To some Americans, the gap between religious ideals and the actions of Americans and their institutions constitutes a social problem more profound and more pressing than any other. To others, the problem is to keep religion as an institution apart from the rest of society, to insulate other Americans has come to see religious conflict as a social problem.

I Religions of America

In 1978 there were more than 332,000 churches in America, with more than 133 million members; about 61 percent of the American population belonged to some church, protestant (including Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses) numbered about 73.7 million; Catholics, 49.6 million; and Jews, 3.6 million.

Within each of these major faiths there are significant differences. Jews, for example, may belong to either Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform congregations. Orthodox Jews stress the distinctiveness of their historic traditions and separate themselves from secular influences. Reform Jews emphasize the universal, ethical aspects of their faith...