Name

[1a] Relationship with God

Short Description

Bidirectional relationship with a personal God

Detailed Description

Direct reference to “relationship with God,” connection with God, or bidirectional interaction between individual(s) and God. The relationship must be with a personal God.

Inclusion Criteria

Must have indications of both (1) bidirectionality and (2) personal God.

Typical exemplars

·Bond or relationship with God

·Obedience and receiving blessing discussed as a pair, expressing the bidirectionality of relationship

Atypical exemplars

·Emulating God

·Trusting in God

·Being grateful for God

·Loving God

·Centrality of God

(We regard them as implicitly assuming bidirectional relationship with a personal God)

Exclusion Criteria

Mere mentioning of receiving blessing or obedience/commitment without bidirectional interaction.

Not perceiving/assuming a personal God (e.g. talks only about blessings, spirit, or religion).

 Close but No

Routine prayer to God (should be coded as [2] Non-transcendence)

Name

[1b] Transcendence (Divine Moral Authority)

Short Description

God or religion as moral authority

Detailed Description

Placing God and divine will above oneself as authority, or placing oneself or self-will in relatively lower position to God, and submit to Him. Complying with the demands of religious standards.

Inclusion Criteria

Attributing authority to God/religious values or submission to it, or denying own authority before the divine authority

Typical exemplars

·Supremacy and authoritative power of God, God’s plan over self/people, God as a Transcendent Parent, or God who gives challenges

·(Striving for) obedience/devotion to God, revering/glorifying God, being humble before God

·(Striving for) complying with religious standards (e.g. covenant of chastity), or devotion to religion as moral authority

·“Kingdom of God”

Atypical exemplars

·Sense of awe/reverence/humility in religious/spiritual contexts

·Scriptural authority, citing scripture

·God’s ownership of the earth/world

Exclusion Criteria

No sense of submission to divine authority

Close but No

·Responding to the faith standard of loving others.

·“Relationship with God” below

Name

[1c] Transcendence (Supernatural & Eternal Considerations)

Detailed Description

Conceptual description of supernatural (something above human power or beyond the laws of nature and scientific explanation), otherworldly, or extraordinary dimension. Eternal goals/views or consideration of life/bonds after death.

Inclusion Criteria

Conceptual, not experiential reference to eternity or life after death

Exclusion Criteria

Actual experience and feelings

Typical exemplars

·Holiness of God

·Eternal marriage/family, eternal life

Atypical exemplars

·“Creator”

Close but No

·Scientific (not related to human) description of eternity

·Satan’s temptation

Name

[1d] Transcendence (Extraordinary Spiritual Experience)

Detailed Description

Actual experience of Infinite, supernatural, otherworldly, or extraordinary quality that is not typically found in mundane life in the world. However, it can happen often to a person’s life.

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Views, thoughts

Typical exemplars

·Divine intervention

·Spiritual encounter, mystic experience

·Religious feelings

·Other unusual, non-daily experience

Atypical exemplars

·Attributing success experience to power above human capacity

·Felt presence of God/Spirit

Name

[1e] Mundane

Short Description

Everydayness of religiosity and loving-kindness as religiosity/spirituality

Detailed Description

(1) Religiosity/spirituality regarded as “everyday” or routine.

(2) Receiving or asking for blessings in daily life and utility (e.g. food, finance, health)

(3) Loving-others regarded as spiritual/religious.

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

(1) Events regarded as extraordinary.

(2) Spiritual blessings (e.g. power, ability, faith, or attributes)

(3) Loving-kindness without spiritual/religious regard.

Typical exemplars

·Daily prayer

·Being blessed with health

Atypical exemplars

Close but No

·Regular description of religiosity/spirituality but lack expression of everydayness.

·“We go to church every Sunday”: when the intended meaning is devoutness in not missing any Sunday.

Name

[2a] Religion Creates Profound Anxieties

Description

Anxiety over meaningless, guilt, separation from God and loved ones

Inclusion criteria

·Anxiety about degree of religious observance and dedication

·Anxiety about the meaning of life

Exclusion criteria

Religion presenting a means of solving an anxiety

Typical exemplars

·Worry about being separated from loved ones after death

·Worry about not being able to be with God after death

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Name

[2b] Religion Resolves Profound Anxieties

Description

Religious meaning, forgiveness, reconciliation with God and loved ones

Inclusion criteria

·Feelings of relief surrounding religious beliefs about receiving mercy/grace

Exclusion criteria

Religion Presenting a reason to be anxious

Typical exemplars

·Confidence in how religion provides opportunities to be with God and/or family after death

·Religion providing a solution to eternal consequences of sin via forgiveness

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Categories

Themes

Causes of Anxiety

Uncertainty

Apprehension/
threat

Lack of control/agency/

self-efficacy

Harm/loss
(already happened)

Resources

God

Practices

Congregation

Spiritual experiences

Coping Processes

Problem-focused

Emotion-focused

Transformation

Conservation

Resolutions of Anxiety
(What gives me relief?)

Certainty

Control/agency/
self-efficacy

Meaning

Connection/
Relationship

Name

[3a] Unifying

Short Description

Detailed Description

Identifying with God/other, emulating, connection/built (or building) relationship, sense of oneness, openness/inclusion, shared goals/activities, spending time together, or belonging. Uniting with fellow adherents.

Inclusion Criteria

Intention to describe a good, desirable bond in a collective body. A collective viewpoint is needed.

Exclusion Criteria

Loving one person unilaterally.

Typical exemplars

See Detailed description

·Moment of security felt as family

Atypical exemplars

Sacrificial effort for lasting marriage. 

Close but No

Engaging in the same job (not necessarily trying to unite or enjoying unity).

Name

[3b] Divisive

Short Description

Detailed Description

Exclusion of, separation from, or criticism against somebody, family members, group, God, or imaginary people “out there” due to religious/spiritual reason.

Inclusion Criteria

·Intention to avoid, or conflict

Exclusion Criteria

·Ideas

·Individuality

·Preference

·Mere difference

Typical exemplars

·Separation of fellow adherents from non-adherents

·Criticizing or staying away from people who speak immoral language

·Awkwardness or tension in the relationship due to value difference

Atypical exemplars

·Shallowness of communication referred to in a negative manner

·Pursuit of different directions

Close but No

·Separation from worldly ideas or ideas inconsistent with faith

·State of being separated without intention to separate involved in any of the parties (i.e. caused by merely outward situation)

·Separation caused by racial reason.

Name

God Unifies, Unity with God

Description

Feeling united or close to God. God unifying individuals with others, including spouses.

Inclusion criteria

God being a part of a marriage, God bringing community members together, strong relationship with God or Christ

Exclusion criteria

Unity with others when God is not explicitly a part of the relationship

Typical exemplars

“…part of thinking about God is getting together.”

“It’s a three-way covenant between us and God and we believe that we’re one, we’re one flesh, we’re one in union.” 

“I feel close to God.”

Atypical exemplars

“At times more than others, like you’re really close to the family, like love being part of it, other times there’s arguments, but there’s times when, like maybe Christmas or something, you just really can feel God’s presence.”

"It was a sight to see, when you see God's people get together."

Close but no

 “I feel peace when I am in nature.”

Name

Importance of Faith, Shared Beliefs

Description

The role faith/shared beliefs play in uniting individuals and strengthening relationships

Inclusion criteria

Importance of raising children in their shared faith, shared faith being important to people deciding whether to get married

Exclusion criteria

Importance of shared interests which are unrelated to religion or faith

Typical exemplars

“I just think the commitment is deeper because we have a stronger basic foundation, which is faith.”

“So much of our relationship is based on what we believe and how we believe…”

“I don’t know how people stay together without faith”

Atypical exemplars

 “Okay, it means that I don’t have to worry about the usual things. The rest of the week. Totally different time. We have Shabbas, and that’s Shabbas, different. We don’t have to worry about the rest of the world. The rest of the world goes on. But we’re here with our family and our religion. That’s just, you know, it’s our time.”

