What Americans Really Believe

Rodney Stark (Ph.D. University of California, Berkley) University Professor of Social Sciences at Baylor University. Co-Director of the Institute of Studies of Religion, Stark is also widely published. His most recent publications include Discovering God: The Origins of the Great Religions and the Evolution of Belief (2007), Cities of God: The Real Story of How Christianity Became an Urban Movement and Conquered Rome (2006), and The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success (2005).

An indispensable resource for understanding the American public. - George H. Gallup Jr., American Public Opinion Statistician

• List of TablesIntroductionThe Stability and Diversity of American FaithPart ICongregations1 Church-going Labels Matter2 Church GrowthCompeting for Members3 Strict ChurchesThe Reasons for their Popularity4 The ""Scattered"" ChurchTraditional Congregations are not Going Away5 MegachurchesSupersizing the FaithPart IIBeliefs and Practices6 Religious ExperiencesGod Told Me to Go to Church7 GenderWomen Believe More, Pray More8 HeavenWe are All Going There9 GodLove Makes a Difference10 EvilDid Sin Cause the Hurricane?11 SpiritualityReligion and Spirituality Are Not Mutually Exclusive12 GivingThe Rich, the Poor, and the Widow's Mite13 PersonalityAre We Hard-Wired for God?Part IIIAtheism and Irreligion14 AtheismGodless Revolution Never Happened15 CredulityNew Age Believers in Big Foot 16 New Age AdherentsWell-Educated, Formerly Irreligious Elites17 The IrreligiousSimply Unchurched not AtheistsPart IVThe Public Square18 Faith and PoliticsIs There a Secret Plot of Evangelicals to Take over the American Government?19 Merry Christmas, JesusIt's Okay to Put Sacred Symbols in the Public Square20 IncivilityTalking about Faith in Public 21 Religious Media ConsumptionThe DaVinci Code Effect22 Civic ParticipationFaith as Social Capital23 Going to College, Getting a JobWhat Happens when Mom and Dad Take Their Kids to ChurchEpilogueThe Institute for the Study of ReligionContributorsNotes