Description
Book SynopsisThe 1960s were a time of explosive religious change. In the Christian churches it was a time of innovation, from the ''new theology'' and ''new morality'' of Bishop Robinson to the evangelicalism of the Charismatic Movement, and of charismatic leaders, such as Pope John XXIII and Martin Luther King. But it was also a time of rapid social and cultural change when Christianity faced challenges from Eastern religions, from Marxism and feminism, and above all from new ''affluent'' lifestyles. Hugh McLeod tells in detail, using oral history, how these movements and conflicts were experienced in England, but because the Sixties were an international phenomenon he also looks at other countries, especially the USA and France. McLeod explains what happened to religion in the 1960s, why it happened, and how the events of that decade shaped the rest of the 20th century.
Trade Reviewa penetrating analysis of religious change in the long 1960s... The book stands out above other similar publications in clarity of argumentation and depth of understanding... Reading this book is an enriching experience, making the reader wiser. * Andrzej Bronk, Anthropos *
It is rare to come across a monograph which covers major social and ideological changes in a decade of transition in a comprehensive, readable and authoritative way. This is one of those gems... The Religious Crisis of the 1960s deserves to become a modern classic. * Gerd-Rainer Horn, The English Historical Review *
This excellent book provides further evidence of a recent historiographical shift in the treatment of the 1960s... furnishing a more complex and nuanced portrait of change in the sixties and providing a reliable platform for further work on the part of sociologists and historians as they attempt to assess the recent history of the churchesin the West. * Duncan Dormer, THEOLOGY *
Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. The Decline of Christendom ; 2. Late Christendom ; 3. The Early Sixties ; 4. Aggiornamento ; 5. Affluence ; 6. New Worlds ; 7. 1968 ; 8. Sex, Gender, and the Family ; 9. The Crisis of the Church ; 10. From 'Christian Country' to 'Civilized Society' ; 11. The End of Christendom? ; Conclusion
