Zócalo quoted Richard Flory, a senior research associate at the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, about how faith builds stronger communities in a section called “Answering the ultimate questions.”
Specifically, I think religion contributes to strong communities in three fundamental ways. First, religion provides spiritual, social, psychological and often material support for individuals and families. Since religion deals in “ultimate” matters, it helps people make sense of their lives, as well as their role in their families and in their communities.