Religious Practice and Civic Life: What the Research Says

Date:	October 4, 2007
Time:	9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Speaker(s):	9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Introduction 9:45 a.m. Opening Session: Religious Practice and Civic Engagement: A Demographic Overview and Emerging Data Tom W. Smith, Ph.D. Director of the General Social Survey, National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago Christopher Bader, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sociology, Baylor University Carson Mencken, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology, Baylor University Discussant: Jeffrey Evans, Ph.D. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 10:45 a.m. Behavioral Outcomes Panel: Preventing the Negative John Wallace, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh Scott Desmond, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sociology, Purdue University Jeffrey Ulmer, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology, Pennsylvania State University Discussant: W. Bradford Wilcox, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Virginia 12:00 noon Keynote Address and Luncheon: Myths about American Religion Robert Wuthnow, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology and Director, Center for the Study of Religion, Princeton University 1:30 p.m. Behavioral Outcomes Panel: Promoting the Positive Marc Musick, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin Sung Joon Jang, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology, Baylor University Byron Johnson, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology and Co-Director, Baylor Institute for the Studies of Religion Discussant: Patrick Fagan, Ph.D. William H. G. Fitzgerald Senior Research Fellow in Family and Cultural Issues, The Heritage Foundation 3:00 p.m. Closing Session: A Discussion of Methodology David Dollahite Professor of Family Life, Brigham Young University Roger Finke Professor of Sociology & Religious Studies, The Pennsylvania State University Annette Mahoney Professor of Psychology, Bowling Green State University Mark Regnerus Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin Moderator: Kristin Moore, Ph.D. Senior Scholar and Senior Program Area Director, Child Trends 4:00 p.m. Discussion 4:30 p.m. Adjournment
Host(s):	The Heritage Foundation With Research Partners: Child Trends and The Baylor Institute for the Studies of Religion
Details:
Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway Arlington, VA 22202 RSVP Please RSVP by September 26, 2007 Many have observed that Americans are a highly religious people, but the role of religious practice in contributing to individual and social welfare in the United States has not been adequately examined. What measurable effects does religious practice have on other aspects of life, such as civic engagement, health, or family? How do researchers explain these relationships? “Religious Practice and Civic Life: What the Research Says” will be the first in a new series of annual conferences dedicated to sharing high-quality social science data and analysis addressing these questions and to exploring next steps for research that will inform American public discussion. The conference is sponsored by The Heritage Foundation, with research partners Child Trends and the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion and funding provided by the John Templeton Foundation. Join leading researchers in the field as they explore the role of religious practice in civic life, both in promoting positive engagement and preventing negative outcomes like delinquency and substance abuse.

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