How much does religion contribute to civil society?

An institutional view

Abstract

This article aims to advance in the understanding of the religious phenomenon and its contribution to Chilean society. Considering the processes of secularization and religious change in Chile, and especially in the context of the constitutional discussion, it is essential to identify and value the contribution of religious institutions to Chilean society, in order to collaborate in the reflection on the place of religion in a society in transformation. This article presents an overview of the subject, empirically analyzing the contribution of organizations of different religious denominations to different areas of civil society. The findings of this study illustrate that religious institutions and faith-based organizations participate in different areas of so-called social and educational services.