Economic downturn = more religion?

The New York Times has a piece, Bad Times Draw Bigger Crowds to Churches:

But why the evangelical churches seem to thrive especially in hard times is a Rorschach test of perspective.

For some evangelicals, the answer is obvious. "We have the greatest product on earth," said the Rev. Steve Tomlinson, senior pastor of the Shelter Rock Church.

Dr. Beckworth, a macroeconomist, posited another theory: though expanding demographically since becoming the nation's largest religious group in the 1990s, evangelicals as a whole still tend to be less affluent than members of mainline churches, and therefore depend on their church communities more during tough times, for material as well as spiritual support. In good times, he said, they are more likely to work on Sundays, which may explain a slower rate of growth among evangelical churches in nonrecession years.

The functionalist rationale is rather plausible. Religion is one of the primary institutionalized avenues for communal activity and support, and during times of stress and threat it seems likely that individualism seems less appealing. But there are psychological reasons why this might be occurring, Belief in Supernatural Agents in the Face of Death:

Four studies examined whether awareness of mortality intensifies belief in supernatural agents among North Americans. In Studies 1 and 2, mortality salience led to more religiosity, stronger belief in God, and in divine intervention. In Studies 3 and 4, mortality salience increased supernatural agent beliefs even when supernatural agency was presented in a culturally alien context (divine Buddha in Study 3, Shamanic spirits in Study 4). The latter effects occurred primarily among the religiously affiliated, who were predominantly Christian. Implications for the role of supernatural agent beliefs in assuaging mortality concerns are discussed.

Having your career go down the tubes, and possibly facing the loss of the all the material accoutrements of the "Good Life," is not equivalent to death. But, I think there is an analogous elevation in the level of stress and tension when faced with these possibilities. The above research made people more aware of death, and this resulted in greater belief in supernatural agents. The current economic downturn is not a "prime" or "potentiality," it's real. I think it is not an unreasonable extrapolation to assume that the current troubles are likely heightening the need for many of supernatural agents to act as mediators in a capricious world.

Benjamin Friedman's The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth is a broad historical survey which shows the effect of wealth on the general attitude of the polity. Times of economic distress tend to lead toward retrenchment and traditionalism, as individuals hunker down into communities where they feel safe in the swelling uncertainty. One of the ironies of American conservatism is that savage and unchecked capitalism is almost certainly one of the most powerful forces in producing openness to cultural experimentation and social liberalism.

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One of the ironies of American conservatism is that savage and unchecked capitalism is almost certainly one of the most powerful forces in producing openness to cultural experimentation and social liberalism.

Alternatively, it's an irony of American liberalism that it champions a set of progressive values while decrying the economic forces necessary for their widespread acceptance.

Umm...Pardon me if this is a silly question, but don't your penultimate and closing statements draw opposite conclusions?

By Dipole Moment (not verified) on 14 Dec 2008 #permalink

Benjamin Friedman's The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth is a broad historical survey which shows the effect of wealth on the general attitude of the polity. Times of economic distress tend to lead toward retrenchment and traditionalism

While tradition at home is being retrenched, due to the modern circumstances of American politics the self-proclaimed defenders of American traditionalism, the Republican Party have been kicked out of power under the perception that their policies are to be blamed for the economic downturn. It will be interesting to see how these conflicting social forces play it in the next couple of years.

It is not surprising that so many people believe in the supernatural in many guises since it is very easy to confuse cause and effect.What is surprising is the level of discrimination against those who believe in a Supreme Being but do not accept the doctrine of any of the organised religions because they have an issue with the standards of morality and ethics within such doctrines and the way the heirarchy appear to value power politics and the self aggrandisement above goodness. There is a breathtaking paradox between the view that certain books are the word of The Almighty and the arrogance of the claim to be able to interpret that word for others, to know the mind of God, because interpretations can be done by those who work for the greater good or those who embrace pure evil.If we accept that The Divine sees into our hearts and guides us daily what need have we of religious spin doctors and their mischief making?

... savage and unchecked capitalism is almost certainly one of the most powerful forces in producing openness to cultural experimentation and social liberalism.

An unusually sweeping generalization in these quarters, and rife with broad assumptions, exceptions, and beggable questions.

It could be argued, to pick one aspect of all this, that capitalism produces technological innovation and bursts of prosperity, which might support your claim if approached from certain angles. I suspect that moderated and "checked" capitalism is much more productive in these regards; it's the unregulated form, which we've seen much more of in these last eight wonderful years, that tends to work in the opposite direction. (Which is not to say that the "bust" side of the market cycle does not produce sociocultural changes - just that the net effects of same yield results in the negative-to-nasty range.)

By Pierce R. Butler (not verified) on 14 Dec 2008 #permalink