Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision
Previous revision
effects_of_religious_practice_on_society [2015/11/20 20:55]
marri [3.Immigration Assimilation]
effects_of_religious_practice_on_society [2022/03/23 16:14] (current)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +==========Effects of Religious Practice on Society==========
 +
 +Considerable research has emerged over the past five decades that demonstrates the benefits of religious practice for society.  Religious practice promotes the well-being of [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_health|individuals]], [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_family_relationships|families]], and the community.
 +
 +Regular attendance at religious services is linked to healthy, stable [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_family_relationships|family life]], strong [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_marriage|marriages]], and well-behaved children. Religious worship also leads to a reduction in the incidence of domestic abuse, [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_crime_rates|crime]], [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_substance_abuse|substance abuse]], and addiction. In addition, religious practice can increase [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_health|physical and mental health]], longevity, and [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_education|education attainment]]. These effects are intergenerational, as grandparents and parents pass on the benefits to the next generations. 
 +
 +George Washington articulated the indispensability of the freedom of religious practice in his farewell address to the nation:
 +
 +>Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness-these firmest props of the duties of Men and citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.((James D. Richardson, //Compilation of Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897// (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1907), Vol. 1, p. 213.))  
 +
 +The practice of religion is a powerful antidote to many of our nation's pressing social ills, many of which have reached historically high proportions. Yet, despite the societal benefits of religion, the expression of faith in the public square has faced many challenges. Social science research indicates that permitting and accommodating free religious practice is necessary to move society in positive directions.  
 +
 +=====1. Education=====
 +(See [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_education|Effects of Religious Practice on Education]])
 +
 +Because education is important in so many ways for all citizens, any factor that promotes academic achievement is important to the common good. Academic expectations, level of education attained, school attendance, and academic performance are all positively affected by religious practice.((Jennifer L. Glanville, David Sikkink, and Edwin I. Hernandez, "Religious Involvement and Educational Outcomes: The Role of Social Capital and Extracurricular Participation," //The Sociological Quarterly// 49, no. 1 (2008): 105-137.)) In two literature reviews conducted by Mark Regnerus of the University of Texas at Austin, educational attainment aspirations((Mark D. Regnerus, "Making the Grade: The Influence of Religion upon the Academic Performance of Youth in Disadvantaged Communities," University of Pennsylvania, Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society Report No.3, 2001.)) and math and reading scores((Mark D. Regnerus, "Shaping Schooling Success: Religious Socialization and Educational Outcomes in Metropolitan Public Schools," //Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion//, Vol. 39, Issue 3 (September 2000), pp. 363-370.)) correlated positively with more frequent religious practice. The below graph, based on analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, gives a picture of GPA scores across the U.S. for adolescents in grades 7-12.((Patrick Fagan, Kirk A. Johnson, and Jonathan Butcher, //A Portrait of Family and Religion in America//, The Heritage Foundation, 2006.))
 +
 +{{ :gpa_english_and_math_religious_practice.jpg?direct&500 |GPA in Math and English by Religious Practice}}
 +
 +Parents' religious practice also affects their children’s educational outcomes. The greater the parents' religious involvement, the more likely they will have higher educational expectations for their children, and the more likely they will communicate with their children about schooling.((Jennifer L. Glanville, David Sikkink, and Edwin I. Hernandez, "Religious Involvement and Educational Outcomes: The Role of Social Capital and Extracurricular Participation," //The Sociological Quarterly// 49, no. 1 (2008): 105-137.)) Their children will be more likely to pursue advanced courses, spend more time on homework, establish friendships with academically oriented peers, avoid cutting classes, and successfully complete their degrees.((Chandra Muller and Christopher G. Ellison, "Religious Involvement, Social Capital, and Adolescents' Academic Progress: Evidence from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988," //Sociological Focus//, Vol. 34, No. 2 (May 2001), pp. 155-183.)) According to Dr. Patrick Fagan and Dr. Scott Talkington’s analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, individuals who attended religious services frequently were more likely to graduate from high school((Patrick F. Fagan and Scott Talkington, “'Ever Received a High School Degree' by Structure of Family of Origin and by Current Religious Attendance,” Mapping America Project. Available at [[http://marri.us/wp-content/uploads/MA-99.pdf]].)) and to receive a Bachelor’ s degree.((Patrick F. Fagan and Scott Talkington, “'Ever Received a Bachelor's Degree' by Current Religious Attendance and Structure of Family of Origin,” Mapping America Project. Available at [[http://marri.us/wp-content/uploads/MA-105.pdf]].)) 
