現代日本における宗教と社会活動 : JGSS累積データ2000～2002の分析から

JGSS

This study examines whether religion foster participation in social activities in contemporary Japan and the reasons for this relation. Many sociological studies of religion in the West have shown that religious people have a tendency to participate in social activities. Despite the importance of this theme, such relationships have not been empirically researched in Japan. Moreover, because many of those Western studies have focused on Western societies and Christianity, we cannot tell whether such relationships extend to other populations, such as non-Christian or Asian societies. This study aims to fill these two voids by analyzing JGSS Cumulative Data 2000-2002. The findings are as follows. Firstly, those people who are religious also participate more often in social activities. This relation applies not only to Christians and members of New Religious Movements but also to traditional Buddhists. Secondly, not religious consciousness but commitment to Buddhist temples correlated positively and significantly with participation in social activities among Buddhists.