Carl H. Poit

This study deals with the problem of why individuals
vary in their acceptance of church doctrine, by measuring the
degree of acceptance of church doctrine and finding: (1) how
this is related to the socialization of the individual - the
denomination of parents and friends, the type of schooling,
and activity in church affairs - usinq the correlation
coefficient as the measure of strength of the environmental
factors; (2) the relation of environmental factors to the
prediction of acceptance or rejection of church doctrine -
using the multiple regressional analysis.

Criticism that multi-denominational studies have
failed to accurately evaluate the individual subject's acceptance
of his own denomination because denominations vary in the
emphasis which is placed upon particular relicious concepts
is met by limiting this study to one major religious faith -
the Roman Catholic.

A religious questionnaire (with an odd-even reliability

of .86), consisting of 106 items based upon the Baltimore Catechism

 

No. 3 was administered to 220 Roman Catholic undergraduate
students.

Converts accepted significantly more Catholic doctrine
than the subjects with Roman Catholic parents, while subjects
with Roman Catholic parents accepted significantly more Catholic
doctrine than those with parents who belong to different
denominations. when parents who belong to different denominations
have children, the children tend to be more accepting of the

mother's faith.

A parochial school education is more influential
in instilling an attitude of acceptance of church doctrine
than a public school education or only a partial parochial
school education. A parochial grade school education appears
to be as important as a parochial high school education in
influencing acceptance of church doctrine. And, a partial
parochial school education is more influential than a public
school education in instilling religious attitudes.

Regularity of church attendance and membership in
church organizations are the best single predictors of the
degree of acceptance of church doctrine. Excluding these two
factors, the religious denomination of the mother and a
relisious education are the best predictors of acceptance of
church doctrine while the predictive value of the religious
denomination of the father is almost neqligible. A parochial

school education is the best predictor of the regularity of

Approved: CFHJ/ Q/[aL

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church attendance.

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A STUDY CC”CflRnING BAVIRCNLnniaL

‘1

INT? 313C113 CTN THE ‘rJI-IGICUS BEIIEFS

O? RCNAN CATTCLIC STUDENTS

Submitted to
Michigan State University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
MAST R OF AaTS
Department of Psychology

1965

CHAPTER

I.

II.

III.

IV.

I"“.'

. 4 i :
BA. AJl‘L

APPEW“

lJIJL o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Need for Further Research:

Denominational Differences in Beliefs

Problem and Hypothesis . . . . . . .
EXPBRIMENTAL DECIGN . . . . . . . . . .
Test Administration . . . . . . . . .
RLSULTS AND DISC’SSICN . . . . . . . . .
The Family . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Regularity of Church Attendance . . .

Religious Activities and Denomination
of Friends . . . . . . . . .

Educational Background . . . . . . .
Multiple Reeressional Analysis . . .
SUHHAxY AND C(UCTUSICNS . . . . . . . .

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2. Correlations, Beta Jeights and Predictive
Values of Factors Believed to Influence
Acceptance of Church Dogma . . . . . . .

2 Further Correlations, meta Neimhts and Values

of Factors Eelieved to Influence Accept-
ance of Crurch Dogma . . . . . . . . . .

4. Prediction of Church Attendance and Correla-
tion of Education and Parent‘s Denomina—
tion with Acceptance of Church Dogma . .

5. Prediction of hembership in Church Organiza-
tions and Correlation of Education and
Farent's Denomination with Acceptance
of Domma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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I. II‘IT‘,<C‘JT7CTIC‘I\T

This thesis undertakes to explain the relative idportance
of some of the factors which are believed to influence an individual's
acceptance of his church's teachings. The problem is approached
by measuring the individual's acceptance of his church's teachings
through the use of a religious questionnaire based on the doctrines
of his Church and finding out how this is related to the religious
beliefs of the parents, the type of schoolinq, the denomination of
friends and activity in church affairs. The correlation coefficient

will be used as the measure of strenjth of the environmental factors.

Feed for Further Research: Denominational Differences in beliefs

Most studies concerned with the influence of environ-
mental factors unon the acceptance of church doctrines have in-
cluded individuals from several different denominations. A
questionnaire using qeneral concepts and administered to mem-
bers of several different denominations may readily miss the
individual's acceptance or rejection of his own church's doc-
trines because: (1) some denoninations use concepts which others
do not. For example, the Ruman Catdolic Church uses the concept
of transubstantiaticn which is not used in most Protestant
churches. (2) Denoninations vary in the ennhasis placed upon
particulrr concepts. For example, the Calvanistic denoninations
emphasize the concept of predestination. (5) Denominations
using the same concepts, vary in the meanin 8 attached to those
concepts. For example, the concept of the Virgin 'ary is taken
literally by some Protestant denominations and not by others.

10 obtain clarity and concisemess in the terms and
concepts used, only one denomination will be studied in this
thesis. The R nan Catholic Church has been selected because:
(1) Its concepts are clearly stated in its catechism, and (2)

it is one of the larfest denominations available.

