| The purpose of this study was to survey a sample population of Catholic adults and determine what relationships exist between demographic and developmental factors and participation in adult religious education. This was accomplished through the use of a questionnaire which was mailed to randomly selected adults (four hundred and forty-five) registered in twenty parishes within the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and also administered to a separate group of adults (fifty-one) who were participating in adult religious education programs within the diocese.;The statistical analysis using Chi-square indicated that relationships exist between an individual's participation and non-participation in adult religious education and the following factors: income, place of residence, number of children, education received at a Catholic college, reception of religious instruction as an adult, attendance at Mass and other liturgical services, participation in parish activities, prayer (both personal and with spouse and/or family), the specific response in times of crisis, and the reading of religious topics in periodicals and books.;Participants were observed as individuals likely to be living in urban or suburban areas, with incomes over ;In regards to the programming offered, the preferred location (chosen by 85%) for adult religious education was within the individual's own parish. Weeknights were the time of choice (requested by nearly 61%). Any competent person was viewed as suitable to teach an adult religious education course by slightly more than half the respondents, but more than one third of the respondents would prefer clergy (priests/deacons) as teachers. Courses concerning the study of the Bible, Church teaching, childcare and parenting issues, the application of faith to daily life, and Church history were considered appealing topics. The problem areas in regards to programming were seen as the lack of good, competent teachers, program formats insensitive to the needs of adult learners, and the overall lack of participation by other adults. |
