Religious identity commitments of emerging adults raised in strictly reformed contexts in the Netherlands

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the religious identity commitments of 18 emerging adults who grew up in strictly Reformed contexts in the Netherlands. During in-depth narrative interviews with photo elicitation, the participants reflected on who they are and the meaning of religion to their identity. Our thematic data analysis reveals that the participants’ religious identity commitments are diverse and diffuse, although they all were religiously socialised in more or less the same way. It, therefore, is inadequate to label the participants as Christian or not and as strictly Reformed or not. Second, the analysis reveals four commitments to trusting God, self, rational belief and not knowing yet.