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Does religious participation as a child instill a work ethic that is driven by religious training, beliefs and practices?
Researchers at the University of Georgia found that women who had attended religious services frequently (at least once a week) during childhood work about 80 additional hours per year when they are older. This effect is roughly equivalent to the impact on labor supply of an additional year of labor market experience. Among Protestant women, the effect on annual hours worked of frequent religious participation when young is almost twice that amount. Economics prof Ron Warren of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, who conducted the study along with colleague Chris Cornwell and Terry alumna Karen Tinsley, a researcher in UGA’s Housing and Demographics Research Center, speculates that religious observance when young may give women a direction or “calling” to their personal conduct as adults, including a greater focus on market work. “Religious participation in childhood may instill a work ethic that is driven by early religious training, beliefs, or practice”. {Time.com}
The bible has numerous biblical principles that when applied, can and should make a personal difference in how we live our lives on a daily basis. The Apostle Paul said that we should do: “all things as unto the Lord”. This principle teaches that our work is just an extension of our ministry to God. The idea is that believers should not look at their work as “just a job”, but something we do as if we are actually working for God. One understands and openly admits that it is the Lord who gives us the strength and knowledge to do that job; therefore we do it as unto the Lord giving him honor and glory through our work ethic. So yes, I believe there very well may be a correlation between religious participation and work ethic.
So the question for today is- does religious observance give people a direction or calling as it pertains to their work habits? Is there a greater focus on market work if one is motivated by their beliefs? Does religious participation as a child instill a work ethic that is driven by religious training, beliefs and practices?
Comments
By Jeff
April 16, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Pastor Joe, correlation does not mean causation, so that we are not accused of being “ignorant” to that. With that said, thank you for bringing scientific study to the forefront. So often we Christians, myself included, get into a rut of believing the lies that science dispels our religion and we need a ton of faith; however, research contradicts that “fact” whenever presented. I believe this study also contradicts the “fact” that Christianity leads to the suppression of women. Thank you for arming us with the truth.
By cantw82leave
April 16, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Absolutely not. As Jeff said, correlation is not causation. There are plenty of hard working Americans who put in more than 40 hrs a week and never attended services or did so irregularly. I would suggest that a person’s work ethic has more to do with values and principles taught by good parenting vs. the church. It’s interesting to note that some don’t think the church suppresses women, and yet the entire first paragraph discussed the “finding” that women who attended regular services in their youth put in more average hours than those who did not. Did the study take into account any other societal factors that can affect work ethic, such as ethnicity, socio-economic level, coming from a rural vs. urban background, family values, etc.? And did the study ask those same women if they worked those extra hours voluntarily or if they felt pressured to do so? Attending church services is hardly the sole causation of a good work ethic. Then there is the idea that this study contradicts the “fact” that Christianity suppreses women. I believe it’s possible that this study could in fact, support it. The concept that “women should be submissive” is broadly interpreted, submissive being defined as anything from “respectful” to “cowering in a corner dutifully cleaning her husband’s shoes”. I would theorize that women from this background are taught from a very early age that they should ‘submit’ to any male in a leadership (dominance) role. The indoctrination begins early and probably innocently enough; teaching our daughters to ‘submit’(as in be respectful to, listen to, ask for guidance from) the male role models in their life. At some point (theoretically) though, those same role models take on a more ‘dominant (or domineering)’ role. Some of these women find themselves in situations where they dare not make a purchase, take a class or have friends that they did not first ask permission from these fathers, teachers, pastors/deacons and husbands. I would suggest that the study tells more about learned behavior rooted in the church than it does about work ethic. Please be careful about turning these studies into ‘facts’, much less using them as ammunition for some kind of ‘truth’.
By KDF
April 16, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Man, alive, some folks can’t (or won’t) look at the other side of the coin they are holding.
Firstly, whether we are Christians, Jews, Muslims, athiests, whatever, I don’t like that Americans are working longer hours. It takes away from family time, the longer hours we work. Whatever our beliefs and faiths are. We are so inundated with electronics that our time is not spent as well as any of us would like. Hundreds of TV channels, computers, cell phones (text messaging), whew, way too much. (I am guilty of all but the texting :))
As for a Christian’s work ethic, Colossians 3:3 tells us “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…”
Believe me brothers, I have mentioned that to God several times a day!!!
As for Truth, our Messiah said “you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” Freedom indeed, Hallalujah!!!<><
By GJ
April 16, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
KDF, I agree with you 100 percent (except for the Bible verses, natch). People in this country work way too many hours. Step away from the computer and give your kid a hug or help a friend in need.
By Jeff
April 16, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
This is for the married Christian men: Does your biblically based marriage ever result in your wife kowtowing to you in any way? If so, I’d like to know how you do it, because Proverbs 31 doesn’t describe a timid, passive, or submissive woman in any way.
By KDF
April 16, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this
Oh, no. My wife is very self-supporting, has three school-age daughters, and states her opinion very well. She is a strong Christian woman and will usually defer a major decision to me. If her opinion differs from mine, she lets me know. Most of our decisons are prayed about…and let me tell any unbeliever, my joy is so much greater than it has ever been.
If my writing does not convince you, you would enjoy talking with her.
Jesus Christ has told us to let our guard down and invite him personally into our lives. Cynics (which I truly am) are strong people. Our greatest stregnth comes from our Lord. We do love Him more than we love each other. That is where our Truth is.
