Lexington Books
Pages: 238
Trim: 6½ x 9⅜
978-1-4985-4839-7 • Hardback • May 2017 • $123.00 • (£95.00)
978-1-4985-4840-3 • eBook • May 2017 • $116.50 • (£90.00)
George Hawley is assistant professor of political science at the University of Alabama.
Introduction
Chapter 1: The State of Christianity in America
Chapter 2: Demographic Transition: What We Know
Chapter 3: Economic and Technological Causes of Demographic Transition
Chapter 4: Cultural Causes of Demographic Transition
Chapter 5: Why People Abandon Christianity
Chapter 6: Family Patterns and Denomination Decline
Chapter 7: Diversity, Devotion, and Politics: Other Explanations for Denomination Decline
Chapter 8: Denominational Divides in American History and Today
Chapter 9: The Roman Catholic Church
Chapter 10: Baptists
Chapter 11: Methodists
Chapter 12: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapter 13: Lutherans
Chapter 14: Presbyterians
Chapter 15: Episcopalians
Chapter 16: Pentecostals
Chapter 17: Conclusion
Data Appendix
Hawley presents an interesting synthesis of cultural and demographic explanations for the trajectory of contemporary American Christian groups. Many readers will find the demographic assessments of particular religious denominations interesting and useful. It is an exceptionally useful text for ministers and seminaries.
— Darren Sherkat, SIU Carbondale
Hawley has done American Christianity a major service by writing this book. From parish pastors to denominational leaders, all need to comprehend the underlying demographic factors that have contributed to declining numbers in both mainline and evangelical denominations. But Hawley goes beyond mere head counting—tying in cultural trends, the changing makeup of the family, and other insights from his work as a political scientist. We Christians operate under the Lord's care and approach the future with confidence in His providence. But that doesn't mean we can ignore the trends unfolding before our eyes. Any Christian interested in faithfully charting a course for his parish or denomination under the Lord's care into a challenging future will benefit from reading Hawley's work.
— H. R. Curtis, Coordinator for Stewardship, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The demography of religion has received few book-length treatments, and this volume provides a worthwhile addition as both a wide-ranging introduction to the demography of Christian America, but also as a convincing case for the importance of declining fertility and the weakening of the traditional family for denominational losses.
— Review of Religious Research