American religion
Book Description
In a nation where faith and spirituality hold deep cultural significance, understanding the true landscape of American religious life requires looking beyond surface claims and popular assumptions. Mark Chaves presents a rigorous examination of how Americans actually practice and experience religion, drawing from decades of comprehensive survey data to reveal surprising truths about belief, worship, and spiritual community.
Rather than relying on what people say about their faith, this illuminating study explores what the evidence actually shows about religious participation and conviction in America. Through careful analysis of the General Social Survey and National Congregations Study, Chaves uncovers the gap between reported and actual church attendance, examines what Americans truly mean when they express belief in God, and traces significant shifts in religious diversity and congregational dynamics since 1972.
The findings challenge widespread narratives about religious revival, revealing instead a complex picture of both stability and decline in traditional practices. Readers discover how liberal Protestant attitudes have spread even as denominations shrink, why confidence in religious institutions has eroded, and what these patterns mean for the future of faith communities.
For those seeking to understand the authentic spiritual climate of contemporary America, this work offers essential insights into the evolving relationship between personal belief, organized religion, and cultural change. Chaves provides a clear-eyed perspective on where American spirituality truly stands today.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~4 hours)
📄 Length: 139 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore United States -- Religion -- 1960-
- ✓ Explore United States
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Religionssoziologie
- ✓ Explore RELIGION -- General
- ✓ Explore USA
- ✓ Explore Religiosität
- ✓ Explore Religiosität
