The Importance of Terminal Values and Religious Experience of God’s Presence and God’s Absence in the Lives of University Students with Various Levels of Empathy

Abstract

The aims of the research I embarked on were: (a) to show the preference of terminal values in personal and in social character, as well to determine the level of religious experience—God’s presence and God’s absence, in groups of young people characterized by a high and low level of empathy and (b) to show the relation between terminal values in personal and in social character and religious experience: God’s presence and God’s absence, in groups of young people with a high and low level of empathy. In the research, the following methods were applied: The Scale of Religious Experience by Głaz—in order to define the level of religious experience: God’s presence and God’s absence, and Mehrabian and Epstein’s Questionnaire Measure of Emotional Empathy—in order to define the level of empathy. In order to show the terminal values preference amongst young people, the Rokeach Value Survey was applied. The research was carried out in Kraków amongst 200 university students. The research has shown that students with a high level of empathy reveal a higher level of experience of God’s presence than the people with a low level of it. University students with a high level of empathy amongst terminal values prefer most two values in personal character, that is wisdom and pleasure, and one in social character—family security. Similarly, students with a low level of empathy prefer most also two values in personal character, that is pleasure and freedom, and one in social character—family security. In the group of people with a high level of empathy, it is value in personal character—a sense of accomplishment—that contribute more to explaining the variance of religious experience of God’s presence, and in group of people with a low level of empathy, it is social value—social recognition. Whereas in the group of people with a high level of empathy it is value in social character—equality—that contribute more to explaining the variance of religious experience of God’s absence, and in group of people with a low level of empathy, it is personal value—salvation.

Instrumental Values as Predictors of Religious Experience in the Lives of Students of Pedagogy and of Philosophy

“…This suggests that, in the present case, instrumental values, which define students' standards of behavior, more strongly imply experiences of God's presence than experiences of God's absence, in the lives of both students of pedagogy and students of philosophy. In this regard, our analysis of the issue confirms the findings of certain other studies, which had indicated that instrumental values would contribute more to the occurrence of religious experiences of God's presence than to those of God's absence [5,46].…”

“…Studies conducted by means of the same Rokeach Value Survey amongst university students belonging to the Roman-Catholic church show that, from among the various possible terminal values, "a sense of accomplishment" is associated with the occurrence of religious experiences of God's presence in their lives, while a high level of empathy and "equality" contribute most to the occurrence of experiences of God's absence. Conversely, in the group of students with a low level of empathy, "social recognition" contributes most to the occurrence of religious experiences of God's presence, while "salvation" does so where experiences of God's absence are concerned [5]. Out of the various possible instrumental values, "helpfulness" contributes most to the occurrence of religious experiences of God's presence in the lives both of students of theology and of students of physics [46], and in the group of young university students with a high level of experience of God's presence terminal values seem to stand in a stronger relation to sensitivity of conscience than instrumental ones [47].…”

“…From among instrumental values, however, students with a high level of experience of God's presence respect "courage" and "helpfulness" the most, whereas students with a low level of that experience have the highest regard for "responsibility" and "tolerance" [47]. From among terminal values pertaining to personal character, students with a high level of empathy prefer "wisdom" and "pleasure" above all [5]. In contrast, from among instrumental values, students of theology most enthusiastically endorse "helpfulness" and students of physics endorse "cleanliness" [46].…”

“…A review of the relevant literature would seem to suggest that there is a correlation of some sort between values and religious experience [1][2][3][4][5], and this offers a motivation to pursue further empirical studies of a more detailed kind, such as may furnish additional knowledge regarding this matter. The aim of this article is to examine, with reference to Polish students of pedagogy and of philosophy, the relationship between religious experience of God's presence or absence and instrumental values pertaining to moral character and competence.…”

Value systems and centrality of religiosity as predictors of non-religious and religious coping with stress in early adulthood.

“…Although religious beliefs can at times impede the coping process, they also enable people to understand and deal with stressful situations. In addition, religious practices may foster more effective ways of dealing with stressful situations and conditions [1,26].…”