Impact of Catholic Laypeople’s Participation in Religious Communities on Civic Engagement Intention for Environmental and Social Problems: Dual Mediating Effects of Religious Knowledge and Religiosity

Abstract

Efforts to resolve or mitigate environmental, human rights, and pro-life issues are required of members of religious communities. To address these issues, members of religious communities may seek civic engagement based on their social capital and social identity within their communities. This study aims to examine the processes through which members of the Catholic Church can demonstrate civic engagement for environmental, human rights, and pro-life issues by focusing on the inherent role of the church community in realizing the common good. The results of the dual mediating analysis of responses collected from a Catholic parish showed that religious community participation had a positive effect on religious knowledge and religiosity, and religious knowledge had a positive effect on religiosity and civic engagement intention. Religiosity also had a significant positive effect on civic engagement. In the relationship between religious community participation and civic engagement intention, the dual mediation effect of religious knowledge and religiosity was statistically significant. In particular, the magnitude of the indirect effect from religious community participation to civic engagement intention through religious knowledge was the largest. Based on its results, this study discusses the role and importance of religious factors in the civic engagement of Catholic Church laypeople. Specifically, it can be expected that bridging social capital can be created through the dual mediating role of religious knowledge and religiosity.회적정체성, 신앙지식, 종교성, 시민참여, 생명수호