scholarly journals Differences in Religiousness in Opposite-Sex and Same-Sex Twins in a Secular Society

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda J. Ahrenfeldt ◽  
Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen ◽  
Sören Möller ◽  
Kaare Christensen ◽  
Dorte Hvidtjørn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Religious Coping ◽  
Church Attendance ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Secular Society ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Coping Patterns

Sex differences in religion are well known, with females generally being more religious than males, and shared environmental factors have been suggested to have a large influence on religiousness. Twins from opposite-sex (OS) and same-sex (SS) pairs may differ because of a dissimilar psycho-social rearing environment and/or because of different exposures to hormones in utero. We hypothesized that OS females may display more masculine patterns of religiousness and, vice versa, that OS males may display more feminine patterns. We used a web-based survey conducted in Denmark, which is a secular society. The survey included 2,997 twins aged 20–40 years, identified through the population-based Danish Twin Registry. We applied la Cour and Hvidt's adaptation of Fishman's three conceptual dimensions of meaning: Cognition, Practice, and Importance, and we used Pargament's measure of religious coping (RCOPE) for the assessment of positive and negative religious coping patterns. Differences between OS and SS twins were investigated using logistic regression for each sex. The analyses were adjusted for dependence within twin pairs. No significant differences in religiousness and religious coping were found for OS and SS twins except that more OS than SS females were members of the Danish National Evangelical Lutheran Church and fewer OS than SS females were Catholic, Muslim, or belonged to other religious denominations. Moreover, OS males at age 12 had higher rates of church attendance than did SS males. This study did not provide evidence for masculinization of female twins with male co-twins with regard to religiousness. Nor did it show any significant differences between OS and SS males except from higher rates of church attendance in childhood among males with female co-twins.

Familial Resemblance in Religiousness in a Secular Society: A Twin Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 544-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorte Hvidtjørn ◽  
Inge Petersen ◽  
Jacob Hjelmborg ◽  
Axel Skytthe ◽  
Kaare Christensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Environment ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Church Attendance ◽  
Environmental Influence ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Psychological Traits ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
Secular Society ◽  
Using Data

It is well known that human behavior and individual psychological traits are moderately to substantially heritable. Over the past decade, an increasing number of studies have explored the genetic and environmental influence on religiousness. These studies originate predominantly from countries generally considered more religious than the very secular northern European countries. Comparisons of the results are complicated by diverse definitions of religiousness, but several studies indicate that the influence of the family environment is most predominant in early life, whereas genetic influences increase with age. We performed a population-based twin study of religiousness in a secular society using data from a Web-based survey sent to 6,707 Danish twins born 1970–1989, who were identified in the Danish Twin Registry. We applied Fishman's three conceptual dimensions of religiousness: cognition, practice, and importance. In all polygenic models and biometric analyses, we controlled for gender and age. The study sample comprised 2,237 same sex twins, a response rate of 45%. We found high correlations within both monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs in most items of religiousness, indicating a large influence from shared environmental factors. Personal religiousness such as praying to God, believing in God, and finding strength and comfort in religion were more influenced by genetic factors than were social forms of religiousness such as church attendance. We found a small tendency for increasing genetic influence with increasing age for some religious items, but not for all.

scholarly journals PennTwins: A Population-Based Cohort for Twin Studies

2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 998-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emil F. Coccaro ◽  
Kristen C. Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
Overall Response Rate ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Demographic Differences ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Current Article

AbstractThe current article describes the creation and composition of the PennTwins Cohort and provides details on the demographic characteristics of the sample. The PennTwins Cohort was developed using a population-based method of ascertainment and currently has 9401 28- to 47-year-old twins, including 2225 confirmed twin pairs and 4951 twins whose co-twins have not yet registered. Zygosity data have been used to identify 919 monozygotic, 634 same-sex dizygotic, and 445 opposite-sex dizygotic pairs. GeoCode data on gender, age, and certain demographic characteristics were obtained for the addresses of all twins who were mailed invitations to be part of the cohort. Analysis of the available data show only very small differences between twins who are currently part of the PennTwins Cohort and potential twins who either did not respond to recruitment or who could not be located. Similarly, only very small demographic differences exist between twins from complete pairs and twins whose co-twins are not yet registered, and there are no differences across zygosity. Thus, despite a relatively low overall response rate (12% of all twins born in Pennsylvania from 1959–1978), there is no evidence that the sample differs in any meaningful respect from the larger population.

scholarly journals The value of traditional African religious music into liturgy: Lobethal Congregation

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morakeng E.K. Lebaka
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Direct Observation ◽  
Church Attendance ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Holy Communion ◽  
Religious Music ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran

The purpose of this study was to discover whether the integration of traditional African religious music into Evangelical Lutheran liturgical church services, could effect a change in member attendance and/or participation. To achieve this, the study employed direct observation, video recordings and informal interviews. In addition, church records of attendance during Holy Communion once a month between 2008 and 2013 were accessed. The study was done at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Lobethal Congregation (Arkona Parish, Northern Diocese, Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province, South Africa). It was demonstrated that church attendance increased dramatically after traditional African religious music was introduced into the Evangelical Lutheran liturgical services in 2011. Observations and video recordings showed that drums, rattles, horns and whistles were used. Handclapping was seen to act almost as a metronome, which steadily maintained the tempo. It was concluded that introducing traditional African religious music into Evangelical Lutheran liturgical church services has increased attendance and participation of church members. Therefore, the introduction of African religious music could be considered for other Evangelical Lutheran congregations in Africa.

