Escaping the Dilemma: Reconciliation and a Communications Model of Conflict

Abstract

Empirical studies of religious congregations often find them aloof from issues of social conflict. Yet religious congregations usually conceive of themselves as central to social reform. Aside from the obvious assumption that they indirectly effect social reform through inculcating personal morality, how can religious leaders and congregations resolve this dilemma? While infrequently taking public positions in social conflict, how can they define themselves as more than marginal to social reform? They can do so by defining a main religious role as that of "reconciler." The present study of highly involved laity in a middle and upper-middle class suburban community found the presence of a model of social conflict which has strong affinities with the theological theme of reconciliation. The respondents tended to define social conflicts as essentially problems in communications. The author hypothesizes that the communications model of social conflict allows many members to view their religious congregations as contributing to social reform and the resolution of social problems as "reconcilers," that is, as apolitical facilitators of brotherhood and rationality.