The fact that each denomination does have unique char-
acteristics sets limits uron the inferences which can be made if
only one denomination is studied. For exanble, he Roman Catholic
Church tends to differ from other denominations in the evohasis
which is placed upon: (1) marrying only members of their own
faith, and (2) raising the children in the Roman Catholic faith.
This enphasis upon the family unit and the formal reliyious
education of the children may result in the family and educational
backrround havinr a mreater influence on the acceptance of church
doctrines in the Roman Catholic faith than would be found in
other denowinations.

Correlational studies of this nature in general have
the limitation of not beinq able to determine the exact influence
of the various environmental factors. For examnle, the religious
background of the narents and the educational backrround of the
child are both ant to influence his accentance of church doctrine.
”owever, it is difficult to determine the exact role of each
influence. Does the child accept church doctrine because he is

taught it in school or because he is taufht it at home?

Problem and_£yrothesis

 

This thesis will accordingly be concerned with the
relation of environmental factors to the prediction of acceptance
or rejection by Roman Catholics of the dogma of their church.
While it seems obvious that various environmental factors such
as relirion of parents, frequency of church attendance, member-
ship in church organizations, parochial schooling and friend-
ships with nersons of the same denomination will influence
acceptance or rejection of the Catholic teachings, it is necessary
to point out that someti es what appears obvious is not necessarily
so. For examole, special relirious training in Sunday C-chool
and Catechism Clasaes might be expected to increase an individual's
acceptance of his church's teachinfs. However, Syfiinjton (1955)
found that Sunday School attendance is not related to religious

liberalism or conservativism.

proposed:

Accordinély, the following guidinf hyjothesis may be

"An individual's educational background, as
well as the relifiious denomination of his oar-
ents and friends are related to the acceotence
or rejection of the relirious teachinrs of his
Church, and this relationship will be reflected
in such OVert behavior as the regulfirity of
Church attendance aldnemborshio in church
orfisnisations.”

II. EKPflRIRENTFL DEBIGN

The Roman Catholic Church was selected for this
investigation because its catechism clearly outlines its teach-
ings for all members in question and answer form. This means
that its concepts and teachinss are defined without ambiguity,
and a questionnaire upon religious beliefs can be readily com-
posed from the catechism without distorting any of the basis
items of faith. A iglifious Que tionnaire, which will be re—
ferred to as Hg, was accordinfly constructed. The 3Q was based
on or selected from the #31 questions and answers of Rev. $.3.

Beck's Baltimore Catechism No. 3. Statements were selected from

 

each of the 57 lessons. The final form of the ousstionnaire
consisted of 106 items randomly ordered. The questionnaire
is presented in the Aspendix of this thesis.

Catechistic wordina was followed as nearly as possible.
The aim was to retain accurately the religious idea embodied
in the statement, yet to change it just enough to lesson the
likelihood of subjects recognizing it as taken directly from
the catechism. For example, a section of Lesson 26 of the
Catechism reads:

"The Church forbids the marria3e of Catholics
with persons who have a different religion or
no PGliinH at all, because such marriages
generally lead to indifference, loss of faith,
and to the neglect of the religious education
of the children."

The item in the questionnaire reads:

"Harriajes between people of different re-
ligious faiths should be forbidden because
such marriages aenerally lead to indifference."

To avoid any response set, the catechistal statements
were frequently exnressed negatively, yet doing so with as little
chanee of wording and religious idea as possible. For example,
a section of lesson 15 of the catechism reads:

"It is a sin to neglect Confirmation, especially
in these evil days when faith and morals are
exposed to so many and such violent temptations."

-4-

The item in the questionnaire reads:
"It is not a sin to neglect Confirmation."
A Personal history Inventory, which will be referred
to as PHI, was also composed. This was concerned with the
subject's educational background, parent's religion and beer

group. Questions on the FBI were as follows:

1. was the erade school you attended parochial?_____
public? ,or both?
2. Was the hiah school you attended parochial?

public? , or both?
3. If you have ever received special religious train-
ing (for example, Sunday School or Catechism Classes),

for how many years did this training last?

 

a. That college or other courses have you had in bible
Study or History of Reliqion outside your own

Church?

 

5. Do you attend church resularly? occasionally?
seldom? or never?

b. To what organizations of your church do you be-

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7. Do most of your friends belong to your denomination?
Yes No

8. Cf what relisious denomination is your father?

 

Your mother?

 

9. Do you read reliwious material? Yes No

Test Administration

 

The HQ and PHI were presented to introductory psycholosy
stuients during their regular classroom periods. The ques-
tionnaire was administered to all students to avoid suspicion
that it was designed for any particular denomination. The
answers were then analyzed for the 220 self-identified Roman
Catholic students in the classes. Resnonses of members of

other denominations have been excluded from this investieation.

-5-

The questionnaires were accompanied by the follow-

ing instructions:

scored on a five-point continuum.

to a response which definitely agreed with the Roman Catholic

position,

"This is a survey which is being con—
ducted as part of a research project deal-
ing with influences on public opinion. In
this survey we are trying to determine how
the general oublic feels and thinks about a
number of religiously orientated issues.

