Faith has long been recognized as a cornerstone of human civilization, yet its role in shaping our collective values has become increasingly debated in modern secular society. As we witness rising rates of social fragmentation, family breakdown, and civic disengagement, a critical question emerges: does religious faith actually foster the shared values that bind communities together?
This exploration examines compelling evidence from sociologists, psychologists, and researchers who have studied the relationship between faith and values across cultures and religious traditions.
From Emile Durkheim‘s classical observations on social integration to contemporary research on happiness and civic engagement, we’ll investigate whether faith communities truly serve as incubators for the common values that strengthen both individual wellbeing and societal cohesion—or whether shared values can flourish equally well in secular contexts.
Does Faith Lead To Shared Values?
Values are synonymous with virtues, and we know from the above that faith builds social virtues amongst individuals within a group. But let’s further discuss the issues of faith and values.
Dr. Phillip McGraw in ‘We’ve Got Issues’, highlights the decline in moral values resulting from the trend towards faithless society. According to McGraw, the decline of religion’s influence on society has led to:
- Divorce and cohabitation becoming more acceptable
- Fewer and later marriages
- Fewer children
- More single parents and broken homes
- A slower economy, and
- Less opportunity for everyone.
“When the traditional family breaks down, everything starts breaking down”, McGraw states.
At length Emile Durkheim discusses the impacts of the breakdown in the family unit as related to religion: “the family is a powerful safeguard against suicide” and “Suicide varies inversely with the degree of integration of religious society,” he states.
Alexis de Tocqueville also alerts us to a risk of the destruction of our values, and suggests religion as the solution: “When religion is destroyed among a people, doubt takes hold of the highest portions of the intellect and half paralyzes all the others… Such a state cannot fail to enervate souls; it slackens the motivating forces of will and prepares citizens for servitude. Then not only does it happen that the latter allow their liberty to be taken, but they often give it up.”
Clearly, faith is vitally important for the development of shared values.
According to the work of Schwartz & Huismans, “Theological, sociological, and psychological analyses of religion suggest that religiosity associates positively with values that enhance transcendence, preserve the social order, and protect individuals against uncertainty, and negatively with values that emphasize self-indulgence and favor intellectual or emotional openness to change.”
Further, according to the findings of Saroglou, Delpierre, Dernelle, religious people tend to favor values that “promote conservation of social and individual order (Tradition, Conformity, and to a lesser extent, Security)” and that “allow for a limited self-transcendence (Benevolence, but not Universalism)”, while tending to “dislike Hedonism and to a lesser extent values that promote self-enhancement (Achievement, Power).” Further, “effects were constant across different religious denominations (Christians, Jews, and Muslims) and cultures.”
Arguably the greatest human value supported by faith is happiness:
“People who are active in religious congregations tend to be happier and more civically engaged than either religiously unaffiliated adults or inactive members of religious groups”, according to a study from Pew Research. “This may suggest that societies with declining levels of religious engagement, like the U.S., could be at risk for declines in personal and societal well-being” Pew Research reasons. Below and illustrating the connection between religiosity and happiness is a slightly modified chart from the Pew Research study.
Yes, faith does lead to shared values.
Final Thoughts
The evidence presented throughout this discussion paints a compelling picture: faith serves as a powerful catalyst for shared values that strengthen both individuals and communities. From McGraw’s observations about family stability to Durkheim’s insights on social integration, from Tocqueville’s warnings about societal cohesion to modern research on happiness and civic engagement, the pattern is clear and consistent.
What emerges is not merely a correlation but a deeper truth about human flourishing. Faith communities provide more than just belief systems—they offer frameworks for meaning, connection, and mutual support that translate into tangible benefits for society. The research showing that religious individuals across diverse traditions prioritize benevolence, tradition, and community over self-indulgence suggests that faith naturally cultivates values that bind us together rather than pull us apart.
Perhaps most significantly, the link between religious engagement and happiness reminds us that shared values aren’t just abstract concepts—they’re lived experiences that enhance wellbeing. In an era of increasing isolation and polarization, the role of faith in fostering genuine community and shared purpose becomes ever more vital.
While society continues to evolve and diversify, the fundamental human need for connection, meaning, and shared values remains constant. Faith communities, in their various forms, continue to meet these needs in ways that benefit not just their members but society as a whole. The challenge moving forward is not whether faith leads to shared values—the evidence clearly shows it does—but how we can preserve and strengthen these valuable social bonds in an increasingly fragmented world.
The answer to our titular question is unequivocal: Yes, faith does lead to shared values. And perhaps more importantly, those shared values lead to stronger families, more engaged citizens, and ultimately, a more cohesive and flourishing society.
Thanks for reading!