The Empty Church: Does Organized Religion Matter Anymore

by Thomas C. Reeves

Book Overview

From Simon & Schuster, The Empty Church is Thomas C. Reeves' exploration of the suicide of liberal Christianity in which he "provides mountains of details to demonstrate that they [mainline Protestant churches] are dying" (Kirkus Review).

In The Empty Church Thomas C. Reeves examines the current state of American Protestantism and argues that the churches have been co-opted by liberal secular forces.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684836076
• ISBN13: 9780684836072
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Additional Reviews Available; Broader Context

Potential buyers can find many additional reviews (including "Editorial Reviews", one each, Pro and Con) under the hardcover version of this book: "The Empty Church: The Suicide of Liberal Christianity". See those reviews for much more information about this book -- which I won't attempt to repeat here. Considering the two books, I think the text is the same, with only the subtitle "softened" (as is the binding, from hard to soft). Broader Context (in which to understand reviews and book): In large measure, all the other reviews (both here and for the hardcover edition) are either Pro or Con depending on which side of a cultural and religious divide the reviewer stands. This book agrees with those of us who believe in the God and Christ of Christianity in it's historic form, as opposed to the "anti-(historic)Christianity" emerging in American society (such as from the Westar Institute; see "21 theses, Robert Funk"). Theologically liberal people will not appreciate this author's call to return to historic Christian beliefs. Theologically conservative people will find an eye-opening description of how anti-Christianity is taking over the mainline protestant churches. Instead of going elsewhere and starting their own religion, many people who have turned away from historic Christianity are attempting to co-opt the social structure of mainline protestant churches and turn them in to "anti-Christian" churches -- i.e., social institutions with a newly redefined philosophy which stands in opposition to historic Christianity. Catholics are too tightly controlled from a Biblically and traditionally anchored hierarchical top to be so transformed. Evangelicals and Eastern Orthodox follow the Bible too closely to be so transformed. This book, "The Empty Church", is about the vulnerable middle, the mainline protestant churches, which are not tightly controlled, and which have cut their "anchor line" to Biblically based historic Christianity. Sadly (for people of my ilk), author Thomas Reeves' call to return to historic Chrisianity, now over a decade old, remains largely unheeded. A "new" "anti-Christianity", which is riddled with inconsistencies when combined with previously historic-Christian churches, is slowly leading to "The Empty Church" syndrome in mainline protestant churches -- hence the name of this book, in both its hardcover and paperback forms.

Additional Reviews Available; Broader Context

Potential buyers can find some additional reviews under the paperback version of this book: "The Empty Church: Does Organized Religion Matter Anymore". Considering the two books, I think the text is the same, with only the subtitle "softened" in the paperback (as is the binding, from hard to soft). Broader Context (in which to understand reviews and book): In large measure, all the other reviews (both here and for the paperback edition) are either Pro or Con depending on which side of a cultural and religious divide the reviewer stands. This book agrees with those of us who believe in the God and Christ of Christianity in it's historic form, as opposed to the "anti-(historic)Christianity" emerging in American society (such as from the Westar Institute; see "21 theses, Robert Funk"). Theologically liberal people will not appreciate this author's call to return to historic Christian beliefs. Theologically conservative people will find an eye-opening description of how anti-Christianity is taking over the mainline protestant churches. Instead of going elsewhere and starting their own religion, many people who have turned away from historic Christianity are attempting to co-opt the social structure of mainline protestant churches and turn them in to "anti-Christian" churches -- i.e., social institutions with a newly redefined philosophy which stands in opposition to historic Christianity. Catholics are too tightly controlled from a Biblically and traditionally anchored hierarchical top to be so transformed. Evangelicals and Eastern Orthodox follow the Bible too closely to be so transformed. This book, "The Empty Church", is about the vulnerable middle, the mainline protestant churches, which are not tightly controlled, and which have cut their "anchor line" to Biblically based historic Christianity. Sadly (for people of my ilk), author Thomas Reeves' call to return to historic Chrisianity, now over a decade old, remains largely unheeded. A "new" "anti-Christianity", which is riddled with inconsistencies when combined with previously historic-Christian churches, is slowly leading to "The Empty Church" syndrome in mainline protestant churches -- hence the name of this book, in both its hard cover and paperback forms.

A Voice in the Wilderness

The funny thing about reading this book is: I've been seeing precisely what the author talks about first hand with my parents. They went to a Methodist conference and were bullied by pro-homosexual members into arguing over allowing gay marriages and such. After 2000 years, the pro-homosexual members have finally arrived to properly interpret the Word of God for everyone. My parents' church is now wrestling whether to split from the Methodist denomination, and my parents are debating whether to bolt from their own church. It's happening, people. As sad as the decline of America's major denominations is, it is encouraging to see so many non-denominational or evangelical churches growing so rapidly. I don't have a problem with the "harsh tones" of this book in regards to what liberalism is doing to the body of Christ. Just read the Old Testament prophets when they delivered their warnings to the straying people if you want harsh tones.

Babylon is falling

The book is excellent and I do agree 100%. The fallen Churches of Christendom are truly on thir way to fallen morality and Thomas Reeves has done a real good job. Thanks Tom.Rolf Vaessen

Compelling research and analysis.

Reeves undertakes a thoughtful and well researched foray into contemporary mainline Christianity in America. His research documents a quantifiable exodus from the mainline churches and a corresponding increase in the pews of more conservative churches. Reeve's premise, not surprisingly, is that this coinciding of events is more than accidental. If there is any flaw in his work, it is Reeves inability, having documented thoroughly the spiritual crisis in mainline Christianity, and having argued the underlying cause of this problem, to articulate a tangible solution.