New Research Shows How Faith Can Foster Greater Inclusion Across Differences
Religion is often discussed in conversations about prejudice and social division, but new research from Duke University highlights another side of the story. A study led by researchers Patty Van Cappellen (Associate Research Professor in the Social Science Research Institute), Amanda Bernal (Lab Manager, BABLab), and Caimiao Liu (Research Assistant, BABLab) found that certain religious perspectives can help reduce unequal treatment of groups that are sometimes seen as challenging traditional religious values.
The study, Disentangling Religiosity: Specific Religious Perspectives Reduce Intergroup Bias, examined how different dimensions of religiosity shape attitudes and behaviors toward others. Rather than focusing only on the ways religion can contribute to division, the researchers set out to better understand how religious beliefs might foster greater fairness, inclusion, and compassion across group boundaries.
Across four studies involving more than 2,300 participants in the United States, the researchers identified two religious perspectives that were linked to lower levels of intergroup bias: viewing God as loving and compassionate, and embracing a more liberal religious ideology.
One perspective examined in the research was what psychologists call a benevolent image of God, which is a view of God as loving, forgiving, and compassionate. Participants who were encouraged to reflect on this perspective showed less bias when evaluating groups whose values differed from their own. The researchers found similar results when participants were asked to consider a more liberal religious perspective, which emphasizes openness, pluralism, and a willingness to engage with different viewpoints. Such reduced bias was oservable in people judgments of these groups, but also in their recommended support for these groups. Importantly, this change was driven not by reduced support for other groups, but by increased support for groups that are often viewed as being in tension with traditional religious values.
“For decades, psychologists, me included, have studied the ways religion can contribute to prejudice and division, stated Patty Van Cappellen. What we know much less about is how religious beliefs and perspectives might help people build bridges across differences. If we want to create more pluralistic communities, we need to understand not only what drives bias, but also what helps reduce it.”
The findings add to a growing body of research showing that religiosity is not a single, uniform concept. Different religious beliefs and ways of thinking about faith can lead to very different outcomes in how people relate to others.
By identifying religious perspectives associated with reduced discrimination between groups, the study suggests that religion can sometimes help build bridges across differences rather than reinforce them. The researchers hope these findings will help advance conversations about pluralisms and how faith can contribute to more positive relationships across social and cultural differences.
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The Provost’s Initiative on Pluralism, Free Inquiry and Belonging creates new opportunities for all Duke students, faculty and staff to maximize learning and growth in a pluralistic academic environment and society. This includes programs to foster constructive conversations across diverse perspectives and build skills to engage with complex topics with an open mind and humility. In addition, the initiative provides new and innovative curricular offerings; facilitates research connected to the themes of pluralism, free inquiry, and belonging; and hosts speakers and thought leaders with different perspectives.
The study was conducted by researchers at Duke University’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) with support from the Duke Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research Center (IBRC), the Issachar Fund, and the Templeton Religion Trust.