Faith and solidarity share a profound relationship that philosophers, sociologists, and researchers have explored across centuries, revealing how religious belief systems foster social cohesion and mutual support within communities.

This exploration begins with Thomas Aquinas‘s theological assertion that “obedience follows faith,” establishing a foundation for understanding how religious commitment translates into collective action, while Emile Durkheim‘s groundbreaking sociological work demonstrates that religion’s power to unite individuals stems not from its specific doctrines, but from its fundamental nature as a social institution that binds people together through shared practices and beliefs.

As contemporary society grapples with increasing polarization and fragmentation, examining the connection between faith and solidarity becomes particularly urgent, offering insights into how religious communities can serve as vital sources of social capital, trust-building, and cross-cultural bridge-making in an era desperately seeking unity amidst division.

Does Faith Lead To Solidarity?

Does faith lead to the social virtue of solidarity? Yes, because “obedience follows faith”, as said by Thomas Aquinas. Emile Durkheim, on the other hand, points to the value of faith for developing social solidarity by taking us in a completely different direction from that of Aquinas: “The beneficent influence of religion is not due to the special nature of religious conceptions.” He continues, “If religion protects man against the desire for self-destruction, it is not that it preaches the respect for his own person to him with arguments sui generis; but because it is a society.”

The key point from Durkheim is that “religion preserves men from suicide because and in so far as it is a society.” Accordingly, suicide is not merely a personal tragedy, but a sociologically predictable consequence of the degree to which one is integrated into society, in this case, religious society. “The more numerous and strong these collective states of mind are, the stronger the integration of the religious community, and also the greater its preservative value”, as said by Emile Durkheim.

Religion clearly has the ability to develop societies of “shared aims, shared goals”, as suggested by Heather Battaly in the traits of solidarity, otherwise the practice of faith would not produce societal “preservative value”, as put by Durkheim. Therefore, we can safely say that, yes, faith does lead to the social virtue of solidarity.

As said by Dr. Phillip McGraw in ‘We’ve Got Issues’: “In a divided society, a communal worshiping experience helps create unity and social cohesion. This has major implications, because the absence of social cohesion is one of the key preconditions for conflict and violence.”

Solidarity based on relationality, connectedness, and the importance of the future flows from faith. A study in Britain, in fact, showed that religious community participation in general does present a positive association with majority-minority connectedness. See below a slightly modified version of the study’s Figure 2.

Yes, faith does lead to solidarity.

Final Thoughts

The evidence from philosophy, sociology, and empirical research converges on a clear conclusion: faith serves as a powerful catalyst for solidarity. From Aquinas‘s theological perspective linking obedience and faith, to Durkheim’s sociological insights about religion’s protective social function, to contemporary studies demonstrating religious participation’s role in bridging divides—the connection between faith and solidarity appears both robust and multifaceted.

Perhaps most significantly, in our current era of increasing polarization and social fragmentation, understanding faith’s capacity to foster solidarity takes on renewed urgency. As Dr. McGraw notes, the absence of social cohesion creates preconditions for conflict. Religious communities, with their shared rituals, values, and sense of purpose, offer a counterforce to these divisive tendencies.

This isn’t to suggest that faith automatically or universally produces solidarity—history provides ample counterexamples. Rather, it’s to recognize that when faith communities embrace their highest ideals of connection, mutual support, and shared humanity, they become powerful engines for building the trust and cooperation that healthy societies require.

The question then becomes not simply whether faith leads to solidarity, but how we can better harness this potential—encouraging religious communities to look outward as well as inward, to build bridges across difference, and to translate their internal cohesion into broader social healing. In a world desperately in need of greater solidarity, understanding and cultivating faith‘s role in this process may be more important than ever.

Thanks for reading!