 +
 +{{ :received_a_high_school_degree.jpg?direct&500 |Received a High School Degree by Religious Practice}}
 +
 +
 +{{ :received_a_bachelor_s_degree.jpg?direct&500 |Received a Bachelor's Degree by Religious Practice}}
 +
 +Students in religiously affiliated schools tend to exhibit a higher level of academic achievement than their peers in secular schools, particularly in [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_poor_communities|low-income urban neighborhoods]]. For example, studies continue to find that inner-city students in public schools lag behind in educational achievement, compared with students in Catholic schools.((Derek Neal, "What Have We Learned About the Benefits of Private Schooling?" Federal Reserve Bank of New York //Economic Policy Review//, Vol. 4, No. 1 (March 1998), pp. 79-86.))  
 +
 +The cultural values of a religious community are also a significant pathway to academic success for adolescents. For example, to earn a high school diploma or take advanced math courses, children must plan for the future and structure their activities accordingly. Religious communities typically invest in forming an [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_work_ethic|ethic of such discipline]] and persistence. A recent study confirms both this indirect contribution of religious community values and the direct influence of the students' own religious activities in promoting academic achievement.((Chandra Muller and Christopher G. Ellison, "Religious Involvement, Social Capital, and Adolescents' Academic Progress: Evidence from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988," //Sociological Focus//, Vol. 34, No. 2 (May 2001), pp. 155-183.))  
 +
 +Earlier studies found this same relationship between religious practice and academic discipline. For example, in 1985, the groundbreaking work of Richard Freeman of Harvard University revealed that attendance at religious services and activities positively affected inner-city youth school attendance, work activity, and allocation of time—all of which were further linked to a decreased likelihood of engaging in deviant activities.((Richard B. Freeman, "Who Escapes? The Relation of Churchgoing and Other Background Factors to the Socioeconomic Performance of Black Male Youths from Inner-City Tracts," National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 1656, June 1985.)) Youth who frequently attended religious services were five times less likely to skip school, compared with peers who seldom or never attended.((Douglas M. Sloane and Raymond H. Potvin, "Religion and Delinquency: Cutting Through the Maze," //Social Forces//, Vol. 65, No. 1 (September 1986), pp. 87-105.))  
 +
 +=====2. Economy=====
 +
 +====2.1 Charity====
 +(See [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_charity|Effects of Religious Practice on Charity]]) 
 +
 +Religious practice is linked to greater generosity in charitable giving and volunteering. In extensive research documenting the relationship between religion and philanthropy, Arthur Brooks of the American Enterprise Institute found that religious people were 25 percent more likely than their secular counterparts to donate money and 23 percent more likely to volunteer time. Even when it came to nonreligious causes, religious people were more generous.((Archur C. Brooks, “Religious Faith and Charitable Giving,” //Policy Review// 121 (2003): 39. Available at [[http://www.hoover.org/research/religious-faith-and-charitable-giving]].))  
 +
 +{{ :charity_and_volunteering.png?direct&500 |Charity and Volunteering}}
 +
 +Brooks also demonstrated that religious practice correlates with a higher rate of care and concern for others. Compared with peers with no religious affiliation, religious respondents were 15 percent more likely to report having tender, concerned feelings for the disadvantaged. This gap was reduced by only 2 percent when the effects of education, income, marital status, sex, race, and age were taken into account.((Arthur C. Brooks, “Compassion, Religion, and Politics,” //Public Interest// (September 22, 2004): 57–66.))
 +
 +====2.2 Social Mobility====
 +(See [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_poor_communities|Effects of Religious Practice on Poor Communities]])
 +
 +For youth in impoverished neighborhoods, religious attendance made the greatest difference in [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_education|academic achievement]] prospects, according to research in 2001 by Mark Regnerus. As rates of unemployment, poverty, and female-headed households grew in a neighborhood, the impact of a student's level of religious practice on academic progress became even stronger.((Mark D. Regnerus, "Making the Grade: The Influence of Religion upon the Academic Performance of Youth in Disadvantaged Communities," University of Pennsylvania, Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society Report No.3, 2001.)) 
 +
 +Regnerus goes on to suggest that religious affiliation had a positive impact on educational attainment for African-Americans residing in a high-risk neighborhood, even when controlling for family structure, although its effect was strongest for youth living in two-parent families.((Mark D. Regnerus, "Shaping Schooling Success: Religious Socialization and Educational Outcomes in Metropolitan Public Schools," //Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion//, Vol. 39, Issue 3 (September 2000), pp. 363-370.)) The role of religion in [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_family_relationships|building relationships]] and [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_work_ethic|habits of hard work]] "reinforces a conventional (as opposed to alternate or illegal) orientation to success and achievement." Youth religious affiliation in combination with religious families and friends serves to integrate youth into the broader society and shapes their aspirations for education and achievement.((Mark D. Regnerus, "Shaping Schooling Success: Religious Socialization and Educational Outcomes in Metropolitan Public Schools," //Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion//, Vol. 39, Issue 3 (September 2000), pp. 363-370.))  
