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9781498557429

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Headlines about the declining interest in religion in many western countries catch the eye but they also conceal evidence about the rise of new forms of Christianity. Francesca Montemaggi's book is an invaluable guide to recent attempts to launch a dialogue between personal authenticity and Christian traditions, thereby reinventing Christianity for the twenty-first century. Adapting ideas from Georg Simmel, she paints a vivid picture of evangelicals and 'new monastics' who cultivate spiritual and moral authenticity through their social relationships and communal activities. Their practices of 'serving', showing compassion, and offering hospitality take precedence over beliefs and doctrines. This is a work of theoretical imagination and descriptive richness which will appeal to all readers with a serious interest in religious change against a backdrop of growing diversity and pluralism. -- James A. Beckford, University of Warwick Montemaggi's book offers a real innovation in the study of both contemporary Christianity and the seductive power of 'authenticity,' moving deftly between multi-site ethnography and a close reading of Simmel's sociological theory. -- James Bielo, Miami University

Headlines about the declining interest in religion in many western countries catch the eye but they also conceal evidence about the rise of new forms of Christianity. Francesca Montemaggi's book is an invaluable guide to recent attempts to launch a dialogue between personal authenticity and Christian traditions, thereby reinventing Christianity for the twenty-first century. Adapting ideas from Georg Simmel, she paints a vivid picture of evangelicals and `new monastics' who cultivate spiritual and moral authenticity through their social relationships and communal activities. Their practices of `serving', showing compassion, and offering hospitality take precedence over beliefs and doctrines. This is a work of theoretical imagination and descriptive richness which will appeal to all readers with a serious interest in religious change against a backdrop of growing diversity and pluralism. -- James A. Beckford, University of Warwick Montemaggi's book offers a real innovation in the study of both contemporary Christianity and the seductive power of 'authenticity,' moving deftly between multi-site ethnography and a close reading of Simmel's sociological theory. -- James Bielo, Miami University

Headlines about the declining interest in religion in many western countries catch the eye but they also conceal evidence about the rise of new forms of Christianity. Francesca Montemaggi's book is an invaluable guide to recent attempts to launch a dialogue between personal authenticity and Christian traditions, thereby reinventing Christianity for the twenty-first century. Adapting ideas from Georg Simmel, she paints a vivid picture of evangelicals and `new monastics' who cultivate spiritual and moral authenticity through their social relationships and communal activities. Their practices of `serving', showing compassion, and offering hospitality take precedence over beliefs and doctrines. This is a work of theoretical imagination and descriptive richness which will appeal to all readers with a serious interest in religious change against a backdrop of growing diversity and pluralism. -- James A. Beckford, University of Warwick

Author Information

Francesca Montemaggi, PhD, is researcher in the fields of sociology and anthropology of morality and religion.

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