Abstract
Much of religion is communal. Churchgoing produces social connections; religiously involved people know more people (Putnam, Bowling alone: the collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster, New York, 2000a; Putnam (ed), Democracies in flux: the evolution of social capital in contemporary society. Oxford University Press, New York, 2000b). The fellowship of like-minded believers also provides a sense of community and group solidarity. Putnam (Bowling alone: the collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster, New York, 2000a; Putnam (ed), Democracies in flux: the evolution of social capital in contemporary society. Oxford University Press, New York, 2000b) observed, “connectedness, not merely faith is responsible for the beneficence of church people” (p. 67). Nearly half of all associational membership in America is church related, half of all personal philanthropy is religious, and half of all volunteering takes place in a religious context.
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- 1.
For a discussion of the small group approach see Chapter 6 in Putnam and Feldstein (2003). Also, Wolfe (2003). Wolfe drew parallels between the salon experience and modern church groups. He said that people are seeking more intimate forms of religious fellowship, bible study, self-help, which offers non-judgmental discussion in a non-competitive environment.
- 2.
Churches have filled the socialization gaps that schools and families often fail to address, especially information, discussion and counseling related to sex, drugs, parenting practices, blended families, and problem-solving.
- 3.
The exception to this trend is the black church. See Franklin (1994).
- 4.
The term religiosity (or “being religious”) refers to an individual or group’s relationships with a supernatural power. Religiosity has two aspects: (1) a personal belief that involves activities such as prayer and meditation, and (2) an organizational or group aspect that involves other people such as in worship and service projects. Religiosity differs from spirituality, which is a person’s search for the meaning and purpose in life in general.
- 5.
- 6.
See Queen (2000).
- 7.
Studies have examined the importance of institutionalized social capital networks for job attainment. For example, the frequency of church attendance is one of the strongest predictors of whether inner city black youths will become gainfully employed. The youths’ religious beliefs have almost no impact on employment, suggesting that it is the social aspect of church going, not the religious aspect, that is behind these youths’ economic success. See Freeman and Holzer (1986).
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Bruhn, J.G. (2011). Connections of Faith: Religion as Community. In: The Sociology of Community Connections. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1633-9_9
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