ABSTRACT
While Church attendance in the West is often cited as being in decline, it is argued that this applies primarily to the older established forms of Christianity. Other expressions of the faith are, in fact, stable or even growing. This volume provides multidisciplinary interpretations of and responses to one of the most complicated and controversial issues regarding the global transformation of Christianity today: the decline of "established Christianity" in the Western world. It also addresses the future of Christianity in the West after the decline.
Drawing upon historical research, sociology, religious studies, philosophy and theology, an international panel of contributors provide new theoretical frameworks for understanding this decline and offer creative suggestions for responding to it. "Established Christianity" is conceptualized as historically, culturally, socially and politically embedded religion (with or without official established status).
This is a dynamic volume that gives fresh perspective on one of the great social changes taking place in the West today. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of religious sociology, history and anthropology, as well as theologians.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|95 pages
Background issues and theoretical approaches
part II|59 pages
Case studies on specific regions and groups
chapter 6|16 pages
More than just de-Christianization
chapter 7|11 pages
Towards a faithful Christian community in Canada
chapter 8|7 pages
American mainline Protestantism
part III|26 pages
Perspectives from world Christianity and African Christianity
chapter 11|13 pages
An opportunity to foster inter-Christian reciprocity
chapter 12|10 pages
Reframing our experiences in the light of the cross
part IV|24 pages
Contributions from public theology and the philosophy of religion
part V|46 pages
Response and outlook