Bloomsbury Companion to NRMs

Contents
Introduction: Christianity beyond Theology by the Editors
Defining a new approach to the study of Christians, and how it differs from traditional scholarship on the Christian religion.

Part I: Research methods and problems. Focusing on key research methods, issues and problems relating to research in the field, this section considers some of the new developments in the field as well as how scholars do their work.

1. Who owns Christianity? Changes in demographical trends
          (Dyron Daughrity, Pepperdine University, USA)
2. Christian denominations
          (George D. Chryssides)
3. Field work in the study of Christianity
          (Simon Coleman, University of Toronto)
4. The role of the Bible
          (Andrew Village, York St John University, UK)
5. Christians and the Arts
          (Sue Yore, York St John University, UK)
6. Vernacular Christianity
          (Stephen E. Gregg, University of Wolverhampton, UK)
7. Spirituality
          (Stefania Palmisano, University of Torino, Italy)
8. Inter-religious Encounter
          (Elizabeth Harris, University of Birmingham, UK)

Part II: Current research and issues - shorter essays on emerging trends, directions, and scholarly conversations within the field.

9. Calendar
          (Margaret Z. Wilkins, Independent Scholar, UK)
10. Children / Family / Childlessness
          (Dawn Llewellyn, University of Chester, UK)
11. Christians in Africa
          (Louise Müller, University of Leiden, Germany)
12. Death
          (Christiana Welch, University of Winchester, UK)
13. Education
          (Tim Jensen, Leibniz Universität, Hannover, Germany)
14. Ethics
          (Eleanor Tiplady Higgs, SOAS, University of London)
15. Fundamentalism
          (Camille K. Lewis, Independent Scholar, USA)
16. Healing
          (George D. Chryssides, York St John University, UK)
17. Jesus
          (Stephen E. Gregg, University of Wolverhampton, UK)
18. Music
          (Brian W. Nail, Jacksonville University, FL, USA)
19. Pilgrimage
          (Stella Rock, Open University, UK)
20. Politics
          (Daniel Nilsson DeHanas, King’s College London, UK)
21. Social Action
          (Chris Shannahan, Coventry University, UK)
22. War / Violence / Peace
          (Ted Grimsrud, Eastern Mennonite University, USA)
23. Work (Andrew Hambler, University of Wolverhampton, UK)

The Bloomsbury Handbook to Studying Christians

Outline

Foreword

Introduction

Research methods and problems

Current research

New directions

A-Z of key terms and concepts

Resources

Most introductions to the Christian religion are theological, historical or biblical. This Handbook seeks to break this mould, and to examine how Christians put their faith into practice in everyday life.

Over thirty scholars of international reputation have contributed to this volume, addressing a variety of themes relating to contemporary Christian practice.

The title is deliberately intended as a "defamiliarising technique", indicating the non-traditional approach that the various contributors adopt.

Religion in the 21st Century

Part III: New directions in the study of new religious movements - New topics relating to the study of Christian traditions, new movements that involve Christian practice, and topics that have gained increased significance in recent times.

24. Cyber-Christianity
          (Tim Hutchings, University of Stockholm, Sweden)
25. Film and Media
          (Rhonda Burnett-Bletsch, Eastern University, USA)
26. Literature
          (Crawford Gribben, Queen's University Belfast, UK)
27. Food
          (Benjamin E. Zeller, Lake Forest College, USA)
28. Laity
          (George D. Chryssides, York St John University, UK)
29. LGBTQ issues
          (Melissa Wilcox, University of California, USA)
30. Sacred space / sacred objects
          (Amy Whitehead, Bath Spa University, UK)
31. Science and Christianity
          (Lisa Sideris, University of Indiana)
32. Spiritual Tourism
          (Alex Norman, Western Sydney University, Australia)

Part IV: A-Z (Key terms and concepts)
          by the Editors
          (Brief entries on major terms and concepts)

Chronology, Academic Resources, Annotated Bibliography, Index.

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