Secular Lives, Sacred Hearts
The Role of the Church in a Time of No Religion
by Alan Billings
Paperback
Price: £10.99
Publisher:SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published:22 November 2004
ISBN:0-281-05704-4
GoodBookStall Review:
In this book, Alan Billings examines the position of the Church in our contemporary secular society. Although religion is on the decline and church attendance is falling off, he sees the nation as “culturally Christian”. He argues that the duty of the parish church is to encourage and nourish this large body of cultural Christians, particularly those who come to the church only for the big occasions of baptism, marriage and funerals. He sees the new role of the Church as being a spiritual resource rather than a sacramental one and that the parish church should be once again the centre and focus of the community by welcoming all Christians, practising or not. Billings’ point of view is interesting and well-argued and will provoke a lot of debate.
Reviewer: John Irvine (14/12/04)
In this book, Alan Billings examines the position of the Church in our contemporary secular society. Although religion is on the decline and church attendance is falling off, he sees the nation as “culturally Christian”. He argues that the duty of the parish church is to encourage and nourish this large body of cultural Christians, particularly those who come to the church only for the big occasions of baptism, marriage and funerals. He sees the new role of the Church as being a spiritual resource rather than a sacramental one and that the parish church should be once again the centre and focus of the community by welcoming all Christians, practising or not. Billings’ point of view is interesting and well-argued and will provoke a lot of debate.
Reviewer: John Irvine (14/12/04)
