This dissertation highlights the role of congregations in civic participation and illuminates the role of spirituality within the process of congregation based community organizing (CBCO). Empowerment (psychological, interpersonal, and behavioral), alienation, spirituality, and sense of community are found to vary by organizational affiliation (CBCO, non CBCO church, neighborhood, school, and non-affiliation). In particular, CBCO participants evidence higher levels of psychological and interpersonal empowerment and civic participation compared to those affiliated through other organizational contexts. CBCO participants are no stronger in spirituality than non CBCO church goers, but are significantly more likely to channel their spirituality into action through the civic sphere. Importantly, the directly negative effects of a heightened cognitive understanding of power on civic participation are shown to reverse (become positive) when mediating effects of spirituality and sense of community are considered.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-12052008-143324 |
| Date | 30 December 2008 |
| Creators | Jones, Diana L. |
| Contributors | C. Melissa Snarr, Douglas D. Perkins, J. Robert Newbrough, Paul R. Dokecki, Paul W. Speer |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu//available/etd-12052008-143324/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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