The Finding Faith Today Survey

Informed Consent Form

“Finding Faith Today” Research Project
Conducted by Dr. Bryan Stone,
Boston University School of Theology

Thank you for considering participation in this research study as an individual who has recently (in the last ten years or so) made a religious/spiritual commitment, profession of faith, or conversion. We recognize that for some persons this new commitment will be more like a “return” or activation of the faith/religion into which they were born and that how one describes this new commitment, membership, or conversion will vary from tradition to tradition and person to person. Sometimes the language of conversion is inadequate to describe the way some people take up religious practice, for example.

This survey forms part of a national project called “Finding Faith Today” being carried out to look at people’s behavior and attitudes in relationship to their new profession of faith, commitment, or conversion. All the information you give will remain completely confidential. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of people’s journey toward faith. The results of this research will be the eventual publication of a report (likely in book form) that summarizes and explores what is learned from the surveys.

There are minimal or no risks and benefits involved in your participation in this research. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time by choosing not to complete the questionnaire.
• You may stop at any time or skip over a question if you find it upsetting.
• There are no costs to you for participating in this research study except for your time. I estimate that it will take you approximately 10-15 minutes to complete this questionnaire.
• You will not be paid to participate in this research study.

Confidentiality
All of your responses will be kept anonymous and confidential. Information from this study and study records may be reviewed and photocopied by the institution and by regulators responsible for research oversight such as the Office of Human Research Protections and the Boston University Institutional Review Board.

Contacts
If you have questions or concerns regarding the research, either now or at any time in the future, please contact me, Dr. Bryan Stone, at bpstone@bu.edu or 617-353-2456. You may obtain further information about your rights as a research subject by contacting the Boston University Institutional Review Board for human subjects at 617-358-6115 or irb@bu.edu.

Agreement to Participate
If you understand this consent information and are willing to continue in the study, please select the option that reads “Yes I understand this information and agree to participate in this study by completing this questionnaire,” below. By selecting the “Yes, I understand” option, you are indicating that you have read this consent form and understand what it says. You are also indicating that you voluntarily agree to participate in the study.

Contact
Principal Investigator
Dr. Bryan Stone, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Boston University School of Theology
745 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
bpstone@bu.edu
617-353-2456

Q1. Please select one of the following:
 Yes I understand this information and agree to participate in this study by completing this questionnaire
 No, I do not wish to participate in this study

If “Yes” is selected, then proceed to Question 2. If “No” is selected, then please go no further, and dispose of the survey.

 

Q2. Within what faith tradition have you made your new profession of faith, commitment, or recommitment?
 Christian
 Jewish
 Muslim
 Hindu
 Buddhist
 Jain
 Sikh
 Baha’i
 Other (please specify) ____________________

Q3. Is there a particular denomination or branch?
 Yes (please specify) ____________________________________________
 No
 Don’t know or can’t remember

Q4. Which, if any, of the following were your way(s) of signaling your new faith commitment or (re)commitment? Please check any appropriate boxes.
 Baptism, mikveh, or other immersion in water
 Confirmation
 Roman Catholic Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
 Other declaration, confession, practice, ritual, etc. (write in) ________________________
 None; I did not make any such new commitment or recommit myself

(If you checked “None” in Q4, please stop here and go to the end of the survey. This survey does not apply to you.)

Q5. How long ago was this? _______________________________________

Q6. Why did you decide to make this declaration of faith, commitment, or re-commitment?

Q7. Did you attend any instructional classes as part of the process?  Yes  No

Q8. If you did attend, did you find the classes helpful?  Yes  No  Not applicable

Q9. Had you ever made a religious profession of faith or commitment previous to this new profession, commitment, or conversion?  Yes  No

If “No” is selected, then skip to Q12

Q10. In what religion or faith tradition and in what branch or denomination (if any) was that?

Q11. How old were you at the time?

Q12. How would you describe your family background?
 Christian
 Jewish
 Muslim
 Hindu
 Buddhist
 Jain
 Sikh
 Baha’i
 Another faith (please write in) ______________________________________
 Multiple faiths (please provide more detail if possible) ______________________________________________________________________
 No religious background (if no religious background, please proceed to Q15).

