Christianity in the 21st Century: Reflections on the Challenges Ahead

Wuthnow, a social science professor and director of the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton University, suggests that the eve of the millennium is an ideal moment to consciously address the role of Christianity in the nation's public life in the next century. In addition to facing the problems posed by AIDS, environmental pollution and nuclear weapons, the author argues, the church can expect internal challenges. How will the concept of Christian community be affected by growing emphasis on multiculturalism, and by increasing numbers of those who profess faith but sever ties with religious institutions? Among other topics in this discursive and deeply thoughtful study: the future of fundamentalism and its significance in American culture; the transmission of ethics and values as the nuclear family declines; the role of Christianity in mediating age-old questions about economic disparities as prosperity becomes ever more elusive. Wuthnow combines personal stories with references to scholarly works and to current events, enhancing the relevance of each aspect of his study as he builds to his cautiously optimistic conclusions. (Apr.)