Religion in Britain

Religion in Britain evaluates and sheds light on the religious situation in twenty-first century Britain; it explores the country's increasing secularity alongside religion's growing presence in public debate, and the impact of this paradox on Britain's society.

• Describes and explains the religious situation in twenty-first century Britain

• Based on the highly successful Religion in Britain Since 1945 (Blackwell, 1994) but extensively revised with the majority of the text re-written to reflect the current situation

• Investigates the paradox of why Britain has become increasingly secular and how religion is increasingly present in public debate compared with 20 years ago

• Explores the impact this paradox has on churches, faith communities, the law, politics, education, and welfare

Auteur

Grace Davie is Professor Emeritus in the Sociology of Religion at the University of Exeter UK and a senior adviser to the Impact of Religion Research Programme at Uppsala University. She is a past-president of the American Association for the Sociology of Religion (2003). Her publications include Religion in Britain since 1945 (Blackwell 1994), Religion in Modern Europe (2000), Europe: the Exceptional Case (2002) and The Sociology of Religion (Sage 2007 and 2013).

Texte du rabat

"This is a precise, clear, admirably fair and comprehensive account of religion in Britain, and especially of religious changes over recent decades, that should be necessary reading for anyone interested in the subject. It provides a subtle account of the changing political and cultural background, and also a comparative background in the peripheries of Britain, Europe and North America, and the 'Global South.'"
David Martin, London School of Economics

"Davie's 1994 book was a landmark in the field of the sociology of religion internationally. British religion and society have since changed, and Davie's thinking has also developed. This new edition is more than an update. It is a masterly review of the contemporary situation its continuities with Britain's Christian heritage, as well as the changes."
Rebecca Catto, Coventry University

"In this new edition of Religion in Britain, Grace Davie has thoroughly updated her watershed investigation from two decades ago. Now emphasizing more the notion of 'vicarious religion' than the much-discussed earlier concept of 'believing without belonging', she surveys the contemporary British religious scene with insight and illumination. Anyone wishing to understand how the British are coming to terms with their religion past, present and future will need to read this valuable book."
John Torpey, City University of New York

Religion in Britain traces the fascinating development of the religious situation in Britain, picking up from Davie's widely praised publication Religion in Britain Since 1945, published in 1994. Davie has made extensive revisions to this text, with the majority of the book re-written for this new edition, while retaining the same, sharp sociological perspective.

Religion in Britain describes and explains the religious situation in twenty-first century Britain. In doing so, it specifically reflects on six factors that have influenced the religious circumstances in the country: cultural heritage, the inherited model, a shift from obligation to consumption, new arrivals, secular reactions and an increasing awareness that the relative secularity of Britain is, although similar to the rest of Europe, an exceptional case in global terms.

The result is paradoxical. In terms of statistical indices Britain is noticeably more secular than it was 20 years ago, but religion is more present in public debate. Davie investigates how we can account for these seeming contradictions, and explores the consequences for different sections of society, such as the church, faith communities more generally, the law, politics, education and welfare. The book concludes with a range of theoretical reflections, which include an urgent need to improve standards of religious literacy.

Résumé

Religion in Britain evaluates and sheds light on the religious situation in twenty-first century Britain; it explores the country's increasing secularity alongside religion's growing presence in public debate, and the impact of this paradox on Britain's society.

• Describes and explains the religious situation in twenty-first century Britain
• Based on the highly successful Religion in Britain Since 1945 (Blackwell, 1994) but extensively revised with the majority of the text re-written to reflect the current situation
• Investigates the paradox of why Britain has become increasingly secular and how religion is increasingly present in public debate compared with 20 years ago
• Explores the impact this paradox has on churches, faith communities, the law, politics, education, and welfare

Contenu

List of Figures and Tables ix

Preface xi

Part I Preliminaries 1

1 Introduction: A Framework for Discussion 3

2 Contexts and Generations 19

3 Facts and Figures 41

Part II Religious Legacies 69

4 Cultural Heritage, Believing without Belonging and Vicarious Religion 71

5 Territory, Politics and Institutions 91

6 Presence: Who Can Do What for Whom? 113

Part III Shifting Priorities: From Obligation to Consumption 133

7 An Emerging Market: Gainers and Losers 135

8 Proliferations of the Spiritual 155

Part IV Public Religion and Secular Reactions 175

9 Managing Diversity 177

10 Religion in Public Life 197

Part V Thinking Theoretically 219

11 Religion and Modernity Continued 221

References 237

Index 255