What Does it Mean to be a Christian? Exploring the Religious Identity of Intrinsically and Extrinsically Religious Black Seventh-Day Adventist University Students

Abstract

This study explored the religious identity of Black Seventh-day Adventist University students and the elements that helped form their religious identity. The unidirectional, bidirectional and channeling models of socialization was used to describe the formation of religious identity. The data were collected in two stages. At the first stage, a convenience sample of 74 students responded to the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS), which measured the levels of religiousness. At the second stage, those participants with the highest intrinsic and extrinsic scores (N = 34) were invited to participate in four focus groups. The findings showed that relationship was the principal theme that described religious identity; while ritualism, coercion, utilitarianism, familial and religious involvement were themes that described the formation of their religious identity.

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Notes on contributors

Octavio Ramirez

Octavio Ramirez is Professor of Social Work in the School of Education and Social Sciences at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. His research interests are in the areas of sexuality among college students, school social work, mental health, and spirituality and religiosity among Latinos.

George Ashley

George Ashley is Professor and Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. His research interest is in the areas of sexuality among college students, health, and wellness with a special focus on student and faculty stress, student behavior, and course management issues.

Malcolm Cort

Malcolm Cort is Associate Professor of Sociology at Athens State University in Athens, Alabama. His research interest includes the factors that affect the health of peoples of the Black Diaspora; specifically, the effects of internalized racism on risk factors for type-2 diabetes in southern Africa.