Family Structure, Commitment and Involvement in the Hare Krishna Movement
Author(s)
Rochford, E. Burke Jr.
Abstract
Marriage and family life have played a prominent role in the development of religious movements and communities. Previous research has linked the loss of control over marital and family ties to faltering member commitment and the failure of religious communities. This paper investigates the interrelationships among family structure, organizational change, and member commitment and involvement within the Hare Krishna movement. The findings indicate that the ascendancy of the nuclear family brought with it a substantial reduction in the level of core-members’ involvement in the movement, yet had little effect on individual commitment or religiosity. Family life thus served as a structural barrier to movement involvement rather than a countervailing source of commitment. The findings are tied to broader theoretical issues related to the declining scope of leader authority, the demise of the religious community, and secularization.
