Younger Americans Disaffected by Conservative Church

Robert Putnam and David Campbell sum up the findings of their new book, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, in the LA Times:

Just as this generation moved to the left on most social issues — above all, homosexuality — many prominent religious leaders moved to the right, using the issue of same-sex marriage to mobilize electoral support for conservative Republicans. In the short run, this tactic worked to increase GOP turnout, but the subsequent backlash undermined sympathy for religion among many young moderates and progressives. Increasingly, young people saw religion as intolerant, hypocritical, judgmental and homophobic. If being religious entailed political conservatism, they concluded, religion was not for them.

via Religion, politics: Walking away from church – latimes.com.