ABSTRACT
In the extensive literature about the importance of voluntary associations for democracy, churches are usually neglected or mentioned as something special alongside ‘normal’ associations. There are several good reasons for this special treatment. Apart from specific national reasons and a religiously-motivated reluctance to treat churches like other organizations,1 an exception can be made because of their long history, their enormous size and their extended networks. The mainstream churches traditionally have strong roots in local communities, and their followers come from very diverse social backgrounds. Churches also are of special importance because of the scope of the issues about which they express a view and the influence they have on the personal decisions of their core members.
