Does religion contribute to or inhibit social progress?

Introduction. This article is devoted to recently published research presented by a consorti-um of scientists –the International Panel on Social Progress (IPSP). The text of the article has been compiled by combining extracts from two publications written by the co-authors: the first is the Summaryof Chapter 16 of the IPSP final Report (2018); the second is a short article published on the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Religion and Global Society blog. The authors interrogate the following questions: why, and in what ways, is religion relevant to the pursuit of social progress?
Materials and methods. The authors’ approach to the problem of religion and social progress corresponds to the general research paradigm of the IPSP (a consortium of some 200 scholars). This International Panel came into existence toassess and synthesize the state-of-the-art knowledge that bears on social progress across a wide range of economic, political and cultural questions. The goal was to provide the target audience (individuals, movements, organizations, politicians, decision-makers and practitioners) with the best expertise that social science can offer. Setting aside Enlightenment assumptions that progress is somehow built into history, the IPSP sought innovative ways to understand this better. The notion of a compass was deployed as a meta-phor in the sense that it sets the line of travel, recognizing that the map in question is complex and the destination elusive. What is considered progress in one situation may be differently assessed in another.
Results. The study focusedon five interconnected themes: the persistence of religion in the twenty-first century; the importance of context in discerning outcomes –underlining the role of social science in this; the urgent need for enhanced cultural competence and improved religious literacy; the significance of religion in initiating change; and –especially –the benefits of well-judged partnerships.
Conclusion. The authors argue that researchers and policy-makers pursuing social progress will benefit from careful attention to the power of religious ideas to motivate, of religious practices to shape ways of life, of religious communities to mobilize and extend the reach of social change, and of religious leaders and symbols to legitimate calls to action. The continuing need for critical but appreciative assessment and the demonstrable benefits of creative partnerships are our standout findings.