This psychology research investigation is being conducted by
  Dr. William E. Snell, Jr. and Dr. Rickard Sebby
Department of Psychology
SE Missouri State University
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701 - USA
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Religion Beliefs and the 10 Commandments


        INVESTIGATION CONSENT FORM: In the present research you will be asked to respond to the items on a questionnaire dealing with general views about religion and people's belief in the Ten Commandments. Topics dealing with religion are a vital aspect of our lives, and as such we think that they are an important focus for study. Thus we encourage you to participate in this project. All of the information gathered in this project is completely confidential. The resulting information will be used only for research purposes. No individual other than the researcher (Dr. Snell) will ever have access to the responses which you provide in this study. Also, all of the information gathered in this project is anonymous. No names, including your own name, will be attached to the data itself. Any participant may withdraw from this project at any time--and there will not be any penalty for doing so.
        INFORMED CONSENT: I do hereby give my informed consent to participate in this research project. I understand that participation in the project is entirely voluntary. I also understand that an individual may withdraw from the project at any time without being penalized in any way.

Please Type in Today's Date (month-day-year; e.g., 12-25-99): 

Do you FREELY and WITHOUT PRESSURE consent to participate in this research (if so, please type "YES"):
 

This survey will take about 20-25 minutes to complete. Thank you.

Page # 1

INSTRUCTIONS: The statements listed below describe beliefs which people may hold. There are no right or wrong answers, only your own responses. For each item, indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with that statement.  Remember to respond to all items, even if you are not completely sure.  Your answers will be kept in the strictest confidence.  Also, please be honest in responding to these statements.   
Click on one of the circles to indicate your response to each statement. 
 

How much do you agree vs disagree each of these statements? Strongly
Disagree		 Disagree Neither Agree Strongly
Agree
1. It's important to have faith in God (i.e., the Judeo-Christian deity).
2. It's wrong to curse using God's name.
3. It's immoral for people to work on Sunday.
4. Children should respect their parents.
5. It's wrong for people to kill others.
6. Adultery is an immoral act. 
7. I must always be successful as a parent.
8. It's wrong to tell a lie about others.
9. It's immoral to lust after another person's spouse.
10. To envy others because of what they own is wrong.
How much do you agree vs disagree each of these statements? Strongly
Disagree		 Disagree Neither Agree Strongly
Agree
11. It's wrong to give one's religious allegiance to idols rather than to the Christian deity.
12. People should not take God's name in vain.
13. The Lord's day (Sunday) is meant to be holy.
14. It's important for children to honor their father and mother.
15. Putting people to death is immoral.
16. It's improper for married persons to have sex with a person other than their spouse.
17. To rob others of their possessions is wrong.
18. It's important to tell the truth about people when talking about them.
19. To covet a person's wife or husband is a sin.
20. It's immoral to have greed for another person's possessions.
How much do you agree vs disagree each of these statements? Strongly
Disagree		 Disagree Neither Agree Strongly
Agree
21. People who worship any deity other than the Christian God are being led astray.
22. It's inappropriate for someone to use the phrase, "God damn it."
23. To work on Sunday (God's day) means to do wrong.
24. Children should be grateful to their mother and father.
25. Committing murder is a sinful crime.
26. Extra-marital affairs are wrong.
27. Theft is an immoral crime.
28. It's not all that bad to say untruthful things about others.
29. There's nothing wrong with longing for another person's husband or wife.
30. People should not feel jealous about what others own.
How much do you agree vs disagree each of these statements? Strongly
Disagree		 Disagree Neither Agree Strongly
Agree
31. There are no other divine beings other than God (as in the Bible).
32. The use of God's name with profanity is immoral.
33. A person who runs a business on Sunday is not living a good Christian life.
34. Parents should be treated with respect by their children.
35. To take someone's life is an act of extreme wrongdoing.
36. An individual who has a sexual affair with a married person is being sinful.
37. It's sinful to take what belongs to someone else.
38. It's immoral to be deceitful with other people.
39. A person who has a sexual desire for a friend's marriage partner is immoral.
40. It's a sin to begrudge others because they have something you want.
How much do you agree vs disagree each of these statements? Strongly
Disagree		 Disagree Neither Agree Strongly
Agree
41. Those who pray to deities other than the Christian God are worshipping false gods.

