The Decline of Established Christianity in the Western World
Subtitle: Interpretations and Responses
Series: Studies in World Christianity and Interreligious Relations; Studies in world Christianity and interreligious relations
Publisher: Taylor and Francis; Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2017
Place of publication: Milton
Language: eng
Number of pages: 312
ISBN-13: 9781351390439
Subjects: Christianity; Forecasting; Church attendance; Christianisme; Prévision; Pratique religieuse; RELIGION; History; Christian Church; General
Description: "While Church attendance in the West is often cited as being in decline, it is argued that this only applies to the older established forms of the Church. 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.??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. In addition, the place of established Christianity is set out 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 to take place in the West over the last two centuries. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of religious sociology, history and anthropology, as well as theologians."--Provided by publisher.
Table of contents: title: Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; List of contributors; Foreword; Acknowledgements; 1 An introduction to the essays and to the phenomenon of established Christianity in the Western World; Part I Background issues and theoretical approaches; 2 Causes of the decline: historical, empirical and theoretical perspectives; 3 Analyzing religious decline: a sociological approach; 4 Cultural considerations in the decline of Christianity; 5 Interpretations of the decline and responses to it; Part II Case studies on specific regions and groups.; title: 6 More than just de-Christianization: Christian mission in face of religious indifference in East Germany7 Towards a faithful Christian community in Canada: a missiological response to religious change; 8 American mainline Protestantism: on the history and future of a culture-forming confessional identity; 9 An evangelical response to the decline of Christendom; 10 Going big: mega-churches in the midst of declining Christianity in the West; Part III Perspectives from world Christianity and African Christianity.; title: 11 An opportunity to foster inter-Christian reciprocity: the view from "World Christianity" and "the Next Christendom"12 Reframing our experiences in the light of the cross: how African Christianity sees the decline; Part IV Contributions from public theology and the philosophy of religion; 13 Taking sin seriously again: a perspective from theology and public life; 14 The religion of decline: a perspective from the philosophy of religion; Part V Response and outlook; 15 Christianity in the Western world after the decline: challenges, opportunities and outlooks.; title: 16 Exploring the past for a stronger future: a reflection on meaning and hopeBibliography; Index.