Congregational life generates communal belonging while steering clear of politics

Evidence

The most powerful thing about my childhood experience in church was its ability to generate a palpable feeling of living under a protective sacred and social canopy. Physically gathering for multiple meetings per week at the church tucked into the southeast corner of our neighborhood generated a strong sense of community. A vibrant weekly Sunday school program, for both children and adults, provided space for thinking through Christian beliefs in the context of everyday life; and, at least from my childhood perspective from the 1970s and 1980s, these discussions focused mostly on our personal lives—and not a small amount of gossip—mostly steering clear of national politics. — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long, 212

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Christian-right leader rhetoric is calibrated for an energized congregation — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 60; Pastor networks recruit politically connected congregants to lead voter-turnout teams inside churches — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 66; Church communities supplied working-class members social capital and life skills — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long: The Legacy of White…, 214 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Religious group solidarity organizes others into outgroups by identity #complicates (0.80) — Deborah L. Hall and David C. Matz and Wendy Wood, Why Don’t We Practice What We Preach? A…, 77
• Religious rituals maintain identity and build lasting community support networks #expands (0.80) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 892
• Social and identity benefits drive religious participation, not only faith #expands (0.80) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 894
• Religion persists because it supplies collective identity, not just beliefs #expands (0.80) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 889
• Religious collectives outlast political meaning systems and still serve identity needs #expands (0.75) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 919
• Religious belief and social belonging form one integrated system. #expands (0.75) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 49