The Role of the Moral Intelligence in Predicting Religious orientation among students at University of Sistan and Baluchestan

The present study aimed to determine the role of the moral intelligence in predicting religious orientation among students of University of Sistan and Baluchestan. The research method was descriptive correlational type. statistical population of the study including all students of Sistan and Baluchestan University in the academic year 2014-2015 that was around 17000 individuals, from which 220 students were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. To collect the data Religious orientation questionnaire (Allport, 1950) and moral intelligence (Lennick and Kiel, 2005) were used. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, stepwise regression and independent t-test. The data analysis showed that there is a significant positive relationship between inner religious orientation and moral intelligence, but there was a negative significant relationship between external religious orientation and moral intelligence (p < 0.01, r=0.38). The results of stepwise regression analysis of moral intelligence and its components showed its role in predicting internal religious orientation (P <0.01, r=-0.12). Independent t-findings showed that the mean of internal religious orientation and moral intelligence in female students and external religious orientation in male students were higher and the observed difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). According to the results of this study, inner religion causes peace, hope, positive energy, forgiveness and empathy in people.