Interpersonal Relationships In Organized Religion

Organized religion has often led to a break in the sense of community for a variety of reasons, one of those being size. The size of churches impacts the relationships formed as well as the level of that relationship. Kristin Laurin describes relationships as a “connection or association” furthermore Baumeister and Lear tack on that relationships “involves mutual feelings of affection and intimacy and fulfills needs for belonging and connectedness” (qtd. in Laurin et al 777). Larger groups, as seen in organized religion, do not offer this type of relationship often lacking in intimacy. Even churches are recognizing this as a problem; a recent American theology known as relational theology stresses the “centrality of interpersonal relationships”
Basically devotion to God should be considered stronger when communities are smaller because that means there is or has been a struggle with God that brings people closer to God. Research done by Laurin strengthens this argument, she states that relationships with God “function similarly to… relationships with other humans” (777). Larger communities, as seen in organized religion, do not provide the “overlap between people’s divine and interpersonal relationships” that is noticed in this study (Laurin et al 779). There is no constant of struggle, or enrichment in large communities simply because there is neither time nor willingness to form the relationships required. Often there are groups that form within a church like small groups, bible studies, and life groups to make up for this. But even these groups as well as how they operate are recent in terms of church history. Laurin and her colleagues concluded that relationships or “sources of connectedness or belonging may be interchangeable” that is, people have a more relaxed and fluid relationship with God and others, that in return end up strengthening both
With big churches or organized religion people become complacent and go just to go, however relationships with God may be significantly weakened or ruined because of the lack of listening done. Miller writes to “pray that God will show you a church filled with people who share your interests and values”, here all the emphasis is placed on God (138). Church will not provide the community needed, trusting in God and allowing Him to lead will. Trusting in the bond and relationship with God and believing that He knows what He wants for an individual will create the needed community, but not necessarily the wanted community. Only then can the connectivity between an individual, God and others