A NEW RELIGIOUS AMERICA How a “Christian Country” Has Become The World’s Most Religiously Diverse Nation By Diane Eck A book commentary by Art Morgan           Diane Eck is Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard University. The book is an outcome of “The Pluralism Project,” begun in 1991 and funded by various grants including one from the Lilly Foundation.           As many as 80 scholars researched the extent of religious pluralism in America. The book reports their findings, with anecdotal illustrations that save the book from a research document to an interesting report.           Especially since the Immigration Act of 1965, the US has seen a great influx of people of different nationalities and religions. She comments that the “melting pot” ideal has tended toward diversity of ethnicity. Pluralism is the new reality.           When Americans talk of “we,” the old assumption that “we” are essentially a Caucasian, Christian nation is out of date. New York City, for instance, had an estimated 6 hundred thousand Muslims in 1990. Ten years later that number had grown to a million. “We” has to mean Christians, Jews and Muslims. In New York City (and other places) you have to include Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus… and others. (p. 65)           In another day it would be the norm to have religions vying for supremacy of truth. Now there is acceptance of differences (although there may be vigorous dialogue, “even argument, around the common table…”) as people seek ways to live together as citizens of one land. (p. 69)           Eck gives three major segments of her book to three main religious groups. They are the Hindus, the Buddhists and the Muslims. These are excellent in two ways. First, they educate us about what the various groups believe and practice. Second, the chapters show how deeply imbedded these groups already are in our country. These chapters are especially important and enlightening.           The section on African American Islam will open some eyes. The news that there were a million Muslims among the slaves that came to America is another surprise. That there are more than 4,000 mosques, and more Muslims than Jews, or Episcopalians, or even Presbyterians, will catch some attention.           The last two chapters face up to the present reality. “Afraid of Ourselves” deals with our reaction to what we see when we look at America as it really is. Some of our responses are not things to be proud of. “Bridge Building: A New Multi-Religious America” shows some of the things that have happened and are happening in the face of the new reality. I noticed the report of about the “All Faiths Chapel” at Chapman College. (p. 377) My friend, Dennis Savage, has had a part in that. His vision is right on. We are beyond the time when we can feel good about building chapels that are exclusively “Christian.”            Eck talks about a level of dialogue that moves beyond differences toward what the various religions have to contribute to spiritual problems such as anger and suffering and hatred. (p. 379)           I appreciated her comments about Native American religion, the spirituality that was here before us that “we” thought pagan. She mentions these original Americans off and on throughout the book.            A book worthy of study by all Americans, especially those in the Christian churches. - Art Morgan, December 2001