Religious Values Scale – RVS

I am concerned that my behavior and speech reflect the teachings of my religion.

I do not accept what I hear in regard to religious beliefs without first questioning the validity of it.

It is important to me to conform to my religious standards of behavior.

I enjoy spending time with others of my religious affiliation.

Religious beliefs influence all my dealings in life.

It is important to me to spend periods of time in private religious thought and meditation.

I feel there are many more important things in life than religion.

I enjoy working in the activities of my religious organization.

I keep well informed about my local religious group and I have some influence on its decisions.

I make financial contributions to my religious organization.

I often read books and magazines about my faith.

I spend time trying to grow in understanding of my faith.

I have personally tried to convert someone to my faith.

I talk about my religion with friends, neighbors, or fellow workers.

Religion is especially important to me because it answers many questions about the meaning of life.

My religious beliefs lie behind my whole approach to life.

I would break fellowship with my local religious group if there were things being said of me that are damaging and untrue.

I am willing to be persecuted for my religious beliefs.

My living environment (room, apartment, house, office) reflects my religious beliefs (i.e., posters, plaques, bumper stickers).

I would publicly defend my religious beliefs.

I believe the scriptures of my faith are completely true.

I think it is important to obey my faith's scripture.

My faith's scriptures have practical value in the modern world.

I read my faith's scriptures almost every day.

I memorize my faith's scriptures.

I depend on my faith's scriptures to help me make decisions in conflict situations.

I have experienced the usefulness of my faith's scriptures in my daily life.

It is important to understand the historical significance of my faith's scriptures.

I understand my faith's scriptures.

I like to study my faith's scriptures.

I believe that my faith's scriptures are important but other books of wisdom are equally important.

I enjoy being with people whose attitudes toward my faith's scriptures are similar to my own.

I prefer to take advice from people whose attitude toward my faith's scriptures is similar to my own.

If I went to counseling, I would like a counselor whose attitude toward my faith's scriptures is similar to mine.

What other members of my religious group expect of me is important.

I avoid doing things that members of my local religious group would disapprove of.

I feel accepted by the members of my local religious group.

I share the goals of the members of my local religious group.

The standards of my local religious group guide me in making decisions.

If I have a conflict with what my local religious group tells me is right, I go along with the religious group.

I couldn't get along without involvement in my local religious group.

Being recognized by non-members as a member of my local religious group gives me a good feeling.

I can get along with the goals of my local religious group but not with the overall goals of the whole organization (e.g., national or world-wide religious group).

I prefer the local chapter of my religious group to the larger overall organization.

The goals of my local religious organization are the same as the goals of the entire organization.

It is more important to me to belong to a particular part of my religious group than to think of myself as merely Christian or Jewish or Muslim (or other faith).

I enjoy being with people in my local religious group more than people who are not in that group.

I enjoy being with people who belong to my overall religious organization.

I prefer not to take advice from people outside my local religious group.

I prefer not to take advice from people outside my overall religious organization.

If I went to counseling, I would like a counselor whose faith is similar to mine.

It is a religious duty for me to obey governmental authorities.

One should follow the guidance of one's pastor, priest, or rabbi without question or complaint.

It is a religious obligation for children to obey their parents.

Husbands should exercise wise, loving authority over their wives.

It is a religious obligation even for adults to obey their parents.

When counselors make suggestions, they should be obeyed.

When the board of elders (or the leaders of a local religious group) take a stand, the congregation should follow their leading.

One should obey the leader(s) of one's organized religion (e.g., Pope, President of denomination, or other leader).

I enjoy being with people who share my attitudes toward human authorities.

I prefer not to take advice from people whose attitudes toward human authorities differs from my own.

If I went in to counseling, I would like a counselor whose attitude toward human authorities is similar to mine.