Religiosity and Individual Agency: Denominational Affiliation, Religious Action, and Sense of Control (SOC) in Life

By reporting findings from Wave 6 of the World Values Survey, this paper presents a renewed understanding of the relationship between religiosity and individual agency that is defined as sense of control (SOC) in life. In doing so, it proposes two conceptual articulations of religiosity. First, it a...

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Main Author: Jae-Mahn Shim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/117
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author Jae-Mahn Shim
author_facet Jae-Mahn Shim
author_sort Jae-Mahn Shim
collection DOAJ
description By reporting findings from Wave 6 of the World Values Survey, this paper presents a renewed understanding of the relationship between religiosity and individual agency that is defined as sense of control (SOC) in life. In doing so, it proposes two conceptual articulations of religiosity. First, it articulates religiosity to be composed of categorical (i.e., denominational affiliation) and substantive (i.e., religious action) aspects. Second, it articulates substantive religious action to be multivocal, involving individual–affective, individual–practical, and collective–practical action. The paper finds that categorical denominational affiliation has varying effects on SOC, whereas substantive religious action mediates these effects in such a way that it consistently boosts SOC. A positive association between denominational affiliation (vs. non-affiliation) and SOC becomes smaller when religious action is accounted for. A negative association becomes greater when religious action is accounted for. In sum, the paper argues for the positive mediating effect of religious action on the varying relationship between denominational affiliation and SOC.
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spelling doaj.art-2951b1dcb6664979a67044d6f07803ae2023-12-03T13:16:23ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-02-0112211710.3390/rel12020117Religiosity and Individual Agency: Denominational Affiliation, Religious Action, and Sense of Control (SOC) in LifeJae-Mahn Shim0Department of Sociology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seoul 02841, KoreaBy reporting findings from Wave 6 of the World Values Survey, this paper presents a renewed understanding of the relationship between religiosity and individual agency that is defined as sense of control (SOC) in life. In doing so, it proposes two conceptual articulations of religiosity. First, it articulates religiosity to be composed of categorical (i.e., denominational affiliation) and substantive (i.e., religious action) aspects. Second, it articulates substantive religious action to be multivocal, involving individual–affective, individual–practical, and collective–practical action. The paper finds that categorical denominational affiliation has varying effects on SOC, whereas substantive religious action mediates these effects in such a way that it consistently boosts SOC. A positive association between denominational affiliation (vs. non-affiliation) and SOC becomes smaller when religious action is accounted for. A negative association becomes greater when religious action is accounted for. In sum, the paper argues for the positive mediating effect of religious action on the varying relationship between denominational affiliation and SOC.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/117religiositydenominational affiliationreligious actionsense of control (SOC)agency
spellingShingle Jae-Mahn Shim
Religiosity and Individual Agency: Denominational Affiliation, Religious Action, and Sense of Control (SOC) in Life
Religions
religiosity
denominational affiliation
religious action
sense of control (SOC)
agency
title Religiosity and Individual Agency: Denominational Affiliation, Religious Action, and Sense of Control (SOC) in Life
title_full Religiosity and Individual Agency: Denominational Affiliation, Religious Action, and Sense of Control (SOC) in Life
title_fullStr Religiosity and Individual Agency: Denominational Affiliation, Religious Action, and Sense of Control (SOC) in Life
title_full_unstemmed Religiosity and Individual Agency: Denominational Affiliation, Religious Action, and Sense of Control (SOC) in Life
title_short Religiosity and Individual Agency: Denominational Affiliation, Religious Action, and Sense of Control (SOC) in Life
title_sort religiosity and individual agency denominational affiliation religious action and sense of control soc in life
topic religiosity
denominational affiliation
religious action
sense of control (SOC)
agency
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/117
work_keys_str_mv AT jaemahnshim religiosityandindividualagencydenominationalaffiliationreligiousactionandsenseofcontrolsocinlife