Close but no

 “Well we also go to meetings together. Like we do pretty much everything together, yeah, which is…It’s nice though, because you have that, you know, everybody’s together and we’re all taking in similar things.”

Name

Religious Practices

Description

Any religious practices or religious traditions which are done together or are unifying

Inclusion criteria

Family prayer or scripture study, religious weddings, attending worship services together, celebrating religious holidays together

Exclusion criteria

Family traditions which are not religiously based

Typical exemplars

“…we would pray together and so that really drew us together a lot when we prayed together.”

“We have a home Bible study here on Tuesday nights with about two other couples.”

“I think going to church together is a very important thing.”

Atypical exemplars

“And just I mean not every single nuance of theology do I agree but for the most basic things we do agree so how we worship and what’s important about worship and who God is and I think it’s really important because it makes us a single voice for our children too.”

Close but no

---

Name

Secular or Interfaith Community

Description

Interacting in positive ways with those outside the family or the immediate religious community.

Inclusion criteria

Receiving or providing support or friendships to those outside of the individual’s religious community or family.

Exclusion criteria

Interactions with those inside the religious community or with family members

Typical exemplars

“I think people just thought that, okay this young girl does, is doing something for her religion at a time where a lot of people want to hide out.  So I just got a lot of support from everybody”

“We are trying to now reach out to other people in communities and other faiths as a family.  And we want to be able to, for other people to feel comfortable with who we are.”

Atypical exemplars

“I think a purpose of our marriage also is to be a strength in a community and to support and strengthen the rule of laws in society rather than everybody just doing what they want to do…”

Close but no

 ---

Name

Marriage, Family: Overcoming Differences, Forgiveness

Description

Times when faith/religious beliefs helps family members overcome or prevent differences and arguments with each other.

Inclusion criteria

Forgiving each other, working issues out, preventing disagreements

Exclusion criteria

Overcoming differences/forgiving those outside the family

Typical exemplars

“I think it does help us, like kind of get along better.”

“I think our shared values enable us to head off a lot of potential conflict.”

“Yeah, you know not holding grudges, not letting the sun go down on your anger.  Trying to resolve . . .”

Atypical exemplars

 “I feel the only conflicts I ever had were before I really became religious, before I really think I took it on.  Since then, pretty smooth sailing.  We never have fights.”

Close but no

 ---

Name

Marriage, Family: Parent-Child

Description

Parent-child relationship, importance of children and procreation

Inclusion criteria

Strong relationships between parents and children, being able to communicate effectively, support each other, respect each other, valuing children and responsibilities as parents, desiring to have children and procreate, the values and lessons parents strive to teach children

Exclusion criteria

Any relationships which do not influence or are not influenced by the parent child relationship.

Typical exemplars

“actually teach your children as their teachers as opposed to giving them to someone else to do it by proxy.”

 “I think the strongest bind is sort of this shared vision in the children.”

“I’m just pretty close to my mom, and my dad”

Atypical exemplars

“Right, partly for religious reasons. We had certain difficulties with that. My father-in-law never graduated high school, never went on to college, but he and my husband started an animation business together. So this is a very family-centered arrangement here.”

Close but no

 ---

Name

Marriage, Family: Spousal Commitment, Sacredness

Description

Viewing relationships as particularly special, separate from the rest of the world, something that is supposed to last and be valued, marriage is religious and spiritual

Inclusion criteria

Marriage as a religious promise/covenant, Eternal relationships

Exclusion criteria

Sacredness not related to the marital relationship or parental relationship

Typical exemplars

“I believe it is a covenant.  It’s a three-way covenant between us and God and we believe that we’re one…”

“…the bond between us is, sexually there’s only a physical expression of that.  It’s something far beyond that.”

“The vows that we took; those are deep and spiritual.” “…have a common goal of improving yourself, to be worthy to be with Heavenly Father, to be together forever.”

“I’m not afraid that Jennifer will divorce me.”

Atypical exemplars

“I think for me, becoming a parent and just the co-creating and knowing that I’ll always be creating things, whether it be children or whatever. But that I think is the biggest spiritual part of marriage…”

Close but no

 ---

Name

Marriage, Family: Greater Together

Description

Spouses who are better together than they would be individually  (1+1=3), spouses becoming one

Inclusion criteria

When spouses bring each other up, help each other be better, complement one another

Exclusion criteria

When becoming better or something more isn’t explicit or implied

Typical exemplars

“Are you focusing on building one another up, encouraging one another….”

“we don’t feel the gender roles are in any way put one above another.  They complement each other.”

“…helping each other with daily life, helping each other to move up.”

Atypical exemplars

“…because I think I avoided a lot of foolishness in having my wife’s council.”

Close but no

 ---

Name

Marriage, Family: Support, Working Together

Description

Family members (immediate and extended) working together or giving support to each other

Inclusion criteria

Working together towards common goals, helping each other, showing love and support

Exclusion criteria

Working with or supporting others outside of family,

Typical exemplars

“like both husband and wife to be keenly respectful and aware of each other’s needs and you know, not so focused on their own in hopes that, you know, someone else is.”

“And that’s the goal to which one works, a life of harmony with one’s spouse.”

“We have a partnership.”

Atypical exemplars

"And they were always together a united front."

Close but no

---

Name

Marriage, Family: Togetherness

Description

Enjoying just being together with one’s family.

Inclusion criteria

Doing activities together, talking about religious activities as a way to spend more time together as a family, feeling connected

Exclusion criteria

Religious practices where the enjoyment or importance of being together isn’t explicit

Typical exemplars

“We go for a hike.  We do things together on Shabbas”

“I think the part that’s important is that we join hands around the table, so we’re touching each other.”

“just to like love each other and stuff and be together.”

Atypical exemplars

---

Close but no

 “We go to church together every week to so we can each worship the Lord.”  [Although they are going together, their purpose for going is not to be together, but rather to worship.]

Name

Religious Community

Description

Unity with the religious community as a whole or unity with members within the religious community

Inclusion criteria

Doing activities together, feeling connected, getting to know people, building friendships, being involved in youth groups

Exclusion criteria

Interactions with others outside the religious community

Typical exemplars

“to be a Jew, it’s not possible to be a Jew without being part of ‘the people.’”

“it’s a community of people who believe what we believe.”

“You get together with people that you would never have gotten together with”

Atypical exemplars

---

Close but no

 ---

Name

Religious Community: Close, Familial-like Bonds

Description

Relationships within the religious community which are particularly close

Inclusion criteria

Referring to members in congregation as like “family members”, having a special bond, relationships that go beyond just the shared belief and friendship

Exclusion criteria

Ordinary friendships, relationships that aren’t particularly important or powerful, relationships outside the religious community

Typical exemplars

“it’s a fabric that’s woven of all the people in the church, and you know, we care deeply about each other.”

“It’s just like one big family.”

“I found this confirmation group, which was like 10 people, we were very close knit.”

Atypical exemplars

---

Close but no

“it’s a community of people who believe what we believe.”

“You get together with people that you would never have gotten together with”

Name

Religious Community: Service

Description

Serving others within the religious community, or working with religious community members to serve those outside the community

Inclusion criteria

Participating in service activities, serving in church positions or callings, supporting members who are struggling

Exclusion criteria

Service within family

Typical exemplars

“I really care about what happens to all the members of our church.  And if I can do something to help somebody, I’ll go out of my way to do it.”

“we’re raising money to pay for one of the stained-glass windows to be cleaned”

Atypical exemplars

 “Going to church has had the effect of making me more serene and accepting and more aware of the need to do good for people because otherwise, it’s a dog-eat-dog world.”

Close but no

 ---

Name

Better than Others

Description

Religion or standards lead individuals to view themselves as better off than others who are either not religious, of a different religious sect, or of differing orthodoxy

Inclusion criteria

Religious individuals may view those not of their religion as being less important, impure, or damned.  also include when religious individuals state or implythat they are better, happier, or smarter than others. 

