Warfare and Waves: Calvinists and Charismatics in the Church of England - Softcover

Herriot, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1498226213 ISBN 13: 9781498226219

Publisher: Pickwick Publications, 2015

Synopsis

Why is the Church of England perceived by many as homophobic, misogynist, or just plain weird? Because two movements within it, the Calvinists and the Charismatics, have recently achieved a degree of influence disproportionate to their numerical strength. And how has this come about? Both movements are well organized and wealthy. The Calvinists have played the media and ecclesiastical politics games with skill and determination, while sternly identifying themselves as guardians of the one true Reformed doctrine, having no truck with "the world" The Charismatics, on the other hand, have embraced many elements of late-modern culture but retain a premodern worldview. Peter Herriot argues that to recover from the opportunity costs and reputational damage that it has suffered at their hands, the Church of England must seize back the agenda from the Calvinists and face outwards rather than inwards. In its efforts to come to terms with globalization, the elephant in the Anglican crypt, the church's leadership will need to sideline the Calvinists and encourage the Charismatics with their recent increased social involvement. Written by a social psychologist, this book is full of detailed case studies that give a vivid insight into the organizational structures and subcultures of these two very different evangelical movements.

About this title

About the Author:

Peter Herriot was Professor of Psychology at the City University, London, and at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is the author of Religious Fundamentalism and Social Identity (2008) and Religious Fundamentalism: Global, Local, and Personal (2009). Since retirement he has applied a social scientific perspective to religion, having been raised in a fundamentalist family.

Review:

"Herriot's sage and insightful observations make for compelling reading. This book should be read and studied by all those in the field of ecclesiology and the study of contemporary Christianity. The clarity and cogency of Herriot's work gives us an unrivalled guide to one of the most fascinating fields in the study of the contemporary church." Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church College, Oxford University "This is an invaluable account of how two influential but little-studied movements have shaped the Church of England in recent times. It brings to bear great psychological and sociological insight, as well as humour and good sense." Linda Woodhead, Professor of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University

About this edition

• Publisher: Pickwick Publications
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1498226213
• ISBN 13: 9781498226219
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 220