Synopses & Reviews
A comprehensive reference highly recommended for academic and large public libraries. Library Journal
Review
. . . 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
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
Review
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 An excellent historical reference on the subject.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
About the Author
WILLIAM HENRY BRACKNEY is Vice-President, Dean, and Professor of the History of Christianity at the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
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