Exclusion criteria

When non-religious view themselves as better than religious individuals. Put these instances in misunderstandings and judgements.

Typical exemplars

“I would have said that people who have a faith, some sort of belief in God, that they might be a little better off than the average person.” “Yeah and you’re also kind of upside down from our point of view.”

“I just, you can see it.  Our family’s happier than most families.”

Atypical exemplars

 “So he’s a real presence in this family, unlike most dads.”

Close but no

“Some of my friends would use drugs occasionally, and drinking.  That’s, you know, instead of that, I decided, I’m going to go to Israel.”

Name

Differences from the secular community, Standards and Boundaries

Description

Religion creates differences, such as standards and boundaries, between religious individuals and the community.

Inclusion criteria

Religion makes one different from the community and the world

Religion leads people to have views which differ from the norms

Not playing sports on Sunday, not drinking or smoking, not wearing certain clothes, etc.

Exclusion criteria

Differing views between family members, congregation member or members of other faiths.

Typical exemplars

“So many families are worried about money, money, money.  And yeah, it’s good to have money and be healthy from it, but it’s not the most important thing in our lives, as it is in many other people’s.”

“We don’t believe the same as other people.  So we are different, and people, we have to accept that”

“Our daughter is  in athletics at the high school a lot. And we’ve just said no.  Your practice is going to be at noon on Sunday?  Well, we won’t be there.”

Name

Educational and Professional Life

Description

Religion creates division between religious individuals and those not of their faith in educational and professional life, as well as the challenges professional life and education create for individuals trying to live their faith.

Inclusion criteria

Parents choosing homeschool or religious schools for their children

Being the only religious person in a professional setting

Religion creating problems in professional life

Professional life preventing individuals from being able to live their religion to the extent they would like to.

Exclusion criteria

Challenges that professional life creates when not linked to anything religious

Typical exemplars

“Yeah, our money is very much tied up in Catholic school education for our kids, as you’ve understood.  And that’s not a small amount of money.”

“I’m astounded at the number of women, though I don’t mean to ascribe it solely to women, who are so into their careers that they don’t have enough time for their families.”

Name

Family: Differing Religious Views, Differing Orthodoxy

Description

Differing religious views or levels of orthodoxy between family members

Inclusion criteria

Family members having different religious beliefs

Family members being at different levels of religiosity

Family members having different styles or ways of living their religion.

Include instances of both immediate and extended family members.

Exclusion criteria

Differences between people who are not family members. Religious practices which are divisive, such as when only men are allowed to go to the mosque, but where everyone in the family accepts and agrees with these practices.

Typical exemplars

“Yeah, because we weren’t at the same place.  My wife was ahead of me in observance.”

“When my parents visit here over Shabbat, which they’ve done sometimes.  And it looks to them like the most boring thing you could possibly do.”

Atypical exemplars

 ---

Close but no

“We don’t pray together too much actually.”

“We are one flesh.  And we discuss matters when they do arise.  And she understands that I have a role to play, she has her role to play.”

Name

Family: Divisive Religious Practices

Description

Religious practices which are done individually and potentially create division.

Inclusion criteria

Religious practices calling for certain family members and not others

Religious practices which are gender specific.

Exclusion criteria

Differing religious views that are not related to actual religious practices.

Typical exemplars

“Yeah, there's fasting.  We don't really do it as a group, like a family fasting.”

“We don’t pray together too much actually.”

“For Lent I chose to give up sweets. So, like if they were to eat dessert, I’d probably just go off and do something else.”

Atypical exemplars

---

Close but no

“My wife grew up with family prayer, I did not. We just never had it. And she comes from a real good, strong family and mine is sort of strong here and there.”

Name

Gender

Description

Religion creates or fosters gender differences or separation

Inclusion criteria

Men and women participate in different ordinances or practices according to their religion

Division of household labor by gender according to religious tradition

Exclusion criteria

Gender differences which have no religious background or motivations

Typical exemplars

“I think that men have to work hard at their relationship with G-d and require more structure then you might say, because there aren’t, you know a woman doesn’t need a minion to have the gates of heaven opened to her to pray to G-d.”

“Friday mostly obligatory for men, only men.”

Atypical exemplars

 “I think that when we think about gender roles, our society’s saying. ‘Oh women have to go and get a Ph.D and have a career of their own.’  And to us it’s to the exclusion of being able to be a good mother.”

Close but no

“Men grieve differently than women and it’s hard for women to deal with men’s grief, cause men don’t talk about it, they kind of go away, and they keep it private.  And women want to talk and share and hug and cry.  And men don’t want to do that.  And women often think men aren’t even grieving.  They think he’s not, doesn’t he have heart?” [Not included, as this difference does not appear to be influenced by religion in any way.]

Name

Interfaith and Interdenominational Differences

Description

Differences between members of different religions

Inclusion criteria

Different religious beliefs between different religions

Different standards between different religions

Exclusion criteria

Differences between members of the same religion

Typical exemplars

“And I think our church is probably more conservative, or more old school, I guess, might be a more applicable word, than . . . Other religions I know have changed.  Some religions for example have offered the priesthood to women, and other things like that.”

“Really, I can’t think of another church in town that I would prefer to be at.  That’s why I prefer to be there.  I love the community.”

Atypical exemplars

 “And the Quakers said, okay, we’ll all march silently. We tried, the Jews couldn’t wait 5 minutes.  We were biologically incapable of being silent.  It couldn’t be done.”

Close but no

 ---

Name

Intradenominational or Orthodoxy Differences

Description

Differences between those of the same religion group

Inclusion criteria

Those of the same religion believing in different things

Those of the same religion having different levels of participation in their religion

Those of the same religion having different standards and boundaries

Exclusion criteria

Differences between those of different faiths

Differences in faith between family members

Typical exemplars

“Some Catholics believe using birth control is wrong while we do not”

“We, right now we are, we’re not Hasidim, we’re somewhere in the modern Orthodox area, probably, that would be the closest.”

“Well, most, the families we know aren’t as religious as us.”

Atypical exemplars

“You may have heard the phrase, 2 Jews, 3 opinions.”

Close but no

 ---

Name

Misunderstandings, Judgements

Description

Others judging one because of his or her religious affiliation, beliefs, or practices

Inclusion criteria

Others assuming all religious people or people of certain religions are the same

Others not understanding the beliefs of another individual

Exclusion criteria

Intradenominational differences

Typical exemplars

“Sometimes people stay away from me because I wear a hijab”

“But when people don’t see it from the inside, they think, huh, they can’t turn on the lights.  They’re not going to drive?  What?  They’re not going to cook?”

“LDS people too, who are Mormon, and it’s just we stick together, even if, it means being ridiculed and made fun of.”

Atypical exemplars

---

Close but no

 ---

Name

Sacrifices, Struggles, Stress

Description

Sacrifices, struggles, and stresses that are created by religion, or a result of trying to live according to religious beliefs 

Inclusion criteria

Sacrificing time for religious responsibility

Struggling with beliefs and rules of religion

Religion creating stress in home or between individuals

Exclusion criteria

Struggles, sacrifices, or stress not related to or created by religion.

Typical exemplars

“I see my wife less because of the things I do for our church”

“But it’s funny when religious parents have to fight not only the schools, but also the doctors and everybody’s expectations.”

“I used to struggle with balancing religion and social life and having friends who never went to church and going to church.”

Atypical exemplars

 ---

Close but no

 ---

Name

Secularism

Description

Society is, or is growing, apart from God and religion

Inclusion criteria

The world is, or is becoming, less accommodating to religious beliefs and standards

Society moving away from believing in God

A lack of value for traditionally held religious beliefs, morals, or practices.

