The book is an investigation of the place and role of religion in American society. Putnam, the key author, began the research on which it is based with the assumption that "large doses of religion would be toxic to democracy." What he and Campbell found is something very different. In spite of the almost intensive religiosity of American society and its deep religious divisions, their research shows that Americans are notably tolerant of other faiths. The authors account for American religious tolerance by something they call the "Aunt Susan Effect." Almost everybody has relatives or friends who belong to a faith other than their own, which fact encourages them to be more tolerant of other faiths than they might otherwise be. Their research also suggests that "religiously observant" people tend to be more civic-minded and "nicer" than others. The reviewer observes that, "While such a claim produces rancorous debate, it can’t be denied is that these results point to something unique about a religious community that isn’t found elsewhere, providing something positive and enriching for society."
Two thoughts. First, if we get beyond the talking points it is a simple fact that most of the time religious faith is more likely to encourage people to be better citizens and neighbors than not. Religions are human inventions and share in all of the imperfection of our race. Still, they tap into something deeper within us that tends to encourage us to be better people than we are inclined to be. Religion can be bigoted. It can be used to evil ends. There is no question about that. Yet, more often faith nudges us in better rather than worse directions.
Second, the "Aunt Susan Effect" might be one reason we tolerate each other religiously in spite of deep differences, but it is not likely to be the only reason—and maybe not the most important. The legal separation of church and state, for example, limits any action one religion might take against another. We have to tolerate each other because most overt forms of intolerance are illegal. The growing secularity of American society also encourages tolerance because religion is becoming less and less significant, and we are less inclined to fight over things that are perceived to be inconsequential.
