 The Transformation of American Religion: How We Actually Live Our Faith
This new book is by Alan Wolfe (Free Press, 2003). Written by a sociologist, this interesting new book seems quite friendly to religion as a whole, but paints a picture of watered-down modern American religion that is "practicing the culture" rather than "practicing the faith." A thorough review of the book at Christianity Today gives the following quote: Christians and Jews . . . have ignored doctrines, reinvented traditions, switched denominations, redefined morality, and translated their obligation to witness into a lifestyle. Ouch! Look up Mormonism in the index when you see it at your local bookstore and see how we measure up (can't do much worse).
Update: Took my own advice and went by Barnes and Noble. They didn't have Radio Userland Kick Start but they did have Wolfe's book, with eight pages devoted to the Mormons and how they are the exception to the general decline in morality observed in society and many churches. Among Mormon advantages he noted the complete lack of theological rigor (you can believe whatever you want), the crisp, functional corporate structure, the feel-good focus of religious life and worship, and the focus on proselyting to build membership. It's strange, really: Christians hate us (we're not "their kind of Christian," it seems); sociologists love us (Mormonism works for Mormons while other denominations seem to be failing). Go figure.
10:52:45 PM 
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