On the Edge: Insecure and Anxious Attachments to God, Tenure, Race and Participation in Congregational Life

• In Event: 341 - Section on Sociology of Religion Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 03. Religion and Health

Abstract

Organizational ecology theory posits that organizations within an organizational field compete for members and their attendant resources. Religious organizations, in this framework, seek out participants to join in their congregational life in order to exist and thrive. This study seeks to identify characteristics of those most likely to form the center niche of congregations. We operationalize attachment theory to this end, specifically drawing on the research literature in attachment to God. We suggest that homophily occurs in congregation along the lines of attachment to God, which can be viewed as fundamental “behavioral and intrapersonal characteristics” that separate congregation participants one from another. Despite the fact that congregations seek to incorporate those who feel far from God, it is possible that insecurely attached individuals are marginalized through the dynamics of religious homophily. Using a national sample, we test several hypotheses related to this theoretical claim, and findings suggest that: 1) participation in congregational life (beyond service attendance) increases with secure attachment to God and decreases with anxious and insecure attachments, 2) this relationship is moderated by length of time attending a particular congregation, and 3) secure attachment to God is associated with higher levels of participation in congregational life for blacks than it is with whites. The primary contribution of this study is to establish that an intrapersonal characteristic—attachment to God—applies to religious congregations just as predicted by organizational ecology theory. The study establishes a clear link between attachment to God and participation in congregational and religious life.

Authors

• Blake Victor Kent, Baylor University

• Matt Henderson, Baylor University