 +
 +=====3. Crime=====
 +(See [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_crime_rates|Effects of Religious Practice on Crime Rates]] and [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_substance_abuse|Effects of Religious Practice on Substance Abuse]])
 +
 +Religious attendance is associated with direct decreases in both minor and major forms of crime and deviance, to an extent unrivalled by government welfare programs.((Byron R. Johnson, David B. Larson, Spencer De Li, and Sung Joon Jang, “Escaping from the Crime of Inner Cities: Church Attendance and Religious Salience Among Disadvantaged Youth,” //Justice Quarterly// 17, no. 2 (June 2000): 377-339.)) There is a 57 percent decrease in likelihood to deal drugs and a 39 percent decrease in likelihood to commit a crime among the young, black inner city population if they attend religious services regularly.((Byron R. Johnson, David B. Larson, Spencer De Li, and Sung Joon Jang, “Escaping from the Crime of Inner Cities: Church Attendance and Religious Salience Among Disadvantaged Youth,” //Justice Quarterly// 17, no. 2 (June 2000): 377-339.)) Decades of research also indicate that a higher level of religious involvement is associated with a reduced likelihood of abusing alcohol((John Gartner, David B. Larson, and George Allen, “Religious Commitment and Mental Health: A Review of the Empirical Literature,” //Journal of Psychology and Theology// 19, no. 1 (Spring 1991): 6–25.)) or drugs.((Deborah Hasin, Jean Endicott, and Collins Lewis, “Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Patients with Affective Syndrome,” //Comprehensive Psychiatry// 26, no. 3 (May–June 1985): 283–295.))  
 +
 +=====4. Health=====
 +(See [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_health|Effects of Religious Practice on Health]])
 +
 +In a 2002 systematic review of the academic literature on the effects of religion, the majority of research revealed that religious commitment and practice can lead to increased self-esteem and well-being.((Byron R. Johnson, Ralph Brett Tompkins, and Derek Webb, "Objective Hope-Assessing the Effectiveness of Faith-Based Organizations: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society, 2002, at [[www.manhattan-institute.org/pdf/crrucs_objective_hope.pdf]] (June 30, 2005).)) Religious practice is also related to greater longevity,((Byron R. Johnson, Ralph Brett Tompkins, and Derek Webb, "Objective Hope-Assessing the Effectiveness of Faith-Based Organizations: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society, 2002, at [[www.manhattan-institute.org/pdf/crrucs_objective_hope.pdf]] (June 30, 2005).)) and a reduced risk of a number of health complications like colitis or different forms of cancer.((Jeffrey S. Levin and Preston L. Schiller, "Is There a Religious Factor in Health?" //Journal of Religion and Health//, Vol. 26, No. 1 (March 1987), pp. 9-35.)) 
 +
 +=====5. Family Relationships=====
 +(See [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_family_relationships|Effects of Religious Practice on Family Relationships]])
 +
 +The practice of religion not only stabilizes [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_marriage|marriage]], but also improves its quality. Brad Wilcox of the University of Virginia found that the more frequently husbands attended religious services, the happier their wives said they were with the level of affection and understanding that they received and the amount of time that their husbands spent with them.((W. Bradford Wilcox, //Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands// (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004), p. 186.)) Similarly, religious participation tends to foster an authoritative, warm, active, and expressive style of parenting. Parents who attend religious services are more likely to enjoy a better relationship with their children((Lisa D. Pearce and William G. Axinn, "The Impact of Family Religious Life on the Quality of Mother-Child Relations," //American Sociological Review//, Vol. 63, No. 6 (December 1998), pp. 810-828.)) and are more likely to be involved with their [[effects_of_religious_practice_on_education|children's education]].((W. Bradford Wilcox, "Religion, Convention, and Paternal Involvement," //Journal of Marriage and Family//, Vol. 64, No. 3 (August 2002), pp. 780-792.)) Moreover, the greater a child's religious involvement, the more likely both the child and parent will agree about the quality of their relationship,((William S. Aquilino, "Two Views of One Relationship: Comparing Parents' and Young Adult Children's Reports of the Quality of Intergenerational Relations," //Journal of Marriage and Family//, Vol. 61, No. 4 (November 1999), pp. 858-870.)) the more similar their values will be, and the greater their emotional closeness will be.((Lisa D. Pearce and Dana L. Haynie, "Intergenerational Religious Dynamics and Adolescent Delinquency," //Social Forces//, Vol. 82, No. 4 (June 2004), pp. 1553-1572.
 +\\
 +\\
 +\\
 +This entry draws heavily from [[http://marri.us/research/research-papers/95-social-science-reasons-for-religious-worship-and-practice/|95 Social Science Reasons for Religious Worship and Practice]] and [[http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2006/12/why-religion-matters-even-more-the-impact-of-religious-practice-on-social-stability|Why Religion Matters Even More: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability]].)) However, some of the same research also shows that religious differences within families can detract from the parent-child relationship. 
 +