Why Strict Churches Are Strong
Abstract
The strength of strict churches is neither a historical coicidence nor a statiscal artifact. Strictness makes organizations stronger an more attractive because it reduces free riding. It screens out members who lack commitment and and stimulates participation among those who remain. Rational choice theory thus explains the success of sect, cults, and conservative denominations without recourse to assumptions of irrationality, abnormality, or misinformation. The theory also predicts differences between strict and lenient groups, distinguishes between effective and counterproductive demands, and demonstrates the need to adapt strict demands in response to social change.
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The strictest churches, those that require the highest costs for continued membership, have the tightest and most permanent collectives.
“That same research established that the strictest churches, those that require the highest costs for continued membership, have the tightest and most permanent collectives.”
From Parasite-stress promotes in-group assortative sociality: The cases of strong family ties and heightened religiosity (2012) · cites this paper as Iannaccone 1994
Strictness reduces free riding, screens out members who lack commitment, and stimulates participation among those who remain.
“Iannaccone (1994) used rational choice theory to examine the relationship between a church's religious strictness and its strength or permanence, and concluded that, 'Strictness reduces free riding. It screens out members who lack commitment and stimulates participation among those who remain' (p. 1204).”
From Parasite-stress promotes in-group assortative sociality: The cases of strong family ties and heightened religiosity (2012) · cites this paper as Iannaccone 1994
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- Authors
- Iannaccone, L. R.
- Affiliations
- Santa Clara University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Iannaccone, Laurence R.
- Venue
- American Journal of Sociology
- Publisher
- University of Chicago Press
- Published
- 1994-03
- Volume
- 99
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1180-1211
- ISSN
- 0002-9602 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-5390
- OpenAlex
- W2102813049
- Cited by
- 1,315
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 29 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 67 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 90 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 55
- FWCI
- 73.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Sociology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering
- Keywords
- free-riding, religious commitment, religious participation, religious sects, cults, rational choice theory, social change, religious demand
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