The Eclipse of Christianity: A robust, prophetic and hopeful book

Rupert Shortt’s new book offers a solid critique of today’s secular culture and a penetrating analysis of the problems facing Christian faith today. But it’s also deeply hopeful about the future, says Paul Valler 

The Eclipse of Christianity: and why it matters (Hodder & Stoughton) is an excellent book. It begins by charting the demise of the mainstream Church over the last century, showing how Christian influence has been progressively eroded and marginalised. Public spaces have now been largely evacuated of Christianity, and the media has “embarrassed religion out of existence”, he says.  

Yet even as Christianity has apparently faltered, Shortt maintains that humanity’s age-old quest for meaning is undimmed. People are still finding that the private, autonomous self is not the final arbiter of meaning and value. Secularism has failed to give hope or provide answers to the ultimate question of meaning in life.