Drawing on empirical research exploring mainstream religious belief and identity in Euro-American countries, Abby Day explores how people 'believe in belonging', choosing religious identifications to complement other social and emotional experiences of 'belongings'.

`I find the book highly interesting, in particular its methodology and its empirically-based conclusions. It is an important contribution to the current debates within the sociology of religion. It is also an easily approachable book, which can be read by anyone who is interested in research on belief.' Lise Kanckos, Approaching Religion `[a] subtle and intelligent social study of belief and identity' Canon Robin Gill, Church Times `Day's diagnosis of a residual Christian identity in present-day mainstream Britain given little close attention by other scholars is certainly striking ... [her] tightly organized interpretative model will provoke fruitful debate.' Jonathan Benthall, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute `[A] fascinating monograph ... Abby Day writes as an academic sociologist and an active researcher. Her findings are a helpful contribution to the sociology of secularisation; they open an intriguing window into believing in Britain today.' Glen Marshall, Regent's Reviews `Scholars have long erred in taking religions at their word. Now perhaps no longer. In this path breaking work, Abby Day shows that religious beliefs are far less salient than religious belonging. Religious doctrine and ritual pale in importance beside religious identity and community... This theoretical breakthrough rides a methodological wave. Instead of prompting her respondents by asking directly about their religious beliefs and belongings, she is careful to embed the issues within the context of their broader convictions and commitments. The point is not that religion is necessarily less significant, but that it is differently significant. At Day's end, we all have a new beginning.' Jay Demerath, University of Massachusetts Amherst `Believing in Belonging provides us with a new approach to theorizing belief, making a place for both religious and social understandings of this concept ... the typology of belief serves as a useful tool for future scholars wanting to take seriously the challenge of studying this topic. The book makes an important contribution to the literature and moves us forward in our study of beliefs and the roles they play in peoples lives.' Melinda Lundquist Denton, Clemson University

The first work to analyse and synthesise anthropological and sociological understandings of belief The first work to offer a qualitative critique of the religious question on the national UK census Makes cross-cultural comparisons of belief in European and American societies Pilots a unique method of researching religion without asking religious questions Provides a new response to Grace Davie's 'believing without belonging' theory, one of the most accepted theories within the sociology of religion worldwide

The first work to analyse and synthesise anthropological and sociological understandings of belief The first work to offer a qualitative critique of the religious question on the national UK census Makes cross-cultural comparisons of belief in European and American societies Pilots a unique method of researching religion without asking religious questions Provides a new response to Grace Davie's 'believing without belonging' theory, one of the most accepted theories within the sociology of religion worldwide