Transcendent Accountability and Pro-Community Attitudes: Assessing the Link Between Religion and Community Engagement

Prior research has established a positive relationship between religiosity and civic engagement but focused on public rather than private without explaining the relationship. We examined as well in relation to community engagement, religiosity-community with two understudied mechanisms: “transcendent accountability” (seeing oneself accountable God or higher power for one's influence other people environment) pro-community attitudes. For this examination, we applied structural equation modeling analyze data from nationally representative survey. found that survey respondents who believed power, privately practiced devotional prayer study of religious texts, attended group activities (other worship services), were more likely report transcendent accountability their environment. also was related positively attitudes, which turn associated engagement. The indirect relationships mostly significant. In conclusion, both behaviors are consequential religiosity-civic relationship, religiosity-linked virtue its attitudes contribute