Essays and Sermons of William James Potter (1829-1893),Unitarian Minister and Freethinker: Lectures and Sermons(v.78b Studies in American Religion)

William James Potter is best viewed as a radical minister in the American freethought tradition during the second half of the 19th century. He shifted from his Quaker foundation to Unitarian Christianity, influenced by Transcendentalist thinkers, especially Ralph Waldo Emerson and Theodore Parker. Later, influenced by Charles Darwin, he modified his transcendental perspective for a more empirical orientation. This collection makes available many of his collected essays and sermons.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Introduction; Biographical Sketch of William Potter by Francis Ellingwood Abbot (includes correspondence) Lectures and Sermons: Religious Sentiment in the Light of Science; The Twenty-third Psalm in the Nineteenth Century; The Trinity of Evolution; The World's Parliament of Religions; Wheat and Tares; Courage of Convictions; Heroism in Daily Life; The Saving Power of Truth; The Voice of the Draft; The Dramatic Element in the Career of Lincoln

About the Author :
W. Creighton Peden is the Fuller E. Callaway professor emeritus of philosophy at Augusta State University and president of the Highlands Institute for American Religious and Philosophical Thought. In addition to numerous chapters and articles, he is the author of Wieman's Empirical Process Philosophy (1977), Whitehead's View of Realit, co-author with Chlarles Hoartshoren (1981), The Chicago School: Voices of Liberal Religious Thought (1987), The Philosopher of Free Religion: Frances Ellingwood Abbot, 1836-1903 (1992), and Civil War Pulpit to World's Parliament of Religion: The Thought of William James Potter, 1829-1893 (1996). Peden and Everett J. Tarbox, Jr. are co-editors of The Collected Essays of Francis Ellingwood Abbot (1836-1903), American Philosopher and Free Religionist, Vols. 1-4 (1996, Edwin Mellen Press). Everett J. Tarbox, Jr. received his PhD from the University of Chicago, and his ThD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has taught at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, North Texas State University, and as a Professor in the Department of Humanities at Indiana State University. He has written and co-authored many books and articles.

Review :
"Our understanding of the rich web of American religious thought in the nineteenth century has been expanded in recent years by scholarly research which has introduced us to previously little known thinkers. William James Potter is one such thinker....Although many of Potter's sermons and essays were published during his time, they received limited circulation and are not available in most modern research libraries. The purpose of these two volumes is to make available significant writings by Potter which will expose the reader to an enriched perspective of the various issues of the last half of the nineteenth century in America. The volumes also contain a 'Biographical Sketch' of Potter by Francis Ellingwood Abbot (1836-1903) and a lengthy Introduction by W. Creighton Peden." - Cedric Heppler, Reference Librarian Emeritus, North Carolina State University"