Religion And Community In The New Urban America Religion & Community In The New Urban America University Press Scholarship Online

__Religion and Community in the New Urban America__ examines the interrelated transformations of cities and urban congregations. The authors ask how the new metropolis affects local religious communities and what role those communities play in creating the new metropolis. Through an in-depth study of fifteen Chicago congregations-Catholic parishes, Protestant churches, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques, and a Hindu temple, both city and suburban-this book describes congregational life and measures congregational influences on urban environments. Paul D. Numrich and Elfriede Wedam challenge the view held by many urban studies scholars that religion plays a small role-if any-in shaping postindustrial cities and that religious communities merely adapt to urban structures in a passive fashion. Taking into account the spatial distribution of constituents, internal traits, and external actions, each congregation's urban impact is plotted on a continuum of weak, to moderate, to strong, thus providing a nuanced understanding of the significance of religion in the contemporary urban context. Presenting a thoughtful analysis that includes maps of each congregation in its social-geographic setting, the authors offer an insightful look into urban community life today, from congregations to the places in which they are embedded. Religion And Community In The New Urban America Examines The Interrelated Transformation Of Cities And Urban Congregations. The Authors Ask How The New Metropolis Affects Local Religious Communities And What Role Those Communities Play In Creating The New Metropolis. Through An In-depth Study Of Fifteen Chicago Congregations - Catholic Parishes, Protestant Churches, Jewish Synagogues, Muslim Mosques, And A Hindu Temple, Both City And Suburban - This Book Describes Congregational Life And Measures Congregational Influences On Urban Environments. Foreword / By Martin D. Stringer -- Preface And Acknowledgments -- Introduction: The New Urban Era And The Religion Factor -- Part I: Theoretical And Conceptual Framework. Adding Religion To Chicago's Story ; Community And Congregations In The New Metropolis -- Part Ii: Congregational Case Studies. Neighborhood Parishes And Churches In A Restructuring City ; Area Mosques And Diverse Corridors ; Area Congregations In The City ; Area Congregations In A Suburban Boom Town ; Metro Congregations : A Wider View Of The Restructuring Metropolis -- Part Iii: Religion's Urban Significance : Chicago And Beyond. Congregations And Change : Interpreting Religion's Significance In The New Metropolis -- Afterword: A Case For Representativeness -- Appendix A: Research Methods -- Appendix B: Questionnaire -- Appendix C: Field Notes On Worship Services -- Appendix D: Protocol For In-depth Study Of Religious Congregations. ' Paul D. Numrich And Elfriede Wedam. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Religion and Community in the New Urban America examines the interrelated transformations of cities and urban congregations. The authors ask how the new metropolis affects local religious communities and what role those communities play in creating the new metropolis. Through an in-depth study of fifteen Chicago congregations-Catholic parishes, Protestant churches, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques, and a Hindu temple, both city and suburban-this book describes congregational life and measures congregational influences on urban environments. Paul D. Numrich and Elfriede Wedam challenge the view held by many urban studies scholars that religion plays a small role-if any-in shaping postindustrial cities and that religious communities merely adapt to urban structures in a passive fashion. Taking into account the spatial distribution of constituents, internal traits, and external actions, each congregation's urban impact is plotted on a continuum of weak, to moderate, to strong, thus providing a nuanced understanding of the significance of religion in the contemporary urban context. Presenting a thoughtful analysis that includes maps of each congregation in its social-geographic setting, the authors offer an insightful look into urban community life today, from congregations to the places in which they are embedded. Book jacket Cover 1 Religion and Community in the New Urban America 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Foreword by Martin D. Stringer 10 Preface and Acknowledgments 12 Introduction: The New Urban Era and the Religion Factor 20 Part I Theoretical and Conceptual Framework 34 1 Adding Religion to Chicago’s Story 36 2 Community and Congregations in the New Metropolis 54 Part II Congregational Case Studies 78 3 Neighborhood Parishes and Churches in a Restructuring City 80 4 Area Mosques and Diverse Corridors 123 5 Area Congregations in the City 158 6 Area Congregations in a Suburban Boom Town 196 7 Metro Congregations: A Wider View of the Restructuring Metropolis 236 Part III Religion’s Urban Significance: Chicago and Beyond 272 8 Congregations and Change: Interpreting Religion’s Significance in the New Metropolis 274 Afterword: A Case for Representativeness 302 Appendix A Research Methods 308 Appendix B Questionnaire 312 Appendix C Field Notes on Worship Services 314 Appendix D Protocol for In-Depth Study of Religious Congregations 318 Notes 326 Bibliography 330 Index 360 Through an in-depth study of fifteen Chicago congregations-Catholic parishes, Protestant churches, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques, and a Hindu temple, city and suburban, neighborhood-based and commuter-this book describes congregational life and measures the influences of those congregations on urban environments.