42. It's sacrilegious to use God's name to damn others.
43. To conduct business on a Sunday is equivalent to committing a sin.
44. Children ought to praise and admire their parents.
45. It's evil for a person to slay another individual.
46. People should not commit adultery.
47. Stealing from others is a moral sin.
48. Those who say false things about their friends are committing a sin.
49. It's not right to sexually desire the spouse of a married friend.
50. A person ought not to wish for what others have.

Copyright - 1997

Please respond to all statements. Thank you.

Page # 2

INSTRUCTIONS: This survey includes a number of statements related to specific religious beliefs.  You will probably find that you agree with some of the statements and disagree with others, to varying extents.  Please mark your opinion for each statement, according to the amount of your agreement or disagreement, by using the following scale shown below.  
Click on one of the circles to indicate your response to each statement. 
 

How much do you disagree vs agree with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Moderately Disagree Slightly Disagree Slightly Agree Moderately Agree Strongly Agree
1. God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. Man is not a special creature made in the image of God; he is simply a recent development in the process of animal evolution. 
3. Jesus Christ was the divine Son of God 
4. The Bible is the word of God given to guide man to grace and salvation.
5. Those who feel that God answers prayers are just deceiving themselves.
6. It is ridiculous to believe that Jesus Christ could be both human and divine.
How much do you disagree vs agree with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Moderately Disagree Slightly Disagree Slightly Agree Moderately Agree Strongly Agree
7. Jesus was born of a virgin.
8. The Bible may be an important book of moral teachings, but it was no more inspired by God than were many other such books in the history of Man. 
9. The concept of God is an old superstition that is no longer needed to explain things in the modern era. 
10. Christ will return to the earth someday.
11. Most of the religions in the world have miracle stories in their traditions; but there is no reason to believe any of them are true, including those found in the Bible.
12. God hears all of our Prayers.
How much do you disagree vs agree with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Moderately Disagree Slightly Disagree Slightly Agree Moderately Agree Strongly Agree
13. Jesus Christ may have been a great ethical teacher, as other men have been in history.  But he was not the divine Son of God.
14. God made man of dust in His own image and breathed life into him. 
15. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God provided a way for the forgiveness of man's sins. 
16. Despite what many people believe, there is no such thing as a god who is aware of Man's actions.
17. Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried but on the third day He arose from the dead.
18. In all likelihood there is no such things as a God-given immortal soul in Man which lives on after death.
How much do you disagree vs agree with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Moderately Disagree Slightly Disagree Slightly Agree Moderately Agree Strongly Agree
19. If there ever was such a person as Jesus of Nazareth, he is dead now and will never walk the earth again.
20. Jesus miraculously changed real water into real wine. 
21. There is a God who is concerned with everyone's actions. 
22. Jesus' death on the cross, if it actually occurred, did nothing in and of itself to save Mankind.
23. There is really no reason to hold to the idea that Jesus was born of a virgin.  Jesus' life showed better than anything else that he was exceptional, so why rely on old myths that don't make sense.
24. The Resurrection proves beyond a doubt that Jesus was the Christ or Messiah of God.


Please respond to all statements. Thank you.

Page # 3

INSTRUCTIONS:  Please indicate which of the three following descriptions is the one that best characterizes your beliefs about God and your relationship with God: 

A = God is generally warm and responsive to me; He always seems to know when to be supportive and protective of me, and when to let me make my own mistakes.  My relationship with God is always comfortable, and I am very happy and satisfied with it.
B = God is generally impersonal, distant, and often seems to have little or no interest in my personal affairs and problems.  I frequently have the feeling that He doesn't care very much about me, or that he might not like me..
C = God seems to be inconsistent in His reactions to me; He sometimes seems very warm and responsive to my needs, but sometimes not.  I'm sure that He loves me and cares about me, but sometimes He seems to show it in ways I don't really understand.

Please respond to all statements. Thank you.

Page # 4

INSTRUCTIONS:  Please read each of the following descriptions and then indicate how characteristic of you each statement is, using the following scale. 
Click on one of the circles to indicate your response to each statement. 

Please indicate how characteristic of you each of these statements is. 

