ŚLĄSKIE STUDIA HISTORYCZNO-TEOLOGICZNE

The specificity of the religious meaning system of members and non-members of the Families Covenant Community „Mamre”. Analysis of One’s own research
The article concerns conditions for the development of religiousness. One of the factors in the religious growth is a participation in the life of religious communities. Currently the Families Covenant Community „Mamre” is a very popular religious group among Catholics. Due to the fact that it is a relatively new group, in the literature we note the lack of studies attempting to verify empirically the nature of its impact. Taking it into consideration, a project has been performed whose aim was to answer if people belonging to the Families Covenant Community „Mamre” have a higher religiousness level than those who do not belong to this religious group. The hypothesis concerning the existence of differences in religiousness between those belonging and not belonging to this movement has been assumed. The study involved 110 people aged from 19 to 59 years (M=38.55, SD =11.22). Measurement of the respondents’ religiousness was taken using the Religious Meaning System Scale by D. Krok. The results obtained allowed to confirm the formulated hypothesis.

Personality Structure of Members and Non-Members of the Families Covenant Community “Mamre”. Analysis of Own Research
Purpose of research. The article presents results of the research done by the Authors. The study involved 122 people. The main purpose of this research was to identify the differences between members of the Families Covenant Community “Mamre” (n=55) and people, who aren’t members of any religious movement (n=67) in the field of personality traits.
Methods. In the scientific work presented above, the Authors used: (1) NEO Five-Factor-Inventory by P. Costa and R. McCrae in polish adaptation of B. Zawadzki, J. Strelau, P. Szczepaniak and M. Śliwińska; (2) Personal Form.
Results. Respondents who are members of the Families Covenant Community “Mamre” and those, who aren’t members of any religious movement differ in the Neuroticism and the Conscientiousness, whereas no statistically substantial difference was found within the Extraversion, the Openess and the Agreeableness. The individuals related with the Community are characterized by higher level of the Neuroticism and lower intensity of the Conscientiousness than non-members of any religious movement.
Conclusions. Received results can provide valuable support for chaplains and leaders of the Families Covenant Community “Mamre” in determining the nature and directions of the formation acts in relation to people declaring will to join the Community

Is the Families Covenant Community „Mamre” a Forge of Wisdom? A Comparative Study of Three Groups of People Distinguished on the Grounds of the Religiousness Level
The objective of the research. The article presents the results of studies that comprised 179 people belonging to three groups, distinguished on the grounds of the religiousness level. The main objective of the research was an identification of the differences between these groups, in terms of both particular dimensions of wisdom and its general indicator. The first group was created from the members of the Families Covenant Community “Mamre” (n=55). The second group consisted of people not belonging to any religious movement, but characterized by high religiosity (n=60). The third group was formed from the respondents who do not belong to any religious movement and are characterized by their low religiosity level. The methods. In this research project, the following methods were applied: (1) Three – dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS) by M. Ardelt in the Polish adaptation by S. Steuden, P. Brudek and P. Izdebski; (2) Scale of Religious System of Meanings (SRSZ ) by D. Krok; Personal Data Sheet. The results. The analysed groups differed between themselves in terms of all three dimensions of wisdom and its global indicator. Crucial statistical differences were noted between the members of The “Mamre” Community and religious people not connected with any religious movement, and people of low level of religiosity and not bound up with any religious community. The conclusions. The received results may be a valuable help for priests and leaders of The Families Covenant Community “Mamre” in terms of specifying the characteristics and directions of formative influences towards people declaring the will of joining the Community.