Attachment to God, Tenure, Race, and Participation in Congregational Life

The vitality of religious congregations is dependent on how effectively they attract congregants and mobilize participation, and people are more likely to participate when they share similar characteristics with other congregants. This study suggests attachment to God is a fundamental “behavioral an...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. VerfasserIn: Kent, Blake Victor (VerfasserIn)
Beteiligte: Henderson, W. Matthew (BeteiligteR)
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
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Veröffentlicht: Springer [2017]
In: Review of religious research
Jahr: 2017, Band: 59, Heft: 3, Seiten: 319-340
normierte Schlagwort(-folgen):B USA / Gott / Affektive Bindung / Kirchengemeinde / Partizipation
RelBib Classification:AD Religionssoziologie; Religionspolitik
CB Christliche Existenz; Spiritualität
KBQ Nordamerika
RB Kirchliches Amt; Gemeinde
weitere Schlagwörter:B Attachment Theory
B attachment to God
B Organizations
B Race
B Religion
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:The vitality of religious congregations is dependent on how effectively they attract congregants and mobilize participation, and people are more likely to participate when they share similar characteristics with other congregants. This study suggests attachment to God is a fundamental “behavioral and intrapersonal characteristic” which distinguishes participants from one another, contributing to varying levels of participation in congregational and religious life beyond service attendance. Using a national sample, we test several hypotheses related to this theoretical claim. Findings suggest that: (1) secure attachment to God is positively associated with congregational participation, (2) anxious and avoidant attachment are negatively associated with participation, (3) these relationships are moderated by length of time attending a particular congregation, and (4) secure attachment is associated with higher levels of participation in congregational life for blacks than it is for whites. By demonstrating a link between attachment to God and participation in congregational and religious life, this study affirms that intrapersonal characteristics structure the dynamics of religious congregations.
ISSN:2211-4866
Enthält:Enthalten in: Review of religious research
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s13644-017-0289-2