Monthly Archives: October 2010

Houston Chronicle: Q&A with Putnam on American Grace

October 29, 2010
By tomsander

Flickr photo scoobymoo

Robert Putnam, co-author of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, recently spoke with Houston Chronicle reporter Jeannie Kever, and among other things voiced his surprise with Americans’ tolerance of those with different religious…

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Macleans’ Positive Review of American Grace

October 29, 2010
By tomsander

Flickr photo by Danny Hammontree

According to Macleans review, Putnam and Campbell in American Grace “get where they’re going all right, and they turn up a lot of fascinating information about America’s ever-evolving religious life along the way.”

Excerpt:

“…Americans…

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Interview of Putnam with Albert Mohler

October 28, 2010
By tomsander

Seismograph photo by Kara Brugman

Albert Mohler called American Grace “one of the most significant analyses of religion in quite a long time”.  Hear Putnam’s interview with Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary here.  The first third…

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NY Times: Robert Wright on Islamophobia and Homophobia

October 27, 2010
By tomsander

Flickr photo by quiplash

Robert Wright in a NY Times Op-Ed discusses whether the significant rise of tolerance for gays in the US over the last generation is a road map for Muslims.  Excerpt:

Happily, there’s a new book that…

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Wash. Post cites American Grace on need for church revitalization

October 25, 2010
By tomsander

Flickr photo by weighn

Excerpt:

“The role of the church and the clergy is dying, but I think it needs to,” says Tom Brackett, another minister-consultant who works on church development for the Episcopal Church. “The church doesn’t have a…

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Similarities of Evangelicals and Mormons

October 25, 2010
By tomsander

Flickr photo by Roy Stead

Excerpt:

As a group, they tend to be conservative, church-going, Republican. They believe it’s important to share their faith in Jesus – often on overseas mission trips – and call themselves champions of…

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Putnam discusses American Grace at Zocalo Public Square

October 22, 2010
By tomsander

Excerpt from interview with Putnam about American Grace:

In the 1950s, Putnam said, America was probably more religiously observant than ever in the nation’s history, at least until the “lightning bolt” of the 1960s. As Americans challenged authority…

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Putnam on S. California Public Radio discussing American Grace

October 22, 2010
By tomsander

Putnam discusses the increased religious polarization in American life and its correlation with political views.  He discusses how religious choice plays a role in weaving these religions back together, the positive benefits of religion, the role of separation of…

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The demographic storm afoot in the U.S. Catholic church

October 21, 2010
By tomsander

Rosary bead close-up photo by Niharb

The National Catholic Reporter has an interesting story citing alarming trends among Catholics; they call their story “The ‘had-it’ Catholics.” Excerpt:

Those who have left Catholicism outnumber those who have joined the church by…

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