On October 4, 2007, The Heritage Foundation, the Baylor Institute for the Studies of Religion, and Child Trends hosted an all-day religion research conference, "Religious Practice and Civic Life: What the Research Says." 

This gathering of leading researchers, policymakers, journalists, and members of the faith-based community was the first in a new series of annual conferences dedicated to sharing high-quality social science data and analysis and to exploring next steps for research that will inform American public discussion.

Religion's significance in the United States is clear – but so is the challenge of measuring the impact of religious practice on American life.  Policymakers, journalists and scholars seeking to engage public debate on religion have had limited empirical work from which to draw.  Meanwhile, analytical voids invite assumptions and hinder consensus about the role of religion in civic life. But increased scholarly attention in recent years has led to deeper understanding than ever before of how religious practice influences civic engagement, drug usage, recidivism rates, and other social phenomena.

Explore our conference website to learn more about the role of religious practice in civic life, both in promoting positive engagement and preventing negative outcomes like delinquency and substance abuse.