The first part of the survey is con—
cerned with gathering a little general in-
formation about yourself. Ne are interested
in seeinq if this information is related to
the second part of the survey which consists
of statements concerning religious opinions.
In part two we are interested in your own
Opinion.

This survey works just like the Gallup
P011 or an election. As in any other secret
ballot, the "voters” who fill out the ques-
tions remain anonymous. All that you are
requested to do is:

1) Read each statement carefully and
mark it according to your first re-
action. It isn‘t necessary to take
a lot of time for any one question.

2) Answer every_guestion.

5) Give your personal point of view.
Don't talk the Questions over with
anyone until you have finished.

h) Be as sincere, accurate and complete
as possible.

 

 

 

5) hate each statement in part two according

to whether you:

1) definitely asree 4) tend to disagree
2) tend to agree 5) definitely disagree

3) don't know or are uncertain
Section two will have this rating system
given on the top of each page for your con-
venience.

Each answer on the religious questionnaire was

Five points were given

four points to a tendency to afree and so on to one

point for a rating which definitely disaereed. Nhen the

catechistal statement was expressed negatively, definite

agreement with the RC statement was expressed as l and definite

_ 6 -

disagreement as 5. Any subject with a mean response of at
least #.00 (i.e., a total score between 530 and 42H) was
regarded as agreeing with his church's teachings. The odd-

even reliability of the Hg was .86.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Composition of the sample of students, in terms of
religious faith of parents, type of schooling, regularity of
church attendance, etc., is presented in table 1. Kean scores
for the subgroups on the R0 are also presented. The differences

in these means will now be considered.

The Family

 

The 152 subjects with Roman Catholic parents have
a mean RQ score of 429.2. However, the nine Roman Catholic
subjects with Protestant parents have a mean score of 478.0.
This difference is significant (t=9.0). Thus, the individuals
presumably converted to Catholicism are significantly more
accepting of their new faith than are those who have been
raised in tiat faith.

0n the other hand, those who have one Roman Catholic
and one Protestant parent have significantly lower means than
those whose parents are both either Catholic or Protestant.
The 51 subjects with Roman Catholic mothers and Protestant
fathers have a mean score of 406.8, and the eight with Prot-
estant mothers and Roman Catholic fathers have a mean of 344.0.
Thus, those with both parents Catholic are significantly more
accepting of their church's doctrines than those who have only
one Catholic parent (t=5.7 and 16.1 respectively). The important
influence of the mother in instilling religious beliefs is
indicated by the 63 point higher score when it is the mother
rather than the father who is a member of the Roman Catholic

ChurCh (t:2,103) o

Regularity of Church Attendance

 

As might be expected, individuals attending church
regularly are more accepting of their church's teachings.
Mean score of the 201 subjects who state that they attend

church "regularly" is H2l.5 and that for the 19 who attend

_ 8 -

Table I

Sample and Sean an Scores

Number of Cubjects Roan Scores

 

 

Roman Catholic Parents 152 429.2
Roman Catholic other,

Protestant Father 51 406.6
Protestant IOther,

Roman Catholic Father 3 544.0
Protestant Parents 9 478.0
Remular Church Attendance 201 421.5
No Reqular Church attendance 19 304.0
Fembership in Church Crganizations 82 427.0
Yo Membership in Church Croanizations 158 419.9
Friends of Same Denomination 95 426.9
Friends not of Same Denomination 127 419.4
Parochial Grade School Education 117 432.8
Public Grade 3chool Sducation 105 410.0
Parochial Hieh School Education 108 433.1
Public Hifh School fiducation 112 411.5
Parochial Grade and Hieh Cohool 92 455.7
Parochial Grade School, Public

Kiwh School 26 424.5
Public Grade School, Parochial

hioh School 19 421.5
Public Grade and “ifih School 85 407.1

"occasionally, seldom, or never” is 534.0. Tiis difference
0 o o u f
is significant (t:o.0).

..

Reli3ious Activities ano the Denomination of Friends

No sifnificant difference was found in mcan score
between the 32 subjects who reported that they belong to church
orfianizations and the 158 who do not, or between the 95 who
reported that most of their friends belong to the same denom-
ination and the 127 whose friends do not belonq to the same
denomination (t=1.5 and 1.6 respectively). Thus, membership
in church organizations or the denomination of one's friends

appear to have little influence upon religious attitudes.

Tducntional Bachjround

 

The 92 subjects with a parochial school education
have a mean ’Q score of 455.7. The 85 subjects with a public
school education have a mean score of 407.1. This difference
is significant (tz4.5). Thus, a parochial school education is more
influential in instilling an attitude of acceptance of church
doctrine than is a public school education.

No significant difference was found between the mean
RQ score of the 26 subjects with a parochial grade school and
public high school education (i=424.5) and the 19 subjects
with a public grade school and parochial high school education
(i:421.5;t=.6). The view that younger (grade school) children
are more impressionable and adolescents more rebellious gets
no support.

