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God Is Alive and Well
Gallup Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport examines religion in America today, reviews just how powerfully intertwined religion is with every aspect of American society, and explores what appears to be religion’s vibrant future in the U.S. — all based on more than a million interviews conducted by Gallup since 2008.
Popular books by the “New Atheists” dismiss religion as a delusional artifact of ancient superstitions. But should millions of Americans’ beliefs and behaviors be tossed aside that quickly?
Not at all, says Frank Newport, former Gallup Editor-in-Chief. Religion is as powerful and influential as it’s ever been in American society. In contrast to the views of the New Atheists, Newport argues that the significance of the persistent presence of religion in America isn’t mass delusion but actually mass consequence .
In God Is Alive and Well , Newport provides a new evidence-based perspective on Americans’ religious beliefs and practices, while offering heady, controversial predictions about religion’s future in the U.S. The book looks at religion in America from the important angles of age, gender, class, race, family status, geographic region and more. It boldly dissects religion’s important relationship with politics and notes that Americans may increasingly come to recognize the mounting evidence that religion is good for their wellbeing and health.
Grounded in more than a million Gallup interviews, this book shows that not only do a majority of Americans believe in God and say that religion is important — but that religion is intertwined in most aspects of their daily lives. It’s entirely possible, Newport argues, that religion will be even more important in the years ahead.
Popular books by the “New Atheists” dismiss religion as a delusional artifact of ancient superstitions. But should millions of Americans’ beliefs and behaviors be tossed aside that quickly?
Not at all, says Frank Newport, former Gallup Editor-in-Chief. Religion is as powerful and influential as it’s ever been in American society. In contrast to the views of the New Atheists, Newport argues that the significance of the persistent presence of religion in America isn’t mass delusion but actually mass consequence .
In God Is Alive and Well , Newport provides a new evidence-based perspective on Americans’ religious beliefs and practices, while offering heady, controversial predictions about religion’s future in the U.S. The book looks at religion in America from the important angles of age, gender, class, race, family status, geographic region and more. It boldly dissects religion’s important relationship with politics and notes that Americans may increasingly come to recognize the mounting evidence that religion is good for their wellbeing and health.
Grounded in more than a million Gallup interviews, this book shows that not only do a majority of Americans believe in God and say that religion is important — but that religion is intertwined in most aspects of their daily lives. It’s entirely possible, Newport argues, that religion will be even more important in the years ahead.
- GenresReligionNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 29, 2022
Eye opening on the demographics of Christianity in the US, the push and pull influences and how it influences the political landscape
June 26, 2014
I wasn't sure I was going to make it through the first couple chapters of this book. It's a slow start! The author seemed to belabor each point, stating it and re-stating it, then re-stating it again revealing little that was new.
However, it did pick up and covers a good breadth of topics. There was religion and politics, religion and gender, religion and age, religion and class. Of course, I was particularly interested in religion and health. The author suggests that, in the light of the current data on positive effects, we may actually see folks making conscious decisions to increase their religious involvement, like we've increased going to the gym!
All in all, I'm glad I read it. But, I can see why it's not a huge best seller. The data are interesting and I've certainly walked away with an altered perspective on religion in America. But the style of the writing may not appeal to all.
However, it did pick up and covers a good breadth of topics. There was religion and politics, religion and gender, religion and age, religion and class. Of course, I was particularly interested in religion and health. The author suggests that, in the light of the current data on positive effects, we may actually see folks making conscious decisions to increase their religious involvement, like we've increased going to the gym!
All in all, I'm glad I read it. But, I can see why it's not a huge best seller. The data are interesting and I've certainly walked away with an altered perspective on religion in America. But the style of the writing may not appeal to all.
February 4, 2013
I was quite disappointed with this book. It is basically a dumbed down version of Putnam and Campbell's "American Grace" mixed with "God is Back" by Micklethwait and Wooldridge. Newport does present an interesting argument for an imminent resurgence of religion in America as baby-boomers age, but the rest of the book is very simplistic. It also suffers for relying entirely on Gallup survey data. Worth reading as a quick overview of the state of religion, but for a serious review stick with American Grace and God is Back
August 30, 2013
Newport is bullish on the future of Christianity in America. I hope he is right. The claim that 80% of Americans are Christians puzzles me. That must be a very broad definition of Christian, as opposed to a tighter, born again definition. He thinks boomers will become more religious as they age, as have previous generations. I have read other books with statistics that seem to say that Christianity is in decline. Ultimately, I just do not have confidence in Newport's conclusions, although there is lots of good material in his book. See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1duyYce.
August 21, 2013
Really enjoyed the part about the Baby Boomer generation, and how they may impact the future of the Church in America. However, the writing was a little... simplistic and disappointing, and as others have mentioned, American Grace is really much better written and more in depth. There are parts definitely worthy of discussion, particularly amongst church staff and vendors serving the church markets, but by and large, the book was disappointing.
February 13, 2013
Really thought provoking and thorough. There are some things I highlighted in the book that I will definitely reference to again. Glad I gave it a read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews