The Churching of America, 1776-2005: Winners and Losers in Our Religious Economy

by Roger Finke

Studies of migration stress two factors: those that push people to leave a place and those that pull them to somewhere else. Among the major pushes are (1) lack of opportunity, (2) weak attachments, (3) fear of punishment, (4) disgrace, and (5) persecution. Of the five, only the last (and then only when groups are involved) is likely to cause "solid citizens" to migrate. Lack of opportunity can produce desirable migrants too, but the other three will tend to overproduce troubled and troublesome migrants. Those who lack attachments tend to be people who have difficulty forming and maintaining relationships. Those who fear punishment have usually offended, as have those in disgrace.