Judith A Merkle is Professor at the Faculty of Religious Studies at Niagara University, New York.

• Part One: Foundations of the Christian Life in the World; Chapter One: Living into a New Paradigm; Chapter Two: Toward a Theology of the World; Chapter Three: Understanding Grace and Sin in the World; Chapter Four: Acting in the World: Finding the Way; Part Two: Developing the Talents of a New Age; Chapter Five: Church and Family: A Spirituality of Engagement; Chapter Six: Groups of Particularity and Profession: Speaking and Hearing the Truth; Chapter Seven: Postmodern Discipleship: Autonomy, Initiative and Mysticism; Chapter Eight: Taking a Position: Advocacy, Identity and Pluralism; Part Three: Toward the Future of the Christian Life; Chapter Nine: A Way Forward: Evangelization, Inculturation and Liberation; Chapter Ten: The Scaffoldings of the Future: Prayer, Community and Engagement.

"... the strength [of this text] lies within Merkle's interpretation of society as an ever changing amalgam into which the believing Christian is called to faithfulness... Consequently, the work provides an interesting pattern for social ethics in which the church continues to remain opposed to dominant cultural norms whilst in the midst of society and transforming it from the inside out. (Theological Book Review, Volume 23, No.2)"