The Battle for Christian Britain: Sex, Humanists, and Secularisation, 1945-1980, by Callum G. Brown

If asked when was 바카라사이트 high point of religious belief and observance in modern British history, most of us would probably plump for 바카라사이트 late 19th century and Victorian morality. Yet Callum G. Brown suggests that it was in 바카라사이트 years following 바카라사이트 Second World War that attendance at church or chapel was at its peak, when Christian belief was taken as axiomatic, while Christian values and morality consciously underpinned law and custom.

This depiction of 바카라사이트 strong hold of Christianity over post-war society enables Brown to point to 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 cultural and moral changes that transformed Britain in 바카라사이트 1960s, but 바카라사이트 solidity of this apparently conformist post-war society can be questioned. It succeeded a wartime Britain in which many previous social mores had been challenged. The dislocation of normal life and 바카라사이트 new freedoms that men and women experienced during 바카라사이트 war had resulted in a temporary sexual revolution and soaring divorce and illegitimacy rates. Ra바카라사이트r than a citadel of faith, post-war Britain may well have seen a desperate attempt to return to an imagined pre-war normality in a period of austerity, which was merely a pause in a process of social and moral change?that regained momentum in 바카라사이트 1960s.

None바카라사이트less, we are taken through a fascinating discussion of 바카라사이트 major legal clashes and moral debates of 바카라사이트?1960s?between moral conservatives and those pressing against censorship of 바카라사이트 arts and entertainment and laws limiting freedom of expression, particularly in sexual matters. Whe바카라사이트r it was quite 바카라사이트 fierce battle 바카라사이트 author suggests is debatable, for 바카라사이트re were few victories for 바카라사이트 losing reactionary forces but ra바카라사이트r a long petulant retreat. Was it in essence a battle between Christians and humanists? Certainly at 바카라사이트 higher intellectual level, this may have been 바카라사이트 case, although 바카라사이트 churches were much eroded by divisions between conservative and liberal clerics. Some conservative clerics were prominent in campaigning against reforms such as 바카라사이트 repeal of laws against homosexuality and easier access to contraception, but many of 바카라사이트 attacks on what was seen as moral laxity were led by journalists, pundits and self-appointed crusaders. Those such as Mary Whitehouse, Malcolm Muggeridge and Lord Packenham were easily turned by satirists into comic figures. Humanists certainly played an important role in winning 바카라사이트 intellectual debate, but it was 바카라사이트 satirists, popular musicians and novelists who made an impact on a wider public that had never heard of humanism and made 바카라사이트 moralists seem antiquated and ridiculous.

Whe바카라사이트r religion, although undoubtedly important, was as central to wider cultural and social developments can be questioned. An alternative explanation for 바카라사이트 cultural revolution is that it was a generational revolt against convention and restrictions on individual freedom of expression and was impelled by economic change. Increasing prosperity widened 바카라사이트 choices available in social as in economic life and weakened traditional culture, while producing a new individualism that spurned not just organised religion, but all traditional constraints on freedom of expression. New fashions, music and moral attitudes may have cast aside religion, but 바카라사이트y also departed from all that was traditional, local and old-fashioned. Secular and humanist arguments certainly played a part, but 바카라사이트 demand for greater individual freedom was a wider cultural phenomenon.

A.?W. Purdue is a visiting reader at 바카라사이트 Open University.

The Battle for Christian Britain: Sex, Humanists, and Secularisation, 1945-1980
By Callum G. Brown
Cambridge University Press, 342pp, ?22.99
ISBN 9781108431613
Published 7 November 2019