Q13. Was your background in that tradition within a particular denomination or branch?
 Yes (please list) _____________________________________________
 No particular denomination or branch
 Multiple denominations or branches
 Don’t know or can’t remember

Q14. Would you describe your family’s general attitude to that faith tradition as positive, negative, or neutral?
 Very positive
 Quite positive
 Neutral
 Quite negative
 Very negative
 Other (write in) _______________________________________

Q15.Were you involved in any organizations attached to a church, synagogue, mosque, sangha, gurdwara, or other faith community during your youth? (check all that apply)
 No
 Scouting programs
 Camping/Scouting
 Religious training such as Sunday School, Hebrew School, Dharma School, etc.
 Youth group
 Sporting group
 Scripture study
 A religious school
 Other (write in) ____________________

Q16. Would you describe yourself as [choice from Q2 above] now?
 Yes  No  Not sure

If “No” is selected, then skip to Q68

If “Not sure” is selected, then skip to Q71

If “Yes” is selected: Q17. Are you aware of a time when you weren’t [choice from Q2 above]?  Yes  No

If Yes is selected, then skip to Q20

Q18. Are you aware of a time when you were less committed than you are now?  Yes  No

If No is selected, then skip to Q72

Q19. About how long have you been a more committed [choice from Q2 above] person?

Please proceed to Q24

Q20. About how long have you been [choice from Q2 above]?

Q21. How would you describe your faith before that?
 No religion
 Christian
 Jewish
 Muslim
 Hindu
 Sikh
 Buddhist
 Atheist
 Agnostic
 Other (specify) ____________________

Q22. Would you describe yourself as returning to the faith you have recently professed or is this the first time?  Returning  First time

Q23. When you made your commitment or re-commitment was it so sudden you could put a date on it, or was it a more gradual process?  Gradual  Sudden

If “Gradual” was selected in Q23, please answer Q24-26 and then proceed to Q29:

Q24. At approximately what age did this gradual process begin?

Q25. And roughly how long did it last?

Q26. Were there any particularly important incidents during this gradual process?

If “Sudden” was selected in Q23, please answer Q27-28 and then proceed to Q29:

Q27. At approximately what age did this happen?

Q28. Would you please describe what happened briefly?

Q29. What or who (other than God) played the largest part in your commitment or re-commitment? Which of the factors below was most important to you? (please select only one from the list below)
 Spouse/partner
 Scripture
 Parents
 A dream or vision
 Your own children
 A particular congregation or community
 Television or radio program
 Other family
 Friends
 Literature, drama, or music
 A minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, etc.
 An evangelistic event (revival, rally, crusade)
 A particular person (not clergy)
 Religious activities and influence
 Other (write in) ___________________________________________________

Q30. Why was that most important to you? Please provide as much detail as you can.

Q31. Apart from the factor just mentioned, were any of these other factors important to you? Please check as many boxes as are appropriate:
 Spouse/partner
 Scripture
 Parents
 A dream or vision
 Your own children
 A particular congregation or community
 Television or radio program
 Other family
 Friends
 Literature, drama, or music
 A minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, etc.
 An evangelistic event (revival, rally, crusade)
 A particular person (not clergy)
 Religious activities and influence
 Other (write in) ___________________________________________________

If you selected any of the categories from Q31 above, please answer whichever of the following questions (32-45) corresponds with your selection(s):

Q32. How was the minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, etc. important?

Q33. How was your spouse or partner important?

Q34. How was scripture important?

Q35. How were your parents important?

Q36. In what way or ways was the dream or vision important?

Q37. How were your children important?

Q38. How was the television or radio program important?

Q39. How were other family members important?

Q40. How were your friends important?

Q41. How was the literature, drama, or music important?

Q42. How was the evangelistic event important and what was it?

Q43. How was the particular layperson (not clergy) important?

Q44. What was the nature of the other religious activities and influences and how were they important?

Q45. In what way or ways was the particular congregation or community important?

Q46. Was anything particularly important happening in your life at the time you made this commitment or re-commitment? Please describe.

Q47. How would you describe your general state of mind at that time?

Q48. How frequently did you pray before you made this new commitment or recommitment?
 Every day
 Every week
 Less often
 Never
 Other (write in) ____________________

Q49. Had you thought about God (or the divine) much before this time?
 A great deal
 Somewhat
 Not much
 Not at all

Q50. If you thought about God (or the divine) at all, how would you have described God (or the divine) before you made this new commitment or recommitment?

Q51. And how would you describe God (or the divine) now, if you think about or believe in God (or the divine) at all?

Q52. How frequently did you read scripture during the time when you made this commitment or recommitment?
 Several times a week
 Several times a month
 Occasionally
 Seldom or never

Q53. Did you find scripture helpful at that time?
 Very helpful
 Quite helpful
 Scripture did not play a role
 Not very helpful
 Not at all helpful

Q54. Did you find any of your religion’s teachings, practices, persons, or institutions to be an obstacle to your making this new commitment or recommitment? If so, explain:

Q55. Are there any that you still find difficult?

