Former Protestant Theologians

Attitude of theologians to theology, Christianity and church. Judgement
on their education and occupation as pastor. Occupational
re-orientation from the view of former theologians.

Topics: The data set is comprised of 6 sub-surveys and the topics were
mostly surveyed in the form of scales:

1. Theology and study of theology: university situation and judgement
on the study of theology; relationship to theology; judgement on the
relevance of the study of theology to reality and practice; changes in
religious self-understanding and interest in theology in the course of
studies; satisfaction with studies; interest in change of major;
contacts with other theology students; self-doubt regarding choice of
occupation and later demands as pastor; cooperation in church groups
during the study of theology; motives for the selection of the study of
theology; associations with the term theology (semantic differential);
most important supplementary subjects for theology students;
theological subjects that could be reduced within education;
composition of circle of friends; former theologians in one´s circle of
friends.

2. Occupational re-orientation: the following questions were posed
only to former theologians: point in time and year of giving up the
theological vocation or the pastor´s office; number of semesters and
established Protestant church in state at time of giving up the study
of theology; concurrence of giving up theological vocation and personal
development; perceived changes and feelings during and after the
decision for an occupational re-orientation; perceived personal
distancing regarding theology, the occupation as theologian and the
study of theology; changes of view of life and of circle of friends
since giving up the theological vocation; personal self-understanding
as theologian; judgement on the decision for a vocational
re-orientation from today´s view; situation, reasons and misgivings at
the decision to end theological vocational training or employment;
personal decision or demand to end theological vocation and agreement
of the official reason of the church leadership with the actual reason;
marital status at the time of giving up the theological vocation;
spiritual support received in the decision for a vocational
re-orientation; reactions of selected groups of persons to the decision
to end the theological vocation; blows and crisises experienced
personally; perceived burdens at transition from school to university,
during study of theology, at the time of curacy and parsonage.

3. Church and society: first association with the term church and
semantic differential; personal image of the church and concepts of an
ideal church; attitude to a political mission for the church; personal
experiences with the church and the relationship to the institution
church; actual and desired role of the church in society; the role
deligated to the church by society; self-characterization; influence of
the student movement on theology and church; social-political
attitudes; active participation in student politics; party preference;
assessment of personal political position by oneself and others; party
membership; characterization of the Federal Republic.

4. Christianity: concepts of being a Christian and Christianity;
perceived significance of Christianity in practical life; the way one
sees oneself as a Christian; religious experiences and practice;
attitude to church and religion; theological philosophy of life;
preferred organization for donations; thoughts about leaving the
church; married in church or interest in a church wedding; praying
together with partner.

5. Parsonage: The following questions were posed to former and current
theologians who were or still are active in the parsonage: judgement on
one´s own professional competence and training; size of parish;
preferred and non-preferred fields of work; satisfaction with activity
as a pastor; judgement on the social prestige of pastors; personal
image of pastor and criticism of the occupation as pastor; judgement on
bonus payments of the church; perceived work stress and effects on
personal life; changes in attitude to the parsonage; judgement on the
possibilities of personality development in the parsonage; judgement on
the aptitude of women for the parsonage.

6. Social data: year of birth; size of home town; number of siblings;
social origins; judgement on raising in parental home; praying together
with parents in childhood; personal contacts of the family with a
pastor during one´s childhood; church or theological occupation of a
relative; religious denomination of both parents; living in a diaspora
church community during time in school; reading religious or
theological newspapers and magazines in parental home; memberships in
groups and clubs during youth and influence of these on development of
one´s own personality; vacation stays in a home or youth camp run by a
church organization; group leader in a church youth group; attending
church events as a schoolchild; confirmation or religious instruction
as impetus to the study of theology; privatly reading the Bible or
religious and theological books; greatest influence factor on the
choice of the study of theology; changes within family in childhood and
youth; comparison of personal active participation in church life with
that of parents at time of decision to study theology; devoutmess of
parents; location of university and duration of studies; language
proficiency; completed theological final examinations; attendance or
registering for other subjects during study; other majors before the
study of theology; final examination in a non-theological subject and
form of degree; desired examination; manner of financing studies;
frequency of visits with parents and siblings as well as friends and
pastor in home town; non-academic vocational training; occupation
exercised before the study of theology; current employment; religious
denomination of partner; judgement on participation in church life and
one´s own devoutness in comparison to that of partner; children; size
of place of residence.

The following questions were posed to former theologians: memberships
and social-political activities at time of giving up theological
occupation; composition of circle of friends and frequency of
attendance at a church service before giving up theological
occupational career; change of marital status in temporal vicinity to
decision to give up theological career and religious denomination of
partner at the time; judgement on participation in church life and
one´s own devoutness in comparison to that of partner at the time;
housing situation at time of giving up theological employment;
exercising an activity after giving up theological employment that
required none of the previous education and duration of such an
activity; currently exercising theological duties.

Also encoded was: response date and ZIP (postal) code.