Religion, belief and values in modern societies. The decline of Christianity and the rise of new spiritualities, values and nonreligious commitments. I use a range of methods and approaches, both qualitative and quantitative.
KEY PUBLICATIONS
- “The Rise of ‘No Religion’ in Britain: The Emergence of a New Cultural Majority” Journal of the British Academy, 2016: 245–61.
- That Was the Church That Was: How the Church of England Lost the English People (with Andrew Brown, 2016)
- Christianity: A Very Short Introduction (revised edition 2014)
- Religion and Change in Modern Britain (ed. with Rebecca Catto, 2012)
- A Sociology of Religious Emotions (with Ole Riis, 2010)
- The Spiritual Revolution (with Paul Heelas, 2005)
CURRENT RESEARCH
In 2020 I will deliver the Cadbury Lectures in Birmingham under the title: "Values are the New Religion: Britain’s post-Christian Culture". I will then expand these lectures into a book. This will bring together research carried out over many years, including several recent national surveys.
In the areas of religion and nonreligion; new spiritualities; contemporary Christianity; values and beliefs; gods, spirits and powers (religious and secular).
