Religious/Spiritual History
Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality
Linda K. George (2003)
RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL HISTORY
LONG FORM
Are you a born again Christian?
Yes‚ No
IF YES: How old were you when this occurred?
IF NO: Have you had a religious or spiritual experience that changed your life?
No‚ Yes
IF YES: How old were you when this occurred?
Brief Religious History
Were you raised in a religious tradition?
No‚ Yes
IF YES: Answer next 5 items.
1. When you were a young child‚ how often did you attend religious services?
2. When you were a young child‚ how often did you participate in religious practices at home‚ either by yourself or with your family?
3. When you were a teenager‚ how often did you attend religious services?
4. When you were a teenager‚ how often did you participate in religious practices at home—either by yourself or with your family?
5. Do you currently practice the same religion in which you were raised?
No‚ no longer practice any religion
No‚ I’ve changed religious affiliations
Yes
Now let’s turn to your religious participation as an adult. For each of the following age periods‚ please rate your religious involvement.
20-29‚ 30-39‚ 40-49‚ 50-64‚ 65+
Involvement in religious services
Low‚ Medium‚ High‚ Does not apply
Involvement in private religious practices such as prayer‚ meditation‚ and study of religious materials
Low‚ Medium‚ High‚ Does not apply
The strength of your religious or spiritual faith
Low‚ Medium‚ High‚ Does not apply
Note: Age categories are those used by Benson with the exception of adding a category for 65 years and older.
RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL HISTORY
SHORT FORM
History of Life-Changing Religious/Spiritual Experience
Did you ever have a religious or spiritual experience that changed your life?
No‚ Yes
IF YES: How old were you when this experience occurred?
Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality for Use in Health Research: A Report of the Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group
This instrument can be found on pages 65-69 of Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality for Use in Health Research: A Report of the Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group‚ available online at http://fetzer.org/resources/multidimensional-measurement-religiousnessspirituality-use-health-research
Benson PL. (1990). Patterns of religious development in adolescence and adulthood. Invited address at: American Psychological Association Meeting; San Francisco‚ Calif.
Benson‚ P. L. (1992). Religion and substance use. In J. F. Schumaker (Ed.)‚ Religion and mental health (pp. 211–221). New York: Oxford University Press