This is a major contribution to scholarly debates on the chronology and nature of secularization in modern Britain. Combining historical and social scientific insights, it analyses a range of statistical evidence for the 'long 1950s', testing (and largely rejecting) Callum Brown's claims that there was a religious resurgence during this period.

"The 1950s are disputed territory in Britain's religious history. No decade has been interpreted in such contradictory ways. Writing with characteristic clarity and thoroughness, Field has now made a major contribution to the debate." - Hugh McLeod, University of Birmingham, UK

"Clive Field is the Hercule Poirot of religious statistics: relentless in tracking down sources, judicious in interpreting data and immaculate in his arguments. He makes the rest of us look sloppy and this account of religion in the UK post-war is the final word." - Steve Bruce, University of Aberdeen, UK

Autorentext

Clive Field holds honorary academic appointments at the University of Birmingham, UK, and the University of Manchester, UK, and co-directs British Religion in Numbers. He has researched and published widely in the social history and sociology of British religion, with particular reference to statistical sources. He is former Director of Scholarship and Collections at the British Library.

Inhalt
Contents 1. Introduction 2. Belonging 3. Behaving 4. Believing 5. Conclusion