God wants our freedom

Here's an interview with venerable and veteran French Jesuit theologian Joseph Moingt, 92 and still challenging Vatican conservatism.

There's an English translation here

the original French version was published on the La Croix website

Urbanisation - a view from Lambeth Palace

Here's an article originally published in the Church of England Newspaper, September 2005 in which Rowan Williams speaks about urbanisation and the challenges this poses for Christian mission and spirituality.

You can read an edited version here

Religion - from Obligation to Consumption

A paper delivered by leading sociologist of religion Dr Grace Davie of Exeter University to a joint ecumenical diocesan schools conference in South Wales in 2003. The presentation derives from project directed by the Institute on Religion and World Affairs at Boston University.

It offers an interesting analysis of nominal churchgoing in Northern European Protestant countries, and observations on the impact of the growing Islamic presence in Europe

Permission for Dr. Davie to reproduce this text was granted by the project directors - Professor Peter Berger and Mme. le professeur Daniele Hervieu-Leger. The final section of the presentation drew on material from Dr. Davie's 'Europe: the Exceptional case.  Parameters of Faith in the Modern World' published by Darton, Longman and Todd. You can download it here