New Monasticism: A Sociological Analysis
Author: Dave Lowitzki
Key Words: Religion, Community, Place, New Monasticism, the simple way, Camden House, Intentional Community, 12 Marks, Shane Claiborne, Chris Haw
Abstract:
This paper examines New Monasticism, a burgeoning movement of young evangelicals whose commitment to their Christian faith expresses itself through communal living, social justice, environmentalism, and non-violent activism. Rejecting American individualism and the privatization of Christianity, New Monasticism is marked by a pronounced religious communalism. Abandoning middle class comforts, these young members who view themselves as Christian revolutionaries have settled and formed communities in the most impoverished neighborhoods in this country to be agents of social change.
You can also view an edited version that was submitted for publication, assisted by Dr. Sharon Kim.
Big Enough to Impact, Small Enough to Care
Big Enough to Impact, Small Enough to Care: One Mega-Church's Struggle to Create Community
Authors: Blair Thompson and Dave Lowitzki
Key Words: Religion, Community, Place, Church, Megachurch, Small Groups
Abstract:
This is a study addressing the mega church phenomenon in American churches and those churches' search for community. A sample of church members were asked to discuss their church involvement, small group involvement, and their involvement with their neighborhood. The data that was collected reveals the community, or lack thereof among the respondents. The patterns found resulted in two categories attesting to the problem of isolation and the need for institutional belonging. Respondents revealed how their small group participation contributed to their understanding of personal belief in church involvement, specifically as it relates to lack of relationships, community and outreach, personal gain, church size, church programming, and the perception of perfection. Data reveals small groups' inability to replace the more traditional forms of community.
Religious Right: More Right than Religious
Religious Right: More Right than Religious
Author: Dave Lowitzki
Key Words: Religious Right, Conservatism, Religion, Politics
Info: Presented at the Western Social Science Association Annual Conference - April 19 - 22, 2006; Phoenix, Arizona
Abstract:
Recent years have seen a dramatic rise in the influence of conservative religious leaders on the American political system. These conservative religious leaders, predominantly Christian evangelicals, make up what is commonly known as the Religious Right. The groups use religious rhetoric in order to push a conservative political agenda, mobilizing conservative church members around the nation. This paper examines the structure and values of the religious right, and attempts to evaluate whether the foundations of the religious right’s values are more politically conservative than religious. The research concludes that the religious right’s values are politically conservative rather than religious, and uses religion as a tool to further a conservative political agenda.