Exclusion criteria

Decline in individual religiosity

Typical exemplars

“Most of the families we know aren’t as religious as we are”

“I think our culture is one of the greatest obstacles because they say it’s basically okay to have other partners sexually other than just your spouse.  I mean it’s very accepted.”

“We live in a society that a lot of these words are unavoidable and you just hear them.”

Atypical exemplars

---

Close but no

“My daughter told me once that God was imaginary.” [not secularism because it is an individual’s view, not a societal trend or view.]

Name

Separation from God, Disobedience

Description

Feeling disconnected from God or the spirit.

Inclusion criteria

Feeling guilty as a result of disobedience to God or to his commandments

Feeling God is displeased with an individual, generally as a result of their actions.

Exclusion criteria

Feeling separated from church members or others for reasons other than the individual’s relationship with God.

Typical exemplars

“If I’m not living in accord with my religious beliefs, I don’t feel connected to God”

“aspect of reconciliation with the church that in sinning we have turned away from God and so we’re alone.  We’ve cut ourselves off.  We’re alienated.”

“I think also, if I’m not living in accord with my religious beliefs, I tend to take that out on my family or my wife, because if I’m not in accord with the spirit, then I would come home and be ornery.”

Atypical exemplars

 ---

Close but no

 ---

Name

Combined

Description

Parts of religion that can be both unifying and divisive

Inclusion criteria

Being united with family or religious community but being separated from nonreligious people.

Serving and participating in the religious community when it takes away from family time.

Exclusion criteria

If elements of both unites and divides are not present.

Typical exemplars

“We Mormons stick together, even if that means being ridiculed and made fun of”

“Um I guess, I guess it’s hard enough to be married without having all kinds of extra, you know, the fact that we are ethnically similar and culturally similar and religiously similar it all helps to make it work”

Atypical exemplars

---

Close but no

---

Name

Would have Divorced

Description

Without religion, a couple would have likely divorced

Inclusion criteria

Dave and Loren are interested in getting a count of how many people say they would have divorced if they did not have their faith

Exclusion criteria

Just talking about challenges they’ve faced in their marriage. Anything that isn’t pretty clear that they would have likely divorced without their religion.

Typical exemplars

“If we didn’t believe in God, we might be divorced by now” 

Atypical examplars

---

Close but no

 “Like, for me, for instance, I would never marry somebody who wasn’t Jewish.  Never.”

Name

[4a] Comforting

Detailed Description

In interpersonal relationship, fulfilling other’s current needs, giving help or support; increasing stability/security, nurturing; forgiveness/acceptance; providing guidance; honoring autonomy/agency. Also, receiving of all the above.

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Typical exemplars

·Responding to the religious call (faith standard) of loving others.

·Kindness

·Giving support to religious/spiritual efforts of others

Atypical exemplars

·Application of mercy in relation to the child’s not living standards of faith community and family.

·Leaving spiritual legacy to children

Close but No

Name

[4b] Expecting

Detailed Description

In interpersonal relationship, expecting sacrifice or changes for religious goals, standard, or authorities.

Or, from the expected person’s perspective, complying with the expecter’s demands, self-motivated striving or self-control to meet the expectation.

Inclusion Criteria

·At least one person is expecting or teaching against the other to meet a goal. Some form of pushing someone (intended or not) to action must be there.

Exclusion Criteria

·The whole family or couple is trying to do better. In this case, all are striving toward the same goal (not a confronting situation), and no one is teaching or expressing expectation; so it should be coded as [4a] Obedience to Divine Demands

·Expectation in non-religious context, or secular expectation

Typical exemplars

·Teaching (or being taught) religious/spiritual standard

·Nudging/reminding spouse (or being nudged/reminded) not to deviate from the path of faith

·Parental attempt (including disciplinary efforts) to establish the desired relations of the child to authority/goals/standards of religion, faith community.

·Compliance with parental expectations of faith

·Moral teaching; expectation for modesty

Atypical exemplars

·Setting example or learning from/ being inspired by other’s example

·Proselyting or inviting for missionary purpose

Close but No

·Giving guidance as responding to other’s particular situations.

Name

[5a] Divine Blessings

Short Description

God’s giving blessings to persons

Detailed Description

God’s or religion’s meeting current needs; increasing stability/security; providing means; providing forgiveness/acceptance; or providing guidance/endowment. God’s giving comfort personally.

Inclusion Criteria

The emphasis on praising God‘s characteristics and actions of giving, or religion as the subject of giving blessing.

Exclusion Criteria

Benefits that are not regarded as having connection with religion

Typical exemplars

“blessing”

See Detailed description

Atypical exemplars

Close but No

Name

[5b] Receiving Divine Blessings

Detailed Description

From the person’s perspective, receiving or asking blessings from God or religion. Blessings include benefits, support/means, comforts, love, forgiveness, security, acceptance, or guidance/endowment.

Inclusion Criteria

The emphasis on receiving blessings.

Exclusion Criteria

Typical exemplars

See Divine Blessings for the contents.

Atypical exemplars

Close but No

Name

[5c] Divine Demands

Detailed Description

God’s or religion’s demanding sacrifice/changes based on divine will or standards, or requesting to meet higher divine goals and standards. God or religion seen as providing or allowing suffering, tribulations, diseases to come upon one’s life (as a trial, test, training, or opportunity for growth).

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Typical exemplars

See Detailed description

Atypical exemplars

Close but No

Name

[5d] Obedience to Divine Demands

Detailed Description

From the person’s perspective, complying with divine demands. Or (striving for) obedience/devotion to God/religion or (striving for) repentance, self-reflection or self-regulation in reference to divine standard. But the standard can be unstated (implicit).

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Typical exemplars

·Obedience/devotion

·Worshipping/glorifying God

·Being humble before God

·Repentance, self-regulation

·Regard for modesty, chastity

Atypical exemplars

·Guilt

Name

[6a] God is a Close Confidant

Description

God is intimate Friend, Comforter, Guide, Healer

Inclusion criteria

·A deep personal relationship with God

·Being able to converse with God and ask for things as well as thank him for things

Exclusion criteria

Seeing God as someone who judges; there is fear in the relationship

Typical exemplars

Praying to God as though he’s a close friend

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Name

[6b] God is an Authority Figure

Description

God is authoritative Lord, Lawgiver, King, Judge, Ruler

Inclusion criteria

·Some sense of fear of disobedience

·All rules comes from God

·One is to obey and not ask God for anything

Exclusion criteria

Seeing God as someone to converse with

Typical exemplars

One sees God as someone who needs to be obeyed to avoid severe consequences

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Name

[Authority] God gives commandments

Description

God gave participants rules or commandments to abide. God gives instructions about how things are to be done. God expects obedience

Inclusion criteria

God demand something of participants

Exclusion criteria

God doesn’t care what participant does

Typical exemplars

“...follow divine commandments”

Atypical exemplars

 “...do everything according to the bible”

Close but no

Name

[Authority] Submit will to God

Description

God’s desires are different than the participant and the participant feels that he/she needs to choose God’s will instead of their own.

Inclusion criteria

Following through on what one feels like God desires; things happening in God’s timing

Exclusion criteria

Ignoring what God would desire of a participant

Typical exemplars

“I submit to God”

Atypical exemplars

 “Need to accept it as a responsibility from God”

Close but no

Name

[Authority] God has a plan

Description

God has a plan that a participant is supposed to follow - sometimes the participants understands God’s plan and sometimes one doesn’t understand God’s plan.

