Abstract
Peers and primary caregivers influence the development of religious beliefs during childhood and adolescence. However, previous research has not assessed whether childhood religious experiences with peers and primary caregivers are differently related to individual differences in adult religiosity. We investigated whether the frequency of childhood religious experiences with peers and primary caregivers are related to adult religious beliefs and religious service attendance. An online sample of adults (n = 525) completed a survey that included a measure of religious beliefs and two recently developed measures that assess the ways in which peers and primary caregivers influenced religious experiences during childhood and adolescence. Results suggest that the frequency of childhood religious experiences with peers and primary caregivers are differently related to individual differences in adult religiosity: 1) Participation in religious activities with a peer, and primary caregiver's disapproval of religious deviation, are positively associated with adult religious attendance, 2) participation in religious activities with a peer, and primary caregiver's religious assurance, are positively associated with adult religious belief, and 3) primary caregiver's encouragement of religious skepticism is negatively associated with adult religious belief. Discussion highlights limitations of the current study and important directions for future research.