ANVIL BOOK REVIEWS

ANVIL: Journal of Theology and Mission VOL 32, ISSUE 1 VOL 32, ISSUE 1

CHURCHMISSIONSOCIETY.ORG/ANVIL – LEARN, PRAY, PARTICIPATE IN MISSION 37 1. RECOMMENDED READS without belonging” do resonate with my experience of the occasional offices. Mourners at funerals want me to believe in the bodily resurrection even if they are uncertain themselves; all those at a wedding – at that Grace Davie, Religion in Britain: A moment at least – ascribe to the concept of a faithful Persistent Paradox (Second Edition), life-long marriage between one man and one woman. The reality that most will not then involve themselves at (Chichester: Wiley Blackwell, 2015). all in the worshipping life of the church does potentially I would not normally do a full review of a second support Davie’s argument that belief has been edition, but this particular second edition is well worth outsourced to me as a religious professional. As she puts investing in. This is a sociological, big picture view of the it religious context of the UK that is an informative and stimulating read. For some readers it will be more a case Those that minister to a half-believing, rather of articulating and clarifying what you already know, but than an unbelieving, society will find that for those who are thinking through these issues for the there are advantages and disadvantages to first time, this is an excellent introduction to the religious this situation, just as there are in any other. landscape of the UK. Working out appropriate ministerial strategies for this continually shifting and ill-defined Much has changed in Britain since the first edition of context is the central and very demanding Religion in Britain was published in 1994, when Davie first task of the religious professional. A firm and introduced the notion of “believing without belonging” necessary grasp of the sociological realities is to describe the religious habits of many in the UK, and the beginning. (80). the place of religion within public life. The secularisation hypothesis of the increasing marginalisation and Religion in Britain offers an overview of these sociological personalisation of religious belief and practice has come realities, in a very readable and accessible form. The book in for serious scrutiny, but to simply declare it wrong is divided into five parts, covering preliminary issues; is perhaps an oversimplification of a complex picture. religious legacies; shifting priorities (from obligation Davie herself has developed her own thinking on the to consumption); public religion and secular reactions; topic, introducing the notion of “vicarious religion” to and finally a concluding chapter. The discussion is wide complement that of “believing without belonging,” by ranging, but focuses primarily on Christianity. This is which she means a small minority believe on behalf of one weakness of the book: at least some discussion of the masses, and are subject to critique if they “do not do how those of other faiths practise their beliefs would this properly” (6). have given a fuller picture. There is much for Anglicans Davie identifies six key factors shaping religious life to engage with, including discussions of chaplaincy, in the UK: the role of the historic churches in shaping faith schools, women bishops, same-sex relationships, British culture; an awareness that while these churches and why cathedrals have a lot in common with large have a place at particular moments in the lives of British charismatic churches. From Davie’s sociological people, they are no longer able to influence the beliefs perspective, “both the cathedral and the charismatic and behaviours of the majority of the population; a service embody religion in the sense of the sacred or ‘set- shift from a model of obligation to a model of choice or apart.’ It seems that late modern populations respond consumption in religious activity; the recent arrival of warmly to this feature” (143). immigrants who have a variety