scholarly journals Experiences of (Mis)recognition of Same-Sex Partnerships in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

Exchange ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 258-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina Hellqvist ◽  
Auli Vähäkangas
Keyword(s):  
Social Contexts ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Registered Partnership ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Struggle For Recognition ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran ◽  
Interpersonal Recognition

Abstract The article discusses the recognition of same-sex partnerships in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF). The main focus is on the experiences of recognition and misrecognition of same-sex couples when the couples have asked for a prayer on behalf of their registered partnership. The findings of this study confirm that the researched experiences of recognition have two dimensions, vertical and horizontal. Vertical recognition deals with institutional recognition and experiences with the sacred. Horizontal recognition entails experiences of interpersonal recognition. Narrated experiences often contained both horizontal and vertical dimensions of (mis)recognition. Recognition is a social phenomenon. Participants of the study had two distinct social contexts for recognition. One is the more loosely defined “rainbow community”, the other the formally authoritative, institutional ELCF. Most of the interviewees had positive experiences of recognition from the informal community but mainly negative experiences of misrecognition from the institutional ELCF. The difficult balancing between the conviction of the equal human dignity of each individual and the understanding of marriage as a social category for heterosexuals only led to same-sex couples’ experience of not being treated as equal members of the church. The study affirmed the importance of experiences and feelings as indicators in identifying a valid struggle for recognition.

Contemporary and Traditional Voices: Reactions to Same-Sex Marriage Legislation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Orthodox Church of Finland

Exchange ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-257
Author(s):  
Pekka Metso ◽  
Laura Kallatsa
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Orthodox Church ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran ◽  
The Church

Abstract This article studies the debate on same-sex marriage in the early 21st century, within the two national churches of Finland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church. Legislation facilitating the so-called “gender-neutral marriage” came into effect in Finland in March 2017. In their official teachings, both churches emphasize marriage as a union between a man and a woman. An awareness of the rights of sexual minorities has, however, increased in both churches, and has given rise to the debate on how same-sex marriage should be perceived. While holding on to the traditional view of marriage, both churches have sought ways to recognize and affirm the position of sexual minorities. This has caused tension within the churches. As the majority church, the Lutheran church in particular faces strong pressure to accept same-sex weddings in the church. For the advocates of sexual minorities within the Orthodox Church, recognition of sexual minorities seems to be the main objective, rather than promoting same-sex weddings.

scholarly journals Luther, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland: A Gender-Sensitive Historical Analysis

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Sini Mikkola
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Committee Report ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran

The issue of whether to accept same-sex relationships as marriages has been under discussion worldwide in recent years, including in the Nordic countries, such as Finland. While in other Nordic countries, the Lutheran churches officiate same-sex marriages, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) has rejected it on theological grounds that are largely based on Reformation Era sources. This article examines the constitution committee report that was used as the basis of the decision made by the General Synod of the ELCF in May 2018 to not accept same-sex marriages. Through close reading of the report and performing content analysis from a gender-sensitive historical perspective, the article claims that the validity of the arguments of the report can be called into question, due to the lack of a hermeneutical awareness of the differences between the sixteenth and the twenty-first centuries, and the highly selective use of the sources from the Reformation Era in the document. The article concludes by pointing out that making use of the Reformation heritage in theology, instead of replicating the arguments of the sixteenth century, would have produced a theologically and historically more solid report, which could well have been in favor of extending the view on marriage in the ELCF.

scholarly journals Same-sex marriage and the Lutheran Church in Finland: How rapid change in values and norms challenges the church and its decision-making

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimmo Ketola ◽  
Eila Helander
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Finnish Population ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Registered Partnership ◽  
The Right ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
The Church

AbstractThe effect of legislative changes on same-sex unions on people’s attitudes toward homosexuality is a fairly well-researched topic. There is less research on how state legislation on same-sex unions has affected churches’ attitudes and policies on registered partnership and same-sex marriage. In this paper we focus on attitudinal polarisation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) in the matter of same-sex marriage and why there is a gap in the attitudinal development of the church and the society. The analysis is based upon six sets of representative surveys among the Finnish population, the employees of the ELCF and the elected officials of the ELCF between the years 2012–2017. Whereas the majorities (55%) among the Finnish population and among the ELCF members (54%) are already favourable to the idea that same-sex couples should have the right to marry in the church, the ELCF has not approved of it. This situation has polarised the ELCF from within. Empirical analysis shows that the reason for the discrepancy between popular opinion and the ELCF stance stems from the fact that ELCF decision makers are older and more religious than the general membership. However, the data also shows that even among the most religious, younger age groups are already more favourable towards the same-sex marriage. Therefore, it is likely that the polarisation will lessen over time as more and more religious people accept same-sex marriage.

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