Muslim attitude toward freedom of religious clothing and symbols in schools within the UK : the effect of religious and theological factors factors

Understanding variations in public attitudes toward freedom of religious clothing and symbols in school is a matter of concern within both the social scientific study of religion (concerned with religious factors) and empirical theology (concerned with theological factors). Drawing on data provided by 335 13- to 15-year-old Muslim students from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, this study tests the power of religious factors and theological factors to explain variance within the Scale of Attitude toward Freedom of Religious Clothing and Symbols in School (SAFORCS). Regression analyses demonstrate that theological factors account for significant additional variance, after religious factors have been taken into account. In this regard understanding Muslim students’ theological understanding is as important as understanding their religious practice