Why Strict Religions Succeed

The video explores trends in religious membership, highlighting the growth of conservative denominations and the decline of liberal ones. It introduces the strict church theory, which suggests that demanding religious groups thrive by screening out free riders through costly signaling. These groups offer benefits like resource sharing and social cohesion. The theories are morally neutral, focusing on empirical data. The video also applies these theories to understand sectarian communities, often labeled as cults, and concludes with recommendations for further study.

What trend was observed in the membership of the Presbyterian Church USA between 2013 and 2017?

How did the membership of the Presbyterian Church of America change during the same period?

What is the so-called strict church theory?

What are some examples of costly signals that strict religious groups might require from their members?

How do costly signals contribute to the success of strict religious communities?

What social benefits can highly committed members of religious communities achieve?

How do the theories discussed help us understand the behavior of individuals in highly sectarian religious communities?