cover image Where Are the Christians? The Unrealized Potential of a Divided Religion

Where Are the Christians? The Unrealized Potential of a Divided Religion

Eric Shuster. Cedar Fort/Plain Sight, $21.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-4621-1206-7

There was a time%E2%80%94not all that long ago%E2%80%94when the question "Where are the Christians?" would never have been asked. But shifts in demographics, a decline in mainline religion, and the influx of immigrants from other cultures has muddied the issue, creating a cottage industry of polling and surveying, tracking the whereabouts of Christians of all affiliations. Shuster (Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest) offers a comprehensive survey of Christian populations, beginning with the birth of the church and extending to the present. This multi-layered work examines the question "What is a Christian?" from many perspectives. The gradual erosion of society's mores and the crumbling of family structures are seen as factors in the disestablishment of American religious life. Along the way, Shuster challenges readers to evaluate their own commitment to the Christian faith. Such introspection can be painful, but in the end, the reader is rewarded with a richer understanding of one's self and one's neighbors. This very fine work deserves a wide audience. (May)