Believing in Belonging

Believing in Belonging PDF

Author: Abby Day

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2011-10-06

Total Pages: 239

ISBN-13: 0199577870

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Drawing on empirical research exploring mainstream religious belief and identity in Euro-American countries, Abby Day explores how people 'believe in belonging', choosing religious identifications to complement other social and emotional experiences of 'belongings'.

Christian Atheist

Christian Atheist PDF

Author: Brian Mountford

Publisher: John Hunt Publishing

Published: 2011-06-16

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13: 1846949297

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Christian Atheist examines the growing religious phenomenon of those who are drawn to Christianity without accepting its metaphysical claims or dogma. Throughout the history of the Church there have been many people like this who have sat differently to the central creedal claims, but in the contemporary 'god delusion' culture, more are coming out to claim acceptance for their views. The key to the book is a set of interviews with people who fall broadly into the 'Christian Atheist' category; some are more agnostic and less sceptical than others, but what they have in common is the rejection of traditional belief in God, counterbalanced by an admiration for the aesthetic genius of Christianity (leading to a sense of deeper value), the Christian moral compass, and in some cases the community aspect of Christian life.

Religion in Modern Europe

Religion in Modern Europe PDF

Author: Grace Davie

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 231

ISBN-13: 0198280653

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This book is intended for scholars and students of Sociology, Religion, Politics, European Studies, and Philosophy.

Sacred Fragments

Sacred Fragments PDF

Author: Neil Gillman

Publisher: Jewish Publication Society

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 9780827604032

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The modern Jew, living in a world of shattered beliefs and competing ideologies, is often confronted with questions of faith. Sacred Fragments is for those who still care enough to continue the struggle. In forthright, nontechnical language the author addresses the most difficult theological questions of our time and shows that there are still viable Jewish answers for even the greatest skeptics.

From Belonging to Belief

From Belonging to Belief PDF

Author: Julie McBrien

Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press

Published: 2017-06-08

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 0822983052

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From Belonging to Belief presents a nuanced ethnographic study of Islam and secularism in post-Soviet Central Asia, as seen from the small town of Bazaar-Korgon in southern Kyrgyzstan. Opening with the juxtaposition of a statue of Lenin and a mosque in the town square, Julie McBrien proceeds to peel away the multiple layers that have shaped the return of public Islam in the region. She explores belief and nonbelief, varying practices of Islam, discourses of extremism, and the role of the state, to elucidate the everyday experiences of Bazaar-Korgonians. McBrien shows how Islam is explored, lived, and debated in both conventional and novel sites: a Soviet-era cleric who continues to hold great influence; popular television programs; religious instruction at wedding parties; clothing; celebrations; and others. Through ethnographic research, McBrien reveals how moving toward Islam is not a simple step but rather a deliberate and personal journey of experimentation, testing, and knowledge acquisition. Moreover she argues that religion is not always a matter of belief—sometimes it is essentially about belonging. From Belonging to Belief offers an important corrective to studies that focus only on the pious turns among Muslims in Central Asia, and instead shows the complex process of evolving religion in a region that has experienced both Soviet atheism and post-Soviet secularism, each of which has profoundly formed the way Muslims interpret and live Islam.

Believing, Behaving, Belonging

Believing, Behaving, Belonging PDF

Author: Richard Rice

Publisher:

Published: 2002-03

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780967369419

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"Community is the most important element of Christian existence. Believing, behaving, and belonging are all essential to the Christian life, but belonging is more important, more fundamental than the others. Moreover, because the Church is the creation of the Holy Spirit, it provides a fellowship that cannot be found anywhere else."--Introduction; Believing, Behaving, Belonging; The Community of the Spirit; Christian Communal Consciousness; The Challenge to Church Today; The Church's Number One Problem; "My Way": The Character of Our Culture; Meaning and Metaphor; Pictures of the Church; A Growing Community; A Personal Community; Tradition and Community; Tradition and Idenity; A Home with a House: Community and Structure; Conclusion; For Further Reading; About the Author

Religion in Britain

Religion in Britain PDF

Author: Grace Davie

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2015-02-23

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 1405135956

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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

Church After Christendom

Church After Christendom PDF

Author: Williams Stuart Murray

Publisher: Authentic Media Inc

Published: 2013-08-01

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 1780784015

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How will the western church negotiate the demise of Christendom? Can it rediscover its primary calling, recover its authentic ethos and regain its nerve? If churches are to thrive--or even survive--disturbing questions need to be confronted and answered. In conversation with Christians who have left the church and with those who are experimenting with fresh expressions of church, Stuart Murray explores both the emerging and inherited church scenes and makes proposals for the development of a way of being church suitable for a postdenominational, postcommitment and post-Christendom era. With chapters on mission, community and worship, Church After Christendom offers a vision of church life that is healthy, sustainable, liberating, peaceful and missional.

A Church Beyond Belief

A Church Beyond Belief PDF

Author: William L. Sachs

Publisher: Church Publishing, Inc.

Published: 2014-10-01

Total Pages: 193

ISBN-13: 0819229008

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Addresses “belonging before believing” and other new patterns for remaking congregations As we move beyond the “emergent” or “missional” church paradigm, pastors and other church leaders are discovering a new reality: people (especially younger generations) are coming to church not as believers, but to find a place to belong—with or without faith. This book describes the dilemma and the distractions that currently prevent congregations from being the place where that sense of belonging can unfold and guide newcomers in the discovery of faith. The authors argue that despite elaborate talk of change, spirituality, transformation, and conflict resolution, congregations are still mired in old patterns of belonging. Using broad-based career experiences, surveys of religious life, historical precedent, and insights from social psychology about what it means to belong today, the book suggests new and effective approaches to help churches make vital connections.