The objective of this dissertation is to explore the impact of organizational linkages, class linkages, and the local organization of work on the structures and ideology of contemporary Latin American popular religious organizations, both evangelical and Catholic. A case-based comparative approach is taken to data gathering and analysis. Cases (within the metropolitan area of Caracas, Venezuela) will be chosen on the basis of the class composition of the neighborhood and type of organizational network within which the local church is embedded. In keeping with the community studies tradition, techniques will include participant observation, interviews with leaders, and member surveys, as well as analysis of background information on the communities. The study will fill a gap in substantive knowledge and contribute to understanding the relation between religion and social class.
