>> The shared morals and traditions are in service to making a stronger community. For a great many it is also about exclusion, a purification of that communit

>> The shared morals and traditions are in service to making a stronger community. For a great many it is also about exclusion, a purification of that community. When I lived in the US I attended several community events (BBQs, sports days and such) with friends who were "in" a local church. It was all fun until someone got wind of the new guy with a non-local accent. Then I would be set upon by people asking probing questions to nail down my religious status, questions for which there are never good answers. Once I left early as my outsider status was evidently disruptive (a "leader" was loudly trying to convert me.) I also went to a big Mormon BBQ event which was, unexpectedly, 100% different. They just accepted the presence of an outsider and didn't feel the need to even bring it up. But for some reason they did keep offering me coffee.