Mystical Experience as Related to Present and Anticipated Future Church Participation
Psychological Reports December 1, 1976 DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1976.39.3f.1127 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 324 |
| Population | 324 persons surveyed about mystical experience and church participation |
| Topics | Mystical experience |
| Key findings | The report of mystical experience and its religious interpretation each related differently to church denomination, attendance frequency, and decisions to change, quit, or join a church. The authors conclude from these exploratory data that reported mystical experience is an important variable related to patterns of church participation. |
Abstract
The relationship between reported mystical experience and present and anticipated patterns of church participation was investigated in an initial sample of 324 persons. A scale to measure reported mystical experience that allowed for a distinction between the report of mystical experience (Factor I) and its religious interpretation (Factor II) was utilized. Each factor differentially related to church denomination, frequency of church attendance, decision to change church membership, decision to quit church participation, and decision of non-church members to join a church. It was concluded that on the basis of these exploratory data the report of mystical experience is an important variable related to patterns of church participation.