Abstract

In this thesis: (1) a religious experience typology was constructed and used to discover whether or not a sequential order existed of religious experiences from the least to most intimate type, (2) the relationship between religious experiences and church orthodoxy was examined, and (3) several background variables were investigated to clarify the above relationship.

It was found 276 Mormons that religious experiences develop in a sequential order from the least to the most intimate type and that a moderate relationship exists between religious experiences and church orthodoxy. The findings support the theory which states that religious experiences and the relationship between religious experiences and church orthodoxy are situational from denomination to denomination and depend upon the emphasis placed upon the church members to incur religious experiences and adhere to the emphasized relationship between the two variables. Men, returned missionaries, high occupational and income status people seem to be most orthodox. However, religious experiences seem to have the greatest influence upon the church orthodoxy of 21-30 year olds, female life members of the Church, lower or upper occupational status people who earn less than $5,000 annually.

Degree

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Sociology

Rights

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