Churches and Synagogues and other places of worship that bring people together in shared belonging and mutual responsibility. Religious people, coming together to worship,  make better neighbours.

An extensive survey in the US showed that Church goers are more likely to give money to charity, regardless of whether the charity is religious or secular. They are also more likely to do voluntary work for charity, give money to homeless person, give excess change back to a shop assistant/keeper, donate blood, help neighbour with housework, spend time with someone who is depressed, allow another driver to cut in front of them, offer a seat to a stranger, or help someone find a job.

[Robert D. Putnam (Harvard University) and David E. Camdpbell (Notre Dame University), American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, New York: Simon & Scutter, 2010]:

Other Findings:

1. Young people are more opposed to abortion than their parents but more accepting of gay marriage;

2. Even fervently religious Americans believe that people in other faiths can get to heaven;

3. Religious Americans are better neighbors than secular Americans—more generous with their time and treasure, even for secular causes—but the explanation has less to do with faith than with communities of faith.

One of the authors, Robert D. Putnam became famous a decade ago when he coined the phrase “bowling alone”, for our increasingly individualistic, atomistic, self-preoccupied culture.  Things we did together, we now do alone. Our bonds of belonging – what sociologists call “social capital” were growing thin. = Robert D Putnam, Bowling Alone, New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.