The Need for Certainty: A Sociological Study of Conventional Religion

The Need for Certainty explores the different ways in which people can be religious within the conventional traditions of the main Christian denominations, arguing that a proper grasp of this wide variation is a prerequisite for quantitative surveys of religion. It presents the intense desire for religious certainty as a debased but common form of religious aspiration that often leads to the degeneration of faith.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 130 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published in 1984, The Need for Certainty delves into the diverse ways in which individuals can embrace religious beliefs within the traditional frameworks of the major Christian denominations. Drawing upon extensive analysis of letters sent to John Robinson, then Bishop of Woolwich, following the publication of his book Honest to God, The Need for Certainty presents five distinct approaches to religiosity and explores how, despite their apparent contradictions, these ways can coexist within the churches. Through this exploration, the book argues that a comprehensive understanding of this wide range of religious styles is essential for conducting quantitative surveys of religion. Each contrasting religious style is examined in turn, accompanied by quotations from the original letters to provide concrete illustrations.

The profound longing for religious certainty is extensively explored, portrayed as a debased yet prevalent form of religious aspiration that frequently leads to the deterioration of faith. The Need for Certainty serves as a valuable resource for those with an interest in Christianity, the sociology of religion, and theology.

Weight: 254g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367631659