A new report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project explores the role of religious involvement in cultivating connections to civic and community life. The report found that “compared with those who are not involved with such organizations, religiously active Americans are more trusting of others, are more optimistic about their impact on their community, think more highly of their community, are more involved in more organizations of all kinds, and devote more time to the groups to which they are active.”

According to the report:
• 53% of religiously active Americans believe that other people are generally trustworthy, compared with 43% of those not involved with religious groups
• 45% of religiously active view their community as an excellent place to live, compared with 34% of those not active with religious groups
• 38% of religiously active Americans believe that they can have a major impact on their communities, compared with 27% of those not active with religious groups

“Some analysts have been concerned that those who have active spiritual lives might not be as engaged with the secular world,” noted Jim Jansen, author of the report. “We see the opposite. Those who are religiously active are more likely to participate in all kinds of groups and more likely to feel good about their communities. Those who are active in religious groups seem to be joiners. They also are active users of technology.”

The report also states approximately 40% of Americans are active in a church, religious, or spiritual organization. It did not find large differences in the way religiously active individuals use technology in comparison with non-religious citizens.

More on the report is available from Pew Internet and American Life Project.