Q56. Did you find any of your religion’s teachings, practices, persons, or institutions particularly appealing? If so, explain.

Q57. In thinking about the process of making your new commitment or recommitment, which of the following best describes that process?
I was an active seeker  Not at all  Not so much  Not sure or don’t know  Somewhat  Very much
I was drawn in by others without actively seeking  Not at all  Not so much  Not sure or don’t know  Somewhat  Very much

Q58. How have your attitudes and positions on the following social issues changed, if at all, since making your new commitment or recommitment?
Right to an Abortion
 I was already opposed, but have become more opposed  I was already opposed, and I remain just as opposed  I have now become opposed  No opinion or don’t know  I have now become supportive  I was already supportive, and I remain just as supportive  I was already supportive, but have become more supportive
Gay Marriage
 I was already opposed, but have become more opposed  I was already opposed, and I remain just as opposed  I have now become opposed  No opinion or don’t know  I have now become supportive  I was already supportive, and I remain just as supportive  I was already supportive, but have become more supportive
Gun Control
 I was already opposed, but have become more opposed  I was already opposed, and I remain just as opposed  I have now become opposed  No opinion or don’t know  I have now become supportive  I was already supportive, and I remain just as supportive  I was already supportive, but have become more supportive
War
 I was already opposed, but have become more opposed  I was already opposed, and I remain just as opposed  I have now become opposed  No opinion or don’t know  I have now become supportive  I was already supportive, and I remain just as supportive  I was already supportive, but have become more supportive
Women’s Equality
 I was already opposed, but have become more opposed  I was already opposed, and I remain just as opposed  I have now become opposed  No opinion or don’t know  I have now become supportive  I was already supportive, and I remain just as supportive  I was already supportive, but have become more supportive
Racial Justice
 I was already opposed, but have become more opposed  I was already opposed, and I remain just as opposed  I have now become opposed  No opinion or don’t know  I have now become supportive  I was already supportive, and I remain just as supportive  I was already supportive, but have become more supportive
Economic Justice for the Poor
 I was already opposed, but have become more opposed  I was already opposed, and I remain just as opposed  I have now become opposed  No opinion or don’t know  I have now become supportive  I was already supportive, and I remain just as supportive  I was already supportive, but have become more supportive
Care for the Natural Environment
 I was already opposed, but have become more opposed  I was already opposed, and I remain just as opposed  I have now become opposed  No opinion or don’t know  I have now become supportive  I was already supportive, and I remain just as supportive  I was already supportive, but have become more supportive

Q59. On a scale of 0 to 5 (with 5 being “very significant”), estimate how significant have been the changes, if any, in your life since making your new commitment or recommitment?
Changes in my beliefs 0 1 2 3 4 5
Changes in my actions/lifestyle 0 1 2 3 4 5
Changes in spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, worship, or devotion 0 1 2 3 4 5
Changes in my relations with others (for the better) 0 1 2 3 4 5
Changes in my happiness (I am happier than before) 0 1 2 3 4 5
Changes in my hopefulness (more hopeful than before) 0 1 2 3 4 5

Q60. Apart from weddings, funerals, and holy days, how frequently did you attend religious services before you made your new commitment or recommitment?
 More than once a week
 Once a week
 2-3 times a month
 Once a month
 Several times a year
 Once a year
 Less than once a year
 Never

Q61. And how often do you attend services now (again, apart from weddings, funerals, and holy days)?
 More than once a week
 Once a week
 2-3 times a month
 Once a month
 Several times a year
 Once a year
 Less than once a year
 Never

Q62. How did you choose which church, synagogue, mosque, sangha, gurdwara, or other faith community, etc. to go to?

Q63. If you recently started attending services after making your commitment (or re-commitment), how easy or difficult did you find it to start going?
 Very Difficult
 Difficult
 Easy
 Very Easy
 Not applicable

Q64. Which of the following is the most important feature of the community you now attend? Choose only one
 The welcome I experience from the community
 The preaching (or teaching, if appropriate)
 The worship
 Educational programs
 Social outreach/ministry
 Other (write in) ___________________________________________________________

Q65. Apart from the factor just mentioned, were any of these other factors important to you? Please check as many boxes as are appropriate:
 The welcome I experience from the community
 The preaching (or teaching from the minister/leader, if appropriate)
 The worship
 Educational programs
 Social outreach/ministry
 Other (write in) ___________________________________________________________

Q66. Do you currently participate in any other religious services or activities from another religion? If so, please describe.

Q67. Please describe, if you can, the main difference that becoming [choice from Q2 above] (or a more committed [choice from Q2 above] person) has made to your life.

