Another link

[velvetpage]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/7/10/933/94851

The cost of declining social capital.

This is what I have often noticed in my students. Those who attended church or a similar religious institution usually had better literacy, better skills relating to people of all ages, and a larger range of experience generally than people of the same socio-economic class who didn't attend church. It has little to do with the religious aspects (beyond an understanding of common purpose) and everything to do with social capital.

Comments

[renface.livejournal.com]

Is it safe to assume that my children will be less socially prepared because I am not planning to take them to church?

I went to church for years and years, and I didn't gain any social capital (save for one good friend) because people treated me just as poorly at church as they did in school or anywhere else. (If the child is considered different in one setting, he/she is likely to be considered different everywhere, it seems.)

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Not at all. Church is the most common place for social capital, but it's not the only one. I'm giving my children similar experiences by hosting roleplaying games with adult friends. Any volunteer organization where people of all ages meet for a common purpose can fulfill this role.

The other thing I'm doing for my kids that I wish my parents had done for me - I explicitly teach elements of social interaction, like how to introduce themselves, how to ask another child to play, what to do if another child takes a toy out of their hands - things that kids are often expected to figure out on their own. When they can't, they are seen as awkward or shy and have more trouble building that social capital in common situations. The church connection boils down to three factors: more opportunities to practise interaction, more people to practise it on, and some common ground for a starting point. Any situation that provides these factors will provide kids with the social benefits of church.