TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Justice and Religious Participation
T2 - A Qualitative Investigation of Christian Perspectives
AU - Todd, Nathan R.
AU - Rufa, Anne K.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments The author thanks Urmitapa Dutta for her helpful feedback. This research was supported by a grant from the University Research Council at DePaul University.
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - This investigation examines how self-identified Christians in the Midwest U. S. understand and work for social justice, with a focus on their process of social justice development and the role of religious congregations in promoting social justice. Using a grounded theory analysis of 15 in-depth interviews, results indicated multiple understandings of social justice such as meeting basic needs, fixing social structures and systems to create equal distributions of resources, promoting human rights and dignity, and as a religious responsibility. Participants also described a process of social justice development facilitated by exposure to injustice, mentors, educating others, and the importance of finding a social justice community. Distinct personal barriers to social justice engagement were identified such as resources and negative emotions, whereas congregational leadership was important for congregational involvement. General frustration with congregations was expressed regarding low social justice engagement; however, participants balanced this frustration with hope for the positive potential of congregations to promote social justice. Together these findings show multifaceted understandings of social justice and a dynamic process of social justice development for these self-identified Christians. Implications for future research and partnership with religious individuals and congregations also are discussed.
AB - This investigation examines how self-identified Christians in the Midwest U. S. understand and work for social justice, with a focus on their process of social justice development and the role of religious congregations in promoting social justice. Using a grounded theory analysis of 15 in-depth interviews, results indicated multiple understandings of social justice such as meeting basic needs, fixing social structures and systems to create equal distributions of resources, promoting human rights and dignity, and as a religious responsibility. Participants also described a process of social justice development facilitated by exposure to injustice, mentors, educating others, and the importance of finding a social justice community. Distinct personal barriers to social justice engagement were identified such as resources and negative emotions, whereas congregational leadership was important for congregational involvement. General frustration with congregations was expressed regarding low social justice engagement; however, participants balanced this frustration with hope for the positive potential of congregations to promote social justice. Together these findings show multifaceted understandings of social justice and a dynamic process of social justice development for these self-identified Christians. Implications for future research and partnership with religious individuals and congregations also are discussed.
KW - Privilege
KW - Religion
KW - Religious congregations
KW - Social justice
KW - Spirituality
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U2 - 10.1007/s10464-012-9552-4
DO - 10.1007/s10464-012-9552-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 22949013
AN - SCOPUS:84876884101
SN - 0091-0562
VL - 51
SP - 315
EP - 331
JO - American journal of community psychology
JF - American journal of community psychology
IS - 3-4
ER -