Faith in transition : the experience of young Gozitans in Malta

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the phenomenon of faith transformation of Gozitan young people as they move to Malta to further higher education and secure professional employment. Moreover, the study questioned the effectiveness of childhood/adolescent faith formation on emerging adults as they negotiate and co-construct their identity during a major life transition. The study discusses the challenges Gozitan young people face in Malta and the impact of the socio-cultural context and higher education on their religious identity, beliefs, practices and worldviews. Applying Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis for a qualitative research on a sample of eight Gozitan young people in Malta, the study portrays how, through critical reflection, participants are consciously and explicitly reassessing their meaning structures and religious identities. Although provoking questions and generating doubts about core beliefs and worldviews, challenges are experienced as a constructive passage in the unfolding of their emerging adult lives, enabling participants to assume responsibility, manage their lives and own religious beliefs. While religion emerges as a key resource of meaning-making influencing their identity and worldviews, the study concludes that parental religion, positive faith formation programs, internalisation of religious beliefs and personal prayer support high levels of religious commitment and practice during emerging adult years.