Australian censuses and other surveys serve to inform us of the situation currently facing Australian Christian churches and other religious traditions. While declines in religious identity and attendance became apparent in the 1970s, the rate of decline has increased in recent years, particularly in the more progressive churches, despite being offset by immigration and by the charismatic movement - reflecting global patterns.

This book takes seriously this situation and, drawing on international scholarship, explains it in terms of changes in personal and social values, particularly in relation to sexuality, within a changing social context. Scientific views of the world, medical and technological advances, the growth of welfare systems and the economic independence of individuals have radically changed Western societies and the place of religion within them.

The author also notes how churches may respond to the reality of declining numbers, suggesting that the contemporary context offers new ways in which communities and individuals may find meaning in life, values to live for, and opportunities to make the world a better place.