Most research on efficacy and participation in collective action has focused single country samples with little attention paid to the relationship between country-level structural factors. Drawing value expectancy theory, we theorize a link macro-level political institutions micro-level efficacy. To address previous limitations literature, use multi-level, cross-national data, present results from series of hierarchical models testing whether increases cross-nationally, affect efficacy,...

Megachurches have been criticized as superficial sources of entertainment that do not produce significant feelings belonging, moral responsibility, or spirituality. This article challenges popular criticisms megachurches and, drawing on interaction ritual theory, proposes are successful venues and powerful purveyors emotional religious experience. We predict these rituals positive energy, membership symbols charged with significance, morality, a heightened sense From census 1,250 known in...

Journal Article "People Forget He's Human": Charismatic Leadership in Institutionalized Religion Get access Katie E. Corcoran, Corcoran West Virginia University *Direct correspondence to Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University, PO Box 6326, Morgantown, WV 26506-6236, USA. Tel: +1 304-293-9960; E-mail: kecorcoran@mail.wvu.edu. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar James K. Wellman, Jr. Washington Religion, Volume 77, Issue 4, WINTER 2016, Pages...

This article examines whether shared religious beliefs and social relationships (Durkheim) belief in a personal, moral God (Stark) negatively affect attitudes toward the acceptability of white‐collar crime. In addition, using large cross‐national sample estimating multilevel models, we test effects are conditional on modernization contexts characterized by an impersonal or amoral God. Shared importance one's life related to These effects, however, weaken as do belonging organization;...

Prior studies on perceptions of structural disadvantage and injustice, efficacy, collective action have suffered from two major limitations: (1) they used single‐country samples, usually economically advanced countries, (2) generally theorized investigated injustice efficacy separately. Drawing value‐expectancy theory, we provide an integrated theory to predict direct conditional effects within countries. To address the limitations previous research, use cross‐national data 29 including less...

Efforts to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have encountered skepticism among public, but COVID-19 is not only medical or scientific issue that receives such skepticism. How does relate other forms of science skepticism? Using new data from a nationally representative survey U.S. adults, this study reveals toward similar patterns vaccines in general and, more interestingly, climate change. Patterns evolution and genetically modified foods are distinct Notably, even...

Recently, there has been a call for social scientific studies of religion to start taking "place" seriously. This paper adds this growing literature by embedding religious commitment within place. We propose that the tension groups experience with their surroundings partly depends on local contexts and certain types may generate more tension. These include regions in which nonreligiously affiliated constitute majority population, such as American Pacific Northwest (PNW) region. Analysis...

A nascent but growing literature on religious discrimination in U.S. workplaces has shown that some identities, especially non-Christian and nonreligious are more likely to experience and/or perceive such discrimination. While Christianity might represent the majority of population, composition United States is not monolithic. Regional differences demography culture could shape experiences individuals belonging particular traditions. This research examines this question using data from a...

How do insurgents engaged in high-risk collective action maintain solidarity when faced with increasing costs and dangers? Based on a combination of process tracing through qualitative evidence an event-history analysis unique data set assembled from naval archives concerning mass mutiny the Royal Navy 1797, this article explains why insurgent varied among ships participating mutiny. Maintaining was key problem that organizers confronting government repression inducements for ships’...

The religious economies model has been influential in the sociology of religion. Yet, propositions drawn from have difficult to test comparative and historical study religion, generally for lack appropriate data. We develop a general theory disestablishment apply it Reformation 16th‐century Europe explain variation abolition Catholic monopoly. suggest three principal factors—changes demand, entry control mechanisms, political incentives—that why incumbent firms may lose their then analyze...

Abstract Forces of secularization are theorized to disenchant an individual’s worldview—i.e., erode belief in nonnatural beings, forces, or abilities. Tests this proposition, though, have often failed measure the variety forms worldview enchantment found among individuals. Drawing on broader literature, we theorize correlates (dis)enchantment and test these predictions using a nationally representative survey U.S. adults featuring wide battery enchanted beliefs. We identify four latent...

All social exchanges involve some degree of uncertainty, although the amount depends on conditions exchange. Uncertainty may arise due to unverifiable quality good exchanged or indeterminable exchange partner (i.e., whether she is trustworthy). Social theory offers several mechanisms by which uncertainty be reduced mitigated such as through trust, repeated exchanges, reputation, information regarding others, and institutions. This paper applies principles from religious behavior argues that...

One of the more remarkable trends past 30 years is dramatic rise individuals who do not identify with any religious tradition. While this trend has been well documented, some underlying dynamics and consequences have fully appreciated or explicated. We examine General Social Survey in period from 1972 to 2014 how increase 'nones' tied changes strength identity among US adults and, turn, nones affected relationships between identity, belief, behavior. In particular, we show that, as...

Many individuals have engaged in behaviors to cope with and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, including mask wearing physical distancing. This study considers extent which also religious response pandemic how those responses are associated like wearing. Using data from a probability survey of U.S. adults, our analysis finds that over half respondents pandemic-related prayer about one-fifth taken other steps such as reading texts or carrying items for protection. All else being equal,...

Specialized mental health courts (MHCs) address the growing problem of defendants with illness cycling through criminal justice system. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this article explores if MHCs can slow “revolving door” involvement. We use quantitative data to evaluate effectiveness one MHC on different measures recidivism logistic regression, event history analysis, and negative binomial regression. Modeling strategies report that graduates MHC, offered dismissal charges, who...

In this article we use network theory to explain the adoption of Protestant Reformation. We new historical data on connections between Hansa towns that allow us conduct first social study Based an analysis cities in central and Western Europe 1517 1530, find evidence for diffusion through both simple complex contagion. Our operationalization based medieval Diets points association tie weights (i.e., strength ties) numbers ties diffusion. Using optimal tuning parameters models, show a...

An individual's identity may not appear to correspond his or her beliefs and behaviors. Such incongruence be particularly likely when an is stigmatized. We examine this dynamic in the context of atheists. Being atheist has often been equated with stating a disbelief God, but ignores distinct phenomenon identifying as atheist. This study asks what influences likelihood that individual will identify beyond saying he she does believe God. Drawing upon research examining social dynamics stigma...