THE IMPACT OF RELIGION ON VALUES AND BEHAVIOR IN KENYA

Authors

  • Naomi Wambui Finstock University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47672/ejpcr.218
Abstract views: 642
PDF downloads: 750

Keywords:

religion, values, behaviour

Abstract

Purpose:  The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of religion on values and behaviour in Kenya.

Methodology: The paper adopted a desk top research design. The design involves a literature review of existing studies relating to the research topic. Desk top research is usually considered as a low-cost technique compared to other research designs.

Results: Based on the literature review, the study concluded that religion has positive impact on values and behavior. The study further concludes that a belief in fearful and punishing aspects of supernatural agents is associated with honest behavior, whereas a belief in the kind, loving aspects of gods is less relevant.

Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that policy makers should review policies involving religion by changing commonly held beliefs regarding the Constitution and religion. The study also recommended that religious leaders and parents take special care of the religious formation of children, especially during the transition period from childhood to adolescence, when they are most likely to lose their religious faith.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Naomi Wambui, Finstock University

Post Graduate Student

References

Bellah, R. N. (1985). others. Habits of the Heart. New York: Harper & Row, 235, 14.

Blumberg, H. H., Hare, A. P., & Costin, A. (2006). Philosophy, ethics, and religion. Peace psychology: A comprehensive introduction, 46-52.

Chaves, M. (1994). Secularization as declining religious authority. Social forces, 749-774.

Cleveland, M., & Chang, W. (2009). Migration and materialism: The roles of ethnic identity, religiosity, and generation. Journal of Business Research, 62(10), 963-971.

Costa, P., & Goodwin, R. (2006). The role of religion in human values: a case study. Journal of Beliefs & Values, 27(3), 341-346.

Dobbelaere, K. (1981). Trend report: Secularization: a multi-dimensional concept. Current sociology, 29(2), 3-153.

Emerson, T. L., & Mckinney, J. A. (2009). Importance of religious beliefs to ethical attitudes in business. Journal of religion and business ethics, 1(2).

Fagan, P. F. (2006). Why religion matters even more: The impact of religious practice on social stability. Backgrounder, 1992, 1-19.

Hadden, J. K. (1987). Toward desacralizing secularization theory. Social forces, 65(3), 587-611.

He, Y., Chen, Q., & Alden, D. L. (2012). Social presence and service satisfaction: The moderating role of cultural value‐orientation. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 11(2), 170-176.

Hoge, D. R., Johnson, B., & Luidens, D. (1994). Vanishing boundaries. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox.

Holloway, S. D. (1999). The Role of Religious Beliefs in Early Childhood Education: Christian and Buddhist Preschools in Japan. Early Childhood Research & Practice, 1(2), n2.

Idler, E. (2008). The psychological and physical benefits of spiritual/religious practices. Spirituality in Higher Education Newsletter, 4(2), 1-5.

JO, K., Agak, J. O., & JE, K. (2012). The role of teaching Christian Religious Education to the development of critical thinking amongst Kenyan secondary school students in Kisumu East District, Kenya.

Kumar, V. (2008). A critical review of economic analyses of religion. IGIDR WPS, 23, 2008.

Lechner, F. J. (1996). Secularization in the Netherlands? Journal for the scientific study of religion, 252-264.

Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological review, 98(2), 224.

Marquand, R. (1996). Religious Right Elbows Way onto World's Political Stages. The Christian Science Monitor, 1.

Mbiti, J. S. (1990). African religions & philosophy. Heinemann.

Mehta, K. K. (1997). The impact of religious beliefs and practices on aging: A cross-cultural comparison. Journal of Aging Studies, 11(2), 101-114.

Miller, B. C., Higginson, R., McCoy, J. K., & Olson, T. D. (1987). Family configuration and adolescent sexual attitudes and behavior. Population and Environment, 9(2), 111-123.

Nel, P. J. (2008). Morality and religion in African thought. Acta Theologica, 28(2), 33-47.

Norenzayan, A. (2014). Does religion make people moral? Behaviour, 151(2-3), 365-384.

Onwubiko, O. A. (1991). African thought, religion and culture. Snaap Press.

Oswald, D. P., Coutinho, M. J., Best, A. M., & Singh, N. N. (1999). Ethnic representation in special education the influence of school-related economic and demographic variables. The Journal of Special Education, 32(4), 194-206.

Pardini, D. A., Plante, T. G., Sherman, A., & Stump, J. E. (2000). Religious faith and spirituality in substance abuse recovery: Determining the mental health benefits. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 19(4), 347-354.

Reza, S. (1998). Religion and the Public Defender. Fordham Urb. LJ, 26, 1051.

Roof, W. C. (1993). A generation of seekers: The spiritual journeys of the baby boom generation. HarperCollins.

Roof, W. C., & McKinney, W. (1987). American mainline religion: Its changing shape and future. Rutgers University Press.

Rotheram, M. J., & Phinney, J. S. (1987). Ethnic behavior patterns as an aspect of identity. Children’s ethnic socialization: Pluralism and development, 201-218.

Schwartz, S. H. (1992). Universals in the content and structure of values: Theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 countries. Advances in experimental social psychology, 25, 1-65.

Shariff, A. F., & Norenzayan, A. (2011). Mean gods make good people: Different views of God predict cheating behavior. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 21(2), 85-96.

Shehu, F. M. (2011). The role of religion in shaping moral character: Islamic and Catholic perspective. IIUM Press.

Stark, R., & Iannaccone, L. R. (1996). Response to Lechner: recent religious declines in Quebec, Poland, and the Netherlands: a theory vindicated. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 35(3), 265-271.

Swinyard, W. R., Kau, A. K., & Phua, H. Y. (2001). Happiness, materialism, and religious experience in the US and Singapore. Journal of happiness studies, 2(1), 13-32.

Tittle, C. R., & Welch, M. R. (1983). Religiosity and deviance: Toward a contingency theory of constraining effects. Social Forces, 653-682.

Wald, K. (1997). Religion and Politics in America.

Weaver, G. R., & Agle, B. R. (2002). Religiosity and ethical behavior in organizations: A symbolic interactionist perspective. Academy of management review, 27(1), 77-97.

Wilson, E. K. (1966). Sociology; rules, roles, and relationships. Dorsey Press.

Wuthnow, R. (1997). The crisis in the churches: Spiritual malaise, fiscal woe. Oxford University Press on Demand.

Wuthnow, R., & Witten, M. (1988). New directions in the study of culture. Annual Review of Sociology, 14(1), 49-67.

Yamane, D. (1997). Secularization on trial: In defense of a neosecularization paradigm. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 109-122.

Zahid, M. A., & Shapiee, R. (2010). Pacta Sunt Servanda: Islamic Perception. JE Asia & Int'l L., 3, 375.

Downloads

Published

2017-03-14

How to Cite

Wambui, N. (2017). THE IMPACT OF RELIGION ON VALUES AND BEHAVIOR IN KENYA. European Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Religion, 1(1), 50 - 65. https://doi.org/10.47672/ejpcr.218

Issue

Section

Articles