Churchgoing and Christian Ethics (New Studies in Christian Ethics)

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Summary: churchgoing and christianethics
Review: This is a highly disappointing work. It relies on statistical studies (not compiled by the author) of attitudes among churchgoers. The churchgoers report on their own attitudes. So, if the researcher asks, for example, for the churchgoers' attitude on television violence or kindness to animals, the churchgoer describes his own attitude. Not surprisingly, people say what they are expected to say. Predictably regular churchgoers are less likely to approve of television violence and more likely to approve of kindness to animals. After all, this is what Christians are supposed to believe. Far more interesting would have been a study of Churchgoers' behaviour in reality. Are churchgoers in fact more likely to turn off violent programmes, be kind to stray dogs or, indeed be pleasant and unselfish towards their neighbour? Sadly, Dr. Gill is content with accepting the obvious and ignoring all the fascinating possibilites which a more profound and original study would have produced.