Religion as Social Capital: Producing the Common Good

2. Bowling Alone But Serving Together: The Congregational Norm of Community Involvement

In contrast to European countries, people in the U.S. typically do not trust their government nor do they expect it to assist them in performing tasks that serve the needs of diverse groups (Inglehart et al. 1990). Government is typically expected to intervene only in those matters that affect a majority of citizens , and, as a result, Americans are often left with the choice of either attempting to influence governmental authorities to act or producing the desired goods themselves. Because they frequently need to produce these desired goods themselves , the most common way Americans influence their environment and become more empowered is through joining and forming voluntary, largely nonprofit associations. This chapter analyzes the voluntary associations of religious congregations and their role in social and human capital formation. Overall, we argue (1) that it is normative for most congregations that they be involved in social and community service provision; (2) that religious congregations are, in fact, highly concerned with the quality of life of others in their neighborhood and beyond in that they often form the basic social safety net that helps those who are unable to provide for their own basic needs; and (3) that active participation in Chapter 2 Bowling Alone But Serving Together The Congregational Norm of Community Involvement Ram A. Cnaan, Stephanie C. Boddie, and Gaynor I. Yancey 19 The work of this chapter was supported by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment to study the role of local religious congregations in the provision of social and community services. We also thank The Manhattan Institute and the Kellogg Foundation for supporting our work. local religious congregations is a key element for acquiring human and social capital, the necessary tools for civic engagement. NORMS OF SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT The impressive, and often unrecognized, role that local religious congregations play in building human and social capital is more than a current social phenomenon ; it is a long-held and enduring social norm. In essence, it is a norm that dictates the way in which people who come to worship together also become involved in community service. While one can be spiritually and religiously active without belonging to a congregation, seeking out a community of worshipers and joining a congregation necessarily involves accepting a set of norms—including the norms of contributing to the building of human and social capital and of being willing to participate in civic affairs.1 In individualistic societies, such as American society, members are not expected to be deeply concerned about the welfare of others. In fact, the freedom to do what one wants is a highly prized American possession, while selfinterest and the struggle for individual success are key tenets of the American value system. Given these values, volunteerism and religious affiliation can easily be seen as being antithetical to them, as one accepts the subordination to a higher power in religion and conformity to the rules and guidelines of some other entity in volunteering. Wuthnow (1991) sought to solve this tension between individual freedom /self-interest and religious affiliation/volunteerism by focusing on the rewards associated with volunteering and joining a religious congregation. According to Wuthnow, such rewards can range widely, but ultimately they all represent means by which to express one’s control and individuality. In this respect both the individual and the corporate body benefit; the member chooses and the collective is strengthened. But, regardless of their motivational basis, the ideals of compassion and care still set the tone and form the foundation for a complex web of individual commitments and a rich civic life that is based on people’s freedom to get involved and actively support whatever is dear to their hearts. These norms of social capital-building and civic engagement held by local religious congregations have numerous positive externalities and very few negative ones.2 They save the public sector money because they encourage the provision of numerous services to persons in need. Moreover, these norms form a nucleus of conformity, stability, and social order in communities that would otherwise be volatile.3 And they help newly relocated people blend into the community and deal with culture shock. As such, the congregational norms of involvement are beneficial both to members of these congregations as well as to other members of society outside such congregations. Millions of Americans, regardless of socioeconomic background, are mem20 Bowling Alone But Serving Together bers of religious congregations. In the...