Kicking off a fall lecture series for Rice's Institute for Urban Research, Putnam will discuss the comprehensive surveys on religion and public life in America that gave way to the surprising results that there is less tension between secular and religious people than often perceived.

One of the pre-eminent scholars studying American society today, Putnam will present a fact-based and straightforward assessment of the complex interaction between religion and politics over the past half century. He will also talk about what he and his co-author, David Campbell, found about how religion both contributes to and detracts from the vibrancy and stability of American democracy.

"By now more than half of all Americans are married to someone in a different religious or faith tradition," Putnam said. "Our friendships increasingly cross religious boundaries. It's hard to demonize people of a certain religion when you have someone like that in your own family. Every American is sort of caught in this dilemma, that their theology tells them one thing, but their personal life experience tells them to be more tolerant."

A Harvard University professor, Putnam is the author of several books, including the widely acclaimed Bowling Alone and Better Together. The event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by Rice's Institute for Urban Research and Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business.

To register for the lecture, visit http://iur.rice.edu/putnam or call 713-348-4132.