Not at all
(1)characteristic
of me

 (2) (3) (4)

Very
(5) characteristic
of me
1. God seems impersonal to me.
2. God seems to have little or no interest in my personal problems.
3. God seems to have little or no interest in my personal affairs.   
4. I have a warm relationship with God.
5. God knows when I need support.
6. I feel that God is generally responsive to me.
7. God sometimes seems responsive to my needs, but sometimes not.
8. God's reactions to me seem to be inconsistent.
9. God sometimes seems very warm and other times very cold to me.

Please respond to all statements. Thank you.

Page # 5

INSTRUCTIONS:  Please read each of the following descriptions and then indicate which one is closest to your own view.
Click on the box below the statements to respond.

A = The Bible is God's word and all it says is true.
B = The Bible was written by men inspired by God, but it contains some human error.
C = The Bible is a good book because it was written by wise men, but God had nothing to do with it.
D = The Bible was written by men who lived so long ago that it is worth very little today.

Please respond to all statements. Thank you.

Page # 6

INSTRUCTIONS: For the statements shown below, please indicate which of the 6 options reflects how much you "agree versus disagree" with each statement. 
Click on one of the circles to indicate your response to each statement. 
 

Some of the questions in this section ask you about college;
are you currently a college student?  ==>>		 Yes No
Some of the questions in this section ask you about college;
have you ever attended college?  ==>>		 Yes No

If you are not currently a college student, or if you have never been to college, respond to these statements in the way that you think you would--if you were a college student.  Thank you.
How much do you disagree vs agree with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Moderately
Disagree		 Slightly
Disagree		 Slightly
Agree		 Moderately
Agree		 Strongly Agree
1. I am interested in taking college courses that challenge my beliefs.
2. I am concerned that college’s emphasis on knowledge omits a concern for God’s word.
3. Most of the professors in college believe in God.
4. I am interested in learning all that I can about the scientific origins of life.
5. Too much emphasis is placed on questioning and reasoning and not enough on simply trusting in God’s Word.
6. I tend to be interested in people or courses that challenge my beliefs about God.
7. My choice of a career has been strongly influenced by my religious beliefs and values.
8. In courses that challenge the basic beliefs and values of my religious faith, I don’t really think about what I’m learning---I just give the professors what I think they want.
9. Very little of what I am supposed to learn in college is in conflict with my basic religious beliefs and values.
10. Most of what I am supposed to learn in college rejects the power and authority of God and his word.
How much do you disagree vs agree with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Moderately
Disagree		 Slightly
Disagree		 Slightly
Agree		 Moderately
Agree		 Strongly Agree
11. Intellectual leaders (e.g., college faculty) are likely to lead one to reject God and the Bible.
12. Challenging one’s beliefs about God and the Bible is the same as rejecting God and his Word.
13. If one investigates other beliefs and values, that doesn’t mean that one is rejecting God and the Bible.
14. Students should be encouraged to take college courses that promote the examination of personal values (including religious perspectives).
15. College should advocate a clear and absolute authority (one truth based upon the teachings of God and the Bible.).
16. My goal in college is to make sure of my beliefs by questioning and analyzing them.
17. Those preparing for a career which involves helping others (teaching, counseling) should learn to communicate the absolute truth (based upon God’s teaching) to those whom one educates or helps.
18.

Intellectual examination of the problems in society will not lead to a “just” solution.  Only through reliance upon God and his Word will social problems (poverty, violence) be solved.

Please respond to all statements. Thank you.

Page # 7

INSTRUCTIONS: Please rate each of the following statements according to the extent to which each statement describes you. Use the scale shown below to respond to each statement. 
Click on one of the circles to indicate your response to each statement. 

 

1. It is easy for me to become emotionally close to others. I am comfortable depending on them and having them depend on me. I do not worry about being alone or having others not accept me. 
Not at all characteristic of me
Slightly characteristic of me
Somewhat characteristic of me
Moderately characteristic of me
Very characteristic of me

2. I am uncomfortable getting close to others. I want emotionally close relationships, but I find it difficult to trust others completely, or to depend on them. I worry that I will be hurt if I allow myself to become too close to others.
Not at all characteristic of me
Slightly characteristic of me
Somewhat characteristic of me
Moderately characteristic of me
Very characteristic of me

3. I want to be completely emotionally intimate with others, but I often find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I am uncomfortable being without close relationships, but I sometimes worry that others do not value me as much as I value them.
Not at all characteristic of me
Slightly characteristic of me
Somewhat characteristic of me
Moderately characteristic of me
Very characteristic of me

4. I am comfortable without close emotional relationships. It is very important to me to feel independent and self-sufficient, and I prefer not to depend on others or have others depend on me. 
Not at all characteristic of me
Slightly characteristic of me
Somewhat characteristic of me
Moderately characteristic of me
Very characteristic of me


Please respond to all statements. Thank you.

