Refining Christian Religious Orientations through Cluster Analyses

Abstract

To explore religious orientations, 163 Christians answered the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Religious Orientation and Quest Scales. Cluster analysis showed that Extrinsic Item 2 (“It doesn't matter so much what I believe so long as I lead a moral life”) did not fit in the two- or three-cluster model. One cluster of the two-cluster and one of the three-cluster models were exactly the same and reflected intrinsic, personal religion. The remaining clusters showed why a correlation is found between the Extrinsic and Quest scales and suggest refinements of the scales.

Keywords

religious orientation cluster analysis Christian quest orientation intrinsic orientation extrinsic orientation

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