Gender, Age, and Socioeconomic Status Differences in Children's Religious Beliefs

Interviews and drawings of 122 Iranian children, aged 6 to 11, about religious beliefs and concepts (e.g., God) were examined. The results showed that, children painting God’s image used light more than any other sy- mbol. During free associations, children mentioned God’s benevolence more than other attributes. Girls mostly depic- ted God in the form of symbols, while boys drew God more human-like. In describing God's deeds, 6 to 7 year olds mentioned the more positive and neutral aspects, 9 to 10 year olds noted God's omnipotence, and 10 to 11 year olds spoke mainly of the negative. Children from low socio- economic status primarily prayed in times of need and on special occasions. Whereas, those with high socioeco- nomic status preferred praying in particular places and regularly. Implications in teaching religion and its related concepts are discussed.