Unfolding the relationship between religion and socially responsible business conduct

Existing empirical research offers conflicting outcomes with respect to the relationship between religion and socially responsible business conduct (SRBC). In this study, we examined the relationship between religion and SRBC by differentiating religion in terms of cognition, motivation, and behavior, and SRBC in terms of various behavioral aspects. Based on empirical research among 473 Dutch executives, we found that differentiating religion did not provide much additional insight into the relation between religion and SRBC, because the various dimensions of religion appear to be highly correlated. Measuring SRBC as a differentiated concept, however, importantly clarified the relationship between religion and SRBC, by showing significant but opposing influences of religion on various types of SRBC. In particular, traditional religious executives contributed more to SRBC in terms of charity but less to SRBC with respect to the internal stakeholders, providing equal opportunities to minorities and women, and the ecological environment.