Guest, M: Christianity and the University Experience

Acknowledgements Foreword - Christian Smith List of Illustrations Introduction 1. Historical, Cultural and Scholarly Contexts 2. What makes a Christian student? 3. Institutional Variations in the University Experience 4. Is the University a Force for Secularisation? 5. The Challenges of being a Christian Student 6. Organised Christianity on the University Campus 7. Social Differences Amongst Christian Students: Age, Class, Ethnicity and Gender 8. Broader Implications Appendix: How many Christian students are there in England's universities? Bibliography Index

Mathew Guest is Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religion at Durham University, UK. Kristin Aune is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Derby, UK. Sonya Sharma is Research Associate in Theology and Religion at Durham University, UK. Rob Warner is Professor of Religion, Culture and Society, and Dean of Humanities at the University of Chester, UK.

Drawing on original research, this book recalls us to a society - and its universities - which is not only full of religious beliefs, rituals, practices and identities, despite the assumptions of secularism, but full of lived Christianity in particular, which often goes unheard. It is a timely rejoinder to the idea of religion as 'minority' and 'problem' and, through its examination of the students who will be tomorrow's leaders, professionals and thinkers, sets religious identity firmly in the context of society at large. -- Adam Dinham, Professor of Faith & Public Policy, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK Is the notion of a 'Christian student' an oxymoron? Anyone tempted to answer 'yes' should read this impeccably researched book, which informs and intrigues in equal measure. It is clear that Christian students not only exist but come in many shapes and sizes - as indeed do universities. -- Grace Davie, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Exeter, UK A remarkable study of university students' negotiation of Christian identity, religious organizations, and university life. Highly recommended. -- Tim Clydesdale, Professor of Sociology, The College of New Jersey, USA This study of the religious experience of Christian students at universities in England is both surprising and most welcome. Surprising, because after almost 60 years of propaganda about the decline of religious faith, one does not expect to find a wide-ranging investigation as specific as this one...most welcome because empirical information carefully gleaned can only promote understanding in the ideological battleground between the die-hard secularists who seem to dominate the academy and the believers (by virtue of their faith deemed ipso facto biased) who appear reactionary and overly defensive... While the authors seek simply to present a snapshot, they do promise to build up to a longitudinal study, which can only add value to our thinking about this important cultural