God's continent
Subtitle: Christianity, Islam, and Europe's religious crisis
By: Philip Jenkins
Series: Future of Christianity trilogy
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Oxford
Language: eng
Number of pages: 340
ISBN-13: 9780195384628
Copyright date: 2007
Subjects: Religion; Christendom; Islam; Christianity and other religions; Interfaith relations; Relations; Christianity
Description: "What does the future hold for European Christianity? Is the Christian church doomed to collapse under the weight of globalization, Western secularism, and a flood of Muslim immigrants? Is Europe, in short, on the brink of becoming "Eurabia"? Though many pundits are loudly predicting just such a scenario, Philip Jenkins reveals the flaws in these arguments in God's Continent and offers a much more measured assessment of Europe's religious future. While frankly acknowledging current tensions, Jenkins shows, for instance, that the overheated rhetoric about a Muslim-dominated Europe is based on politically convenient myths: that Europe is being imperiled by floods of Muslim immigrants, exploding Muslim birth-rates, and the demise of European Christianity. He points out that by no means are Muslims the only new immigrants in Europe. Christians from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe are also pouring into the Western countries, and bringing with them a vibrant and enthusiastic faith that is helping to transform the face of European Christianity. Jenkins agrees that both Christianity and Islam face real difficulties in surviving within Europe's secular culture. But instead of fading away, both have adapted, and are adapting. Yes, the churches are in decline, but there are also clear indications that Christian loyalty and devotion survive, even as institutions crumble. Jenkins sees encouraging signs of continuing Christian devotion in Europe, especially in pilgrimages that attract millions--more in fact than in bygone "ages of faith." The third book in an acclaimed trilogy that includes The Next Christendom and The New Faces of Christianity, God's Continent offers a realistic and historically grounded appraisal of the future of Christianity in a rapidly changing Europe."--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Your religion tomorrow; title: Godless Europe?; title: Faith among the ruins; title: New Christians; title: The Moor's return; title: Making Muslims; title: Young and old; title: Revolutions at home; title: Ultras; title: Transforming Europe; title: Transforming faith; title: Europe's religions tomorrow.