Investigating the developments of intergenerational religiosity; A data-based approach; Case study of Kashan city

Sanatkar, Ehsan; Ganji,, Mohammad; Babaeifard, Asadollah

doi:10.22035/jicr.2025.3365.3628

Investigating the developments of intergenerational religiosity; A data-based approach; Case study of Kashan city

Document Type : Scientific Research Manuscript

Authors

Ehsan Sanatkar ¹

Mohammad Ganji, ²

Asadollah Babaeifard ²

¹ PhD Graduate in Social Issues of Iran, University of Kashan, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Iran

10.22035/jicr.2025.3365.3628

Abstract

Religion has always been one of the most controversial institutions in the social sciences and is recognized in our country as a significant and influential institution due to its central place. The aim of this research is to examine religious discourses in the lived experience of three generations of citizens of Kashan. This study is qualitative and has been conducted using grounded theory methodology. This research has drawn on the conceptual framework of Inglehart, Bruce, and Soroush. The sample size for this research includes 28 individuals born in the 1950s (during the Pahlavi regime), those born in the 1970s (during the revolution and revolutionary values), and those born in the 1990s (during the consolidation and development of the Islamic Republic). According to the findings, the religiosity of individuals from the first group is characterized by a reference-oriented religiosity and a definitive approach to religious issues. The religiosity of individuals from the second group is institutional and they seek the presence of religion in all spheres of society. The core category of religiosity for individuals from the third group is individualistic religion. Additionally, based on the research findings, it was determined that there is not a significant generational gap between the first and second groups, but there is a generational gap between these two groups and the individuals from the third group, with the concept of religiosity having changed in the new generation and adopting an individual, faith-based, and direct approach.

Keywords

Religious legalism

institutional religion

individualistic religion

secularism

Subjects

Sociology of Religion and Culture

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