One Experiences God Hilary Dalton David C Dollahite amp Loren D Marks Brigham Young University UTCFR Annual Conference Salt Lake City UT March 31 2017 AFF Overview 198 Christian Jewish and Muslim families ID: 563908
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Slide1
Transcendent Matters: Family Relationships Associated with How One Experiences God
Hilary Dalton, David C. Dollahite, & Loren D. Marks
Brigham Young University
UTCFR Annual Conference
Salt Lake City, UT, March 31, 2017Slide2
AFF Overview
198 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim families
Over half (51%) are from various ethnic minorities
From 17 states in all 8 major regions of the United StatesSlide3
Intro
Need to explore religion-relationships links (relational spirituality)
(Mahoney, 2013)
How perceptions of one’s experiences with God are related to family life
Attachment theory - “horizontal relationships”
Authority theory - “vertical relationships”Slide4
Intro
Directive transcendence
Experiencing God mostly as an authority figure (e.g. King, Judge, Ruler, Lawgiver, source of absolute Truth)
Intimate transcendence
Experience God mostly as close confidant (e.g. Healer, Companion, Guide, Comforter, Friend)
Authoritative transcendence
Experiencing God as both authority figure and close confidantSlide5
Research Questions
How do
religious families experience/perceive God
?
How do these perceptions influence family relationships
?Slide6
Methods
Concept
Number of
most salient accounts
Percent of
most salient accounts
Total
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Theme 1: God as authority figure
102
66
36
100
65
35
A) God gives commandments
34
33
B) Submit will to God
30
29
C) God has a plan
23
23
Theme 2: God as close confidant
88
35
57
100
40
65
A) One can trust God
30
34
B) God is available at any time
24
27
C) God heals or provides support
20
23
D) God is personally interested and blesses
19
22
Theme 3: God as authority figure and close confidant
33
21
11
100
64
33
A) One can trust God
24
73
B) God as guide
11
33
C) One can converse with God
11
33
Slide7
Examples of Directive Transcendence
God gives commandments:
“Obeying his [God’s] laws, or his commands, or his teachings, is very important to have a successful life and a family.” (Baptist father)
Submit my will to God:
“The more I submit to God, the better husband I become.” (Episcopalian father)
God has a plan:
“But wasn’t this actually, without our knowing it, all part of Hashem’s plan? . . . We didn’t like it. . . . obviously this was how it was intended to work itself out, so that instead of you and me going divergent roads over it, we had to work together and find a place where we could be comfortable with each other and build a Jewish home together” (Jewish mother)Slide8
Examples of Intimate Transcendence
One can trust God:
“It provides . . . a security blanket. . . no matter what’s going on around you, there is some constant that’s there, and that’s God. . . . we can bring all of our problems and cares to Him. And there is that foundation that . . . it’s unmovable.” (Missionary Alliance father)
God is available at any time:
“God is there. As much as you get wrapped up in society and work and school and your friends, and this, and that . . . you know God is there. God is there. . . . You are never alone, and no matter what happens, if you have faith, it will work out for you.” (Catholic father)Slide9
Examples of Intimate Transcendence
God heals and provides support:
“In the course of . . . trying to raise children . . . your faith has to be a significant factor in that. . . . To fulfill your responsibility, to pass along faith in God, and in understanding that God loves you, and keeps you. [You teach your children that God] takes care of you, and provides for you, and is there when even I am not there, and [that He] will sustain you and make you whole.” (Muslim mother)
God is personally interested in and blesses us:
“We believe that our Heavenly father is willing, able, and desires to help us in every decision we have to make in life. Not just the big decisions. . . . We believe he [also] wants to help us to give us the guidance in . . . the little daily activities of our lives that require inspiration . . . we believe that our Heavenly Father is more than happy to . . . put impressions in our heart [and] in our minds to give us direction.” (Mormon father)Slide10
Examples of Authoritative Transcendence
One can trust God:
“Last year, we wanted to move again. When we prayed to God, we asked God’s will, “If you want us [to] stay at Baton Rouge, please prepare a job for us.” It was wonderful to find this job. So whenever we have something, we pray to God [and] ask for God’s will.” (Chinese Christian mother)
God as a guide:
“[God is] a guide definitely . . . [to] where you’re going to live, how to bring your children up. [He] gives us direction; helps us have love, the kind of love He has.” (Missionary Alliance mother)
One can converse with God:
“I would consider God fatherly and parental. . . . since He has communicated to us in those relational terms . . . I trust that that’s probably the best way to deal with Him,
‘cause
that’s the way He’s talked to us.” (Baptist husband)Slide11
Type of transcendent relationship a parent experiences with God may impact the ways that parents relate to their
children
When parents experience an authoritative transcendent relationship with God, they may be better equipped to relate to and with their children.
