Spirituality, Religion, and Progressive Social Movements: Resources and Motivation for Social Change

Abstract

Social movement theory and research has paid little attention to the role of spirituality and religion in social movement mobilization. This article reviews the existing literature on the role of spirituality and religion in progressive social movements, with emphasis on movements developed in the United Sates. The analysis is framed by three strains of contemporary theorizing about social movements: the political opportunities perspective, the mobilizing structures perspective, and the cultural framing perspectives. The article also examines recent suggestions that the emotional and spiritual dimensions are left out of these three perspectives. The analysis suggests that religious institutions provide rich resources for progressive movement mobilization, and that both religious and nonreligious spirituality can provide motivation for progressive movement involvement.

Keywords:

• social movements
• spirituality
• religion