American Grace is a major achievement, a groundbreaking examination of religion in America.

Unique among nations, America is deeply religious, religiously diverse, and remarkably tolerant. But in recent decades the nation’s religious landscape has been reshaped.

America has experienced three seismic shocks, say Robert Putnam and David Campbell. In the 1960s, religious observance plummeted. Then in the 1970s and 1980s, a conservative reaction produced the rise of evangelicalism and the Religious Right. Since the 1990s, however, young people, turned off by that linkage between faith and conservative politics, have abandoned organized religion. The result has been a growing polarization—the ranks of religious conservatives and secular liberals have swelled, leaving a dwindling group of religious moderates in between. At the same time, personal interfaith ties are strengthening. Interfaith marriage has increased while religious identities have become more fluid. Putnam and Campbell show how this denser web of personal ties brings surprising interfaith tolerance, notwithstanding the so-called culture wars.

American Grace is based on two of the most comprehensive surveys ever conducted on religion and public life in America. It includes a dozen in-depth profiles of diverse congregations across the country, which illuminate how the trends described by Putnam and Campbell affect the lives of real Americans.

Nearly every chapter of American Grace contains a surprise about American religious life. Among them:

• Between one-third and one-half of all American marriages are interfaith;

• Roughly one-third of Americans have switched religions at some point in their lives;

• Young people are more opposed to abortion than their parents but more accepting of gay marriage;

• Even fervently religious Americans believe that people of other faiths can go to heaven;

• Religious Americans are better neighbors than secular Americans: more generous with their time and treasure even for secular causes—but the explanation has less to do with faith than with their communities of faith;

• Jews are the most broadly popular religious group in America today.

American Grace promises to be the most important book in decades about American religious life and an essential book for understanding our nation today.

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Product details

File Size: 11455 KB
Print Length: 693 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 5, 2010)
Publication Date: October 5, 2010
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B003UV8TEA
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- #135 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies & Reference > Sociology
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Jim

but it is good to understand why and how the nation's religious observance ...

November 17, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Very interesting book that gives evidence to changes in Christianity I'd seen over the years. But with statistics, ties to recent events of history, and a theoretical framework it goes far beyond any observations I have. I believe the book would interest many non-Christians because many people are interested in recent history and church history is inseparable from all other US history. To consider the Church sociologically does not replace devotion to Christ, but it is part of a thoughtful and well-rounded world view, and this book helps with that. Christ Himself does not change, but it is good to understand why and how the nation's religious observance has changed in recent decades. Considered four stars only because it is a few years old by now but decided it was just too good for four stars.

4 people found this helpful

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Steve

A Rich and Rewarding Tour of U.S Religion

February 4, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

An in-depth, statistics-laden study of US religion over the past 50 years. I found the survey data fascinating and the author's analysis mostly plausible and always thought-provoking. The authors also complement the analysis with vignettes of a selection of diverse U.S congregations.

The book discusses a huge number of issues, trends, and cross-currents. One interesting topic concerns the recent growth in the portion of Americans with no religious affiliation (sometimes referred to as the "nones"); the authors analyze this phenomenon by explaining how the sexual revolution of the 60's led first to the rise of the religious right, and then more recently to a counter-reaction on the part of those turned off by this rise (especially younger people).

Another key conclusion regards the strength of Americans' religious tolerance in the face of our differences. The authors argue religious diversity among our extended family and friends leads to a high level of tolerance on the part of all but a small proportion of hard cases.

There's alot more here, and much that was new to me. Reading it even prompted me to take a dive into other survey data available on-line (Pew's US Religious Landscape Survey, and the American Religious Identification Survey) as I caught the bug of learning about the details of our unique American religious stew.

8 people found this helpful

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April 6, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is an essential read for anyone who wants to explore institutionalized religion in America today, whether a pastor, church leader, or a member in the pews. The authors not only thoroughly explore current extant survey data on nearly every relevant aspect of organized religion, they also get "up close and personal" with several denominations through an extensive interview/observation process. The statistical analysis used was spot-on, and the presentations through graphs and charts were lucidly clear for both technical and non-technical audiences.

3 people found this helpful

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March 20, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Excellente!!!! How can America be so diverse and not be so divisive? This is something the book asks in its final chapter.
Very interesting topics and the vignettes were very helpful in bringing home the points or topics the chapters tried to make.
Not only did they help bring home a point they made it more meaningful and relevant. The authors feel that perhaps religion is not as divisive as are politics and racial and ethnic topics, but that remains to be seen.

2 people found this helpful

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May 16, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Excellent quality, great price and fast delivery!

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June 1, 2018

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Charles B. Moss

A Lot of Data - Take it for what it is Sociology and not Theology

August 8, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

As a starting point, I am a member of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation. Hence, I am an extremist (at least in the terms of this book - there is only one true way to heaven) with an Jeffersonian twist (I accept you for who you are and will defend your right to believe it).

This book relates the empirical findings of an extensive survey (or surveys) of religion in the United States. Largely they find religiosity with tolerance. This finding is consistent with my priors. It develops the rise of the religious-right as a grouping along moral agreement - largely with regards to sexual morals. The selection then follows a rejection of religion to some extent as a rejection of those morals. This theme reappears throughout the book.

As indicated by my review title, I would like to stress that this book is on the sociology of religion and not theology. In this regard I would contend that American opinion does not define the parameters of divine reality. God is or isn't regardless of the opinions of the American public. What this text does is provide a snapshot of the American mind on these topics and how these opinions effect our interactions with each other. As such it provides important insights to those involved in congregations.

I do have some irritations with regard to the text. The most significant is the juxtaposition of obedience with self-reliance. They are really not opposites. I wish my children to be both self reliant (economically and personally), but religiously obedient.

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Rumy

Thought Provoking & Welcome

January 7, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This data-filled and thought-provoking book is best read in small chunks, then thoroughly digested, rather than downed in a few sittings. It explores whether faith affects politics in our country as well as the changing face of U.S. religion.

Some interesting takeaways: At the end of WWII, American churchgoers occupying the pews of most churches were as likely to be Democrats as Republicans. The "religiosity" (religious fervor) of Americans today is higher than that of people in other industrialized nations - including Italy and Iran.

The authors use data from five respected surveys spanning many years to give a thorough look at the spectrum of U.S. religion and how it, and its relationship to social and political issues, has changed over the past half century. Whether the landscape that emerges offers reassurance or not depends on one's perspective.

Because it contains numerous graphs and tables, this book is better read on paper than as an e-book.

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