Do religions and religious communities influence the educational success of children in industrialized societies through lifestyle, values, minority status, community activities, and resources? To answer these questions, the authors draw on discussions from the post-war years in West Germany regarding the Catholic education deficit and the fictional character of the "Catholic working girl from the countryside," as well as American studies on the significance of activities in religious communities for generating social capital. The book presents new analyses from the 1960s in West Germany, current findings for Germany, and results from 19 European countries. Thus, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between religion and education while also debunking some myths.