The Political Influence of Churches

Djupe and Gilbert investigate how membership in organized religious bodies shapes the political life of members.

Paul A. Djupe (Author), Christopher P. Gilbert (Author)

9780521871655, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 December 2008

294 pages, 44 tables
23.5 x 15.8 x 2 cm, 0.5 kg

'Paul Djupe and Christopher P. Gilbert have published a series of intriguing papers on the politics of mainline Protestant churches. With this book they show us the full scope of this project, and the result is a volume that political scientists, sociologists, and anyone else who is interested in the political influence of churches needs to read.' Clyde Wilcox, Georgetown University

Djupe and Gilbert investigate the political influence of church and how membership in organized religious bodies shapes the political life of members. Djupe and Gilbert's goal in this inquiry is to re-center scholarly attention on the voluntary association as an essential element of American civic and political life. They develop a theoretical framework that captures the multifaceted elements of church life that affect individual political attitudes and actions. Political information from clergy, small groups, and social networks flows plentifully in churches, but individuals process that information differently depending on their motivations related to their status in the church. Articulating a more fully specified model of how associations expose individuals to political information and norms will help us understand the political opinions and behavior of citizens and the contribution of that pattern to sustaining democracy.

1. A theory of religious influence on political behavior
2. Social networks and church structure: congregations, small groups, informal contacts
3. Clergy influences and religious commitment reconsidered: reconciling old and new influences on political behavior
4. Church-centered influences on public opinion
5. The resourceful believer: generating civic skills in church
6. The construction of political mobilization in churches
7. Present but not accounted for: churches, institutional treatment, and gender differences in civic resources
8. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Sociology [JHB], Religion & politics [HRAM2], Religion: general [HRA]