PSYCHOMETRICKÉ ZISŤOVANIE PREDSTAVY O BOHU V SLOVENSKÝCH PODMIENKACH
THE PSYCHOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE IMAGE OF GOD IN SLOVAK CIRCUMSTANCES

Summary/Abstract: Research on the psychological characteristics of the image of God is one of the dynamically developing areas in psychology of religion. The aim of the paper is to present certain information on God Image Scales – a psychometric instrument which identifies psychological characteristics of the image of God in six dimensions: Presence, Challenge, Acceptance, Benevolence, Influence, and Providence. The author of the questionnaire, Richard Lawrence, based this instrument on two particular theories: the Attachment theory and the Object relations theory, with both applied to religion. In the present case the instrument primarily focuses on an experiential image of God as opposed to a rationally learned image of God. The paper also presents the Slovak adaptation of the questionnaire and explains how the Slovak version was developed using item analysis of three independent research samples. An exact translation of the original version does not guarantee the same psychometric characteristics as the original version. In conclusion, the advantages and disadvantages of using the instrument are discussed from the point of view of psychology and theology as well. The Slovak adaptation of the God Image Scales may contribute to research studies, clinical practice and pastoral work as well.

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