Inclusion criteria

Participants trust that God has a plan for them

Exclusion criteria

No sense of a divine plan for one

Typical exemplars

“In the hands of the Lord”; “part of Hashem’s plan”

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Name

[Confidant] One can trust God

Description

Trust that God would listen/be there/be involved in one’s life/help one through trials

Inclusion criteria

Can trust God to work in lives of family members

Exclusion criteria

Feeling like one is unable to depend on God

Typical exemplars

“Knowing that I can lean and depend on God”

Atypical exemplars

“It provides . . . a security blanket . . . He’s going to be there”

Close but no

Name

[Confidant] God is available at any time

Description

God is always available when one wants to talk to him or turn to him for help

Inclusion criteria

Feeling like God is always near

Exclusion criteria

Feeling like unable to find or contact God

Typical exemplars

“God’s presence is constant and steady”; “no matter what they do, God will still be there”

Atypical exemplars

 “God is central”

Close but no

Name

[Confidant] God heals or provides support

Description

God can heal one’s soul or provide support when one is faced with a tough situation

Inclusion criteria

Teaching children to rely upon God for healing and support, asking God for healing and support believing that one will receive it

Exclusion criteria

Believing God incapable of healing or providing support

Typical exemplars

“God takes care of you, and provides for you, and is there even when I am not there, and He will sustain you and make you whole.”; “he supports me”

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Name

[Confidant] God is personally interested and blesses

Description

God cares about what happens in one’s life; God was invested in helping a participant in what they were going through

Inclusion criteria

God desires to help participants handle rough family situations

Exclusion criteria

Feeling like God is too far away to personally care about a participant

Typical exemplars

“We believe that our Heavenly Father is willing, able, and desires to help us in every decision we have to make in life.”

Atypical exemplars

 “God, he’s the best counselor you could ever have.”

Close but no

Name

[Authority + Confidant] One can trust God

Description

Trust that God would listen/be there/be involved in one’s life/help one through trials; trust that God will answer prayers

Inclusion criteria

Can trust God to work in lives of family members

Exclusion criteria

Feeling like one is unable to depend on God

Typical exemplars

“Whenever we have something, we pray to God, ask for God’s will.”

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Name

[Authority + Confidant] God as guide

Description

God had knowledge about participants and their families and what they needed or were doing in their lives and God was willing to give direction, guidance, or correction to help them

Inclusion criteria

Participants ask God for guidance and wisdom about how to live life

Exclusion criteria

Typical exemplars

“Actual seeking guidance from God”; “We’ll go to the scripture or praying and finding out what our marriage should be, what our lives should be. A guide definitely…”

Atypical exemplars

“We allow Him to direct us how to rear our children.”

Close but no

Name

[Authority + Confidant] One can converse with God

Description

Talking via prayer with God - informal or formal

Inclusion criteria

Asking God for something and awaiting a reply

Exclusion criteria

One-way communication

Typical exemplars

“Constant conversation with God”

Atypical exemplars

 “Communicated to us in those relational terms”

Close but no

Name

Loss of attachment figure causing grief

Description

Grieving when separated from God, sadness about not being near God

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

No emotional change when separated from God

Typical exemplars

Atypical exemplars

“We were crying, didn’t know why God was allowing this”

Close but no

 Anxious about possibility of separation from God

Name

Love toward God

Description

One wants to show love towards God, does show love through thoughts, prayers, or other actions

Inclusion criteria

Obeying to demonstrate love for/towards God

Exclusion criteria

Obeying for sake of being obedient

Typical exemplars

“Commandment is to love God”

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Name

Love by God

Description

One feels that God loves them, could be an experience where one feels of God’s love

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

Acting to give/show love to God

Typical exemplars

“God always loves us”; “more you get to know God and understand his love”

Atypical exemplars

 “He knows who you are; He’ll look out for you”

Close but no

Name

Proximity Seeking

Description

Actions showing that one desires to be close to God, one feels like can be protected when close to God and acts on this belief; maintaining a close distance with God or returning to a close distance when one feels spiritually threatened

Inclusion criteria

Adam and Eve maintaining close proximity to God in the Garden of Eden; obeying to be close to God; offering sacrifice to come back into God’s presence; striving for salvation

Exclusion criteria

Typical exemplars

“Seek God’s guidance … seek God out”; “working towards God”; “seek to live out our life with God as the center of our life”

Atypical exemplars

 “Constantly praying to God for forgiveness”

Close but no

Name

Safe Haven

Description

One returning to God for support after exploring the world away from God; desires to receive comfort, nourishment, affirmation, encouragement, safety, or protection

Inclusion criteria

Could be a place like a Temple, or through prayer (proximity seeking behaviors); God can be acting as a safe haven through providing comfort, protection, help, and soothing

Exclusion criteria

Typical exemplars

“Consoled by the presence of God”; “I did personal supplication . . . God calmed me down”; “God is always with us . . . that also makes me feel really safe”

Atypical exemplars

 “Provides a security blanket”

Close but no

Name

Secure Base

Description

God is available, does not interfere, accepts and encourages one’s exploration; one ventures out into the world away from God and makes sure that God is still there; God is available and responsive; God stays close even when participant may not want to be close to God

Inclusion criteria

God waits for participant to go to Him in times of trouble - God doesn’t push himself on participants, but waits for them to come to Him

Exclusion criteria

Typical exemplars

“I just feel is always there if we need Him”; “if God always loves us . . feeling like we could love ourselves”; “first we made our relationship with the Lord; and He put our relationship together. So without the Lord we cannot function.”

Atypical exemplars

 “God obviously gives us the best example, and if we just follow the rules that He’s set for us. . . “

Close but no

Name

Threat of separation cause anxiety

Description

One becomes anxious thinking about the possibility of being separated from God (unable to receive His grace, unable to live with him after death, unable to have his spirit with them, etc)

Inclusion criteria

One afraid to sin because it means separating self from God

Exclusion criteria

Typical exemplars

“I was more afraid of doing the wrong thing because I thought, I knew God was watching all the time.”; “constant worry about the Day of Judgement”

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

Actually being separated from God and sad about that separation

Name

Accountability

Description

God holds one accountable for choices and actions

Inclusion criteria

Teaching children to be accountable to God

Exclusion criteria

Obedience without sense of accountability for actions

Typical exemplars

“I have to stand in front of God for what I did and did not do for my family”; “we are accountable for all our actions, including actions that come through marriage”; “we’re answerable to God about our marriage”

Atypical exemplars

 “We make them [our children] aware that they are answerable to god, not to us.”; “it’s a sacred responsibility . . . you really need to accept it as a responsibility from God”

Close but no

Being accountable to parents or family members

Name

Direction

Description

God has authority to direct the universe; boss/ceo/divine king

Inclusion criteria

Receiving direction through spiritual leaders or Word of God; Participants see family members, friends, or spiritual leaders supporting God’s position and direction/acting as God would act to help direct participants

Exclusion criteria

Typical exemplars

“When it’s from a higher place, then you can’t argue with it. It’s from the person . . . that created you. So you go with it.”; “God said He created men and jinns [spirits] to worship Him . . . then our purpose is to worship Him”; “He is the one instructing us through His words. So we really look to that guidance”; “He directed us certain ways, when we were heading in another way”

Atypical exemplars

 “The whole idea of G-d as King”

Close but no

Name

Expectations

Description

God has power to tell me what to do; God as source of behavioral expectations; God has defined rules, roles, and routines that are to be expected of family members; God communicates structure to participants/participants follow structure God has given them 

Inclusion criteria

Feel like God expects certain behavior and acting accordingly

Exclusion criteria

Typical exemplars

“We really live our lives to please Jehovah”; “The rules are well defined in the religion. Because we had the prophet, peace be upon him, who explained what God ordered.”; “if we just follow the rules that He’s set for us”; “we believe that our Heavenly Father has outlined divine roles through the scriptures”

Atypical exemplars

 “We’re trying to discern God’s will for us as a couple”

Close but no

Expectations one has for themselves

Name

Justice

Description

God is a just and fair ruler of the universe and my life

Inclusion criteria

Worry about being judged of God; acting to make sure on positive end of justice from God

