After Christendom, the era in which the churches felt 'in control', the nature of the engagement of the Christian message with the worlds of science, culture, ethics and intellectual endeavour is changing. Finding the language for a different kind of positive encounter is difficult, as our quotations-of-the-week remind us, because the voices of religious obscurantism and secular contempt are both loud and in-tune with some contemporary prejudices.
 
In our main book choice, thinker and Anglican priest Dave Tomlinson, who crosses the boundary between inherited and emergent church, confronts these issues head on and talks about a 're-enchanting' of the Christian message and community which is neither backward looking nor neglectful of past traditions of thought and practice.
 
Meanwhile, in her research essay, Savitri Hensman also surveys the past, especially the recent past, in order to look into the future of the relationship between the churches and human rights discourse, mindful of human challenges and theological resources.
 
At the same time, in our two feature articles, neuroscientist Douglas Anderson takes a critical look at the way scientific tools are being used to try to get a 'handle' on religion, often in ways that do little justice to either. And Jonathan Frerichs gives a hopeful glance into the way churches are engaging with public policy on nuclear weapons, promoting technology for the organisation of life not death.
 
In terms of action, all this is grounded in two areas. In terms of health and community, through this coming Sunday's awareness-raising International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome (also Education Sunday and Poverty Action Sunday); and in terms of practical economics through the JustShare coalition's thinking-in-action concerning a £1 million microfinance project for Africa. Both show how hope and skill can be combined in the search for personal and corporate transformation.