This important new book on the Church is by a Dutch Roman Catholic theologian who is deeply involved in ecumenical work. He is all too aware that while a majority of the population of the Western world is prepared to be counted as 'believers', what they believe is far from certain, and that they are now alienated from the church as never before, regarding their beliefs as a personal and private sphere. But at the same time he is also convinced that it is impossible for Christianity to be practised without believers uniting in a tangible body, a church.