Religious affiliation is a complex phenomenon involving the three disciplines of theology, psychology and sociology. This book views the problem empirically, mainly from the social-psychological point of view and the author makes full use of the latest scientific research, surveys and investigations. There is increasing interest in the social significance of church membership and how to describe the ties of religious belonging. From the social-psychological point of view, the author accounts for these ties under three main headings: Religious Belonging as an Attitude related to Behaviour, the Formation of the Religious Attitude, and Differentiation of the Religious Attitude.
Both by its synthesis of present knowledge relating to religious affiliation and by its analytical insights, this book makes a substantial contribution to several disciplines at once: sociology, social-psychology, psychology, religion and education. We know all too little about the nature of religious affiliation and identification or about the processes through which they are developed; this study helps to fill the gap.