The Decline of Established Christianity in the Western World

Interpretations and Responses

Paul Silas Peterson editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:2nd Oct '17

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in another edition too:

The Decline of Established Christianity in the Western World cover

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.

"Paul Peterson has put together an excellent edited volume which comes as highly recommended, if not required reading. The contributions are concise, well-written, and profoundly informative. This book will be useful not only for scholars and students, but also for pastors and administrators who are concerned for the future viability of the Christian faith in the world today, established or otherwise."
- David Andrew Gilland, Technische Universtität Braunschweig, Germany

"The book brings together authors mainly from the field of theology, but the fact remains that their approaches are diverse and adopt different perspectives: sociohistorical (Part 1), sociological (Part 2 and 3), and philosophical (Part 4 and 5). The result is a coherent book offering stimulating points of view that raise questions as much as they shed light on the question of the decline of Western Christianity and its future."
-Etienne Lapointe, Religious Studies Review

ISBN: 9781138308152

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 610g

312 pages