By KDF
April 17, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
Pastor Joe. As for a possible future blog, how about something in how the U.S. continues to “outsource” jobs, benefitting no one in this country?? Jesus said to “pay unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s, pay unto God which is his.” Well, it seems as though our Ceasar now lives overseas. Any thoughts, or am I getting into an area we don’t want to entertain?? Thanks.
By Jeff
April 17, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
KDF, do you know of Bible verses where women are actually made beneath men? Judges (Deborah and the woman who defeated the army with the tent peg through the head of the opposing general), Ruth, Esther, Jesus revealing His resurrection to women, Jesus dealing with the woman caught in adultery, and Jesus speaking to the woman with multiple husbands, all illustrate an equality between both God and men with women. I really apologize to you, cantw82leave that as Christians we have been complacently in our own “world” while non-Christians have been educating you to our Holy Book and what it says. It is not their fault, or your fault, that you have received bad info. It is ours.
By KDF
April 17, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Jeff, no, I don’t know of any verses where women were “made” inferior to men. Romans 3:23…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
Many men have used verses in the Bible to dominate women, to adhere to slavery, and many other problems that have continually dominated our world — since Adam and Eve were made aware of their original sin. This is abuse of God’s word. The Holy Spirit is my innerant guide, so comparing scripture to scriptue is where the Truth lies. <><
By :-)
April 17, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Here is my response, specifically, to the questions Pastor Joe asked… Does religious observance give people a direction or calling as it pertains to their work habits?
I believe it has an influence on a person’s work habits just as it does in other areas of their life. Before I accepted Christ into my life and developed the personal/intimate relationship I do have with Him I did not do a whole lot with as much passion as I do now. I do all things as unto the Lord including being a mom, ministry, co-worker, etc. We all have a certain way we conduct ourselves and standards of living and much of that is based on how we believe whether it is religious or not. Now as for the statistic listed I would have to agree with cantwa8 in regards to “did study take into account any other societal factors that can affect work ethic, such as ethnicity, socio-economic level, coming from a rural vs. urban background, family values, etc”. I believe these factors would need to be considered in order for the study to be…accurate in stating that it is just religion that causes people (men or women) to work as they do. Does religious participation as a child instill a work ethic that is driven by religious training, beliefs and practices? Sure according to that religion, but I also believe that much of who we are now stems from our past experiences growing up. Praise God He is a God of deliverance!
By KDF
April 17, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
:) and cantw8, I agree but I don’t agree with the “whys” of statistics. Statistics show what you want them to show. We add something or take away something — whatever. <><
By Fred
April 18, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Don’t terrify children with (Hell and Damn-nation) religious teaching. Teach God’s love….not judgement. Simply teach them Right and Wrong.
By KDF
April 18, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Fred, I must agree with you on teaching of children. First and foremost, God is love, and that is what Jesus always preached. “For God so loved the world”, “love the Lord your God, love thy neighbor”, etc..
No one should be terrified of God. Just love him and respect His judgement. He is Truth. <><
By KDF
April 18, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
Pastor Joe, where art thou???
By Pastor Joe A. Carbajal
April 18, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
KDF and fellow bloggers….
I am here- just reading your comments and already thinking about next week’s topics. I’ve tried to stay faithful to the vision of this blog which is to take stories out of the news in order to create our dialogue, but you folks have challenged me to make next week’s blogs on : “blogger’s suggested topics week”. Next week, we will discuss some of the topics recently suggested by some of you and not on news stories. We will see how this works?????
I also want to offer you folks a follow-up question on the topic of beliefs having something to do with work habits. When I said that I believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the ability to transform people lives, I was thinking about the families who I have had the pleasure of working with that grew up on welfare. For some, their grandmother was on welfare, their mother on welfare, and now the children find themselves on welfare growing. But after hearing the good news of the gospel, these folks went from generations of being on welfare to supporting themselves and even going on to owning their own businesses in some instances. These people would have never changed their mindsets or lazy behavior by themselves. The question is: “Have you known of any family like this? Have you become a better worker because of being exposed to the teachings of Christ?
By Early L. Doss
April 19, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
Pastor Joe, I know that I became a better person because my grandmother taught me to follow the Golden Rule, Do unto others as I would have then do unto me. My grandmother passed away when I was eight years old. This past April 18 was the sad anniversary of that passing. I experienced sadness but I also recognized my sense of worth, my confidence in that I have done what she taught me to do. My peace is in knowing that what she taught me as a little girl still guides me now that I am a Seasoned Senior. I love her and I love the Lord that she taught me to know and trust. I have encountered challenges because of race and sex but I was able to overcome because of the faith she shared with me. My grandmother left me a rich young girl who turned into a rich woman because she taught me to trust in God, to get to know Him for myself, to make Him my own. I was a better worker and a better person.
By Jeff
April 19, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Pastor Joe, I want to suggest one blog topic: If the Bible was put on trial, by the same argument standards as any other litigation, would it be confirmed or denied by an unbiased judge? I would suggest before everyone ways in that you look at how many centuries have been put into studying this, from the inspection at the tomb, to the discovery of Noah’s Ark. Is there enough supporting evidence even to say it’s historically accurate, for which it should be argued that at least it should be taught in schools as history. Also, how do you discredit the millions of drastically changed lives by adherring to its principles?
Fred, there’s no reason to believe in God’s love, grace, and mercy, unless you believe that there is an alternative. “God saved me from nothing,” really doesn’t hold much weight.