In Canada, church attendance has plummeted from 60 percent in 1957 to 32 per cent in 1986. But that does not mean that people have become irreligious, and many who no longer darken the door of our churches still have a deep Christian faith, pray, and discuss the Bible with friends. That alone makes this book worth reading. It is also a very important post-modern preface to theology.
Theology is no longer a matter of arguing for faith as opposed to unbelief.
And stringing together some bits and pieces of science, archaeology, and the Bible persuades no one. So Parent rightly begins by outlining nine of the models that thinking people now feel free to explore. After a helpful Introduction we have a chapter each on Alternative Medicine, Gaia, The New Physics, New Age, Near-Death Experiences, Revivalism, Fundamentalism, Liberation Theology, Religious Feminism. Parent helpfully describes the search, the problems, and possible directions for faith. I think he could have added a tenth exploration.