Biblical Authority Questions: Two Choices in Identifying Conservative Christian Subcultures

Dixon, Richard D.; Jones, Lloyd P.; Lowery, Roger C.

doi:10.2307/3711628

Cited by 25 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Sociologists have used biblical literalism to identify particular socio-religious groups, especially in connection with the rise of the political right wing in the USA in the 1980s (Wilcox, 1992;Carpenter, 1997). Ammerman (1982 suggested that belief in the historicity of the Creation story would distinguish Fundamentalist Christians from Evangelicals, but a single question seemed to be too narrow a focus (Dixon, Jones & Lowery, 1992). Smidt (1989) Are there other specific factors than can predict the extent of literalism within particular traditions?…”

Section: Factors Shaping Biblical Literalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors shaping biblical literalism: a study among Anglican laity

Village

2005

Journal of Beliefs & Values

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Section: Factors Shaping Biblical Literalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors shaping biblical literalism: a study among Anglican laity

Village

2005

Journal of Beliefs & Values

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“…One study, for example, revealed that "doctrinal conservatives are most likely to select the most 'authoritative' option presented them, without much apparent concern over whether that option implies 'literalism' or 'inerrancy' " (Jelen 1989:427), while another found that reSwPa~ndt~nttSs;a ~ ablaen~¡252176161205225241237 9~~:~~~~Y2 ~k¡ m recent empirical examination of Ammerman's thesis (i.e., the fundamentalistevangelical cleavage) did not detect a clear relationship between an array of religious, political, and sociodemographic correlates on the one hand, and either of two types of biblical authority questions --a "total Bible" version anda "single miracle" Creation story version --on the other (Dixon, Jones, and Lowery 1992). Subsequent to these developments, Joe Barnhart (1993) illuminated the complexities of the literalism-inerrancy problem via a case study of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).…”

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confidence: 94%

Beyond Biblical Literalism and Inerrancy: Conservative Protestants and the Hermeneutic Interpretation of Scripture

Bartkowski

1996

Sociology of Religion

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This study highlights the//mitations associated with sociolo~cal conceptualizations of "biblical literalism" and "biblical inerrancy," and proposes ah alternate theoretical model for illuminating conservative Protestant scriptural interpretaaons. In an effort to redress these conceptual limitations, I bring insights from the field of hermeneutics to bear on the literalism-inerrancy problem. Hermeneuticists maintain that a reader's Ÿ of a text may be explained (I) by examŸ the presuppositions (or "prejudices") which the reader brings to the text,.and (2) by evaluating the circular process by which a reader imparts meaning to the text ( i.e., the hermeneutic circle ). After outlining the contours of the hermeneutic model of textual interpretation, I apply this model to explain contradictory scriptural interpretations advanced by leading conservative Protestants conceming (I) the concept oŸ "submission" in conservative Christian marital relations, and (2) the tole of corporal punishment in conservative Protestant parenting ideology. I conclude by specifying avenues for future research. With the persistence of religious conservatism in the contemporary United States, social theorists, empirical researchers, theologians, and religious commentators alike have evinced an ongoing fascination with the nature and dynamics of conservative Protestant 1 scriptural interpretations (Jelen, Wilcox, and SmidtDirect corresponde.nce to ]ohn Bartkowski, Deparrment of Sociology, 336 Burdine Hall, The Universiry of Texas at Aman, Austin, Texas 78712-108. A previous version of das paper was presented at the I995 annual meetings of the Society for the Scientific Study of Relig, on, St. Louis, MO. I would like to thank Christopher EUison, Louis E. Fischer, ]oseph Forman, WiUiam Garrett, Joseph Tamney, and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments on e~iier versions of das paper. However, I claim fuU responsibiliry for the anal~yses and interpretalions presented herein.

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“…''; ''The miracles recorded in the bible were actual events'' and ''The Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) was written by Moses and not a product of later authors''. These items express the core of Christian conservatism where biblical literalism is seen as an important marker (Dixon, Jones & Lowery, 1992).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of the need for homophily in referral criteria: The case of clergy referrals to mental health professionals in Singapore

Mathews

2010

Journal of Interprofessional Care

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Homophily, the tendency to seek out those who are similar, is a powerful force in structuring the relations that people have in a variety of social settings including the selection of partnerships. Despite this, attitudinal homophily has seldom been discussed in relation to referral practices, an important consideration in health care delivery. In this paper Christian clergy in Singapore are examined as to the extent they impose homophily as a selection criteria for referrals to mental health professionals. This is an important consideration as clergy are popular sources of help though they seldom refer their clients to mental health professionals due to the competition between health sectors. This study based on survey data collected from a representative sample of Singaporean clergymen predicts that those who expect referral partners to be homophilous include those with greater Christian conservatism, professional ideology and beliefs in clergy competence in handling emotional and mental problems. These ministers tended to come from smaller congregations and had more psychological education. In essence clergy who value homophily in referral partners are concerned about the relational risk involved in the referral process and use homophily in the hope that they can find referral partners who do not undermine their authority or jeopardize laymen's faith.

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Biblical Authority Questions: Two Choices in Identifying Conservative Christian Subcultures

Cited by 25 publications

References 16 publications

Factors shaping biblical literalism: a study among Anglican laity

Factors shaping biblical literalism: a study among Anglican laity

Beyond Biblical Literalism and Inerrancy: Conservative Protestants and the Hermeneutic Interpretation of Scripture

Determinants of the need for homophily in referral criteria: The case of clergy referrals to mental health professionals in Singapore

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