• What is post-Christendom?

    According to Stuart Murray, “Post-Christendom is the culture that emerges as the Christian faith loses coherence within a society that has been definitively shaped by the Christian story and as the institutions that have been developed to express Christian convictions decline in influence.” This description aptly describes the cultures of many nation-states in the West. As a result, the term ‘post-Christendom’ has often been used synonymously with the decline of the Christendom inaugurated by Constantine in the fourth century. The Centre for Post-Christendom Studies is interested in exploring the historical and contemporary decline of Christian influence within our current global setting.

  • What are the goals of the Centre for Post-Christendom Studies?

    The two primary goals of the Centre for Post-Christendom Studies are: i) to aid in charting a course for churches in a post-Christendom context; and ii) to analyze post-Christendom contexts and suggest ways of engaging with them in a constructive manner.

  • Can I specialize in post-Christendom studies at McMaster Divinity College?

    Yes you can! McMaster Divinity College is in the process of developing a curriculum for professional degrees with a specialization in Post-Christendom Theology and Ministry.

  • What aspects of post-Christendom does the Centre for Post-Christendom Studies address?

    Research at the Centre for Post-Christendom Studies is focused on post-Christendom in the areas of theology, history, culture, and practice. In theology, topics include the relationship between the Church and State, the role of theology in relation to other disciplines in the contexts of post-Christendom, and the way post-Christendom impacts theological discourse. Historical topics are primarily geared towards the reasons behind — and responses to — the disappearance and decline of Christian communities around the world. In the area of culture, topics include the effects of post-Christendom on the Church and society and changing attitudes towards the Christian faith and its adherents as they are portrayed in arts and media. Practically, the Centre for Post-Christendom Studies strives to be a resource and an aid for the church by addressing the challenges for the Church and mission arising from the contexts of post-Christendom and considering the various solutions offered by emerging forms of doing church.

  • What resources does the Centre for Post-Christendom Studies offer?

    Resources on the Centre for Post-Christendom Studies website include a blog, a resource page with recommended books on post-Christendom issues, along with news about upcoming conferences and gatherings. The Centre for Post-Christendom Studies also publishes Post-Christendom Studies (PCS) in electronic and print form.