American Grace

The Hedgehog Review is running an interview with Robert Putnam and David E. Campbell, authors of American Grace: How Religion Divides and United Us. (I picked up a copy at a Borders Books going-out-of-business sale, but have not read it yet).

Here a few things I culled from the inteview:

• Americans “overwhelmingly believe that people of other religions can go to heaven.” Even evangelical Protestants believe this.
• Most American believe that truth can be found in all religions.
• People make choices to attend church or not to attend church based on their political convictions.
• People who are religious are more engaged in their communities.
• More religious diversity is on the horizon.
• One-third of all Americans are “worshipping in a faith tradition other than the one that they were raised in.”
• There has been a “sharp increase” in interfaith marriages.
• Denominational borders have broken down.
• There are a growing number of “nones”–young people who have no religious affiliation, but want a spiritual life.

RECOMMENDED READING

Religion and Politics: Which Way Does It Flow? David French’s civic pluralism versus Al Mohler’s Christian nationalism The Author’s Corner with Brad Stoddard FORUM: The New Shape of Christian Public Discourse