Congregations in Europe

This volume describes and maps congregations of Christian confessions and denominations, as well as groups with Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, and various other spiritual faiths, in different European countries. Consisting of three parts, it presents concrete sociological studies addressing  how established and not established, old and new congregations of various faiths create a new kind of religious diversity at the country level; how religious congregations are challenged and thrive in large cities; and how religious congregations change in the 21st century. The book enlightens by its descriptive analysis and the theoretical questions it raises concerning the religious transformations happening all over Europe. It addresses issues of religious diversity in the cities of Europe by presenting large studies conducted in cities such as Barcelona in Spain, and Aarhus in Denmark. By means of large-scale censuses taken in areas such as North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany and in countries like Switzerland and Italy, the book shows how the historically established churches restructure their congregations and activities. It clarifies for the new gatherers where and how a new diversity of religious congregations is in the process of being established. Finally, the book covers two important topical issues: pluralisation and secularisation. It provides new data on religious diversity, painting a new picture of secularisation: the impact and structural consequences of the long-term decrease of membership in the established churches.

This volume describes and maps congregations of Christian confessions and denominations, as well as groups with Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, and various other spiritual faiths, in different European countries. Consisting of three parts, it presents concrete sociological studies addressing  how established and not established, old and new congregations of various faiths create a new kind of religious diversity at the country level; how religious congregations are challenged and thrive in large cities; and how religious congregations change in the 21st century.

The book enlightens by its descriptive analysis and the theoretical questions it raises concerning the religious transformations happening all over Europe. It addresses issues of religious diversity in the cities of Europe by presenting large studies conducted in cities such as Barcelona in Spain, and Aarhus in Denmark. By means of large-scale censuses taken in areas such as North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany and in countries like Switzerland and Italy, the book shows how the historically established churches restructure their congregations and activities. It clarifies for the new gatherers where and how a new diversity of religious congregations is in the process of being established. Finally, the book covers two important topical issues: pluralisation and secularisation. It provides new data on religious diversity, painting a new picture of secularisation: the impact and structural consequences of the long-term decrease of membership in the established churches.

Chapter 1. What is a congregation? From theory to the Swiss field (Monnot-Stolz).- Chapter 2. Second Modernity’s Impact on the Religious Field: Implications for a Religious Mapping Project in Denmark (Lars AHLIN).- Chapter 3. Mapping Pluralism in Italy (Enzo Pace).- Chapter 4. National Congregations Study in Switzerland : The Established and the Outsiders (Monnot-Stolz).- Chapter 5. Mapping Congregations: Trends and Evolution of Religious Minorities in Barcelona (Gloria GARCÍA-ROMERAL).- Chapter 6. Congregations and the Challenge of Religious Pluralism: A Case Study of Hamburg, Germany (Anna KÖRS).- Chapter 7. Transformation and Continuity: A Study of Religious Groups over Time in Denmark (Marie VEJRUP NIELSEN).- Chapter 8. Mainline Congregations in West Germany: Quantitative Shifts and Qualitative Transformations (Jens SCHLAMELCHER).- Chapter 9. Transformation of Orthodox congregations in Italy (Giuseppe Giordan).- Chapter 10. Diversity under one Roof: Protestant Congregations in Germany (Hilke REBENSTORF).