I was about to put this in the science section, but felt it would make more impact here
So, being the utter most pragmatist, I'd like to share this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_capital"I do not refer to real estate, or to personal property or to cold cash, but rather to that in life which tends to make these tangible substances count for most in the daily lives of people, namely, goodwill, fellowship, mutual sympathy and social intercourse among a group of individuals and families who make up a social unit… If he may come into contact with his neighbor, and they with other neighbors, there will be an accumulation of social capital, which may immediately satisfy his social needs and which may bear a social potentiality sufficient to the substantial improvement of living conditions in the whole community. The community as a whole will benefit by the cooperation of all its parts, while the individual will find in his associations the advantages of the help, the sympathy, and the fellowship of his neighbors (pp. 130-131)."
And with some of the strands of Christianity that I've seen, they are very high on social capital which I've seen lead to:
- jobs offers and gaining a new job
- opportunities to go to certain events
- offering of people to crash at your place when they visit
... now I'm sure there are more. This is why although I do value that after Friday prayers men/women get to talk to each other in Islam, it's not as affective as other religions.
Non-religious social capital:
- volunteering
- charity fund raising for a good cause
- poorly paid NHS workers/doctors who do it for helping others
- poorly paid teacher who do it for helping kids be better people
- the neighbors who helps out babysit their daughter so the parents can have a nice evening out together
Anyhow, that's my thought to you for the day: social capital, how much of it do you have, how much do you offer, and how much it is needed at time of crisis which has probably helped us as living organisms.
Topic: Social Capital and Religions