Adam, Raoul J. (2009) ‘Leaving the Fold’: apostasy from fundamentalism and the direction of religious development. Australian Religion Studies Review, 22 (1). pp. 42-63.

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Abstract

This paper re-examines the direction of religious development implicit in Piagetian-based theories in light of a recent study of apostasy from fundamentalism. The theory-led and inductive thematic analysis of apostate narratives reveals evidence of a ‘sociocognitive conflict’ that complicates the implicit teleology of traditional theories of religious development. The diverse trajectories produced by this interaction between sociocultural and cognitive influences prompts a fresh analysis of Howard Gruber’s question concerning the direction of development: Which way is up? I highlight the complex interaction between cultural and cognitive influences involved in apostasy from fundamentalism and provide support for Streib’s Religious Styles Perspective as a theory for investigating multiple factors influencing the conceptualisation and direction of religious development.

Item ID:	7990
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1744-9014
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2010 01:35
FoR Codes:	22 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES > 2204 Religion and Religious Studies > 220405 Religion and Society @ 20% 17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170111 Psychology of Religion @ 80%
SEO Codes:	95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9504 Religion and Ethics > 950404 Religion and Society @ 10% 95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9504 Religion and Ethics > 950405 Religious Structures and Ritual @ 80% 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970122 Expanding Knowledge in Philosophy and Religious Studies @ 10%
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