If Christians meditate - An empirical study on their conceptions of God and religious practice

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Annette Meuthrath
• Subject Area: Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
• Term: from 2013 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 248983571

The empirical study documents and analyzes the beliefs and religious practice of meditating Christians (here called “meditators”) in Germany with regard to the question of whether meditation has an effect on these ideas and practice. The self-perception of meditators, their experiences and insights gained through meditation concerning their faith is placed in the foreground. “Meditating Christians” here means all those who practice an Eastern form of meditation, such as Zen, Vipassana, Tibetan meditation or those who practice an as genuinely Christian understood form of Meditation as that of the “Würzburger Schule” of contemplation. Included as Christians were also those who belong to a Christian church purely formal as well as those who see themselves as Christians, even without a church affiliation.The study is of mainly explorative character, but also has explanative and descriptive aspects. Thus, some aspects of religious beliefs and practices are described on the basis of the data collected and also some initial hypotheses are reviewed. There was a relatively large sample (N = 411 in the main analysis, all analyzes N = 956) collected to test hypotheses and statistical correlations. Therefore a quantitative method was chosen as an instrument of data collection. For organizational and economic reasons a written survey (standardized questionnaire) was taken as instrument (written self-administered).The results of the empirical study are based in large parts on the self-assessments of respondents and answer the questions:• What characterizes the group of meditating Christians in Germany?• What about the religious interest and knowledge of the meditators?• Are there any peculiarities in their religious education?• Had meditating Christians a particularly religious commitment in young adulthood?• How do Christians practice meditation and what do they hope to gain?• Does meditation lead to spiritual experiences?• Is there a conflict between genuine Christian and in origin non-Christian forms of meditation?• Who are the teachers for meditation?• What do meditating Christians think about other religions?• How does the Christian “environment” react to the meditators?• What is the attitude of meditating Christians towards their church, the church leadership or the Magisterium of the Church?• Are beliefs and practice of faith changed through meditation?• Is the image of God changed and has this an impact on the practice of faith?• Is at the same time also the world view changed?• Is multiple religious affiliations and syncretic beliefs a consequence of meditation?• Who has the highest religious competence?• Is meditation a threat to the Christian faith?• Are meditators a special group among the Christians in Germany?• Are there differences between Protestants and Catholics meditators?In the investigation of the underlying surveys especially older and well-educated Christians have responded with a greater than average commitment to religious-ecclesiastical sphere. They are interested in religious issues and above all trust their own consciences. Those who responded were religious interested, committed and mature Christians, mainly women middle-aged and elderly.

• DFG Programme: Publication Grants