Exclusion criteria

Receiving punishment from family, friends, or self

Typical exemplars

“If He sees your effort, and I truly believe it, He sees your effort, your commitment to Him, first of all, your priority, He’s going to strengthen your marriage.”; “believe in God’s law, and He is going to save you and your house”; “God is punishing me here, for talking ill about Alabama”; “if you are believing in God, then you know that everything is for a purpose, there is no randomness”; “constant worry about the Day of Judgement”

Atypical exemplars

 “Do i have enough good work, good deeds that they justify success in the eyes of God”

Close but no

Name

Knowledge

Description

God as source of truth and knowledge

Inclusion criteria

Asking God for information about a certain topic or guidance about how to behave, going to scriptures to understand God’s knowledge

Exclusion criteria

Relying on self for knowledge or truth

Typical exemplars

“I pray for guidance on how to resolve other problems”; “we’ll go to the spricputres, praying and finding out what marriage should be, what our lives should be”

Atypical exemplars

 “Belief that we are literal spirit children of our Father in Heaven and that He knows each of us . . . He knows what our challenges are, He knows what our strengths are”

Close but no

Name

Plan or Purpose

Description

God has a plan and a purpose for the universe and my life

Inclusion criteria

Accepting that God has a plan for a participant and his/her life; everything that happens is for a reason; God may delay an answer to prayer as part of answer to prayer on purpose; God may persist in guiding a participant in life/a tough situation to help them have a positive experience; God endures and perseveres while waiting for participants to recognize Him and His plan for them

Exclusion criteria

One creating a plan for their own life

Typical exemplars

“Wasn’t this actually, without our knowing it, all part of Hashem’s plan?”; “God before we were born, had already chosen this was the mate that he was going to give us”; “it’s all part of His plan”; “it happens for a reason”

Atypical exemplars

 “God created you to be a woman and enjoy that”

Close but no

Name

Power

Description

God has power throughout universe and over my life

Inclusion criteria

Believing God has power to intervene in my life, attributing things that happen to his power

Exclusion criteria

One has power to change things in his/her own life

Typical exemplars

“I have been up against obstacles and difficulties where I tried every possible logical thing, and I said there’s nothing more we can do. And then suddenly something changed and it was done.”; “God really has helped me personally, and I agree that God has also helped the whole family through a lot of little situations”; “God is all-power, all presence”; “to know that God was in control”

Atypical exemplars

“He’s power, He’s everywhere, but you can’t see Him”

Close but no

Name

[7a] Conservative

Detailed Description

Preserving, adhering to, or anchored to perceived unchanging moral codes, something valued from the past, or something valued steadily.

Inclusion Criteria

Implication of unchanging commitment either in the form of (1) going against changing values of surroundings, (2) faith in immovable deity or a belief system with emphasis on its tradition, or (3) long duration (passage) of time in adhering to a value or a set of values, individually or collectively.

Exclusion Criteria

Mere emphasis of value, without implication of unchanging commitment that goes against change or over time.

Typical exemplars

·Maintaining/defending unchanging religious truth, traditions, authority.

·Against changing values of the world, sticking to modesty, fidelity, or long-lasting marriage

Atypical exemplars

·Coming back to the church after leaving.

·Equality as a traditionally espoused value of the church

Close but No

·Family as an important value (no implication of duration or contrast with decay in family value)

Name

[7b] Transformative

Detailed Description

Valuing growth, newness/renewal, change, becoming, creativity, or innovation for religious reasons.

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Typical exemplars

·Spiritual growth

·Retrospective description of change; having become more unselfish, or better person

·Goal to become

·Creative attempt/solution to promote religious cause or to address difficulty

Atypical exemplars

Close but No

Name

[8a] Accepting

Short Description

Accepting ideas

Detailed Description

Taking things into one’s body, life, home and ideas/values/ideologies into one’s mind, emotions into one’s heart in religious context.

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Mere statement of beliefs and obedience.

Typical exemplars

·Accepting truth, commandments

·Accepting religious leader’s or family member’s religious values

·Accepting religious values in juxtaposition with non-religious ones

·Make faith/attributes a part of the self by willingly be influenced by favorable models

·Liking or loving certain ideas/teachings/religion.

Atypical exemplars

·Accepting what is given (even if it doesn’t meet one’s desire)

·Accepting situations regarded as caused by divine hands

·Explaining rules in a positive manner. “Even the salt must be set apart.”

Close but No

Name

[8b] Refusing

Short Description

Rejecting ideas and practices

Detailed Description

Not taking (denying/separating from/fighting against/excluding) things into one’s body, life, home and ideas/values/ideologies into one’s mind, emotions into one’s heart, based on religious viewpoint.

Inclusion Criteria

Denial of ideas and practices

Exclusion Criteria

Typical exemplars

·Refusing to watch certain films, or drinking

·Refusing some secular information or worldly practice (e.g. parties)

Atypical exemplars

·Mentally block the rule temporarily

·Trying to overcome unfaithful/ungodly thinking within self

·Refusing or fighting with temptation that arose within self

·Satan (devil)’s

Close but No

·Rejecting people who practice things that go against religion (this is to be coded as Divisive)

·Rejecting parental moral/religious guidance

Name

[9a] Binding

Short Description

Duty to God/faith tradition, moral obligation, group, or self-chosen goals.

Detailed Description

The subjective feeling (willing or unwilling) of (1) being bound by outer rules, mandates, covenants, connections, group membership, duties, or authorities that are religious; (2) limiting self by self-reflection and subsequent self-regulation due to religious reason.

Inclusion Criteria

Feelings of duty (e.g. must, need to, or supposed to), or being bound. Limiting self.

Exclusion Criteria

Typical exemplars

·Fidelity or limiting close heterosexual relationship to the bounds of marriage

Atypical exemplars

·Limiting family’s (couple’s or church’s) activity for religious reason.

Close but No

·Mere mention of obedience.

·Mere mention of a transcendent moral authority

·Mere mention of roles in family, church, or community.

Name

[9b] Liberating

Short Description

Freedom and inner fulfillment.

Detailed Description

The subjective feeling of fulfillment or celebration in occasions of actualization/realization of self, achievement, growth, having agency/autonomy, or being renewed/healed. It also includes the state of self-motivation, feeling free, welling/expanding favorable desires/feelings, or liveliness obtained. Each case must be due to religious reason or in religious context.

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Typical exemplars

See Detailed description

Atypical exemplars

Close but No

Name

[10a] Excites

Detailed Description

Emotions with indications of strong intensity or invigoration, for religious/spiritual reason.

Inclusion Criteria

Passion or excitement

Exclusion Criteria

No emotional expression, or calm peace

Typical exemplars

·Religious enthusiasm, passionate devotion to God or faith community

·Wonder in supernatural divinity, or in mystic, extraordinary experience

·Joy in success of  missionary effort

Atypical exemplars

·Indignation from  religious viewpoint

Close but No

·Rational explanation of commitment

Name

[10b] Calms

Detailed Description

Intense emotions calmed down. Peacefulness. Can be calming of negative emotion (anger, jealousy, guilt) or positive emotion (overexcitement).

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Mere reference for meditation.

Typical exemplars

·Peacefulness

·Sense of peace after reconciliation

·Cleared conscience

Atypical exemplars

·Having no worry for typically worrisome events

Close but No

·Exciting joy

Name

[1a] Creating

[1b] Continuing

Description

Either spontaneously formed patterns of relational and religious belief and behavior OR deliberately chosen positive and powerful family rituals and traditions.

Requires effort to sustain regular couple or family religious rituals.

Inclusion criteria

·Create/start family rituals or traditions

·Form patterns of religious belief or behavior

·Things can be created either spontaneously or deliberately

·Continuing family rituals or traditions

·Continuing patterns of religious behavior

Exclusion criteria

Mention that they would like to be more religious but no action is taken.

Mention that they once practiced some ritual or tradition but no longer do.

Typical exemplars

·A family discussing their conversion from their previous to their present beliefs.

·A parent talks about lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday evening and the powerful influence that is in the family.