Both groups who have part parochial and part public
education are less accepting of their church's doctrines than
the group who report a parochial school education exclusively
(t=2.2 and 5.5 respectively), but these groups are significantly
more accepting than the mroup who report only a public school
education (t:2.5 and 2.4 resnectively). Thus, while it does
not appear to matter whether an individual who has only a

partial parochial education receives it during grade school

- 10 -

or high school, a partial parochial education has more effect
than none but not as much as if one were to have attended only
parochial schools.

There is no significant difference between themean
scores of the :roun with a parociial school education and the
group with Roman Catholic parents (tzl.O). For, between the
Croup with a public school education and the qroun whose parents

belont to different denarinations (t:.OS) - excepting in the
f her is Roman

J
(+-

case where the nother is Trotestant and the

1

Catholic. Thus, it w uld ateear that heman C: holic narents

at
tend to send their children to parochial schocls while parents
of differing denominations tend to send their children to
public schoels. As we'ld be ex ected then tnose with a paro-
chial school education acc nt significantly .ore of their
denomination's teachin 3 than the group with parents of dif-
ferent reliwious backgrounds out still significantly less than

the cenVerted group whose narents are both Protestant (t=l2.o).

Multille Regressional Analysis

 

 

The difficulty with analysis of the subrroups as
just reported is that the various environmental factors already
reported are confounded. The significance of the various
influences do not show the relative i nortance of each. For
example, most of the 152 subjects with two Catholic parents
also must report attending church rerularly, since only 19
in the whole sample adnit to little or no ch rch attendance.
Therefore, we Cannot be sure whether the hifh scares may derive
from the home or the CVurch influence. Since grow: members
are meriedly disrroportionate, a m4lti-factorial analysis of
variance would not be the best method of analysis. In this
section, the concern will be to find which factors have the
most influence on relifious attitudes.

The technioue for doing so will be a wultiwle re—

aressional analysis. In this procedure, the aim is to find

- ll _

the best possible prediction of criterion from a number of
predictors. The criterion here is the degree of acceptance

of Catholic defma, as measured by the HQ; the predictors are the
factors hypothesized to influence religious beliefs. That

is to say, the adult acceptance of Roman Catholic beliefs, as
measured by the questionnaire scores, is considered to be the
dependent variable, and the environmental influences are the
independent or predictive variables.

Che correlations with the criterion are insufficient
to determine which is the most influential predictor. Since
various predictors are correlated, their influence is overla sing.
The multiple reqressional technioue enables this overlapping
in prediction to be removed. The standardized regression
coefficient (the ”beta weight”) shows how much weifht to
attach to eact predictor to achieve maximal correlation with
the criterion. The column in table 2 called "predictive value”
shows the contribution to the predictor to this final correlation.
Because of the complexity of the multiple regressional system,
the exact influence of any variable remains subject to sta-
tistical controversy, but this predictive value (product of
the correlation with the criterion and the beta weight) gives
an approximation which is usually regarded as fairly satis-
factory. Three variables will be seen to have nerative pre-
dictive value. They are esgentially acting as supressor
variables, with the effect of cancelling out or minimizing some
non-predictive (and therefore unwanted) variance in the sys-
tem or predictors.

In the first regressional analysis (table 2), ten
environmental factors were considered:

1. Religious denomination of mother.

2. Religious denomination of father.

3. Religious education in grade school.

4. Religious education in high school.

5. Special religious training.

6. Reliqious denomination of friends.

Correlations,

Table 2

Feta Neiqhts and Predictive
Values of Factors

Lelieved to Influence

Acceptance of Church Dogma

Factors Influencing
geligious Feliefs_

 

 

('V

Regularity of church
Attendance

Hembership in Church
eranizations

Relifiious Denomination

of Friends
Parochial Grade School

Education
Relivious De omination

n
of mother
Denomination
of father
Reading of Reliqious
Katerial
Parochial High School
- Education
Bible Study Courses
Suecial Relisious Trainina

Religious

 

 

Correlation Beta ”ei1ht
Iith d9
-.76 —.73
.42 .42
-.38 -.21
-.30 -.14

-033 —.15
-020 -.\>O
“034 .2
028 -.l’5
-007 001+

_ 13 -

Predictive

 

Kalle

.037
.004
.000
-.Do5

—.oo;

\l
0

Regular church attendance

8. Membership in church organizations
9. Reading of religious literature
10. College courses in religion.

Early socializing influences - the home, the school

and the peer group - are represented by the first six of these
variables. Current adult influences in the life of the student
are considered in the other fOur, which relate to church attendance,
membership in church organizations, reading of religious lit-
erature, and college courses in religion.

The eleventh variable is, of course, the score on
the religious questionnaire. That is the score which is to
be predicted. Correlations of each environmental factor with
the R9 score are given in the final column of table 2. Pre-
ceding columns of the table give the correlations between the
different influences. Regular church attendance will be seen
to he the best single predictor. Its correlation with the
criterion is .76. The next highest correlation is provided
by the religious beliefs of the mother. If she is Catholic,
the subject is sore likely to accept the Catholic teachings,
as one would expect. The correlation is .43. However, these
two predictors are not independent. A subject is more likely
to attend church regularly if his mother is Catholic than if
she is Protestant.

