Faiths Lost and Found - Understanding Apostasy

Faiths Lost and Found probes the social, psychological and theological dynamics of apostasy – the leaving or renunciation of a religion, or the embracing of an opinion contrary to one’s previous religious beliefs – and through personal, theological and spiritual reflection, examines the conditions and causes that prompt individuals to renounce one approach to faith and embrace another. Martyn Percy and Charles Foster examine the stories of ten people who have left one iteration of Christianity and found themselves ostracised or banished by the community they have left, and yet have found a new spiritual home that has nurtured and nourished their life, love and faith. Combining biblical, sociological, pastoral and cultural concerns, they explore the journeys these people have taken, and what they have lost and found in the course of these (often traumatic) transitions. This book will aid understanding of apostasy and help inform the response of individuals, faith communities, and the Church as an institution.