Baptists in America

Baptist churches and their members have encompassed a range of theological interpretations and a variety of social and political viewpoints. At first glance, Baptist theology seems classically Protestant in its emphasis on the Trinity, the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the authority of Scripture, salvation by faith alone, and baptism by immersion. Yet the interpretation and implementation of these beliefs have made Baptists one of the most fragmented denominations in the United States, often characterized as a people who "multiply by dividing."

In Baptists in America, Bill J. Leonard traces the history of Baptists, beginning with their origins in seventeenth-century Holland and England. He examines the development of Baptist beliefs and practices, offering an overview of the various denominations and fellowships within Baptism, and considers the disputes surrounding the question of biblical authority, the ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper), congregational forms of church governance, and religious liberty. Leonard also examines the role of Baptists in the Fundamentalist and Social Gospel movements of the early twentieth century, the Civil Rights movement, and the growth of the Religious Right. Leonard explores the social and religious issues currently dividing Baptists, including race, the ordination of women, the separation of church and state, and sexuality. He concludes with a discussion of the future of Baptist identity in America.

Library Journal

Leonard (church history, Wake Forest Univ. Divinity Sch.) offers a comprehensive study of Baptists, who by the 1840s had become one of the largest denominations in America. Certainly, the historical facts presented here are well researched and documented and highly informative, but what truly makes this book exceptional is the attention that Leonard pays to the differences between various Baptist sects (e.g., Southern Baptists vs. American Baptists) and the unbiased manner in which he describes their beliefs and practices. He refers to the "overall messiness of the people called Baptists" and the controversies and disagreements over doctrine, theology, eschatology, Scripture, and social issues that erupt among them. This "messiness," he says, results from the Baptists believing that church affairs should be decided by the local congregation. Leonard carefully chronicles the clashes that stem from such a local polity in an instructive and compelling way. Anyone interested in American religious history or simply American history will find this an enlightening and substantively informative book. Highly recommended.-Wesley A. Mills, Empire State Coll., SUNY at Rochester Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Bill J. Leonard is dean and professor of church history at Wake Forest University Divinity School. He is the author or editor of fourteen books, including God's Last and Only Hope: The Fragmentation of the Southern Baptist Convention, Christianity in Appalachia: Profiles in Regional Pluralism, and Baptist Ways: A History. His work is often cited in the media, and he appears frequently on NPR and other radio and television stations. He lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.