The Death of Christian Britain: Understanding Secularisation 1800-2000 - Softcover

Brown, Callum G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415471346 ISBN 13: 9780415471343

Publisher: Routledge, 2009

Synopsis

The Death of Christian Britain examines how the nation’s dominant religious culture has been destroyed. Callum Brown challenges the generally held view that secularization was a long and gradual process dating from the industrial revolution. Instead, he argues that it has been a catastrophic and abrupt cultural revolution starting in the 1960s. Using the latest techniques of gender analysis, and by listening to people's voices rather than purely counting heads, the book offers new formulations of religion and secularization.

In this expanded second edition, Brown responds to commentary on his ideas, reviews the latest research, and provides new evidence to back his claims.

About this title

Review

The Church is dying, says Callum Brown. So, what's new? The difference, according to The Death of Christian Britain is in how long it's taken to reach the point of no return. Secularisation theory--which emerged with the social sciences in the 19th century--was obsessed with the numbers of people (not) attending church, and was seized upon by Christians as the Industrial Revolution spread to illustrate how godforsaken our cities were becoming, even then. Yet Brown argues this "authorised version" is mistaken. According to him, secularisation began when the Beatles were releasing their first single in 1962. Instead of counting heads, he draws on anecdotal and cultural references to argue that Christianity was alive and well until the swinging sixties. It just wasn't going to church...

He sheds fascinating (and sympathetic) light on the history of conversion, of social action and the Church's public role in the nation. And his use of gender theory in the study of religion could be revolutionary. This may be a text book, but it engages the mind and the soul. Sociologists and Christians in particular will be positively challenged to think harder. For "the Britain of the new millennium is showing the world how religion as we have known it can die". This is bound to unnerve Christians. Many might even take issue with the title, and refuse to read on. But to do so would be folly: a week spent immersed in Brown's book could reap substantially more fruit than a series of revival meetings. --Brian Draper

Synopsis

Is Christianity in Britain nearing extinction? Is the decline in Britain emblematic of the fate of Western Christianity? "The Death of Christian Britain" uses the latest techniques to offer new formulations of religion and secularization and explores what it has meant to be 'religious' and 'irreligious' during the last 200 years. It challenges the generally held view that secularization has been a long and gradual process beginning with the industrial revolution, and instead proposes that it has been a catastrophic and abrupt cultural revolution starting in the 1960s.This second edition includes a new chapter that repositions the book's argument in light of criticism and new research. It addresses the reactions to the treatment of the 'old' Christian culture of modern Britain, the sixties in religious history, gender and the mutation of Christianity and demonstrates the validity of the Death of Christian Britain in understanding contemporary religion and culture. Topical and controversial, "The Death of Christian Britain" is a bold and original work that will bring some uncomfortable truths to light.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0415471346
• ISBN 13: 9780415471343
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 320