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- Title
"Losing my religion": Identity (re)constructions in Mormon exit narratives.
- Authors
Scharp, Kristina M.; Beck, Aubrey L.
- Abstract
The present study explores how former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are often referred to as Mormons, construct their identities. Framed in an interpretive narrative approach, 150 online exit stories of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that voluntarily left the Church were qualitatively analyzed. Findings reveal five prominent identities: (1) the disenfranchised victim, (2) the redeemed spiritualist, (3) the liberated self, (4) the (wo)men of science, and (5) the Mormon in name only. Results suggest that membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is inextricably connected to individual identity. Thus, exiting the Church is much more than leaving an organization. Future implications for research will be discussed.
- Subjects
NARRATIVES; THEMATIC analysis; MORMONISM; MORMONS; SAME-sex relationships
- Publication
Narrative Inquiry, 2017, Vol 27, Issue 1, p132
- ISSN
1387-6740
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1075/ni.27.1.07sch