The Baptists: (Denominations in America)

A comprehensive reference highly recommended for academic and large public libraries. Library Journal

Table of Contents:
Series Foreword Preface Introduction: The Problem of Baptist Identity An Overview of Baptist History The Bible: Authority or Battleground A New Vision for the Church Sacraments/Ordinances: Signs of the Faith A New Way: Voluntary Religion The Struggle for Religious Liberty Biographical Entries Isaac Backus--Elhanan Winchester Appendix: A Chronology of Baptist Life Bibliography Index

About the Author :
WILLIAM HENRY BRACKNEY is Vice-President, Dean, and Professor of the History of Christianity at the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Review :
?. . . Brackney treats topics in sequence: the Bible, the Church, sacraments, voluntaryism, religious liberty. . . Brackney's essays well explain some Baptist fine points. . . A true asset is Brackney's bibliography, with its rich comments and suggestions.?-The Journal of Religion ?. . . He has served Baptists well with this particular book in that not only does he make them more understandable to non-Baptists, but provides Baptists themselves with data and interpretation that ought to go a long way in better helping them to get in touch with their own significant heritage.?-he Theological Educator ?Demonstrating an intimate familiarity with the sources, Dean Brackney here presents a sprightly thematic treatment of the Baptist tradition.' This is followed by a major biographical directory that gives bone and sinew to the preceding discussion. All of that, together with notes, bibliographical essay, and helpful chronological chart, erects an imposing, yet inviting edifice." Edwin S. Gaustad Professor University of California, Riversde "Number 2 in Greenwood's Denominations in America, The Baptists was written by W.H. Brackney. . . . It is divided into two parts: The Baptist Tradition and A Biographical Dictionary of Baptist Leaders. Six chpaters in the first part deal with these major topics: an overview of Baptist history, the Church's controversial position on the Bible, basic Church doctrine in America through the centuries, its sacraments/ordinances or "signs of faith," the voluntary spirit "at the very heart of the Baptist self-understanding," and a history of the struggle for religious liberty. Under the second part are a chronology of events from 1609 through 1979, listings of the denominations on the continents with the number of churchs and memberships figures, and a bibliograhic essay. Index. An excellent historical reference on the subject. Recommended for extensive reference collections on religion.?-Reference Book Review ?This second volume in Greenwood's series of denominational studies highlights five distinctives historically important to Baptists: the Bible, the Church, the ordinances/sacraments, voluntarism, and religious liberty. In Part 1, Brackney cogently analyzes the historical development of these principles in their socio-religious contexts. The biographical vignettes of major figures in Baptist history (Part 2) include women and men often neglected elsewhere. The extensive bibliographical essay, chronology of Baptist history, and list of major Baptist groups further supplement the wealth of information. A comprehensive reference highly recommended for academic and large public libraries.?-Library Journal ." . . Brackney treats topics in sequence: the Bible, the Church, sacraments, voluntaryism, religious liberty. . . Brackney's essays well explain some Baptist fine points. . . A true asset is Brackney's bibliography, with its rich comments and suggestions."-The Journal of Religion ." . . He has served Baptists well with this particular book in that not only does he make them more understandable to non-Baptists, but provides Baptists themselves with data and interpretation that ought to go a long way in better helping them to get in touch with their own significant heritage."-he Theological Educator "This second volume in Greenwood's series of denominational studies highlights five distinctives historically important to Baptists: the Bible, the Church, the ordinances/sacraments, voluntarism, and religious liberty. In Part 1, Brackney cogently analyzes the historical development of these principles in their socio-religious contexts. The biographical vignettes of major figures in Baptist history (Part 2) include women and men often neglected elsewhere. The extensive bibliographical essay, chronology of Baptist history, and list of major Baptist groups further supplement the wealth of information. A comprehensive reference highly recommended for academic and large public libraries."-Library Journal "Demonstrating an intimate familiarity with the sources, Dean Brackney here presents a sprightly thematic treatment of the Baptist tradition.' This is followed by a major biographical directory that gives bone and sinew to the preceding discussion. All of that, together with notes, bibliographical essay, and helpful chronological chart, erects an imposing, yet inviting edifice." Edwin S. Gaustad Professor University of California, Riversde "Number 2 in Greenwood's Denominations in America, The Baptists was written by W.H. Brackney. . . . It is divided into two parts: The Baptist Tradition and A Biographical Dictionary of Baptist Leaders. Six chpaters in the first part deal with these major topics: an overview of Baptist history, the Church's controversial position on the Bible, basic Church doctrine in America through the centuries, its sacraments/ordinances or "signs of faith," the voluntary spirit "at the very heart of the Baptist self-understanding," and a history of the struggle for religious liberty. Under the second part are a chronology of events from 1609 through 1979, listings of the denominations on the continents with the number of churchs and memberships figures, and a bibliograhic essay. Index. An excellent historical reference on the subject. Recommended for extensive reference collections on religion."-Reference Book Review