Decline of Established Christianity in the Western World

"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.