Emma Marris catches up with evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson, who has shifted towards something that looks more like community organizing. One of Wilson's recent projects in Binghamton, New York, is trying to understand the function churches serve in the community:
Wilson's trait of interest is the 'openness' of churches. Traditional protestant denominations, of which Wilson is fond, tend towards openness: details of belief and moral codes are individual, arrived at after prayer and discussion. Newer, conservative churches that adhere strictly to the Bible as a literal text would be considered less open. Wilson would like to understand from an evolutionary perspective why the membership of open churches in Binghamton is currently declining, but 'closed' churches are booming.
Perhaps uncertain times create a fearful and socially isolated populace, interested in firm and clear guidance. Or perhaps closed churches uplift their members or focus on group solidarity and recruitment. When people's economic and educational situations are better they may become attracted to more open churches. And Wilson says it is possible that the open churches, by allowing congregants to draw their own conclusions in matters of faith, predispose them to losing faith altogether. Wilson hopes to test these ideas.
(Image: Canonicus begets the Lily-Whites by Jon Bobby Benjamin)
The Dish 