The multiple rearessional technique is designed to
take the correlations between the predictive variables, i.e.,
their degree of overla ping information, into account. The
standardized regression coefficients (the so-called "beta
weights") indicate the weight to be given to the normalized
predictor variables to achieve maximal correlation with the
criterion. For each predictive variable, the product of the
regression coefficient by the correlation of the variable with

the criterion gives what may be called the predictive value

 

for that environmental influence. Anomalies can arise with

- 14 -

these predictive values: (a) two predictors with rather
similarized correlations with the criterion may have appreciable
different regression coefficients; the one with slightly higher
correlation therefore may have a sharply higher predictive
value. If the two predictors are intended as measures of the
same characteristic, our standard test theory sum ests that
giving equal weight to both predictors m y be a better solution
than giving nearly all veisht to the one variable and very little
weimht to the other. After all, the difference between the
two may be only a samrlinj "accident" which would not be rep-
licated in another investigation. (b) A variable with a pos—
itive correlation with the criterion may nonetheless have a
negative regression coefficient. Prediction is enhanced, that
is to say, by usin: the measure as a suppressor variable which
elimin tes some unwanted (i.e., non predictive) variance in
the multivariate system, leaving some other predictor a purer
measure of the criterion. when this harpens, predictive value
of the surpressor variable will carry a negative value. Despite
anomalies, which have been the subject of considerable technical
discussion but for wiich adeouate solutions do not exist, the
multiple regressional precedure remains probably the best
technique for determining the relative influence of each fac-
tor in the outcome, whenever it is not practicable to use the
multifactorial analysis of variance; that is, whenever there
are larrer number of predictors to be considered, or when the
numbers of subjects in the different categories are hithy
disprOportionate.

Correlations with the criterion, regression coefficients
and predictive values for the ten predictors are given in
table 2. The multiple correlation of the ten variables with
the criterion (degree of acceptance of Catholic dogma) is
.406. The two conteaaorary pieces of information - revularity
of church attendance and membership in church orqanizations -
are the outstanding factors. 3e know more from them than from

our introspective information about early relisious traininb.

- 15 -

Cur inquiry can be ushed further, Table 3 presents
the correlations of the degree of acceptance or rejection of
church domma with the v rious factors which are helieved to
have an influence on relifious beliefs. In addition, the
beta weights of each factor as well as the value of each factor
in predictin“ the dearee of acce tance or rejection of reii ions
doctrine are also presented. However, the best predictors
of the acceytance or rejection of church fiovna by adults — the
regularity of church attendance and nenbership in church or—
ganizations - are not included in an effort to see which of
the reuaininr indevenient variables are the best predictors
of the acceptance or rejction of church doctrine.

Cf the renuininr variables, the religious deno ination
of the mother is the nest predictor of the acceptance or re-
jection of Courch do“me uhile the religious denomination of
the f'ther has about no predictive value.

A parocfiial school education — rarticulerly attendanCe
at a parochial hifin school as well as enrollwent in bible study
courses are also predictive of the accentance of church dorma.
Srecial religious trainint such as Sunday “chool an) Tatechism

r, y ‘
0.1.8638

‘n

* is the poorest predictor of the acceptance or rejection
of church dorna.
Table 4 presents the correlations of the subjects'
education backsround as wall as the reliqious dencwinstions
of their parents with the acceptance or rejection of the laltimore

HW—-1._

gftephism ”o. 3. The beta weiwhts and values of these factors

-.~_—.- —--

 

in predictine the refularity of church attendance are also pre-
sented.

This table s ors that while a parochial school education
is the best predictor of the rerularity of church attendance,
the predictive value of a narockial hiuh school education,
which is the hithest value, is neéative. The relirious de-
nomination of the mother as well as the enrollment in bible
study courses are also nerative values. Asain, the knowlejfe

of the number of years of snecirl relirious training or the

Table 3

Further Correlations, Zeta Weights and Values
of Tactors Believed to Influence Acceptance
of Church Dogma

 

 

 

 

Factors Influencinq Correlation Beta Weioht Predictive
Religious Beliefs With RC Value

 

Parochial Grade School

fiducation -.50 -.l9 .0570
Religiozs Denomination

of mother —.Q3 -.3 .1313
ReliQiOIS Denomination

of father -.03 .21 -.oo¢3
Parochial high School

Education —.34 —.26 .OLJQ
Snecial Religious Training -.07 -.19 .0133

Table 4

Prediction of Church Attendance and Correlation
of Education and Parent's Denomination with
Acceptance of church Dogma

 

 

 

Factors Influencing Correlation Beta Weights Predictive
Church Attendance with RC Value

 

Parochial Grade School

Education -.30 -.21 .0630
Religious Denomination

of mother -.43 .lH -.0602
Religious Denomination

of father -.03 -.40 .Ol“O
Parochial Dimh School

fiducation —.34 .39 —.1326
Special Religious Training —.07 .21 -.0147

_ 17 -

religious denomination of the f ther is of little value in
the erediction of the refularity of church attendance.

