Contours of Conviction: Quantifying Identity Stability among Muslim Youth in Response to Contemporary Islamic Thought

Abstract

This study examined the stability of religious identity among Muslim youth in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, and its relationship with exposure to contemporary Islamic thought. Religious identity stability, encompassing belief, practice, and affiliation, was analyzed in the context of increasing exposure to contemporary Islamic interpretations and digital religious discourse. Employing a descriptive–correlational design, the study surveyed 220 Muslim youth aged 18 to 30 years using a structured, expert-validated questionnaire measuring religious identity stability and exposure to contemporary Islamic thought. Descriptive statistics revealed high levels of stability across belief (M = 4.09), practice (M = 3.91), and affiliation (M = 4.14), suggesting that religiosity among Muslim youth in Palimbang remains both firm and adaptive. Respondents reported openness to contemporary interpretive perspectives (M = 3.87) and perceived that contemporary Islamic thought strengthened their understanding of Islam (M = 4.20). A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.483, p < .001) was found between exposure to contemporary Islamic thought and religious identity stability, indicating that engagement with contemporary Islamic discourse, particularly through digital scholarship and contemporary Islamic learning platforms, reinforces faith commitment. These findings highlight that Muslim youth exhibit adaptive stability, maintaining coherence of belief and practice while integrating reflective engagement with contemporary Islamic scholarship. This suggests that exposure to contemporary Islamic interpretations and digital Islamic discourse fosters cognitive maturity, critical reasoning, and faith resilience. The study contributes to understanding how contemporary Islamic engagement sustains religious identity within rural Muslim communities, offering implications for religious education and youth development initiatives in the Philippine context.