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American Culture, Democracy

Why Religion Became Obsolete

In a new book, University of Notre Dame sociologist Christian Smith explains the cultural, political, and economic forces behind the massive decline in religious affiliation in the United States. Jason Shelton, also a sociologist and director of African American Studies at UT Arlington, joins in discussing the growing shift away from traditional faith institutions toward new forms of spiritual practice.
American Culture

The Embattled American Cleric

What do American clergy think about climate change? When, and why, do they engage with controversial political issues from the pulpit? Religion News Service senior editor Yonat Shimron joins Mark Chaves, sociologist at Duke Divinity School, to discuss the National Survey of Religious Leaders and what is tells us about changes in contemporary religious leadership—and what those changes portend.
American Culture, Pluralism, Politics

A New U.S. Religious Landscape

A new Pew survey indicates that the steep two-decade decline in traditional American religious engagement may be coming to a halt. Alan Cooperman, Director of Religion Research at Pew Research Center, discusses the survey’s findings with long-time religion reporter Sarah Pulliam Bailey.
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