·Living the same beliefs they were taught as a child and expecting that their children will also live those beliefs.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Generative patterns in marriages and family life must be created and continued through conscious effort.

A family may continue some traditions and rituals while creating some new ones.

Creating a new aspect of a continuing tradition.

A family continues to create new traditions.

A family creates a new tradition/ritual with a plan to continue in the future.

Name

[2a] Profound

[2b] Practical

Description

·Includes profound questions about ideas such as life and death, meaning and purpose, sexuality and sanctity, transcendence and divinity, forgiveness and salvation.

·Also includes profound experiences like birth and death, marriage and childbirth, reunion and reconciliation.

Includes practical things like food and clothing, candles and books, prayer rugs and prayer shawls.

Inclusion criteria

Includes ideas and practices or experiences that shape one’s beliefs, convictions, and defines one’s meaning of life

Family life is full of the need for practical, everyday actions about very mundane things like chores, hygiene, budgets, repairs, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and saving.

Exclusion criteria

Mention of everyday, simple, superficial, practical things.

Mention of profound, abstract, theological, theoretical, deep things.

Typical exemplars

Marvel around the birth of a child.

Defining experiences with the death of a loved one.

The way that someone dresses in accordance to religious belief.

Someone choosing to eat kosher.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Must balance attention to the profound nature of religious and family life with the practical nature of religious and family life.

Sometimes families can find some practical parts of religion or family life to be profound, e.g. when cooking for Passover or Shabbat becomes profound and deeply meaningful

Name

[3a] Powerful

[3b] Positive

Description

Needs to compete with distractions of contemporary life.

Overcome trials of life

Religious beliefs and behaviors need to have positive effects

Inclusion criteria

Religious beliefs and behaviors need to be more powerful than the distractions and pulls of contemporary life (video games, music, films, TV, social networking, movies, etc.)

Positive influences on personal wellbeing and the ability of a person to relate to someone else in order to be generative

Exclusion criteria

Weak manifestations of religious effects.

Reports of negative impacts of religious belief and practice on family life

Typical exemplars

·Choosing to go to church over participating in community sports.

·Choosing to avoid social networking due to religious reasons.

·Expressing how a belief in God helped to save one from death and despair or bad habits.

·Discussing how their beliefs/faith carried them through a difficult time and helped them focus on the bigger picture.

·Discussing how their marriage is conflict free because they pray instead of fighting.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Family faith practices need to be both powerful and positive in their effects in order to be impactful and lasting.

Family members need to carefully monitor if and how family religious practices are positive and powerful for individuals and relationships.

Name

[4a] Beliefs

[4b] Behaviors

Description

Provide the ideas and ideals that guide actions and decisions; when shared among family members has great power to bind.

·Should be powerful enough to observably influence behavior

·Needs to have behavioral implications

How one behaves based on beliefs in a religious context.

·How one acts, in this case based on religious principles and ideas

Coding Guidelines

Someone is just stating what they believe to be true.

Inclusion criteria

Religious ideas that one thinks to be true that guide how he/she makes decisions and chooses to act.

Exclusion criteria

Actions, behaviors, loosely held ideas.

Thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, ideas, fears, concerns, etc.

Typical exemplars

·Explaining a belief in forgiveness.

·Beliefs about marriage and families.

·Deciding to not attend sport practices on Sundays.

·Praying every day, reading scriptures, attending family home evening

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

One may use his/her beliefs to guide how they choose to behave.

One is explaining how a belief guided how they decided to behave.

Name

[5a] Inspiration

[5b] Intention

Description

·Sense of being "of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse."

·Connotes something wonderful, marvelous, and imaginative, even out of this world

Faith must be chosen, thoughtful, heartfelt, and purposeful.

Inclusion criteria

Feeling received from a divine source leading/guiding/directing one to act.

A family member is purposefully choosing his/her faith and actions based upon that faith whether or not one feels immediate or direct inspiration for such actions.

Exclusion criteria

Something originating from the human, earthly, or mundane world.

Participant feels acted on by external forces or by habit.

Typical exemplars

·Someone describes their faith as coming as a divine gift, or being motivated in their faith from something wonderful, marvelous, imaginative, or out of this world.

·Feeling as though God directs their decisions.

A family member choosing to participate in religious rituals.

Atypical exemplars

A child deciding to go to church even though parents are not willing to take the child or are not supportive of the child’s decision to go to church.

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Faith must be enlivened, inspired, and intentional in order to be generative.

One may feel inspired to behave a certain way but may need to be intentional about following through on the feeling.

Name

[6a] Rituals

[6b] Relationships

Description

Routinized actions/Religious practices that carry deep meaning and emotional significance – when it is not completed, there is a feeling of incompleteness or that something is wrong

·Most powerful and poignant when rituals are shared or relational.

·Tend to be handed down from religion, religious community, faith

·Tend to be repeated often (Daily, weekly)

*specifically religious rituals*

Marriage and family relationships.

·Interpersonal relationships, especially with a spouse or immediate family members and also includes extended family members.

·Emphasis should be on how religious belief, practice, or community influences marriage and family relationships

Inclusion criteria

·A relationship is talked about in relation to a ritual (at least implicitly).

·A church community referred to as family.

Exclusion criteria

Non-religious rituals like reading the paper, brushing one’s teeth, going jogging every day, etc.

Merely personal or individual matters, ideas, beliefs. Non-relational religious rituals such as personal prayer.

Typical exemplars

Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Baptism, Month of Ramadan

“In our religion…”

Going to church each week

Pray 5x a day facing Mecca

A family that talks together and extends forgiveness to one another to prepare to take communion

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Relationships may be built through participating in rituals. These rituals may be highly structured like a bar/bat mitzvah or may be independently created like a father taking a child to serve together weekly in a soup kitchen.

A relationship is talked about with an explicitly stated ritual.

Name

[7a] Submitting

[7b] Subduing

Description

Willingly submit to God's authority, will, power, love, and influence.  

Subduing involves mastering the human tendency to put self first and the tendency to focus on the present to the exclusion of the future.

Coding Guidelines

Mental process

Inclusion criteria

·When people voluntarily submit to/put the will of God or religion before their own.

·Someone takes time or resources that they could have devoted to bettering themselves and chooses to use them to help someone else.

·Putting the needs of someone else before their own needs.

·Looking past desires for the present to take into account how it will affect the future.

·Subduing one’s physical passions (e.g., sex, food, comfort) for religious reasons.

Exclusion criteria

Submitting to human non-religious entities (e.g., political party, one’s company) or people (e.g., boss, spouse)

Subduing one’s needs or wants for non-religious reasons (e.g., dieting, saving money for a nice car)

Typical exemplars

·Recognizing God’s divinity and their need for His influence in their life.

·Being willing to do what they feel is God’s will.

·Overcoming selfishness. Discussing their willingness to compromise in their marriage and to consider the desires of their spouse even above their own desires.

·Not focusing on him or herself, or what their spouse can do to make them happy. Instead focusing on what they can do to make God happy and realizing there is a bigger picture.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

When people see submitting to God as the most powerful way to subdue the self.

The self-mastery or self-control is done for God, in the name of God, or for religious reasons.

Name

[8a] Serving

[8b] Sanctifying

Description

Helping family members and those outside the family in practical ways.

Make some (ordinarily mundane/practical) objects, places, times, and actions holy or sacred by setting them apart from more mundane things.

Inclusion criteria

Doing the unpleasant, mundane, or even menial aspects of life for others.

It is holy or sacred to you personally

Exclusion criteria

Being served by others; serving self; focusing on one’s own needs.

Seeing everyday things as just ordinary, worldly, or unimportant.

Typical exemplars

Viewing the mundane parts of parenthood as fulfilling their sacred purpose as mothers/fathers.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Make everyday service into a sacred practice or doing the work of making things sacred.

Name

[9a] Self-care

[9b] Sacrifice

Description

Make sure to take care of self.

