Neoliberal Religion: Faith and power in the twenty-first century, by Mathew Guest
Author: Mathew Guest. Review by Simon Webb
As a Quaker pacifist, I’ve been shocked by the militarism of some Anglican spaces and ceremonies. Here in Durham, one sometimes encounters solemn processions inside the cathedral, led not by a bishop with a crook, but by a man carrying a large sword, just like Penny Mordaunt in the recent coronation. I’m sure my jaw would also drop if I witnessed some of the manifestations of faith described by the Quaker academic Mathew Guest in this new book. These include sermons and services delivered or inspired by what he calls ‘pastorpreneurs’: individuals who have applied a modern, hi-tech, entrepreneurial approach to preaching and church growth, sometimes with astonishing, world-beating results.
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