The effect of religiosity on willingness to forgive in Christians: Implications for Christian counselors
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate if and to what degree religiosity effect willingness to forgive in Christians. More specifically if and to what degree intrinsic orientation, quest orientation, and fundamentalism orientation effect willingness to forgive in Christians. The study also examined if number of years of being a Christian effect Christians' willingness to forgive. This study was a non-experimental structural regression model research design, conducted in a large metropolitan Midwestern city in the United States and a small Southern city in Canada. A total of 162 Christians from various Christian denominations participated in the study. Participants completed questionnaires regarding their religiosity and willingness to forgive. Religiosity was measured by the Items of Belief Orientation Scale (English Translation) (ner- zkan (2007). The participants' willingness to forgive was measured by the Forgiveness Likelihood Scale (Rye, 1998). Participants also completed a demographic questionnaire that included information regarding the number of years they have been Christians. The study posited that religiosity will have an effect on Christians' willingness to forgive and that the number years of being a Christian will have an effect on willingness to forgive. A structural regression (SR) model was used to determine if religiosity has an effect on willingness to forgive in Christians. It was found that fundamentalist orientation significantly and meaningfully predicts willingness to forgive in Christians. It was found that intrinsic orientation and quest orientation do not significantly and meaningfully predict willingness to forgive in Christians. A One- Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine if the number of years of being a Christian indicated any statistically significant difference in terms of willingness to forgive. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference between the years of being a Christian categories in terms of willingness to forgive in Christian individuals. The study also provides implications regarding counseling Christian clients who are struggling with unforgiveness.
Recommended Citation
Jassett Joan Crooks,
"The effect of religiosity on willingness to forgive in Christians: Implications for Christian counselors"
(January 1, 2009).
ETD Collection for Wayne State University.
Paper AAI3354799.
http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/dissertations/AAI3354799
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