It’s common wisdom that politics and religion should never be discussed in mixed company. In their new book, Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone, and David Campbell take on both of these volatile subjects, forcing a head-on conversation. The book examines the changes in religious life in America over the past fifty years – the drop in formal observance, the rise of the Religious Right and the increasing number of interfaith marriages -- and how those changes have affected civic health. Drawing on comprehensive surveys of religion and public life, the authors examine the way they are intertwined, and go to the heart of the religious issues that roil our society.
Guest:
Robert Putnam, co-author with David Campbell of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us