Analysis Of American Grace: How Religion Divides Us

American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, by Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell, and America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity, by Robert Wuthnow, give different thoughts to religion and politics in the United States. Putnam and Campbell utilize the concepts of shocks and aftershocks to highlight religious changes in the United States. On the other hand, Wuthnow uses observations to focus on the encounters of religious diversity in the United States. Wuthnow compares American Christianity with other popular religions in America and how Christianity has affected the perception of religion. American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us is a more persuasive assessment of American religion and politics because of its

As people build more religious bridges, they become more accommodating toward people of different religions (Putnam and Campbell, 533). Religion is quite diverse in the United States, with a plethora of religions just in the Religion and Politics classroom. Most Americans embrace religious diversity, including people who are highly secular and people who are very religious (Putnam and Campbell, 517). If religious diversity can be enjoyed, then unifying people of different religions cannot be difficult. Most Americans are intimately friendly with people of other religions (Putnam and Campbell, 523). This is due to the religiosity among the people of different faiths. Morals and values among religions are not very distinctive and therefore serve as common ground amongst people. In America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity, there are many more explanations as to how religion divides the people of the United States. Although exclusive Christianity can serve as a bond among fellow exclusive Christians, these people do not mix well with other people with differing religions (Wuthnow, 169). Contrary, Inclusive Christians accept religious diversity enthusiastically and open gateways to non-Christian religious acceptance (Wuthnow, 130). This can cause strife among people who do not believe in Christianity. No matter what religion people practice, the religion must be able to unite people. Although pluralism is discussed in both works, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us makes a better case on religion uniting people. In culmination, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us is a more persuasive assessment of American religion and politics due to its accurate prediction of American religion, the addressing of the “Nones,” and its evidence to support the impact that religion has uniting