Sacred Companies

This groundbreaking collection explores the intersection of religion and organization, providing valuable insights into U.S. religious institutions. Sacred Companies offers a fresh perspective on this important topic.

This interdisciplinary collection is the first to examine the organizational aspects of religion, offering a fresh perspective on how religious institutions function. Sacred Companies delves into historical sources and patterns of U.S. religious organizations, exploring how these entities have evolved over time. By analyzing contemporary patterns of denominational authority, the book sheds light on the complex relationships within and between different religious groups, highlighting the dynamics that shape their governance and influence.

Furthermore, Sacred Companies investigates the congregation as an organization, emphasizing the social dimensions that are often overlooked in traditional studies of religion. The authors present a range of perspectives on the intersection of religious and secular institutions, illustrating how these two realms interact and impact one another. This exploration is particularly timely, given the increasing relevance of religious organizations in contemporary society.

The volume is the culmination of a three-year research project at Yale, supported by the Lilly Endowment, and features mostly unpublished papers from various scholars. By bringing together these diverse insights, Sacred Companies fills a significant gap in the literature, encouraging readers to reconsider the role of organizations in shaping religious practice and belief. This collection not only contributes to academic discourse but also invites a broader audience to engage with the complexities of religion in the modern world.