Page # 8

INSTRUCTIONS: For each of the statements shown below, please respond as honestly as possible, using the response scale shown below.  If you are not currently in college, respond in the way that you think you would--if you were a student in college.   
Click on one of the circles to indicate your response to each statement.  
 

Some of the questions in this section ask you about college;
are you currently a college student?  ==>>

 Yes No

Some of the questions in this section ask you about college;
have you ever attended college?  ==>>

 Yes No

If you are not currently a college student, or if you have never been to college, respond to these statements in the way that you think you would--if you were a college student.  Thank you.
How much do you disagree (versus agree) with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree Strongly Agree
1. I see college as a "necessary evil"--it's the price I have to pay to find a good job. 
2. Many of my college courses are a waste of time for me. 
3. I would like to deepen my intellectual pursuits after graduation. 
4. I don't like taking courses that are not directly related to my goals after college. 
5. I enjoy researching new topics and solving intellectual problems.
6. I prefer courses offering practical skills over 'liberal arts' kinds of courses.
7. I would rather just pay money for a diploma than have to take so many useless courses.
8. It is always worthwhile to study subjects like Philosophy, History, and Educational Theory.
9. A big reason I'm in college is that I value learning for its own sake.
10. Some college professors are alright, but as a whole I don't care much for them.
How much do you disagree (versus agree) with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree Strongly Agree
11. I enjoy courses that require research, writing, and critical evaluation.
12. Learning a lot of theories is fine for some people, but I'd rather just go out and do things.
13. Some professors are too 'intellectual' and often more me with their abstractions.
14. The main problems in life require clear and direct answers, not intellectual theorizing.
15. Requirements to take humanities and liberal arts courses should be reduced or eliminated.
16. Generally speaking, professors need to be more interesting.
17. I prefer classes where thought-provoking issues are discussed with the professor.
18. I prefer classes without a lot of critical thinking or analytic activities.
19. I become bored in my classes when discussions seem to get too abstract and hypothetical.
20. Overall, I find my college courses stimulating and rewarding.
How much do you disagree (versus agree) with each of these statements? Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree Strongly Agree
21. I pay tuition and feel it is the professor's job to give me what I need to graduate.
22. I often feel angry toward many of my professors.
23. I appreciate a teacher's depth of knowledge more than how entertaining they are.
24. I am not interested in hearing students and the professor discuss philosophical issues.
25. I'm in a hurry to get my education over with.

Copyright - 2001

Please respond to all statements. Thank you.

Page # 9

INSTRUCTIONS: The following demographic data will be used only to describe the group characteristics of the resulting sample of participants (e.g., 25% were young and 75% were older). They will not be used to identify individual responses of you or anyone else.   
Click on each "box" to indicate your response to each of these demographic questions. 

1. What is your Marital Status? 
2. How long have you been married in
    your current marriage (e.g., 10 years)? 
3. How many children do you have? 
4. What is your own income? 
5. Are you currently a university student?  
6. What is your gender? 
7. What is your ethnic heritage? 
8. What is your religious heritage? 
9. What is your age? 
10. In what country do you live? 
11. Are you in love now? 
12. How large is the place where you live?
13. How frequently do you attend church? 
14. What is your current living arrangement? 
15. Are your parents divorced? 
16. What is your level of education? 
17. What is your spouse's education level? 
18. What is your religious denomination? 
19. How old are you (number of years)? 
20. What is your Race / Ethnicity? 


Click on the "Submit" button to complete this research study.

You are finished!
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this research survey.

If you wish to see a brief description of this research, click here: Debriefing.

This site was last updated on June 17, 2007.
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, SE Missouri State University
Send comments and inquires to: wesnell@semo.edu or rasebby@semo.edu 
Copyright© 2004
William E. Snell, Jr., Ph.D.