Why Religion Still Matters in the World

Abstract

Religion, long expected by social scientists and political observers to disappear from public life and politics, persists as an important institution that shapes people’s lives, societies, and politics around the globe. While many believe that there has been a resurgence of religion in the world, a closer look shows that religion, as beliefs, associations, and a motivator for public action, has never gone away. Religion remains a powerful and transcendent force for both good and evil, yet reducing religion to those binaries is insufficient for understanding how it acts and influences people in their everyday lives. Using evidence from public opinion surveys and qualitative case studies of religious and political groups, this chapter underscores the importance of including an adequate and nuanced understanding of religion in any effort by public officials to engage the world as it is lived by the majority of people in the United States and abroad.