Religion, Deviance, and Social Control

Does religion have the power to control behavior? Are religious people less apt to steal, cheat, use drugs and alcohol, commit suicide, join cults or become mentally ill? Do cities with high rates of religious participation have lower crime and substance abuse rates, less suicide and mental illness, and fewer cults? Is religion an essential element in the success of utopian communities? Does the old notion of the "moral community" remain relevant for understanding contemporary life? InReligion, Deviance and Social Control,Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge answer "Yes" to these questions. Analyzing data from many times and places, they explore the subtle interplay between the religiousness of individuals and that of their social contexts. The results are often surprising, and so are many of the interpretations given by the authors. Written in clear prose,Religion, Deviance and Social Controlwill appeal to all readers interested in thesocial implications of faith.