Religion and Inequality

Religion. Like it, hate it, or don't care about it there's something unique about communities that are based on religion that those that aren't can only wish for.

Sociologically speaking, the determining factor for why people choose to live in a certain area, is tied to the person's wealth.

If you can afford it, you're probably living in an expensive home surrounded by other expensive homes and people who earn roughly as much as you do. You all pay higher local income tax, some of which ends up going to the local public school. So public schools in rich neighborhoods, generally speaking, tend to be great, and public schools in poor neighborhoods tend to suck.

But what if the determining factor for where you lived had nothing to do with your affluence and everything to do with the religious community of you choose? I live in such a community, and can share some of the advantages that come with it.

In such a neighborhood, you have people living on street W (for wealthy), these people own nice big homes, generally own a company or two and employ many of their friends from one street over. Street P (you guess it, P - for poor). Street P has apartment buildings with many people barely able to keep their head (or wallet) above water. What makes this community unique, is that people W not only send their children to the same school as people P, but they also tend to give sizable donations to the schools. They also pay higher local taxes which makes up for the lack of funds coming out of street P. Overall, the children from P, not only play with the children from W but they also receive the same quality education.

Additionally, people from street W and street P attend services at the local church, synagogue or mosque, and interact with one another regularly. Communities like this, build trust amongst their participants. As a result, what you'll notice is that many of the people from street P end up working in companies owned by people from street W. Perhaps shocking, what I noticed is that people from W tend to care less about what universities their friends from P went to or what fancy degree they have, and more about the things that are truly important. Does the individual have the integrity and values that might make him a reliable asset? Is the person likable and does he or she have a positive attitude?

So every time you get together for a ceremony or sermon, you are not only getting to know your neighbor from the fancy villa one street over, but you are also building your resume with lawyers accountants and doctors, that when in need of someone reliable, will turn inward to find someone from the community whom they can trust. That person might be you.

To conclude, I think that poverty is mostly alleviated in a community that is built on religion rather than affluence. It levels the playing field of economic inequality and the results are palpable.

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