The Economic Power of Religion

By Rod Anderson, CP Cartoonist Tuesday, September 20, 2016

WASHINGTON – Religious groups contribute $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy, more than the top 10 tech companies combined.

Consider the contributions of Apple, Google and Amazon on the American economy: they pale in comparison to faith organizations. Plus, unlike the tech giants, faith groups devote the bulk of their resources to helping the poor and suffering.

"For the first time, we have been able to quantify what religious institutions, faith-based charities, and even businesses inspired by faith contribute to our country," said Georgetown University's Michael Grim, co-author of the study, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Wednesday.

Published in the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, "The Socio-economic Contribution of Religion to American Society: An Empirical Analysis" provides the first-ever documented quantitative analysis of the economic impact of 344,00 congregations and as well as the impact of religious institutions and businesses.

Grim further noted that "in an age where there's a growing belief that religion is not a positive for American society, adding up the numbers is a tangible reminder of the impact of religion."