Methodological difficulties in measuring religious identity and some ways to overcome them

This article attempts to consider religious identity as one of the first social identities. The approach of T. Smith to “self-identification” and aspects of religious identity is analyzed. The attitude towards G. Lenski’s approach to the measurement of religious identity in denominations is expressed. The considerations that must be taken into account when measuring religious identity are given, the factors are listed, due to the influence of which the results obtained when measuring religious identity differ. The article also discusses the factors which contribute to the ability of respondents to express different religious affiliations in the course of certain types of surveys. The paper describes the conditions under which religious identity and religious practice seem incompatible. The advantages of some data collection methods used in surveys to measure religious identity are also noted.