29 Quotes by Christian Smith

Part of the irony of religion’s role is that in strengthening micro bonds between individuals, religion contributes to within-group homogeneity, heightens isolation from different groups, and reduces the opportunity for the formation of macro bonds—bonds between groups—that serve to integrate a society.

Evangelicals usually fail to challenge the system not just out of concern for evangelism, but also because they support the American system and enjoy its fruits. They share the Protestant work ethic, support laissez-faire economics, and sometimes fail to evaluate whether the social system is consistent with their Christianity.

Evangelicals come from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, but nearly 90 percent of Americans who call themselves evangelicals are white.

From the isolated, individualistic perspective of most white evangelicals and many other Americans, there really is no race problem other than bad interpersonal relationships.

Capitalism is not merely a system for the efficient production and distribution of goods and services; it also incarnates and promotes a particular moral order, an institutionalized normative worldview comprising and fostering particular assumptions, narratives, commitments, beliefs, values, and goals.

More and more people will be going into the Katrina-impacted area. Then, you'll see people go into the Rita-impacted area. This will go on for many, many months.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, it's just sitting down (and) talking to them, walking them through the process. Every single one of them, after they receive their assistance, they understand. They know that it takes time to process cases.

There is a fraud going on in this country where offshore hedge funds dwelling in an unregulated environment are selling massive numbers of shares short and doing various schemes not to cover (their short positions), ... In the process, companies are getting destroyed, technology is getting destroyed, and hard working Americans are getting screwed.

What we want people to do if they will, is to continue to volunteer long-term. Give us a couple of weeks and we'll get them in the next training classes.