Congregations in Conflict: Cultural Models of Local Religious Life - Softcover

Becker

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521594626 ISBN 13: 9780521594622

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2008

Synopsis

Congregations in Conflict examines the nature of American congregations as institutions, looking in particular at how they deal with conflict within their ranks, to gain insight into religious culture, or the moral order of local religious life. In detailed and well documented case studies of conflict in twenty-three congregations Becker examines such factors as organizational processes, the extent and types of ties between church members, their shared understandings about mission and identity, and level of public commitment. From these factors, the author develops four models of local religious cultures, each of which emphasizes different aspects of the mission imperatives that broadly characterize American religion - to reproduce an historic faith, to provide a caring community of believers, and to witness. Becker finds vital 'public religion': congregations that provide caring and support for members, service to the local community, and important arenas for moral debate and public activism.

About this title

From the Back Cover

There are more than 300,000 religious congregations in the United States; these communities have more members and generate more participation than any other set of voluntary organizations in American society. This picture of dynamism belies recent, prevailing scholarship that perceives a decline in traditional religious authority, in Americans' commitment to organized religion, and in religious institutions' level of public engagement. Penny Edgell Becker, in this pioneering comparative study of local congregations, argues that the case for declinein community, in commitment, in public engagement - does not stand up to closer scrutiny. Congregations in Conflict: Cultural Models of Local Religious Life examines the nature of American congregations as institutions, looking in particular at how they deal with conflict within their ranks, to gain insight into religious culture, or the moral order of local religious life.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521594626
• ISBN 13: 9780521594622
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280