Table 5 uses the correlations of the subjects'
educational bacquound and religious denomination of their
parents with the Baltimore Catechism ho. 3, and beta weights
to predict menbersnie in church organizations. Of the factors
presented, a parochial high school education and the religious

denorination of the mother annear to he the best predictors

of membershio in church organizations.

Table 5

Prediction of Membership in Church Organizations
and Correlation of Education and Parent's
Denomination with Acceptance of Dogma

Factors Influencinr
Church hembershio

 

 

Parochial Grade School
Education
Religious Denomination
of mother
Religious Denomination
of father
Parochial Hiéh School
Education
Soecial Religious Training

Correlation

Jith 33

 

-19..

Beta Heights

 

.17

-.22

.19

Predictive

 

Value

 

IV. SUHKARY AND CCNCTUBICNS

Infornation concerning the education, family and
friends of 220 Roman Catholic undergraduate students was
correlated with acceptance or rejection of church doctrine,
as measured by a questionnaire for belief basedunon the

Baltimore Catechism no. 9. It was found that reliqious con-

 

verts are even more acceyting of their nev relifiion than in-
dividuals trained in Catholicism since childhood. As might
be exnedted, individuals who come from tomes in which the
parents hold differing relinious attitudes are less accefiting
of their church's doctrines than individuals whose parents
belong to the same denomination. In homes where oarents hold
differing religious attitudes, the mother is more influential
than the father in instilling into the child her religious
attitudes.

Individuals who attend church regularly are more
acceotin: of their chzrch's doctrines than those who do not.
Regularity of church attendance does not ahpear to influence
the reliqious attitudes of those whose parents belong to the
same denomination as themselves. Towever, those who attend
church refularly accept more of their church's doctrines than
individuals of religiously mixed marriases.

Kembership in ChUFCL organizations and the denomiration
of friends does not anvear to be related to the acceptance of
church doama.

As mijht be expected, a parochial school education
has more influence in the formation of religious attitudes
than a public school education. And, in establishing favorable
religious attitudes some parochial school education, whether
received in grade school or high school is better than no
parochial education. Surprisingly, there is no significant
difference in acceptinz church doctrine if the iniividual re-
ceives his parochial education during his grade school or high

school years.

Reiulerity of church attendance andmembership in
church organizations are the best nredictors of the degree
of accentance or rejection of church doctrine. Controlling
on these two factors, the relidious denomination of the mother
is found to be the best predictor of acceptance or rejection
of church doctrine. A parochial school education is the best
predictor of resulerity of church attendance and membership

in church orwanizations.

Deck, E.M. Baltimore 39
{—

 

 

t p. iuffalo, U.Y.:dauch
& Stoeckl, lJBB.
Symington, 3.x. Religious liberals and Co serVatives. Teach.
Coll. Ccntr. uduc. No. 640, 1935.

APPENDIX

PLEASE RACE EACH STATEHENT AS TO WHETHER YCU:

l) definitely agree 4) tend to disaqree
2) tend to aqree 5) definitely disadree

3) don'tknow or are uncertain

1. It is not really necessary that children shoulc study catechism
since often they are too young to comprehend the religious
concepts.

2. To accent the Christian reliqion, it is not necessary to accept
the concept of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.

3. There are really no such things as devils.
4. Tust is a chief source of sin.
5. Protestantism is a heresy.

o. The power to exist unchanged to the end of time is necessary
for the church.

7. The twelve fruits of the Holy lnost are Charity, Joy, Feace,

Patience, Benianity, Goodness, lonqsufferinq, Eildness, ?aith,
Modesty, Continency, and Chastity.

o. A young couple who have just become engaged are planning their
wedding. They are unable to afford an expensive church wedding
so they shoald be permitted to be married by the local
municipal judge.

9. Faith is endansered by reading books aqainst faith and morals.

10. The reading of immodest books is all right if the reader is
mature enoueh to intelliaently deal with the material.

ll. A businessman arranged for a luncheon with a very important
client. After meetind at the restaurant, the businessman
remembers that it is a fast—day and he has already eaten one
full meal. Rather than lose the client's business, it is
all riaht for the businessman to eat another full heal.

12. God put into our hearts a desire to live on and endoy real
hapfiness.

13. The primitive, fosaic and Christian relifiions are exaenles
that there may be actually more than one true relifion.

14. To accept the Christian religion, it is not necessary to accept
the concept of Jesus descending into and ascending from Vell.

15. It is really uncertain that Adam and five were the first man
and woman.

16. Anger is a chief source of sin.

 

 

PIEASE mnTE EACH STAECVLNT AS TO VHETHEI YCU:
l) definitely arree 4) tend to disagree
2) tend to afree 5) definitely disa ree
3) don't know or are uncertain

17. The Church was founded to save all men.

lo. The Church cannot err when it teaches a doctrine of faith
or morals.

l9. Penance is a Sacrament in which the sins committed after
Baptixn are foraiven.