Care, for others, that requires some degree of self-denial and moving out of one’s comfort zone and/or away from convenience

Inclusion criteria

Taking care of the self for religious reasons

Sacrificing for religion/ability to practice beliefs.
Physical actions

Exclusion criteria

Taking care of others; ignoring one’s needs

Caring for self; ignoring others’ needs

Typical exemplars

“It is a time to just be spiritually selfish and to fill up on our bucket”
“Usually I focus on looking for Jesus Christ…that helps me to calm down and to feel better.”

Driving several hours to attend church

Atypical exemplars

“I think it will hurt marriage and family if someone devoted too much time to church. It’s important to balance well between church and family.”

Teenagers choosing to sacrifice social acceptance in order to fully live their religion.

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Channel sincerely offered personal effort into service that enriches the lives of all who are involved; it should leave all parties changed for the better.

Name

[10a] Work

[10b] Worship

Description

Conscious effort that goes into action of some religious nature (action is purposeful).

Actions outwardly done that have an inner meaning which makes the act itself sacred.

Inclusion criteria

·Consciously put forth effort towards the success of a purposeful action

·What is outwardly done has an inner sacred meaning.

·Often actions are meant to show gratitude towards or submission to the Divine.

Exclusion criteria

Faith alone; thought alone; intention alone; inaction.

Attaching sacred meaning to actions for personal reasons

Typical exemplars

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Practical action that is motivated, animated, and consecrated by sacred intention and purpose.

When one feels the need to put forth work into what they term meaningful worship (e.g. being conscious about and placing church attendance as a priority).

Lent is a good example of work + worship.

Name

[11a] Tradition

[11b] Transformation

Description

Meaningful sacred actions and processes that are repeated at regular intervals and that mark religious growth and transitions.  Involves having continuity in patterns and actions. 

·Are started by humans or family members (can be handed down culturally, ethnically, or generationally), often as a personal or familial way to practice a ritual

Significant growth or development that occurs either gradually or suddenly. Willingness to adapt religious traditions for the benefit of others.

Inclusion criteria

·An action or activity (sacred process) that is repeated normally on a less often basis (monthly, seasonal, or yearly-often related to holidays)

·Sometimes mark religious growth or transitions (i.e. traditions surrounding a bar/bat mitzvah or baptism)

·Often traditions are meaningful and positive (can be harmful and negative)

·Can involve fundamentally changing one's self and or one's relationships in response to calls for change from God, from one's self, and/or from those with whom one is in a relationship. 

·A fundamental change in one’s self or relationships due to influence from self, others, or God

Exclusion criteria

Religious things only done once, not regularly, or with no religious meaning.

Inflexibility; unwillingness to change; continuity; stability; rigidness.

Typical exemplars

“In our family…”

Always having grandma give the baptism talk and grandpa give the holy ghost talk at LDS baptisms in the family (the baptism in a religious ritual, but having grandma and grandpa give specific talks is a tradition)

“Being a religious person has changed me.” “My faith in God has made me a better/different person.” “We have changed as a couple as we became more religious.”

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined;  best of both

Establish and maintain meaningful family traditions, but also be open to transforming traditions by accommodating to changes in persons, relationships, and outside contexts.

A tradition could involve or be a part of a process of transformation.

Name

[12a] Repenting

[12b] Reconciling

Description

The effort to return the sacred ideal to its luster (done through a renewal of belief-behavior congruence).

·Internal process of becoming clean and righting wrong actions towards self and others

Repair relationships that have been harmed by one's actions

Inclusion criteria

Includes hope for mercy, forgiveness, and/or grace

Involves seeking and granting forgiveness to others

Exclusion criteria

Refusing to change; changing only to please another person (and not for God)

Stubbornness; holding a grudge; refusing to forgive or ask for forgiveness.

Typical exemplars

“When God convicted me of sin I changed for God.”

Seeking forgiveness from spouse when they’ve spoke too harshly.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Personal repentance and relational reconciliation provide the chance for marriage and family relationships to be changed, improved, and repaired.

One has to change internal attitudes and be cleansed personally before being able to repair relationships with others.

Repenting can include reconciling relationships with others.

Name

[13a] Firmness

[13b] Flexibility

Description

A belief that is strongly held; need power to motivate sustained action - especially in the face of human weakness

Need to be flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances (people and relationships grow and change over time)

Inclusion criteria

One’s beliefs and behaviors are firm and steadfast – they are so strongly held that it would be difficult if change had to occur

One is willing to change or adapt his/her beliefs or actions/traditions if the need arises through changes in relationships or circumstances

Exclusion criteria

Wishy-washy; minimal commitment to religious idea or community; sticking with unpopular views or practices.

Rigidity; stubbornness; unwillingness to work with a family member who feels differently about a religious matter.

Typical exemplars

Parents willing to allow their children to live certain standards more loosely so that they can still “fit in” and enjoy being young.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Beliefs have power when firmly and strongly held, but must also be flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances.

One is firm in sticking to beliefs, while at the same time willing to look at circumstances and modify a belief or action based upon his/her situation.

One may be firm in sticking to a general belief but also flexible in how that belief is acted on.

Name

[14a] Holding

[14b] Honoring

Description

When someone sees something as personally sacred

·Requires emotional, psychological, and spiritual energy (it requires energy and effort to keep it personally sacred)

One is respectful of what someone else holds sacred even if he/she does not personally agree with the sacred nature of that thing held by the other person (this may occur between family members or friends)

Inclusion criteria

One is emotionally attached to what they hold sacred and can become hurt or angry when others are disrespectful of that sacred thing

May include one fighting for the freedom of disagreement on sacred matters between the two

Exclusion criteria

Not holding to religious beliefs and values when faced with opposition or mocking.

Intolerance of others for religious differences; expecting others to change to suit one’s beliefs and practices.

Typical exemplars

·Not judging others for their differences in religious beliefs or practices.

·Maintaining friendships with people of other faiths and respecting that their beliefs and practices are different.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Generative Devotion includes an elevation and holding up of sacred ideals as well as an honoring of the sacred ideals of others, especially family members.

One may be holding his/her personal views as sacred while acknowledging that someone else, even a family member, may hold different things as sacred and be respectful, kind, and even supportive of the differences.

Name

[15a] Commitment

[15b] Compassion

Description

Commitment to religious ideals and standards that are not of this world.

Reaching out with compassion and charity to those who are struggling and who may fall short of the spiritual, temporal, and financial ideals that one themselves holds.

Inclusion criteria

One does everything in his/her power to meet high expectations and religious standards even in the face of nonsupport or even opposition from others

Exclusion criteria

Commitment to non-religious ideas, ideals, and communities (e.g., political, social, athletic groups).

Unkindness; hostility; merely tolerating but not loving someone else.

Typical exemplars

·Reaching out and giving to the needy.

·Treating others with kindness and love, even if they aren’t necessarily doing the “right” thing.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Balance commitment to pursue divine ideals with a compassionate acceptance and encouragement of those who fall short of these sacred ideals.

Name

[16a] Agency

[16b] Accountability

Description

Willingness to make choices that influence faith and family life.

Taking responsibility for one’s choices in faith and family life.

Inclusion criteria

Discussing a child’s ability to choose their direction in life

When one takes responsibility for the way that one’s actions affect the lives and happiness of those around them

Exclusion criteria

Believing one’s actions are caused or determined by forces outside self.

Avoiding responsibility; casting blame on others, blaming God or religious leaders for problems.

Typical exemplars

Choosing to live a certain way for religious reasons—even when facing misunderstanding, ridicule, or opposition.

·Understanding that they will have to answer to God for their choices.

·One taking responsibility for how their actions influenced attitudes/behaviors of other family members.

Atypical exemplars

Close but no

When combined; best of both

Balance freedom and accountability

When someone uses one’s ability to choose and chooses to take responsibility for the way that one achieves happiness and how that affects those around him/her.