Please now skip to Q73

Q68. Have you ever been [choice from Q2 above]?  Yes  No  Not sure

If “No” or “Not sure” is selected, then skip to Q72

Q69. At what age did you stop being [choice from Q2 above]?

Q70. Why did you stop being [choice from Q2 above]?

Please skip to Q72

Q71. Why do you say you are “not sure” if you are [choice from Q2 above]?

Q72. Apart from weddings, funerals, and holy days, how often do you attend religious services nowadays?
 More than once a week
 Once a week
 2 or 3 times a month
 Once a month
 Several times a year
 Once a year
 Less often
 Never

Q73. What do you think it means to be [choice from Q2 above]?

Q74. Have you ever, at any time in your life, had any out-of-the ordinary experiences which you would describe as religious in some way?  Yes  No

If No Is Selected, Then Skip to Q78

Q75. Have you had a lot of these experiences, a few, or just one?  A lot  A few  Just one

Q76. Please describe below what happened?

Q77. In what way, if at all, did this experience influence you?

Q78. How often do you read scripture privately nowadays?
 Several times a week
 Several times a month
 Occasionally
 Seldom or never

Q79. How important is scripture to your faith?
 Very
 Quite
 Not very
 Not at all

Q80. How often, if at all, do you attend religious groups, studies, or fellowships?
 Several times a week
 Once a week
 Twice a month
 Once a month
 Less often
 Never

If “Never” is selected, then skip to Q82

Q81. What type of groups, studies, or fellowships do you attend?

Q82. Overall how involved would you say you are in the life and activities of your church, synagogue, mosque, sangha, gurdwara, or other faith community, etc.?
 Very involved
 Quite involved
 Not very involved
 Not at all involved

Q83. Are you happy with this level of involvement?  Yes  No

If “Yes” is selected, then skip to Q85

Q84. Why not?

Q85. Do you consider yourself:
 Religious
 Spiritual, but not religious
 Both spiritual and religious
 Neither spiritual nor religious
 I don’t know

Demographic Section

Q86. What is your gender? __________

Q87. How old are you? __________

Q88. What is your highest level of education thus far?
 None
 1st-4th grade
 5th-6th grade
 7th-8th grade
 9th-11th grade
 High School graduate
 Some college, no degree
 College – Associate’s degree
 College – Bachelor’s degree
 Master’s degree
 Professional Degree
 Doctoral Degree

Q89. What is your marital status?
 Married
 Living as married or long-term partnered
 Single
 Divorced/separated
 Widowed

Q90. Do you have children under 16 living at home with you?  Yes  No

Q91. What is your job or occupation, if any?

Q92. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
 No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
 Yes, Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano
 Yes, Puerto Rican
 Yes, Cuban
 Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin (list origin) ____________________

Q93. Which of the following best describes you?
 Black, African-American, or Negro
 White
 American Indian or Alaska Native
 Asian Indian
 Japanese
 Native Hawaiian
 Chinese
 Korean
 Guamanian or Chamorro
 Filipino
 Vietnamese
 Samoan
 Other Asian (list) ____________________
 Other Pacific Islander (list) ____________________
 Other or Mixed (describe) ____________________

Q94. In what state or US territory do you live as your primary residence?

Q95. Which of the following best describes the location of your congregation or community?  More urban than rural
 More rural than urban

Q96. Would you describe your congregation/community as being in an economically depressed area, an affluent area, or somewhere in between?  Economically depressed
 Affluent
 Somewhere in between

Q97. Which of these terms do you think would best describe your church, synagogue, mosque, sangha, gurdwara, or other faith community overall? Please check only the most appropriate words or phrases or write in words you think best describes it.  Charismatic/Renewal
 Conservative
 Ecumenical
 Evangelical
 High Church
 Liberal
 Middle of the Road
 Progressive
 Orthodox
Traditional
 Pentecostal
 Holiness
 Fundamentalist
 Other (please write in) ____________________
 Not sure

Q98. About how many persons would you estimate attend your church, synagogue, mosque, sangha, gurdwara, or other faith community on average each week?  0-50
 51-100
 101-250

99. Would you be interested in a follow-up interview by phone to discuss the details of your new faith commitment? If so, please enter your first name, language spoken, and phone number. If not, simply press the forward arrow to move to the end of the survey.

First name: _____________________________________________

Language you speak: __________________________________________

Telephone Number: _________________________________________

Thank you for taking this survey! Please return the survey in the return envelope provided to: Finding Faith Today Project, c/o Bryan Stone, Boston University School of Theology, 745 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.