20. Churches should not hermit divorce.

[\J
H
"1

<aith is endanrered by non—religious schools.

22. A club of neiahborhood boys tested each new member's loyalty
by reouirin: him to steal something. A new boy, who moved
into the neiehborhood, throuft that this would be all right
since he wanted to rake new friends and wouldn't be accepted
without doing this.

23. It is all rieht to eat flesh-meat on days of abstinence.

24. God gave us a conscience which urges us to do good and avoid
evil.

25. Throqqh the advancement of modern science, it is now very
doubtful that the world was created by a Divine Beina.

26. To accent the Christian reliaion, it is not n ce

" '7'

accent the concept of nesus judginfi the livilg

s ary to
and the dead.

27. Chreufh modern science, there is atnle evidence that men
has evolved from a lower form of life.

26. Gluttony is a chief source of sin.
29. The Church was founded to teach allmen.
30. The 1"-i‘one alone as Yead of the Church is infallible.

31. fie showld be sorry for our sins because they shut us out of
heaven and condemn us to the eternal nains of hell.

32. Harriaee should be nermitted between nersons of different
relifious backarounds.

36. The enamies of private prenerty are Communists anC Socialists
who would like the state to take over ownership.

34. Cne is obliced, under pain of mortal sin, to no to confession
within the year.

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39.
40.

41.

45.
46.

47.

#2
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to.

/

l) definitely amree 4) tend to disarree
2) tend to afree 5) definitely disarree

V don't know or are uncertain

J

There is really no such state as Well.

To say that “an is made to the i ace and likeness of 30d is
actually an anthrooocorohism which W“: handed down fron the
primitive Qreek reli ions. (Anthropomorwgisn means to

attribute hu;on form or tersenality to God.)

To accent the Christian re ieion, it is not necessary to
accept the conceit of the fioly Enost.

hnvy is a chief sowpce of sin.

H
Ci.

is very uncertain that Tve was formed from a rib of Adam.

The Church b’.

“‘

_
_ L)
U)

fonnded to sanctify all men.

of

;an ism is not necessary to salvation.
it is a erievous offence willfully to conceal a mortal sin
in Confession.

A younr girl has been coin? steady with her boy friend for
two Years and feels that she knows him very well. oven
thoubh he does not belonj to a relieious faith, if the couple
love each other they should be allowed to get married.

1

A housewife when checflinj over her shonpinr iiSt after coming
home from the market found that the cashier had forsotten a
forty-three cent item. Since the housewife did her snonnin:
in a lerée supermarket and always boujht a lot of groceries
free them, she reasoned that it would be :11 ri ht to ignore
the mistake.

3e she‘ld confess freouently, if we wish to lead a good life.

There is no such a state as Purgatory.

Tohemmed, huddha, and Confucius are ere t men who presented
to their cultures a *hilosoehy of living which is called a
religion. In tine, these men came to be rewarded as Divine
Feings. likewise, Jesus has presented a model of ivinj to
the Hestern world and in the same manner has core 0 be re-
garded as a divine heinf although he is actually a freat
man rather than a Divine Beinj.

d-H

To accept the Ceristian relieion, it is not necessary to
accept the concept of the comnunion of saints.

Sloth is a chief source of sin.

50.

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0

1-_ ‘1 "
4“

4:5

1 ') 11 Q1". ”:1 'L‘ T‘ 111 ' '1' ’l C‘ "l1 ’1‘ 9,3111” .3 VI” ' o
-4 -u“ A4 1441') ‘ 1‘. _ _.;|‘_ , -

‘ _) _ z". .._ LLJ. . H a) I - . . .L - y; c
l) definitely arree h) tend to dis ree
2) tend to afree 5) definitely disaoree

3) don't know or are uncertain

Adam and Eve bossessed the supernatural sifts of infused
knowledée, strenoth of will, freedom from concutiscence
(unlawful desires) and sickness; and of innortality of
the body.

The Church was founded to govern all men.

Bantisn is a Sacra ent which wakes us heirs of heaven.

The chief sniritual works of mercy are seven: To admonish the
sinner, to instruct the ifnorant, to counsel the doubtful,
to doefort the sorrowful, to bear wronfs natiently, to for-
sive all innuries, and to pray for the living and the deada_
”arria es between veonle of different reliiious faiths should
be forbidden becausesuch marriares senerally lead to in-

difference.

Faith is endanfered by mixed marria“es.

After stealino a hundred dollars from his emrloyer, an
en loyee decided this was wrong. Since his employer is
very strict and mieht fire him, the en loyee, instead of
returning the money may rive it to a charitable yurtose.

Children sho'ld so to confession when they are old enoufih to
commit sin.

The faithful on earth can help the so ls in Purfetory by their
prayers, fasts, alms-deeds; by induleences, and by hrving

H sses said for them.

To accept the Christian relijion, it is not necessary to accent
the concept of the Virgin Lary.

To accent the ifiristian re:ifiion, it isnot necessary to accept
the concent of the forgiveness of sins.

