On Developing Features And Influence Of Chinese Buddhists’ Religiosity

This study, based on the existing research results, in order to address the problems occurred in the process, proposed a definition of Buddhists’religiosity and its contractual model, developed a Chinese Buddhists’Religiosity Scale(CBRS) and tested its psychometric properties, made a cross-sectional quantitative study on developmental features and possible influence of Chinese Buddhists’religiosity, as well as a qualitative research on individual Buddhists for a better understanding of Buddhists’religious development.The main results of the study are as follows:A Chinese Buddhist’s Religiosity Scale(CBRS), composed of33items(9for Dharma faith subscale,9for practical practice subscale,8for religious experience subscale, and7for pursuit of value subscale) was developed to measure the degree to which one’s personality features match the identity of a Buddhist. Fit indices of the scale made through χconfirmatory factor analysis met normal standard(χ2/df=2.34, RMSEA=0.079, CFI=0.94, IFI=0.94, NNFI=0.94, PGFI=0.66), supporting the4-dimension structure of it The internal consistency coefficient and the Test-retest reliability of the scale was respectively0.918and0.874. The CBRS scores for both full sample and lay Buddhist-only show significant positive correlation with the criterion of precepts(full:r=.242, p<.01; lay Buddhist-only:r=.220,, p<.01), indicating its acceptable empirical validity.The average score of the Buddhists religious Scale among a sample of253was4.08out of5, which was at a high level. Average score of common believers was significantly lower than that of the formally converted ones (four assemblies), while still at upper-middle level. For some Buddhists, non-religious representation of the homogeneity content received much less agreement than its religious representation. For all samples, a significant negative correlation was found between the CBRS score and the additional reverse-scoring item "to ward off the Scourge and get comfortable is very important to me.", while for the top-scored27%samples there was a weak positive correlation.Among the lay Buddhist and common believers, there was a significant difference in different age groups on religious score. Advanced aged believers scored higher on all subscales in addition to the overall scale and the religious experience subscales. Groups of Believers more than one year scores much higher than those less than a year on both overall scale and all subscales. There is no significant difference in score among the lay Buddhist of different Seniority. Female Buddhists score higher than male on the total score and all subscales, with a significant difference on the pursuit of value subscales and overall scale score. Scores on practical practice subscales, the pursuit of value subscales and overall scale shows significant difference in different Level of education groups. Age, Level of education, Seniority, these three factors plays a Predictive role on the overall score, with age being the most (14.5%).3. Results of the qualitative research supported the deduction that Buddhists’ religiosity tends to increase over time. Possible factors may include existing cognitive structure, religious instruction, life events, and religious experience.