Publisher pulls all copies of controversial new book on Church of England

[CopyBoy]

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) A new book examining the decline of the Church England was withdrawn from circulation by one of the U.K.’s leading publishing houses, Bloomsbury Publishing.

“That Was The Church That Was: How the Church of England Lost the English People” was supposed to be released on Feb. 11.

Religious affairs correspondents from Britain’s leading newspapers were preparing to review the book by Lancaster University professor Linda Woodhead and Andrew Brown, who writes regularly for The Guardian.

religionnews.com/2016/02/05/publisher-pulls-copies-controversial-new-book-church-england/

 

[jschwartz]

The sad reality is that the Anglican communion churches are losing members. Liberal theology appeals only to certain people such as myself. Fundamentalist churches are indeed growing.

 

[ltwin]

The sad reality is that the Anglican communion churches are losing members. Liberal theology appeals only to certain people such as myself. Fundamentalist churches are indeed growing.

Actually, the “Anglican communion churches” are growing. You just have to look in the right places like Africa and Asia. The Anglican churches in the developed Western nations such as the US and Canada are indeed liberal and stagnant, but even there you have pockets of robust and biblical faith and they are indeed growing.

 

[7_Sorrows]

the Anglican communion and its churches were a beautiful expression of the Christian faith with its liturgy and creeds and prayers that so closely mirrored the Catholic Mass. I am not sure if the Episcopal churvh in America is losing members.
Indeed in Asia and Africa it is doing well although the African bishops are much more orthodox and do not like the liberal path the communion is taking. There also are many anglican communion groups that have splintered off such as the Anglican Communion of North America.

I don’t know what the state of the Anglican Communion is in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

So was the publishing house pressured to pull the book and stop the presses? Could the author not take her book outside the U.K. to have it published?

 

[GKC]

the Anglican communion and its churches were a beautiful expression of the Christian faith with its liturgy and creeds and prayers that so closely mirrored the Catholic Mass. I am not sure if the Episcopal churvh in America is losing members.
Indeed in Asia and Africa it is doing well although the African bishops are much more orthodox and do not like the liberal path the communion is taking. There also are many anglican communion groups that have splintered off such as the Anglican Communion of North America.

I don’t know what the state of the Anglican Communion is in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

So was the publishing house pressured to pull the book and stop the presses? Could the author not take her book outside the U.K. to have it published?

The Episcopal Church in the US is losing members. Has been for years. Like somewhere around 10-15% over the last 10 years. Not unusual with old line main line protestants denominations, of late.

It would appear that there is something in the book that could be found to be legally libelous and actionable, if asserted in print. So caution prevailed, if that is so.

 

[jschwartz]

Mainline protestant churches in general are on the decline in North America. Liturgy, rigorous scholarship, and social action don’t seem to have the appeal of nondenominational churches.

 

[Thorolfr]

The sad reality is that the Anglican communion churches are losing members. Liberal theology appeals only to certain people such as myself. Fundamentalist churches are indeed growing.

Another book that looks at the decline of the Anglican and other churches in Britain is Callum G. Brown, The Death of Christian Britain: Understanding Secularisation, 1800-2000 (Rutledge, 2009).

 

[commenter]

Mainline protestant churches in general are on the decline in North America. Liturgy, rigorous scholarship, and social action don’t seem to have the appeal of nondenominational churches.

It might be that there are fewer people interested in getting their liberal “rigorous scholarship”, and liberal social action, from the churches, because what the mainline churches offer now duplicated what’s available cheaper from secular higher education and political establishment. Why bother to get up for Sunday School and sermon when you can get all that from the State University, History Channel, and CNN. Your daily newspaper is now practically a mainline religious institution, with sermons on the editorial page.

Churches that offer conservative rigorous scholarship, and conservative social action (think prolife, and religious liberty) are doing better. They are not duplicating the establishment, they are the alternative.

 

[GKC]

It might be that there are fewer people interested in getting their liberal “rigorous scholarship”, and liberal social action, from the churches, because what the mainline churches offer now duplicated what’s available cheaper from secular higher education and political establishment. Why bother to get up for Sunday School and sermon when you can get all that from the State University, History Channel, and CNN. Your daily newspaper is now practically a mainline religious institution, with sermons on the editorial page.

Churches that offer conservative rigorous scholarship, and conservative social action (think prolife, and religious liberty) are doing better. They are not duplicating the establishment, they are the alternative.

I agree.

 

[Thorolfr]

It might be that there are fewer people interested in getting their liberal “rigorous scholarship”, and liberal social action, from the churches, because what the mainline churches offer now duplicated what’s available cheaper from secular higher education and political establishment. Why bother to get up for Sunday School and sermon when you can get all that from the State University, History Channel, and CNN. Your daily newspaper is now practically a mainline religious institution, with sermons on the editorial page.

Churches that offer conservative rigorous scholarship, and conservative social action (think prolife, and religious liberty) are doing better. They are not duplicating the establishment, they are the alternative.

You’re implying that most liberals don’t truly believe in God, so why would they go to church? Also, even liberal churches offer more than just “liberal scholarship” and “liberal social action.” They also offer real community, something that really can’t be found on TV or even at State University.

 

[lax16]

You’re implying that most liberals don’t truly believe in God, so why would they go to church? Also, even liberal churches offer more than just “liberal scholarship” and “liberal social action.” They also offer real community, something that really can’t be found on TV or even at State University.

State U offers community - and I am sure it feels real to college aged students. However, most times it is not Christ-centered.

 

[Kielbasi]

Mainline protestant churches in general are on the decline in North America. Liturgy, rigorous scholarship, and social action don’t seem to have the appeal of nondenominational churches.

Conservative type protestants certainly do have “social action”. Rev. Pat Robertson’s ministry at the 700 club includes “Operation Blessing” which provides disaster relief, the Salvation Army is certainly religiously conservative and has an extensive social action ministry.

There are plenty of universities in the south and elsewhere which offer rigorous scholarship in a conservative tradition. Not all are “nondenominational” churches, but they certainly aren’t mainline protestants, usually affiliating with conservative denomination.