It is really doubtful that th re ever existed such a place as
the Garden of Paradise or bden.

God abandoned man after he fell into sin.

All are bound to belong to the Church.

Unbaptized children cannot enter heaven.

The chief cor oral works of mercy are seven: to feed the
huncry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked,

to ransom the cantive, to harbor the harborless, to visit
the sic? and to bury the dead.

PIE

CTR
x) \

67.

68.

69.

70.

77-

78.

79-

’!

ADE RATS EACH STATSMIKT IS TO WHETHER YOU:

1) definitely agree 4) tend to disafree
2) tend to agree 5) definitely disagree
3) don't know or are uncertain

Prayer is necessary to salvation, and without it no one having
the use of reason can be saved.

 

Those who do not believe all that God has taught are heretics
and infidels.

7

3e who neglects to receive Communion during Easter time commits
a mortal sin.

The bodies of the just will rise glorious and innortal.

To accept the Christian religion, it is not necessary to
accept the concept of the Holy Ghost.

To accept the Christian religion, it is not necessary to accept
the concept of the resurrection of the body.

 

On account of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, we all share
in their sin and punishment.

The Roman Catholic Church is indefectible (faultless).

 

All who know the Church to be the true Church and remains out
of it cannot be saved.

 

Confirmation is a Sacrament through which we receive the Holy
Ghost.

 

The Holy Communion is not the reception of the body and blood
of Christ, but is rather syhbolic of it.

It is all riiht to make use of the services of spiritists and
fortunetellers if one desires.

The honoring of saints is actually in conflict with the
Commandment stating: "Thou shalt not make to thyself a
araven thing, nor the likeness of anytth: that is in
heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those thinss
that are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore
them nor serve them.” (Exodus 20:9).

A nerson who had served two years in orison for a crime he did
not commit, was fillinfi out a job apnlication. The application
asked if the applicant had a prison record. Since the person
was not guilty of the crime and since this information might
be a cause for him not tetting the job, it is all right for
the person to answer "no”.

P.JASE RATE EACH SfflTgthT A7 TO JHETHBR YCU:
l) definitely aqree 4) tend to disagree
2) tend to agree 5) definitely disazree
3) don't know or are uncertain
80. Those who can but do not contribute to the support of their
parish are suilty of an injustice, because they do not do
their duty and let others pay for their religious service.

51. Cremation is an acceptable mode of burial.

o2. To accept the Christian religion, it is not necessary to accept
the concept of Jesus suffering under the roman governor
Fontius Tdilate.

83. To accept the Christian religion, it is not necessary to accept
the concept of the life everlasting.

64. Original sin is a sinful state into which we were born.

85. Since in the ancient tines there were very few writings and
most communicationst by word of mouth, it is very easy that
the Vew Testrment could have been distorted by those who
passed it on.

o6. Cne church is as good as another.
87. It is not a sin to neglect Confirmation.

85. A person sins against faith in not trying to know what God
has taught, to refuse to believe all that God has taught,
to neglect to profess belief in what God has taught.

89. A son whose father has for some time not assumed his
responsibility in supporting the family, who drinks
heavily, and who dates other women constantly, need no
longer show respect for his father.

90. It is a mortal sin not to hear Kass on a Cunday or holiday
of obligation unless we are excused for a serious reason.

91. Bill and Jane are second cousins who never knew each other
very well until they went to college. Nhile at college they
dated regularly and have fallen in love. They shoxld be
permitted to marry.

92. The soul can die even though it is a spirit.

9}. To accept the Christian religion, it is not necessary to
accept the concept of Jesus having been crucified.

94. There are really no such things as Angels.

PLEASE RATE EACH S‘i‘fil‘llqfil‘l’i‘ AS TC {IFISJTHQR Y‘CU:

\O
U“!
0

100.
101.

102.

106.

l) definitely ajree 4) tend to disasree
2) tend to arree 5) definitely disagree
3) don't know or are uncertain

Christ's 8041 does not descend into the hell of the damned,
but into a place or state of rest called Limbo, where the
souls of the just were waiting for Him (immediately after
His crucifixion).

There are actually several roads by which a good person can
get to heaven.

The qifts of the Holy Ghost help us to develon the virtues
of Faith, Hone and Charity which are received in Baptism.

It is a sin to be indifferent to faith.

A son when in need of dinancial help to complete his medical
education was isnored by his well-to—do father. Now the son
is a successful doctor and the father who lost his fortune
approaches his son for money. The son is ri ht in refusing
his f'thar‘s request since originally the father did not
live up to his obligation.

T

School children should be encouraged to attend dish Kass.

Catuolics sho ld be married at nuptial Kass.

Heaven is a state of everlasting life in which we see God
face to face, are made like unto Him in glory, and enjoy
eternal happiness.

Grace is nece sary to salvation.

One can be honest without going to church.

The gifts of the holy Ghost are Xisdom, Understanding,
Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledie, Piety and Fear of the Lord.

It is a sin to endanaer faith.

. . .‘.fi
, “Him

mum V

 

 

llllllll Willis