The persistence of spiritual experience among churchgoing and non-churchgoing Italians: sociological and psychological perspectives
Giuseppe Giordan, Leslie J. Francis, Giuseppe Crea
Journal of Contemporary Religion September 2, 2018 DOI: 10.1080/13537903.2018.1535371 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Survey study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,155 |
| Population | Italians aged 14 to 80 years |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Openness to mystical experience was quite high among non-churchgoing Italians but was significantly associated with sex, age, religious attendance, and personal prayer. The authors report that differences between attenders and non-attenders vary with how aspects of mystical experience are expressed, and argue that combining psychology and sociology of religion illuminates Italy's religious and spiritual landscape. |
Abstract
The study presented in this article draws on theories and methods developed within the psychology of religion to examine, from a fresh perspective, a problem established within the sociology of religion: the ‘oddity of the Italian situation’. The study employs the notion of openness to mystical experience as an indicator of the level of spiritual awareness among a sample of 1,155 Italians ranging in age from 14 to 80 years. The data demonstrated that, while levels of openness to mystical experience remain quite high among non-churchgoing Italians, these levels are significantly associated with sex, age, religious attendance, and personal prayer. Moreover, the differences between attenders and non-attenders are sensitive to the ways in which aspects of mystical experience are expressed. The dialogue between the psychology of religion and the sociology of religion generates fresh insight into the religious and spiritual landscape of Italy today.