Pluralism in Practice: Religious Leaders’ Appraisal of Religious Diversity in Houston, Texas

The U.S. is becoming more religious diverse while trust in religious institutions and leaders is declining.  And more Americans are growing reticent to connect across religious divides. These trends raise critical questions about the benefits of religious diversity and the role of religious leaders in civil society. Drawing on interviews and focus groups (N=81) with a diverse group of religious leaders in Houston, Texas, we examine their attitudes towards religious diversity. We found that nearly all see religious diversity as a benefit to the city. They argue that religious diversity provides an opportunity to appreciate religious difference, for reflexivity in one’s religious beliefs, for everyone to find a religious home, and it serves as a crucible for developing democratic capacities. Challenges include intolerance, polarization, and logistical challenges of connecting in a large city. Our findings illuminate how religious leaders appraise religious diversity and the implications for inter-religious collaboration, pluralism, and civil society.