It represents an extraordinary, enormous trove of data for policy makers, researchers and community builders. These community foundations and other community builders conducting 'community physicals' are engaged in one of the most important efforts ever to strengthen our communities. The survey found big differences by age with respect to religion. Involvement in religious communities is among the strongest predictors of giving and volunteering both for religious and secular causes. Religious involvement is positively associated with most other forms of civic involvement.
Religious involvement is less biased by social standing than most other forms of civic involvement.
Poorer, less educated Americans are much less likely to be involved in community life than other Americans, but they are fully as engaged in religious communities. Religiously engaged people have, on average, a more diverse set of friends than those who are less engaged in religion. Religious involvement is uncorrelated with support for social reform groups. Greater religious participation is associated with lower levels of participation in boycotts and marches. Religion can heal divisions, to be sure, but it can also exacerbate them.