Do Not Forsake Me, O God. Doctrinal Representation of God, Dualistic Literalism, and Attachment to God

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between individuals’ doctrinal and experiential representation of God, by inquiring for associations between dualistic literalism and attachment to God. By dualistic literalism is meant the cognitive beliefs that reality is dualistically divided into good and evil; that God has given humanity a complete guide to what is good, that should be interpreted literally; and that the consequences of not submitting to God, and thus being on the wrong side of this dualistically divided reality, are disastrous. A survey was administered to N = 105 respondents. The sample was limited to Christians who seek proximity to God while also believing there is a possibility of being separated from God. An attachment theoretical framework, where proximity seeking to someone perceived as stronger and wiser as well as anxiety of abandonment play a crucial role, was applied to the material. As hypothesized dualistic literalism was positively associated with anxiety in attachment to God, and negatively associated with avoidance in attachment to God. It cannot be ruled out that these associations are the result of a causal link where the cognitively held dualistic literalism affects the relationship with God.