They may be better able to balance being an authority figure to, and a close confidant for their children
Could increase the likelihood of a healthy, high-attachment relationship.
ConclusionSlide12
PDFs of publications available at:
http://AmericanFamiliesofFaith.byu.edu
For slides/handouts from this presentation email me at:
dhilary5@gmail.comSlide13
Thanks to the 1
38
BYU & LSU Students Who Have Worked on The American Families of Faith Project
BYU GRAD STUDENTS
Hilary Dalton
Emily Layton
Toshi Shichida
Michael Goodman
Jennifer Y. Thatcher
Heather Howell
Joe Chelladurai
BYU UNDERGRADS
Jessica Finnigan
Camille Brown
Patricia Flores
Cara Graybill
Anna Ridley
Jennifer Spooner
Anthony Walker
Nathaniel Lambert
Jennifer Yorgason
Hannah Hill
Lydia Polakoff
Sarah Sheley
Kiera Staples
Sarah Call
Heidi Emett
Alison Holdaway
Jordan Kennard
Tiffany Lindsey
Marie Olsen
Sarah Solomon
Allison Barnes
Genevieve Bruno
Laura Turner
Megan Stokes
Elisse Weinert
Amy White
Esther Young
Margaret Jacob
Julie Malloy
Courtney Andersen
Jennifer Bowman
Jason Burningham
Aubrianna Critchfield
Rachael Moore
Tiffany Larson
Taleah Kear
Megan Sheldon
JC Brugger
Heather Eaton
James Jensen
Jessica Krewson
Janelle Martin
Ellise Mulcock
David Parks
Rachael Raben
Eliza Sallstrom
Joseph Simonson
Amy Steflik
Megan Stokes
Melissa Tenneson
Kelsie Christiansen
Stephanie Seaborn
Veda WeinertSlide14
Thanks to the 1
38
BYU & LSU Students Who Have Worked on The American Families of Faith Project
Aubrey Dalton
Rebekah deBoer
Naomi Winters
Jordan Kohl
JilliAnne Jensen
Heather Garbe
Cloee Colohan
Annemarie Hale
Natasha Ovuoba
Madison Raymond
Kristal Woods
Kate Patterson
Summer Saunders
Makayla Foley
Jillian Cannaday
Dayeong (Amy) An
Lindsey Feil
Jennifer Hamula
Katelyn Ray
Julia Norman
Kaity Pearl
Ashley Tuft
Logan Dicus
Kate Handy
Michele Griggs
Jordyn Carter
Jeanine Bell
Madison Stillwell
Brooke Z. Patterson
Nic Suder
Sherrie Goaslind
Essen Skabelund
Cody Gunnels
Anna Finneran
Ethan Jones
Candace Judd
Treana Johnson
Betsy Hughes
Emily Turner
MacRorie Hewitt
Kelsie Gleason
Amanda Cottle
Joshua Powner
Lenore Mulford
Elisabeth Kirchner
Tiffany Alexander
Mallory Elder
Kara Fluckiger
Savannah Fonseca
Kelsey Jeppson
Lauren Miller
Kalani Purcell
Sara Stinnett
Justin Torrance
Jaimie Trottier
Erika Zeiner
BYU Total: 116Slide15
LSU GRAD STUDENTS
Olena Nesteruk
Mandy Swanson
Katrina Hopkins
Trevan Hatch
Yaxin Lu
Antonius Skipper
Loredana Apavaloaie
Teri Brown
Zahra Alghafli
Katie Barker
Allison Berry Rayburn
Courtney Pitts
Gloria Thompson
Carol Leblanc
LSU UNDERGRADS
Tanya Davis
Mindi Batson
Whitney Lain
Emily Fuller
Pamela Owens
Justin Wax
Tim Benedetto
Melissa Navarra
LSU Total: 22
Grand Total: 138
Thanks to the 1
38
BYU & LSU Students Who Have Worked on The American Families of Faith Project