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Explaining Schism in American Protestant Denominations, 1890-1990

Bibliographic Data

ID2271032
AuthorsJohn R Sutton (University of Arizona), M Chaves (0000-0001-6793-2302, University of Arizona)
Year2004
Volume43
Issue2
Pages171-190
Publication date2004-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal for the Scientific Study of Religion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-8294 • E-ISSN: 1468-5906
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-5906.2004.00226.x
OpenAlexW2149747039
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited29

The remarkable degree of religious diversity in the United States is produced more through schisms and mergers occurring to preexisting denominations than through foundings of new religious groups. In this article we analyze schisms, focusing on mainstream Protestant denominations over the period 1890-1990. We treat schism as an organizational process rather than an expression of purely doctrinal disputes; more specifically, we argue that schisms arise from within denominations in response to attempts by denominational elites to achieve organizational consolidation. Event-history techniques are used to test hypotheses concerning resource environments, effects of denominational reorganization, resource mobilization capacity, network linkages, and denominational centralization. Results show that rates of schism are influenced by prior structural changes, size, and linkage to a liberal federation; we find no effects of resource or institutional environments

Consolidation (business) · Economics · Mainstream · Political science · Politics · Protestantism · Religious organization · Resource (disambiguation) · Schism · Sociology · Law · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development

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Unique citing works19
Citations per year1
Citation span2007 - 2025 (19)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 18
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